Application Update - The Waiting Game

WE HAVE MOVED TO: A Theory of Living  

         One thing that I think many applicants aren't prepared for is how much of a waiting game this whole process is. Honestly, sometimes it feels like that's the main activity of my gap year... waiting. The entire application process essentially takes a year, with applications going out in June and, in many cases, acceptance or rejection coming around March. In the months in between, applicants may or may not be invited to interviews and may receive some acceptances. Technically, the waiting game doesn't even end in March. The bulk of it will end there, although many applicants will be wait listed. Some of those kids may end up remaining on a school's wait list until the day before matriculation.

          A friend of mine represents a perfect example of this waiting game. He applied late in the cycle, and he is still waiting to hear back from anyone. He has not yet had any interview invitations, and with every day that passes, it looks increasingly unlikely that he will receive any. At the end of the year, he may have nothing to show for all of the work he did as an undergrad, his MCAT prep, his time spent putting together an application, and the last year of his life (except a mediocre job). Already, the time lost is staggering, but there is a financial cost too. Between a $2000 dollar MCAT course and almost $2000 dollars of application, he may end up down around $4000.

          That's a scary situation that just over half of the people who apply to medical school will ultimately find themselves in. From there, they have to decide what to do. Re-apply? Re-apply and include DO and Caribbean MD schools? Consider other careers? Pursue a Masters or post-bac or other impressive work in order to increase one's qualifications? All of those take time, and some take money; the worst part, though, is that none of them are guarantees. I am truly thankful that I don't have to go through with any of those options myself, although I know that I would re-apply in a heartbeat.

          Even those who find success in the application cycle must also find it to be a long waiting game. I can attest to this personally. Thus far, I have received 6 interview invitations. I have declined two, and I have attended three. The last is coming up in the next month or so. Two of those I have interviewed at have responded; one accepted me (!), and one wait listed me (we both knew it wasn't a fit). Already the word "wait" is finding its way into my story.

          The other school I have already interviewed at will not be getting back to me for almost another month; as it is a "Top School," I have to say I am rather eagerly waiting to hear from them.

          At this point, I am batting 1/2 on schools that have answered, with 2 more responses to come in the next few months. I am very happy with the school I have been accepted to and consider it to be one of my absolute top choices.  However, with two more schools on the horizon, I have to admit that I still have no idea where I will be going next year.

          Maybe that's what is getting to me. I know what is coming next, medical school, but the details still elude me. With medical school looming so large in my future, it can be difficult to know so little about the future.

          I want to wish good luck on all my pre-med readers as their application cycles grinds on; it'll be over soon, and hopefully we'll all be moving on to some exciting opportunities!