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Med School Insiders
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fa21212 said:
Once you have submitted your primary and secondary, is there anything else you can do to help your chances of getting an interview? I noticed that the big weed out process is from secondary --> interview. Does it help to send an update reiterating your interest in the school? How about an in the area e-mail? Any thoughts, especially from successful former applicants who have used any such tactic, is greatly appreciated. Thank you for your help!
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Don’t send updates unless you actually have something substantial to tell them, such as new grades, an award/honor, or publication. Every school has distinct rules on this as well, so make sure to do your research beforehand. Personally, sending letters of interest did nothing positive for me even though they included updates of 500+ new hours of research, clinical experience, and volunteering.
 
fa21212 said:
Once you have submitted your primary and secondary, is there anything else you can do to help your chances of getting an interview? I noticed that the big weed out process is from secondary --> interview. Does it help to send an update reiterating your interest in the school? How about an in the area e-mail? Any thoughts, especially from successful former applicants who have used any such tactic, is greatly appreciated. Thank you for your help!
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Please don't do this, especially now.
 
fa21212 said:
Once you have submitted your primary and secondary, is there anything else you can do to help your chances of getting an interview?
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Refrain from allowing your Mom/PI/Doc-you-shadow-who-thinks-you're-great/Senator call and tell the admissions office what a great person you are.
 
If you've done it right, you've already done everything you can. Specifically:

Target the schools where you have the best shot of being interviewed based on the records of applicants who have been admitted in recent years (see MSAR for details).
Choose at least 15 schools and up to 25 schools.
Submit your AMCAS and transcripts early (verified by July 4)
Turn around secondaries within 7 days, if at all possible.

Once that's done, kick back with your favorite beverage and start thinking about (but not writing or memorizing) how you'll answer the most popular interview questions including, "Why medicine?" "if not medicine, what would be an alternate career for you?" "biggest failure or disappointment?" "What do you do for fun?" "Describe your research in lay terms."

Be patient. You should have your first interview by Thanksgiving but it might not come until November 19th and you have to be prepared to wait out the next 4 months of radio silence without getting into a panic.
 
fa21212 said:
Once you have submitted your primary and secondary, is there anything else you can do to help your chances of getting an interview? I noticed that the big weed out process is from secondary --> interview. Does it help to send an update reiterating your interest in the school? How about an in the area e-mail? Any thoughts, especially from successful former applicants who have used any such tactic, is greatly appreciated. Thank you for your help!
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Send the school a six figure donation check.

Schools know that you're interested because you sent them an app. Continued love letters don't help, and only annoy the Admissions Dean's staff.

There are a few needy schools that like seeing applicants grovel. Send them updates.
 
Goro said:
Send the school a six figure donation check.

Schools know that you're interested because you sent them an app. Continued love letters don't help, and only annoy the Admissions Dean's staff.

There are a few needy schools that like seeing applicants grovel. Send them updates.
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Any chance you or any of the other adcoms know the names of some of these schools? Lol. I can think of Mayo?
 
Unlimited Apps said:
Any chance you or any of the other adcoms know the names of some of these schools? Lol. I can think of Mayo?
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Mayo's earned my respect and admiration at least for being an extremely successful academic program focused on clinical education without being associated with a university with an endowment as large as a small country's GDP. Georgetown can shove it.
 
Lucca said:
Mayo's earned my respect and admiration at least for being an extremely successful academic program focused on clinical education without being associated with a university with an endowment as large as a small country's GDP. Georgetown can shove it.
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100% agree about Mayo. Hence, why it is my top choice and if I am fortunate enough to get a secondary, I will be sending updates along the way showing my deep interest 🙂

Goro said:
Mayo
Gtown
Jefferson
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I guess I'll have to show Georgetown and Jefferson some love too then 😉.
 
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