Application Update - Two More Interviews

It's all about finding your fit.

          In the last month, I had two more interviews.  These were an interesting set, because they closely followed each other, and my feelings toward them were so different.

          Part of what has been interesting about this whole process is going to different schools and seeing what does and doesn't work for me.  Honestly, my way of thinking about schools has undergone a massive evolution over the course of this application cycle.  Now, I usually don't even bother asking about the things that were important to me at the first school or two I interviewed at, while I have discovered that a couple other key questions - that I originally never put much thought into - are extremely important.

          The other aspect in all of this is the "feel" of a school.  I know that many pre-meds, with their scientifically oriented minds, may be more drawn to think about a school as a combination of its quantifiable attributes, and analyze their options logically.  I can see how this approach could definitely be superior, but I find myself drawn to giving "feel" and intuition the most weight in my decision making process.  Unfortunately, this has been a bit complicated with regards to medical school.

          It worked out really well when I made my undergrad decision.  I visited Cornell, and from that moment, I knew where I wanted to go.  I could tell.  I could "feel" it.  And it worked out.  I still cannot find words to describe how much I loved Cornell.

          In the medical school application process, it has been a little different.  With my first three interviews under my belt, I never got much of that "feeling" drawing me to a place.  I did get some impressions of each school.  I knew that my state school would always be my last choice.  I really enjoyed my time at the Southern school (acceptance school), and I could see myself there.  And I knew that the Top School was the only one I had been to that I got a legitimately bad vibe from, although it redeemed itself to neutral by the end of the day.

Bad vibe.

          That changed recently, though, and I think it has something to do with my gaining maturity in this process and refining my understanding of what makes a school unique.  In any event, I think I got "that feeling" at one of the last two schools I interviewed at.  I think that, at long last, I may have found my fit.

          Interestingly, the other of those two most recent schools, was one that was very clearly not a fit.  I didn't get a bad vibe, like I did at the Top School, or anything like that, but I think it was the sort of thing where both the admissions officers and I could tell it wasn't a fit within two or three hours of the interview day beginning.  I'm sure there's no hard feelings on either side, and I'm expecting to get a rejection towards the end of March.

          Oddly, though, despite not being "a fit," I would be quite happy to go there, and I think that, as far as "on paper" qualities go, it might be the best of my options (excluding perhaps, the Top School).

          As for "my fit?"  Well... damn I hope that works out.