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[candbgirl]

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I am sure sometimes older applicants have deficits in maturity as well.

Overall, looks like we the applicants are at the mercy of the reader. Are they in a good mood? Do they like your height and weight or eye color, Do you a full windsor or half windsor tie😛, Are having a good day at home etc.

Well yes, thats how life is when dealing with humans. There are always biases at work, experiences etc! That why when you have a couple of MCATS you have to take readers biases into account even if you score 15 points higher! Human idiosyncrasies are tough to predict but we always have to be aware they are out there!

 

[borrawin95]

how do you find out the proportion of non-traditional students in a program ? msar, usnwr, individually from the medical schools inside data or just talking to people and getting an idea subjectively of the proportion ?

A combination of factors (but mainly MSAR)—I also LOVE when a school is interviewed on ‘All Access’ because it helps me pin down the type of student they’re looking for.

1. Median age of accepted students according to MSAR (I like to see more folks in the 24+ range)

2. Interviews & student panels—this may be a poor indicator but I feel like WHO they put in front of me, as an interviewee, speaks volumes about the medical school.

Is the student panel entirely composed of young medical students or are there older folks peppered in the group?

3. Other interviewees—Do their screeners result in a high proportion of older applicants or is everyone around me in their senior year of college?

3. Language/materials in the way the school presents themselves (e.g. the dean of admissions at Hofstra states they seek ‘adult learners').

Do interview materials show mothers, folks that are 30+, career-changers, etc.? It demonstrates what they’re proud of as a school.

4. Extra factors for myself to gauge student maturity: Proportion of students that self-identify as disadvantaged & proportion of students that identify as URM. Schools that don’t publish this data or their proportion is 10% or lower is a red flag for myself.

I don’t want to be one of the only POCs in the room and I don’t want to be one of the few students that comes from a disadvantaged background. I understand there is a pipeline problem but it isn’t my responsibility to boost numbers at a school that has done poorly at recruiting these students from these populations.

So to add a few examples: Yale vs. Johns Hopkins vs. Dartmouth

Yale: 21% disadvantaged, 33% of the class is over 24, curriculum necessitates self-motivation and student maturity—I applied.

Johns Hopkins: 9% disadvantaged, only 25% of the class is over 24. I didn’t look any further as I didn’t apply.

Dartmouth: 23% identify as disadvantaged and 66% of the class is over 24! I didn’t need to look any further to decide that I’m applying.

 

[Talldoctor96]

all i read was "privilege" "privilege" "privilegeeeeeee"

lmao no, this does not make you ineligible for entry into medicine, but it does make you come off as immature and ignorant

maturity and age are not necessarily hand in hand, but typically older applicants know that medicine is not their entire life. you need to incorporate other hobbies and activities in your life that can bring you enduring fulfillment, because medicine is incredibly rewarding but its also stressful and taxing and there are harsh inequities about the profession that can take a toll on you, which you don't even realize

wow the ultimate smack down

 

[futuretrashwoman]

Hi everyone! I’m in the same position as the OP— submitted Mid-August, and have had radio silence (except for 3Rs). I am preparing to re-take MCAT, however, is it true, even for this cycle, that no II/interviews by November is an indication to re-apply? Just incredibly anxious and tired of the draining processes.

 

[Goro]

A combination of factors (but mainly MSAR)—I also LOVE when a school is interviewed on ‘All Access’ because it helps solidify the type of student they’re looking for.

1. Median age of accepted students according to MSAR (I like to see more folks in the 24+ range)

2. Interviews & student panels—this may be a poor indicator but I feel like WHO they put in front of me, as an interviewee, speaks volumes about the medical school.

Is the student panel entirely composed of young medical students or are there older folks peppered in the group?

3. Other interviewees—Do their screeners result in a high proportion of older applicants or is everyone around me in their senior year of college?

3. Language/materials in the way the school presents themselves (e.g. the dean of admissions at Hofstra states they seek ‘adult learners.’

Do interview materials show mothers, folks that are 30+, career-changers, etc.? It demonstrates what they’re proud of as a school.

4. Extra factors for myself to gauge student maturity: Proportion of students that self-identify as disadvantaged & proportion of students that identify as URM. Schools that don’t publish this data or their proportion is 10% or lower is a red flag for myself.

I don’t want to be one of the only POCs in the room and I don’t want to be one of the few students that comes from a disadvantaged background. I understand there is a pipeline problem but it isn’t my responsibility to boost numbers at a school that has done poorly at recruiting these students from these populations.

So to add a few examples: Yale vs. Johns Hopkins vs. Dartmouth

Yale: 21% disadvantaged, 33% of the class is over 24, curriculum necessitates self-motivation and student maturity—I applied.

Johns Hopkins: 9% disadvantaged, only 25% of the class is over 24. I didn’t look any further as I didn’t apply.

Dartmouth: 23% identify as disadvantaged and 66% of the class is over 24! I didn’t need to look any further to decide that I’m applying.

One more clue from MSAR: number of matriculants who have post-bac classwork, and/or a graduate degree. Those schools that reward reinvention tend to have more of these.

 

[LindaAccepted]

Hi everyone! I’m in the same position as the OP— submitted Mid-August, and have had radio silence (except for 3Rs). I am preparing to re-take MCAT, however, is it true, even for this cycle, that no II/interviews by November is an indication to re-apply? Just incredibly anxious and tired of the draining processes.

No it's not true. Many, many programs including HMS and Johs Hopkins and UW are stlll sending out IIs and will continue to do so at least through January.

 

[LittleBrother]

I didn't get an II until two weeks ago and got a hard-R from an instate medium their school and a soft R from an out of state school.

Yesterday I got an II to Stanford.

Sooo.... of you submitted a little late, haven't heard back from anywhere, just take a deep breath.

 

[Moko]

To add another data point: my school still has a sizeable minority (I estimate around >30%) of our interview slots to give out, and there have also been discussions to extend the interview cycle to account for this year's increased competitiveness and expected decrease in yield due to COVID-19 and virtual interviews. Obviously, everyone should constantly be improving their application until an acceptance is in hand, but it is also far too early to lose all hope. Just my thoughts.

 

[Putkernerinthehall]

To add another data point: my school still has a sizeable minority (I estimate around >30%) of our interview slots to give out, and there have also been discussions to extend the interview cycle to account for this year's increased competitiveness and expected decrease in yield due to COVID-19 and virtual interviews. Obviously, everyone should constantly be improving their application until an acceptance is in hand, but it is also far too early to lose all hope. Just my thoughts.

You're a saint for posting!