<p>Hey ya’ll:</p>
<p>Curm’s DDs Hail Mary letter was waaay more sassy than that paraphrase. On first read, I thought it was just Curm writing to entertain the CC crowd, when I found out she really sent that version I was amazed and impressed at the cojones to say, “Hey Y, this is me, are you really sure you want to miss out on this kid?” To thine ownself be true!</p>
<p>:) well Curm, I guess I’m a little flattered then. A nice small victory, for sure.</p>
<p>Well, kristin, let’s put it in context. One of the most selective med schools read your app sans great LOR’s but with your MCAT score and felt they wanted to see more. How can that be anything but very positive? Be a little more flattered. </p>
<p>And yeah, somemom. It was a dangerous update letter but it’s what she wanted to say…so she said it.</p>
<p>Thanks 'mudge. To add to that, SDN’s 09-10 thread claims that only 20% of applicants receive LOR requests, and from that, approximately 40% are offered interviews. Seems like my chances with Mayo just improved dramatically–but presumably, the pool I’m competing against also became more competitive. It sure does feel great, though, to have some evidence my ECs are impressive to more people than “just” me, my family, and my advisors. Considering I’ve never been one to do something just to add it to my resume, and don’t actively seek admiration for the things I do, it feels pretty great to be recognized.</p>
<p>A new question for you (especially Mike!). I’ve noticed that most schools accept a much higher number of people than actually matriculate there. Assuming those who don’t matriculate end up going somewhere else, I hesitantly draw the conclusion that many applicants hold multiple acceptances (hesitating because that seems somewhat unlikely, given how challenging it is to even secure one acceptance)–thus, are able to choose which school to attend. Any insight?</p>
<p>Yep. That is right but the numbers are skewed. There are some applicants with 15 acceptances and bunches with zero. I don’t think averages are that helpful here.</p>
<p>So it seems, then, that a few applicants will hold multiple acceptances (and thus be recorded as an acceptance to each of those schools) and matriculate only one place (I assume!!)–not that some applicants hold a couple acceptances. That makes sense, and to me would jive with MCAT data (ie, that kid with the 42 who has all the acceptances is also throwing off MCAT averages reported by MSAR at all of his schools too). Thanks!</p>
<p>And many applicants withdraw their apps or from waitlists or decline acceptances after they have “enough” on their plate. You only release them when you know the financials or the financials just don’t matter anymore (like my kid would have gone to Southwestern over Texas A+M even if A+M was free so she dropped A+M ).</p>
<p>Ahhh gotcha. So much strategy! I wonder if it’s awesome or agonizing or both to have multiple acceptances from which to choose. Hopefully I’ll have some idea of that come spring 2011 :)</p>
<p>Curm is right. The median number of acceptances is zero. But the mean is higher – maybe a lot higher.</p>
<p>I think the rolling nature of admissions contributes to this, maybe? Kids hold acceptances for a while, jumping from one to another? Not sure.</p>
<p>Anyway, this is why the MSAR’s numbers are so off. They use accepted students, meaning that a 40 who gets into Harvard and NYU brings up both those schools’ averages even though he usually ends up going to Harvard. If the magnitude of the MSAR’s jumps are any indication, the mean is probably pretty high.</p>
<p>For some reason I just find that fascinating. It’s not something I gave much thought to while choosing schools (I mean, I noticed that MSAR reported matriculants and people who submitted primaries–which seemed to skew the numbers not in my favor–and that USN used acceptances and secondaries–much friendlier numbers). Nonetheless it’s interesting though. Thanks guys!</p>
<p>I think both sources report admissions percentages based on primary applications. And USN uses matriculants’s MCAT scores and GPA (lower), while MSAR uses the acceptances (higher).</p>
<p>Agree with MCAT and GPA. My 2010/2011 MSAR (which is, incidentally, not the newest one–mine has 08 data, not 09) notes that the numbers are for those submitting primary applications; unable to find my source of info for USN (I thought it was under “methodology” on their site, but that wasn’t correct) but did find online evidence that USN’s numbers reflect completed applications, not just submitted primaries. I found this hard to believe at first too, but when comparing all the numbers with the numbers Loyola publishes (the first school on my list with a website that published those numbers), Loyola’s published numbers for primaries submitted = MSAR applicants, and numbers for completed applications = USN applicants. Agree to disagree, perhaps.</p>
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<p>I speculate that, in the end, the number of primaries submitted by DS will be larger than the number of his completed applications (i.e., the secondary submitted and $ for the secondary paid.)</p>
<p>I am fully aware of the danger of not completing some of the secondaries at this stage. I wonder whether some of you who are applying this cycle also choose to put yourself into such a disadvantaged position by not completing some of your secondaries.</p>
<p>Also, having several interviews in the same month may prevent you from doing your job so much that you almost can not hold your regular job any more.</p>
<p>I notice that for each interview, it may cost at least $500. Scary! Because of this, DS may want to complete the applications for those schools which can be reached by a train/car, except for IS schools.</p>
<p>Jeez, I’m having chest pains just reading about all of this, and D doesn’t even apply till next cycle! I might need this year to take up yoga or meditation so I don’t keel over before she hoefully gets in somewhere. [exhale]</p>
<p>GA2012MOM, Who says it is easy to be a mom or dad these days 
I have read the 2009-2010 thread twice in the past, and have read BDM’s “Timing Alert” post at least 3-4 times.</p>
<p>Sharing some good news here! Got interview invite at Hopkins today! I am a little nervous because this one has been scheduled for the next couple of weeks and I was hoping to have had some practice before. I better start getting ready!</p>
<p>And kristin, that was a great sign from Mayo, according to what everyone in SDN says. You may get an interview invite soon!</p>
<p>^^Applause, MO. I lived in East Bawlamer in a former life.</p>
<p>MyOpinion, Big congratulations! It is quite an achievement ti get an invite from there.</p>
<p>Another very good sign, MyOpinion.</p>
<p>I have been negligent in posting on this thread but I have been following everyone’s stories. </p>
<p>Congrats MO on the interview invite! DS was upset that one of his favorite schools happened to be his first interview too. He was quite nervous but when he got there he found out that for many of the applicants, it was also their first interview. That made him feel a bit more at ease. DS did get an acceptance from them and it remained one of his top choices till the bitter end. </p>
<p>mcat2- DS did not follow through on a few of his secondaries either. He skipped 2 secondaries because dad wanted him to apply there so he send the primaries in to appease dad but then never followed through on the secondaries. Since he doesn’t live with dad, dad never knew DS blew them off. He skipped another secondary because he had gotten some interview invites and he liked the invite schools far better than the secondary.<br>
In the end, it made no difference to DS about skipping the secondaries. It was a gamble but it worked out.</p>