Med School - I was placed on Hold?

Question

So I received an email from University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine today which said my application had been placed on hold until more applicants had been screened. Is this a polite way of saying that I'm on hold until the first picks have been interviewed, or are they honestly saying that they are going to review more applications before giving interviews?

Note- I applied about a month ago, and applications have been accepted since June, so this isn't a matter of me being first in line.

Answer 1

Don't panic... It seems that you are on the right track. At least you still have a chance.

"On hold" means that you barely made it to the top of the hurdle. You'll have to wait until they see the rest of the WHOLE lot of the other applicants before getting a fat envelop.

No, it's never nice, but you still hold a chance.

Best of luck

Answer 2

The world of medical school is cold blooded, and heartlessly ruthless.  While I am not telling you to give up, don't hold your breath.  Look, that they accepted your application means that you are qualified but they are so overstuffed, you may not get in.  Also where you are in line doesn't make any difference; if you have what they are looking for you've got it, if you don't you don't.

You ever hear of the grading curve?  Everyone in the class gets a D, but there is only one C, so that one C becomes the A and everyone gets a B?  Well in med school is the opposite of that; if everyone got a 100 on their exam, and you got a 98, you flunk it.  See in the early part of the 20th century, doctors from all over the world got together to establish a comission that would see to it every college or university with a medical program met the same standards.  Meaning, the standards are the same all over the world, and all across the United States.  Do not believe that racist nonsense, that doctors in third world countries are less competent; they learn the exact same thing at the same level, and are graded just as harshly.

The standards have to be that high because as you know Medicine is about human life.  Do not hold your breath on that application because you should know med school is hard to get into.  Be happy they even held on to it; that alone is cause to throw a party, believe me.  I was curious about it in my college days, not interested, just curious, and I discovered that med school was impressively difficult.  In fact their entrance exam will give you an anneurism.  Or a stroke.  Or an epileptic seizure.  First I believe they have to review if you are even cut out for it, next, you have to take an exam.  Keep your biology and chemistry knowledge fresh; you'll need it.

Also, why do you restrict yourself only to one place?  Here, try this place;

http://www.ed.ac.uk/

The University of Edinburgh in Scotland has the very best medical school in the world.  There is a dangerous and complex surgery involving a rare disease of the sweat glands, and only 5 doctors on this entire planet know how to do it, and yes, all 5 of them graduated from that place.  I know it sounds like a long shot, but don't underestimate yourself.

Although hopefully I am dead wrong and you get accepted to Chicago, rejection from that place could turn out to be a blessing, if in the very slim chance, you land a spot at Edinburgh.  Trust me, the Edinburgh name will take you very far in the world of medicine, and perhaps you might even learn things there you might not anywhere else.

good luck.