r/mdphd • u/Exciting-Bit8775 • 9d ago
No IIs yet, panic?
My applications were complete on dates ranging from 8/30-9/11, and I’ve received 2 Rs and no IIs. Is this cycle over, should I retake the MCAT (worst part of my application) in January to salvage, etc?
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u/xoxoaksia M2 8d ago
Need school list but 15 is on the low end
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u/Exciting-Bit8775 8d ago
All are T20
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u/The_mon_ster G2 8d ago
Sorry, just reading between the lines bit here but, you applied to only 15 schools, all T20s, with a 513?
I’d check the average MCAT of these schools and try to apply to more programs at this point, if you can. I don’t mean to be harsh, but your MCAT is below the median for probably every school you applied to
If this was really how you applied, yes, I would panic just a bit, and try to apply to more programs
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u/Exciting-Bit8775 7d ago
You are right. Not reading between the lines at all as all that info has been explicitly stated lol. Thanks for your advice, I think next cycle will require a lot more improvement in terms of mcat and breadth of schools applied to.
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u/The_mon_ster G2 7d ago
You should be able to still apply to some schools! I would consider it, unless you’re not happy with your options.
Best of luck! It’s a long process, but it is worth it on the other end of things
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u/xoxoaksia M2 8d ago
See how the cycle goes but retaking mcat and applying early will help. No t20 is a guarantee so I’d add more schools if this cycle doesn’t go the way you hope.
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u/BathroomMaximum1721 7d ago
You have strong research but below avg stats. I would apply TODAY to some lower ranked MSTPs and non-MSTPs.
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u/Kiloblaster 7d ago
Not worth it this late imo
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u/BathroomMaximum1721 7d ago
Won't be worth it at the T20 but might work at a program such as San Antonio. San Antonio generally likes late applicants with ~ 520 MCAT, so it is definitely not a slam dunk for OP to get an II there.
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u/Kiloblaster 7d ago
When do they stop interviewing?
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u/BathroomMaximum1721 7d ago
San Antonio last interview in mid Dec typically but Stony Brook interviews even in Feb of the cycle.
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u/Kiloblaster 7d ago edited 7d ago
Sounds unlikely then. November is probably already full and December at least partly. Their secondary won't be complete for a week or two, and then who knows how long it'll take to get screened and ranked for an invite.
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u/BathroomMaximum1721 7d ago
This was Fencer's (MSTP Director of San Antonio) post on October 22, 2023, "LAST CALL for 2024 applications...
My MSTP has a deadline of November 1 for primary application. We don't have a $econdary application, and we still have ~40 interview slots for Jan/Feb 2024. What we do is keep all applications that were deemed meritorious in a folder that gets reviewed monthly for the next group of invitees. The next set of invitees will be released in late Nov., so consider applying.... (PM me if questions)."
https://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/fencers-corner.1469960/post-24074141
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u/Kiloblaster 7d ago
Ok. That's a lot to bet on one program but not a bad idea to apply while considering retaking the MCAT. My hesitation is that it may be better overall to just apply better next cycle and not be beholden to the select few programs that both have slots available and will offer it to OP (for whatever reason, randomness part of it). Good points all around though
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u/Kiloblaster 9d ago
You have included no stats or anything about how many programs you applied to or when you applied to them. Not much feedback to give without those
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u/Exciting-Bit8775 9d ago
Sorry. 513, 3.7, 4 first author, 1 second author pubs
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u/Exciting-Bit8775 9d ago
I also said in my post when I applied. As for number, I applied to 15
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u/mmoollllyyyy20 G3 8d ago
you have 4 first author publications? 15 programs may be a bit low for average to below average stats
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u/Exciting-Bit8775 8d ago
Yes and also yes, but I wanted to apply to programs that really fit my PhD interest
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u/Kiloblaster 7d ago
It's hard to say with that low number of programs. The fact that it's all T20s makes it harder.
If I had to guess, I'd say this cycle is a wash. But not sure, of course.
My opinion is that you can plan to retake the MCAT some time in the spring and apply to like 40 programs in June immediately when AMCAS opens.
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u/yymm666666 7d ago
Your research is amazing—how did you do it?
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u/Exciting-Bit8775 7d ago
Thank you. I worked with a doctor who is very productive and utilized my statistical skills
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u/Think-Explanation677 5d ago
are your publications more clinical based then if you were doing statistical stuff?
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u/Exciting-Bit8775 5d ago
All pubs are medical related
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u/Think-Explanation677 4d ago
medical related could mean many things, does it have a translational/basic science component? like lab work that you helped complete, develop, etc.
The MD-PhD programs definitely value bench research significantly higher than purely clinical pubs, because that you can get into a lot easier as an MD only. Often, the MD-PhD advantage is that you get the expertise to be able to develop and conduct major lab experiments and thus bridge that clinical/basic science gap so they want to for sure know you want to dive into that kind of lab/computational work beyond just stats.
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u/Any_Conclusion_2385 6d ago
for what its worth, as a 3.6, 506, T20 undergrad, 2 pub applicant, im at 3 ii and 1 R out of 14 total schools (though none are T20s). i submitted mid/late july and into august. similar boat as you, lesser stats on my end. i think you just have to play the waiting game. if i can be in the conversation, theres no reason you shouldnt be able to. best of luck
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u/ManyWrangler 9d ago
Is it Thanksgiving yet?
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u/Exciting-Bit8775 9d ago
Is that the rule of thumb?
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u/Lopsided_Letter5233 9d ago
Can I ask what the rejections are? I’m always curious which schools actually send them. I’ve heard BU, CWRU, and maybe Mayo have?
I don’t think I made it in that batch for CWRU. I think October 15th is the next batch of rejections, IIs, etc.
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u/dhaddhadie 8d ago
stanford, yale, wisconsin, uw, einstein, tri-i
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u/Upper_Leek9672 9d ago
you submitted a little bit on the later end. Im an applicant rn, but I think its normal for late aug / early September submitters not to hear back until much later than July submitters