Oh the plight of a medical school applicant....

Nobody ever believes you when you tell them that applying to medical school is a completely different beast than any other graduate school application process.

Last year, I thought, "Just one interview, one interview and I'll be happy" Now it's "Just an acceptance, one acceptance and I'll be happy." Luckily GW is my top choice, so if I am accepted there, then I'm finished with this whole process... This process burns you out. Last year I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. It's hard when nobody understands exactly what you're going through. How you feel like you exerted so much effort, spent so much money, worked so hard for something for 4 years, and in the end, you get nothing. It's discouraging, it's stressful. People wonder why so many doctors seem brusque or harsh, and why pre-med students are a pain in the ass, and they dont' realize that these people have been shaped by their experiences.

I made a point to make friends with non pre-med people in college. Sometimes you need an escape from this high pressure, high stress, never satisfied world. Then they started applying to PhD and Masters programs. One by one they got in, and they looked at me and asked, "Why?" And it wall tinged with this frustrating sympathy. What you need during this problem is empathy, not pity. Someone who understands what you're going through. I don't, by any means, condone a pity party, but sometimes it's good to get out a, "Yeah I suck, but I'll be better next year". Ph.D. and Masters applicants don't realize that even if you're qualified, it may not work out. They don't realize the 40% acceptance rate. Medical school applications are a larger world, not as close-knit. No connections. Impersonal and intimidating. You applied to 3 schools? I applied to 23. And not a single one wanted me.

I am happy with what I have right now, it's more than what I had last year, and it's from my top choice. I want this more than anything. I hope that comes through on interview day.