They also asked me what other schools I applied to...but I know I certainly don't have a shot at US schools. I know SGU has a lot of apps to process....but come on, I applied in July...got my interview in November...and still no word?!?! Not very professional in my opinion. I will probably call again tomorrow....but probably to ask to have my application withdrawn.

I've decided to reapply to US schools....I'm taking a job as research assistant at a medical school and I'm retaking the MCAT in May and redoing Orgo 2 over the summer. I'm only 21 and I'm not planning to be a super specialist surgeon....so another 1 or 2 years isn't a big deal.

Hope things work out for you proteinpowda!!

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Cornell University '08

Well I just turned 24 in mid February. It's quite unprofessional on their part. Especially considering students that interviewed in late January already were accepted! Even more my admissions counselor told me no decisions were being made one week since the adcom was away and someone on here got a phone call that week.
I'm not sure what I'll end up doing but I want to keep all my options open. Even with a 31 I'm probably going to retake the MCAT. That's only median nowadays...and with a 3.13 science and 3.35c I gotta make up for it.
I thought about it the other day..if I take a year off I'll be 33-35 when I'm done with everything...
And I never cared before until I thought 35..holy pooh pooh! I'm going to be old and might already be losing my hair!

Edit - I did not write poo poo...that was substituted for another word by valuemd..automatically. That's pretty funny!

the application process in the US takes a while- think about it, you apply in june, don't interview until sept/oct at the earliest and then may not hear definitively until May- and while sgu is not a US school, taking a few months to process applications, set up interviews, and go over the applications in adcom for a 300+ class can't be done over night.

And let's face it, its not 1st come 1st serve...sure it helps if your application is in earlier the better, but better candidates that apply later will still be given 1st pick...if applicants from january are getting accepted, well...the adcom saw them as better choices...harsh, but still true... the applicants for the Aug class tend to be a bit more competitive- many are just shy of US acceptance(or are on wait lists), Jan class may have been a better option.

and if you start a year earlier, you will be 32-34 (though 10 years? dude- unless you are doing a gen surg fellowship- it shouldn't take you 10 years!!), so what??

think about it this way....in 10 years you will be 34 (God willing...) do you want to be 34 or 34 with an MD?

apply to other caribbean schools- AUC, Ross, Saba--they will get you where you want to go just as much as sgu will (or better yet - go do a post bac or something to strengthen your app and apply in the US).

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GI Elective [x].......Wards [x]
Wards [x] ............Night Float [x]
MICU [x] .............CCU []
Wards [x] ............PGY 1 1/2 []
Elective!![x]..........Move Complete[]
VACATION!!!! [x]

proteinpowda...with your stats...I don't see why it would take so long. I mean...my stats are good...except for my MCAT (24R there). The longest interview to acceptance I've heard about with US schools is 2 months....but I'm sure it varies.

If a US school is really what you want...then I think you should go for it....and do whatever you can feasibly to do make it happen. I happen to agree with one of Rokshana's points....would you rather be 34 or 34 with an MD?

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Cornell University '08

I never said I wasn't going. The doctor I intern with was discussing this with me the other day...and he stole my quote. "You give up your twenties," to become a doctor between med school and residency.
Yet I look forward to med school and residency. I think I'll enjoy them so for me it's not really giving my twenties up; but using them in a different way that's different from the norm.
Here's the problem...a lot of pre-meds don't realize what they're getting into..what residency and med school will be like..and mainly what it will be like when you graduate (read medicaleconomics.com) someday.

I agree with your post....I have a bunch of friends who got into US schools this year and frankly, I don't know how they will survive....of course, this could also be my jealousy kicking in :-)

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Cornell University '08

my experience was

applied AMCAS june 15th
received secondary mid aug
interviewed oct 5th (or 6th- 1st week)
notified application on hold end of dec
notified on waitlist may 15th
notified did not make it off waitlist - last week in aug

so a definitive answer wasn't til over a year later (but was told i was on hold 2.5 months later so i guess thats something).

rejections however came fairly quickly!!

though july...that does seem to be a bit long...didn't fall between the cracks??

__________________
GI Elective [x].......Wards [x]
Wards [x] ............Night Float [x]
MICU [x] .............CCU []
Wards [x] ............PGY 1 1/2 []
Elective!![x]..........Move Complete[]
VACATION!!!! [x]

yes...rejections do come fast!! I got one rejection 2 weeks after sending in the secondary ...and I've been on a "hold for interview" pile at another school since mid-January

I was e-mailed by my SGU admissions counselor in January...she told me the committee wanted to see my Fall grades and Spring schedule. I haven't heard anything since. I'll most likely give them another call tomorrow.

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Cornell University '08

I cant believe all of this is happening with you guys, it seems so frustrating! i sent in my app 2/22, granted interview 2/26, interviewed on 3/4 - and i thought that was remarkably fast - i am in NY so maybe because there are more interviewers out here the interview came quickly but she did mention they would review my information this weekend - hard to believe as well - and that I have a great application and I would have no problem getting in. which was great to hear - i just want to see it on paper!!

I'm in New York too!!

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Cornell University '08