Good luck to your DS VAMom. Keeping fingers crossed for good news soon.
Congrats to all who have it in their pocket and best wishes to those still waiting.
Ohiomom, there are people on the waiting lists who care for others. That probably expalins the most recent invites. My D. withdrew from 2 highly ranked schools that put her on hold. She said that she better let others a chance while she did not feel that these 2 Med. Schools were a good fit for her. She also withdrew from all acceptances, but her chosen school as early as she could, again to let others in.
Like your kd, it took my D. awhile to decide between her 2 finalists (out of 4 acceptances). I mentioned it numerous times, but her dicision flipped after Second Look event at both. She actully dragged us to her original #1 location to check out apartments while she was at the event. It was a Northwestern (Feinberg), and Chicago was way too much for her to handle, we did not like it either, but a T-shirt is still in her closet. Apparently, Northwestern was the last one to withdraw. While location was a huge factor, the program itself and the student body at each school were her top criteria. We told her to forget the cost, since we were planning to pay. Well, had little celebration for making the last payment and her choice has worked for her. However, still waiting for the match day, and residency application cycle is the most brutal of them all, we did not experience anything close to it. Thank goodness, she escaped all that snow, went to all these places literally just couple weeks before they got burried. But the weather is only one small factor, what a rollercoaster overall, I am glad these kids are not only strong in academics, they are strong survivals, they have this ability to bounce back no matter what.
Fingers crossed for your DS, VAMom2015. Here is hoping all those amazing kids with multiple acceptances are great like Miami’s D and choose a school soon, although I know many need to wait until April to go to second looks and to see financial aid packages before making final decisions. They have earned these choices and we will wait as patiently as we can (no other choice). D’s #1 is in a very very tight housing market so getting off the WL is going to be very exciting and stressful. I really do hope we have to scramble and be stressed, though!
I’m so glad I found this thread…I used to love being on CC when my kids were applying to ungergrad.
My son graduated 2014 with a B.S. His GPA was low so he decided to do an Post Bac program. Hes at doing really well. The university told him to only apply to 5 schools this cycle because he was so late and the med schools wont see how hes doing in the grad program until next cycle anyway. Looks like he will get an invite to the University of the post bac program he is in. Long shot but I am thankful anyway.
Hes pretty set on MD and doesnt really wanna end up at a DO school but I hope he will apply to a few if he does not get in this cycle. I cant believe how stressful this can be. Any tips will be appreciated.
Two tips–
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purchase large quantities of adult beverages of your choice and indulge in them PRN
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be prepared to stick your fingers in your ears and say very loudly “lalalalala I can’t hear you”
JK–mostly, but I’ve been thru this process twice (2 kids now in med school) and it really doesn’t get any easier or less stressful the second time.
We experienced no stress…that is until residency application, brutal is the only way to describe it. D was freely choosing her private HS, her college, her Med. School. Now we can only have our hopes that somebody will rank her high enough so that she match…to ANY place, please. She knows her routine, she knows how to calm herself, relax and not to think about…MCAT score, Step 1 score, Step 2 score…etc. Cannot do it this time around…
Lol, adult beverages definitely help!
D and I were just talking about how long the whole application process is. From the getting letters of recommendation, requesting transcripts, writing the personal statements, filling out the app, secondaries, to interviews, and finally if you are fortunate to making a decision is a year long process. Older D went to law school, and the application process just didn’t seem so all consuming.
Throughout the process, my D had highs and lows, and when she was discouraged, I would remind her that it is a marathon, not a sprint, and to just keep on going, do her best and stay positive. Good luck to your son.
Definitely a marathon. D asked for LOR more than a year ago and now knows she still has a couple months to go before she makes a decision (and schools make their decisions). I used to think the college app process was drawn out, but that looks easy by comparison. I simply wish for more patience-- I think this is the message the universe is sending my D and me, lol.
I was totally stressed out when son was in the app cycle. Right now, he’s ending classes and will begin his 6 week study break leading up to Step 1. I’m not nervous about that, he’s been studying for it all along (which is marked change from the MCAT which he didn’t study for…which is why I have more gray hairs than I should!)
I think the worse times where waiting for his MCAT score…and then waiting for IIs and then the results of those IIs. I probably did drink more wine during that period.
I’m sure the stress will return when he’s applying for residencies, since he wants a competitive one.
I don’t really have any tips for you other than wine and prayer.
D is in a good place for now (until the next stressful lap of the med school marathon begins!). A few weeks ago, she and her future roommate put down a deposit on an apartment that is super tiny but across the street from the med school. Affordable housing is at a premium in this city so they are relieved to be done with that part.
"I don’t really have any tips for you other than wine and prayer. "
-Go on vacation…it does help…although, I had no problem at all with the waiting for socres for MCAT, Step 1, 2, kind of did not think about them at all, as well as various application cycles, except for the last one - residency. That one has been keeping us feeling like under the heavy rock…vacation was helpful…
I pray every day!!!
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think the worse times where waiting for his MCAT score…and then waiting for IIs and then the results of those IIs.
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ack!!
typos!
should be: think the worst times were waiting for his MCAT score…and then waiting for IIs and then the results of those IIs.
I don’t wish this app-season-stress on anyone. It’s not at all like the undergrad app process where you can always have a safety or two as “back ups”.
M2CK–I think your DS and mine are very similiar! I too stressed because he didn’t really study for the MCAT (he put in about a week or so directly before the test–didn’t look at prep materials until then). And then all the II and results stress.
DS finally has received an acceptance! It came in yesterday from one of his waitlist schools! So happy and the stress level has dropped so much! He is still hoping for other acceptances so he can have choices, but if nothing else comes in, he likes this school and will be going to medical school!!! 
Congratulations VAMom!!! Great news for your S and for you.
Thanks camomof3. Hope your DD will gets great news soon!
Thank you! We are eagerly waiting for the end of April/early May to finally arrive. I hope it brings all of us with kids on WLs good news.
And maybe a pleasant surprise before then! DS was on WL and that other forum said they don’t take people off the WL until after the April deadline, but I guess that’s not true, so maybe your DD will get good news before May!
Congrats VAMom!
Congrats VaMom.