- Joined
- Nov 6, 2009
- Messages
- 203
- Reaction score
- 0
Aww. I'm sorry. Were you waitlisted? I'm not really expecting to get in, but it's nice to hear that it'll probably be an enjoyable interview experience at least.
2009-2010 Vanderbilt University Application Thread
- Thread starter shemarty
- Start date
- Status
Aww. I'm sorry. Were you waitlisted? I'm not really expecting to get in, but it's nice to hear that it'll probably be an enjoyable interview experience at least.
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2009
- Messages
- 511
- Reaction score
- 1
Okay, I'm going to succumb to temptation and ask what I've been wondering for a while now... any idea when 10/01-10/02 is going to get reviewed, and how soon after should we expect to hear back?
- Joined
- Sep 21, 2009
- Messages
- 6
- Reaction score
- 0
I think the week of 9/28 was reviewed last Friday...so we should probably expect to hear back tomorrow, if they keep the current trend.
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2009
- Messages
- 1,389
- Reaction score
- 1
I thought my interview went smoothly and now I just received the rejection letter (no immidiate invitation)....Anyway, their lost!
- Joined
- Nov 6, 2009
- Messages
- 353
- Reaction score
- 1
Ditto. They should try and reform their interview process. I'm thinking they miss out on some pretty well-qualified candidates by only having one interviewer. Of the 11 places I've interviewed, Vandy was my least favorite interview day. The school itself was nice, although Nashville isn't what I'd call ideal...
- Joined
- May 3, 2009
- Messages
- 1,908
- Reaction score
- 2
Totally agree. Vandy has the most inefficient interview day ever. 1 interviewer...2 hours of unstructured time for morning interview people...a really short, unimpressive tour...and they don't even show you the anatomy lab! (Or at least they didn't show those of us who interviewed in August).
They also need to better select some of their interviewers. Mine had zero Vanderbilt spirit and told me to go to my state school because of cost alone. At all other schools I've been to, the interviewers were really excited about being there.
...and that's how Vanderbilt fell from my #1 to unranked
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2008
- Messages
- 168
- Reaction score
- 0
Hmmm I can't say I agree. My interviewer had less questions for me than others, but I thought it was great because he asked me the essentials (tell me about yourself, why med school, why vandy, etc) in a very conversational chat. We also chatted about food, swimming, and his wife, and I thought I had all the opportunity I needed to tell him what I wanted to. I thought he was a little hard to read, but I left feeling good. The rest of the interview day was a little less organized than others, but I also liked that because I got to explore the campus and get coffee with other applicants. I think about 8 to 10 current students dropped by the admissions office that day to rave about the school and tell us why they're so happy at Vanderbilt. I left feeling more giddy about the school than I had been when I got there. Maybe their interviewers and interview days vary greatly?
Last edited:
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2008
- Messages
- 21,964
- Reaction score
- 181
Gotta agree here. The downtime was annoying, but my interviewer was awesome, and I have like 3 friends there who showed me around and I got to meet a lot of the first years. Everyone seems so happy there.
- Joined
- Jun 7, 2007
- Messages
- 693
- Reaction score
- 1
Well not everyone knows people at the school. The interview day is really unorganized compared to schools like Case Western, or Georgetown (my comparisons). The interviewer was so very nice but really they don't get any information from you. My interview nearly talked the entire time, and I really don't think he got a chance to know me. Now it will be hilarious if I get an acceptance, but based on the feel of the interview I definitely expect a rejection.
The tour was rather standard, and we had to go exploring for ourselves to figure things out. I think they need a little bit more structure to the day.
Well, to a certain extent, your post makes my point. The whole process is so inconsistent. It's completely dependent on your single interviewer. There is an advantage to multiple interviews or a panel (like Northwestern) since you get the opinion of more than one interviewer.
Vandy also appears to have a HUGE Ivy/private bias. Look at the following link under "selection factors" on their website:
https://medschool.vanderbilt.edu/admissions/undergraduate-schools-represented
Cumulative number of students over 2003-2006...
Vanderbilt - 125
Harvard - 51
Duke - 37
Princeton - 33
Emory - 29
Stanford - 28
Yale - 27
Dartmouth - 21
Notre Dame - 21
Johns Hopkins - 20
Brown - 18
I can't say I've seen such proof of obvious elitism in the process before 👎. At least Harvard refrains from publishing these number
- Joined
- May 8, 2008
- Messages
- 727
- Reaction score
- 12
Those numbers alone don't indicate any type of bias.
Well, it doesn't prove there is one. It's correlation/causation. However, can you really tell me there doesn't appear to be preference for certain institutions relative to "lesser" public schools in those numbers?
Also, the Steelers had a nice win tonight 😉
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2009
- Messages
- 511
- Reaction score
- 1
Honestly, I think everyone's individual experiences at different schools vary. Someone mentioned earlier that Vanderbilt should have been more like Case-- my Case day was terrible and I was actually incredibly happy with Vanderbilt. My interviewer had not only read my entire file, but had an entire page of copious notes and asked questions that I actually felt like mattered. My tour was extensive (though unfortunately not through the anatomy lab), and showed off the best parts of the school. I did have a lot of down time, but as interviewers, we know better than to not see that coming. With that said, I took up Judy's suggestions on places to visit and classes to sit in on, but also brought some of my own work to do. Their down time was an awesome way to get to know my fellow interviewers, and I made a couple of good friends that day. This isn't necessarily to show that Vanderbilt (or any other school, for that matter) has an interview day that can't be improved on, but rather to show that everyone has a different experience at the schools they visit.
- Joined
- May 27, 2008
- Messages
- 3,280
- Reaction score
- 82
I'm glad some people are pointing out the positives, I wanted to say something but I didn't want to have the usual defensive bias...
Look, I agree that Vandy has too much downtime in the interview day. Unfortunately, interviewers are members of the faculty and they have very specific hours when they can see students, plus some students come in the afternoons and miss the morning stuff altogether, so that requires more of a lengthy day.
For what it's worth, I had fun during my downtime when I was an interviewee. I sat in on both a first year and second year class for comparison, and then wandered around the undergrad campus (which is one of the most beautiful campuses in the country) with my fellow interviewees. My interviewer was nice, but I left with the feeling that I really hadn't done well cause I had felt like the one hour really couldn't possibly have been enough.
I have to remind you guys that Vandy does things totally differently. At other schools, post-interview decisions are made with the interviews being the only new info presented. When the committee meets to decide your fate here, they have a brand new secondary, brand new LOR's, AND the interview. It may feel like it's not worth much, but it actually is just a piece of the puzzle. So ultimately, when Vandy meets to say yay or nay, they have more stuff to talk about than any other school.
Interviews for me were a mixed bag- some were great experiences, some were meh, some were awful. I had more than one interviewer at both of the awful ones. All they asked about was activities/research (hi, it's on my application, how about you try to gauge my personality instead?) at one of the schools, and the other school had just one arbitrarily mean interviewer who left a sour taste in my mouth. Vandy wasn't my favorite interview, but I definitely had worse.
Also for what it's worth, they REALLY mean well. I'm sorry that the execution seems to not work for everyone, but they ask open-ended questions because they want to get an impression of how YOU are socially, stuff they can't really get through your application. If you sit there stiffly and try to move the conversation back to your research and activities and what you like about Vanderbilt, you will look socially inept and you won't get in. If you roll with the punches and joke around with your interviewer, it may not seem "relevant" to you, but it's probably way more helpful, ultimately. This counts for every school, by the way.
As for the anatomy lab, I'm sorry about that. We loved seeing it our year, and my whole class suggested to admissions that they come up with a good system so you guys can see it somehow since it's beyond amazing. Unfortunately, we're currently in anatomy, and we often have lab right before lunch period. Ethically, Vanderbilt believes that people donate their bodies for learning purposes, not for gawking, so only med students can see them. Because of the timing of our labs, it'd be impossible to make sure you guys don't see anything when you come in around lunchtime for your tour, so our anatomy director (who by the way wrote 2 of the 3 textbooks every med student in America uses for anatomy) decided that out of respect for the bodies we should keep the doors closed. Sucks for you guys, but if you think about it, it makes sense.
And finally, about the class makeup. I'm not from an Ivy league, so it kinda weirded me out too when I first came here. The way I see it is this: Vandy is this nationally extremely well-regarded school that always runs the risk of falling into the "regional" trap because it's in Nashville of all places. If they were to accept a whole ton of people from the state schools around here, they might lose their national reputation because grads would stick around here after graduation. Top students from other state schools often go to their own state's schools for financial reason. What does that leave you? Top students from private universities, often ones whose own affiliated med schools are so impossible to get into that the excellent students from the undergrad have to/ want to go to another great private school. Voila, you have the situation we have. For what it's worth, nobody cares where anyone went to school. Two of my closest friends went to a state school, and others went to Harvard. I went to a smaller liberal arts school. We have U Michigan and Michigan State, Vandy and U of Tennessee, etc etc etc. I didn't know one of my friends had gone to Yale until last week when I saw her facebook profile. The chip on the shoulder thing is dead by the time you're in school.
And last but not least, I want to reiterate that the administration and the admission people try like hell here. Say what you will about other schools' interview days, but this place is absolutely fantastic where it counts. You can go somewhere with the tour where they tell you all kinds of bs about approachable professors, throw you parties the day before, etc etc, or you can go here. Last week one of my professors asked me what I was doing for thanksgiving and when I told her I didn't know, she invited me over for dinner with her family. My advisor, upon hearing that I was broke, offered to let me babysit her daughters when she goes on date night with her husband so I can get paid to study at her house. My two deans know me by name and remember what my research is about. Our biochem professors threw us a party (with champagne) when we finished the class. My classmates are some of the smartest, most accomplished people I've ever met. We have division 1 varsity athletes, conservatory-trained musicians, artists, dancers, writers, and policy buffs. We get academic credit here for taking a cooking class if that's what makes us happy. That's the school I go to. Say what you will about how the professors seem unfriendly or things are disorganized, but focus on what matters.
Look, I agree that Vandy has too much downtime in the interview day. Unfortunately, interviewers are members of the faculty and they have very specific hours when they can see students, plus some students come in the afternoons and miss the morning stuff altogether, so that requires more of a lengthy day.
For what it's worth, I had fun during my downtime when I was an interviewee. I sat in on both a first year and second year class for comparison, and then wandered around the undergrad campus (which is one of the most beautiful campuses in the country) with my fellow interviewees. My interviewer was nice, but I left with the feeling that I really hadn't done well cause I had felt like the one hour really couldn't possibly have been enough.
I have to remind you guys that Vandy does things totally differently. At other schools, post-interview decisions are made with the interviews being the only new info presented. When the committee meets to decide your fate here, they have a brand new secondary, brand new LOR's, AND the interview. It may feel like it's not worth much, but it actually is just a piece of the puzzle. So ultimately, when Vandy meets to say yay or nay, they have more stuff to talk about than any other school.
Interviews for me were a mixed bag- some were great experiences, some were meh, some were awful. I had more than one interviewer at both of the awful ones. All they asked about was activities/research (hi, it's on my application, how about you try to gauge my personality instead?) at one of the schools, and the other school had just one arbitrarily mean interviewer who left a sour taste in my mouth. Vandy wasn't my favorite interview, but I definitely had worse.
Also for what it's worth, they REALLY mean well. I'm sorry that the execution seems to not work for everyone, but they ask open-ended questions because they want to get an impression of how YOU are socially, stuff they can't really get through your application. If you sit there stiffly and try to move the conversation back to your research and activities and what you like about Vanderbilt, you will look socially inept and you won't get in. If you roll with the punches and joke around with your interviewer, it may not seem "relevant" to you, but it's probably way more helpful, ultimately. This counts for every school, by the way.
As for the anatomy lab, I'm sorry about that. We loved seeing it our year, and my whole class suggested to admissions that they come up with a good system so you guys can see it somehow since it's beyond amazing. Unfortunately, we're currently in anatomy, and we often have lab right before lunch period. Ethically, Vanderbilt believes that people donate their bodies for learning purposes, not for gawking, so only med students can see them. Because of the timing of our labs, it'd be impossible to make sure you guys don't see anything when you come in around lunchtime for your tour, so our anatomy director (who by the way wrote 2 of the 3 textbooks every med student in America uses for anatomy) decided that out of respect for the bodies we should keep the doors closed. Sucks for you guys, but if you think about it, it makes sense.
And finally, about the class makeup. I'm not from an Ivy league, so it kinda weirded me out too when I first came here. The way I see it is this: Vandy is this nationally extremely well-regarded school that always runs the risk of falling into the "regional" trap because it's in Nashville of all places. If they were to accept a whole ton of people from the state schools around here, they might lose their national reputation because grads would stick around here after graduation. Top students from other state schools often go to their own state's schools for financial reason. What does that leave you? Top students from private universities, often ones whose own affiliated med schools are so impossible to get into that the excellent students from the undergrad have to/ want to go to another great private school. Voila, you have the situation we have. For what it's worth, nobody cares where anyone went to school. Two of my closest friends went to a state school, and others went to Harvard. I went to a smaller liberal arts school. We have U Michigan and Michigan State, Vandy and U of Tennessee, etc etc etc. I didn't know one of my friends had gone to Yale until last week when I saw her facebook profile. The chip on the shoulder thing is dead by the time you're in school.
And last but not least, I want to reiterate that the administration and the admission people try like hell here. Say what you will about other schools' interview days, but this place is absolutely fantastic where it counts. You can go somewhere with the tour where they tell you all kinds of bs about approachable professors, throw you parties the day before, etc etc, or you can go here. Last week one of my professors asked me what I was doing for thanksgiving and when I told her I didn't know, she invited me over for dinner with her family. My advisor, upon hearing that I was broke, offered to let me babysit her daughters when she goes on date night with her husband so I can get paid to study at her house. My two deans know me by name and remember what my research is about. Our biochem professors threw us a party (with champagne) when we finished the class. My classmates are some of the smartest, most accomplished people I've ever met. We have division 1 varsity athletes, conservatory-trained musicians, artists, dancers, writers, and policy buffs. We get academic credit here for taking a cooking class if that's what makes us happy. That's the school I go to. Say what you will about how the professors seem unfriendly or things are disorganized, but focus on what matters.
Last edited:
Can someone familiar with the transportation logistics help me out: If the interview day is slated to end at 3:45p, is catching a 5:25p flight out of Nashville feasible? I don't know how long a shuttle would take to get to the airport. Or are there quicker alternatives, like taxis? I'm trying really hard to not have to miss an extra day of work by flying back home the day after the interview...
TIA
TIA
You can definitely make it. It's like 20 minutes by shuttle. Also, you don't have to do the children's tour if you're really worried about time.
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2007
- Messages
- 360
- Reaction score
- 0
It is really surprising to me to hear these negative sentiments about Vandy's interview day. I've had plenty of interviews and Vandy probably had the most friendly admissions staff. It is true there was down time, but I spent that time having good conversations with fellow interviewees and sitting in on lectures. Met plenty of laid back students, so even if there is a "private school bias," which I highly doubt since I was accepted from a state school, it doesn't effect the social environment in any way. I guess when you only have one interviewer, there is a certain degree of sampling error.
Last edited:
Good to know about the tour!! Thanks for the quick reply! This is going to save me a huge headache!
Fair enough but, for me personally, I've been accepted to schools I prefer over Vandy (Michigan, Pitt and Northwestern). I'm posting here because I feel its important that people shouldn't waste their time and money attending an interview at a school if they're at a disadvantage, however slight.
Had I known about the class composition and that my interviewer wouldn't have really read my file 😡, I would have declined my interview and saved my limited resources. I guess I learned I won't be applying here for residency
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2009
- Messages
- 511
- Reaction score
- 1
Here's to hearing back good news tomorrow. =]
- Joined
- May 9, 2009
- Messages
- 10
- Reaction score
- 1
Fair enough but, for me personally, I've been accepted to schools I prefer over Vandy (Michigan, Pitt and Northwestern). I'm posting here because I feel its important that people shouldn't waste their time and money attending an interview at a school if they're at a disadvantage, however slight.
Had I known about the class composition and that my interviewer wouldn't have really read my file 😡, I would have declined my interview and saved my limited resources. I guess I learned I won't be applying here for residency
👍
Last edited:
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2009
- Messages
- 280
- Reaction score
- 0
To add to that, I did an afternoon interview and had basically zero downtime as a result. Later start and a more streamlined day was really nice. My interviewer was a really brusque with a heart of gold NY-type, and she really liked her list of structured questions, so the interview itself was not what I would call 'laid back.' But, she gave me some of the best advice on choosing a medical school that I have received to date. And took time to sell Vandy in a very tailored sort of way.
Also, can someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought that the interviewers got only part of your file? Or is it just that they don't get your secondary? My interviewer complained about how she always felt "blinded" by the amount of info given her by the committee.
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2008
- Messages
- 21,964
- Reaction score
- 181
They have all of your AMCAS but no secondary and no letters.
Agree Completely!
- Joined
- May 27, 2008
- Messages
- 3,280
- Reaction score
- 82
Fair enough but, for me personally, I've been accepted to schools I prefer over Vandy (Michigan, Pitt and Northwestern). I'm posting here because I feel its important that people shouldn't waste their time and money attending an interview at a school if they're at a disadvantage, however slight.
Had I known about the class composition and that my interviewer wouldn't have really read my file 😡, I would have declined my interview and saved my limited resources. I guess I learned I won't be applying here for residency
As you said, fair enough, you are certainly entitled to your opinion. But please don't presume to say that it's a waste of time/money to come here for an interview cause that's insulting and ignorant. The admission system works differently here, which you knew before you applied. Plenty of schools have closed-file interviews, the purpose being that they aren't biased by stuff like GPAs and MCAT scores. It allows them to see your personality, not your CV. If you don't like that, great. If you like that, great. For what it's worth, I much preferred my closed file interviews to my open file ones, but it's a case of different strokes, I guess. They're certainly not going to kiss up to you cause of your 4.0 and high MCAT here, and I'm sorry if that upset you.
As for the school composition, that's not why you didn't get in. I can tell you that for a fact because there are plenty of people in my class from state schools and non-ivy private schools. There wasn't a bias against you. They just didn't like you. It's certainly their prerogative.There is no disadvantage to coming from non-ivies, so future applicants, for God's sake don't assume that's true. If so, there would be very few people in my class. Incidentally, as you mentioned most schools don't state their class makeups, so the assumption that this is a Vandy-only thing is faulty because you have no other data.
Anyway, if people want to know stuff about the school, let me know.
I'm really surprised to see all the negative comments here. My interview day at Vanderbilt has been my favorite so far. My interviewer wasn't the most talkative person ever, but every single person I met throughout the entire interview day was so friendly and enthusiastic. I actually felt like the students thoroughly enjoyed being there. I haven't seen a similar type of enthusiasm at any other school.
If I get waitlisted or rejected, my opinion will not change. This school is simply amazing! I still feel extremely privileged to have even been invited here for an interview!
If I get waitlisted or rejected, my opinion will not change. This school is simply amazing! I still feel extremely privileged to have even been invited here for an interview!
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2007
- Messages
- 12,746
- Reaction score
- 2,480
We interviewed together, I believe.
So why does everyone think stuff will come out this week? I thought it was every other week, which would mean next week (people got calls last Tuesday, I think).
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2009
- Messages
- 511
- Reaction score
- 1
Hasn't it been every Tuesday since October 15th?
that's what i was wondering too. There have only been 2 rounds of acceptances so far, right?
- Joined
- May 3, 2009
- Messages
- 1,908
- Reaction score
- 2
1st bold: are you saying Vanderbilt cares about your personality? Well it's all fine and dandy if your interviewer cares about learning about your personality...
2nd bold: harsh.
- Joined
- May 27, 2008
- Messages
- 3,280
- Reaction score
- 82
Uuuuh yeah they do care about your personality. Do you think they shouldn't?
As for the harshness, I found his comments harsh to begin with and was simply speaking his language. It might suck, but it's true. Call it what you want, but when you dont get in somewhere, it's cause they liked someone better than you.
- Joined
- May 3, 2009
- Messages
- 1,908
- Reaction score
- 2
I dunno I'm just bitter that my interviewer didn't let me talk, thus he was very disinterested in me as a person. Vandy was my top choice and my girlfriend has one more year at Vandy for nursing - so hopefully it's understandable why I'm slightly bitter about getting waitlisted (especially after I did a summer of research there and got an LOR from a faculty member and pretty much let them know I would go there over any other school)...
But that's just my sob story
- Joined
- May 8, 2008
- Messages
- 727
- Reaction score
- 12
Yes, I can really say that. Let's face it, the institutions you listed get most of the best high school students every year, it only makes sense that they would put out a majority of the most competitive applicants too. I'd expect every top 25 private school to mirror those numbers.
Amazing win. That's now five in a row, after a two week choke job against the Bears and Bengals early in the season.
Seriously? That's just misinformation / bad advice. Two friends are now first years at Vanderbilt - that's two seats in a very small class given to applicants from a public school ranked in the low 100s. Qualified students are qualified no matter where they come from, it's just more likely that they'll be from prestigious schools.
Agreed, afternoon interviews are the way to go.
Ouch. I don't know if Vandy does post-interview rejections, it doesn't seem like it, but getting the hold letter means they don't like you? Seems a little overly defensive, when it's been said that such people sometimes get accepted later on...
They've only done two rounds so far. Next Tuesday seems likely.
- Joined
- May 27, 2008
- Messages
- 3,280
- Reaction score
- 82
Ok, I'm sorry for implying that when you're waitlisted it means you were hated. I'm having a terrible week and am really cranky. I guess I should have said that they preferred someone else to you (a fact, though an irritating one, not an opinion). I'm not one to judge- I got waitlisted at half the schools that interviewed me. They wanted someone more than they wanted me, period.
Schools (at least the ones that care about the happiness of their students and the integrity of their class) generally try to create a class that'll work well together as a whole. Unfortunately what that often means is that they don't think you'd fit well in the school (or not as well as someone else) so you get the axe. It's part of the process. What Vandy does, which I find kinda nice, is that they don't reject until later because they want to see how the class shapes up and want to fit people within it throughout the cycle. Ergo the vague waitlist/hold list thing. So if you're waitlisted thus far, it's cause there was no spot for you- someone else took it. However, that someone else may have hated the interview day or something and they might leave you their spot.
Schools (at least the ones that care about the happiness of their students and the integrity of their class) generally try to create a class that'll work well together as a whole. Unfortunately what that often means is that they don't think you'd fit well in the school (or not as well as someone else) so you get the axe. It's part of the process. What Vandy does, which I find kinda nice, is that they don't reject until later because they want to see how the class shapes up and want to fit people within it throughout the cycle. Ergo the vague waitlist/hold list thing. So if you're waitlisted thus far, it's cause there was no spot for you- someone else took it. However, that someone else may have hated the interview day or something and they might leave you their spot.
- Joined
- May 3, 2009
- Messages
- 1,908
- Reaction score
- 2
I doubt that they're trying to make a "cohesive group" of "exceptionally well-rounded and wonderfully collegiate" students that "fit in well". These are buzz phrases for admissions pamphlets. What they are doing is tossing acceptances at what they consider to be the cream of the crop. I'm not the cream of the crop. So be it.
But the disappointing thing, no doubt, is the inconsistency of the interview day. It just doesn't serve the applicants well. There need to be 2 interviewers at least to get a more well-rounded assessment of the applicants.
I'm done complaining about Vanderbilt. I hope I don't sound too whiny, but for reasons I outlined a post back you can see why not getting into Vanderbilt has slightly put me on edge.
But the disappointing thing, no doubt, is the inconsistency of the interview day. It just doesn't serve the applicants well. There need to be 2 interviewers at least to get a more well-rounded assessment of the applicants.
I'm done complaining about Vanderbilt. I hope I don't sound too whiny, but for reasons I outlined a post back you can see why not getting into Vanderbilt has slightly put me on edge.
- Joined
- May 27, 2008
- Messages
- 3,280
- Reaction score
- 82
Eh I really am sorry about that. For what it's worth, I had a very similar experience- I applied to one school last year with a letter of rec from one of their department heads, extensive research at their hospital, and my actual AMCAS personal statement talked about how badly I want to work with one of their faculty members cause his unusual research interests match mine perfectly. I called on every favor I could get. Nothing, not even an interview. It sucked.
A waitlist is definitely not game over though. If you are still interested, I'd send them a letter.
As for the cream of the crop argument, under no circumstances could that possibly apply to me. I really think i fit a kind of person they wanted. It sure as hell wasn't because I was the most qualified for the spot.
- Joined
- May 27, 2008
- Messages
- 3,280
- Reaction score
- 82
Ok, sorry, I was re-reading my posts and now I feel bad.
Sorry I got cranky 🙄. I've been kinda stressed. I hope you all do great wherever you end up. To those who are coming here- yay! To those who are waitlisted: good luck, send letters if you love us, and remind yourself you hated it in the first place if it doesn't work out. I'll make sure to mention some of you guys' comments to admission peeps at some point since it seems to reflect poorly on our school and I know that's the last thing they'd want. As I said, I love it here, I don't know absolutely anyone in my class who doesn't feel incredibly lucky to be here, and I'm sorry that my being a crankypants gave you guys a bad impression.
Sigh, back to studying...
Sorry I got cranky 🙄. I've been kinda stressed. I hope you all do great wherever you end up. To those who are coming here- yay! To those who are waitlisted: good luck, send letters if you love us, and remind yourself you hated it in the first place if it doesn't work out. I'll make sure to mention some of you guys' comments to admission peeps at some point since it seems to reflect poorly on our school and I know that's the last thing they'd want. As I said, I love it here, I don't know absolutely anyone in my class who doesn't feel incredibly lucky to be here, and I'm sorry that my being a crankypants gave you guys a bad impression.
Sigh, back to studying...
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2009
- Messages
- 511
- Reaction score
- 1
Good luck studying, and if you're going to talk to the Admissions Office anyway, tell Dean Zic to give me a call. 😉
I never thought school should "kiss up to me" because of my stats. I expected the school, however, to be respectful of my time and interest. They re-scheduled my interview time before I arrived because my interviewer was busy at my initially scheduled time. When I finally had a chance to interview, it was apparent she had not read much on me. She had been busy writing a grant proposal when I walked in. Also, about 10 minutes into the interview she asked me, "do you have any more questions for me?" That was really the only thing she asked me for the rest of the interview. I tried to make the most of it, but it was worthless. The last thing she asked me was to recount all my activities and their duration in college, as if she didn't have that in my file. It was a ridiculous interview and I fault Vandy for their 1-interview process.Also, I'm not sure what you're trying to say. The interview isn't supposed to be closed-file. It was an open-file interview with a really unprepared and uninterested interviewer.
Fair enough. The ivy-bias thing is a losing argument without any other data so whatever. I agree you can get in from a state school, it just seems Vandy tends to prefer Ivy... but I admit I cannot prove it! Many other institutions probably do too.
Haha, so one interviewer speaks for the entire institution? 🙄 Man, that's too bad that Vandy itself hates me. I wish they wouldn't have invited me in the first place then. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that my file doesn't really have any red flags in it, since I've been accepted at 7 other schools... Again, in my opinion, the fault lies with my interviewer. Who, I feel, wasted my time. IMO, it reflects poorly on the school and that is why I am annoyed.
Regardless, I'm gonna stop returning the hate back towards Vandy. Congrats to those accepted and best of luck to those on the waitlist who wish to attend.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Aug 17, 2009
- Messages
- 618
- Reaction score
- 1
for what it's worth, I had a similar experience with my interviewer. It was VERY brief, and I didn't get to do a whole lot of talking. It's a tough position because you can't just say "hey shut up, I need to give you stuff to tell the adcom!" I wouldn't be surprised if I get rejected/waitlisted too (not that I had much of a chance to begin with, but I hoped the interview would at least help).
I'm sure the institution means well, but I think everyone has brought up valid concerns--poorly structured interview day, poor interview quality, and lack of double interview. Hopefully they will work on these things for future years.
I'm sure the institution means well, but I think everyone has brought up valid concerns--poorly structured interview day, poor interview quality, and lack of double interview. Hopefully they will work on these things for future years.
My day felt amazing throughout, with the exception of the lack of interest in details about me during the interview - we literally spent only 10 minutes out of the hour talking about me (which was why I felt so horrible about it afterwords). But in retrospect Vandy asks you for a 2000 word autobiography - ie, tell us everything that's notable in your life. Given that, I doubt they need to learn much specifics/details in person.
- Joined
- Aug 17, 2009
- Messages
- 618
- Reaction score
- 1
Wow. I just got a PM who identified my interviewer based on my post above. I gotta say that's unbelievable that she treats her interviewees that way... 😱
Anonymously, here was what was messaged to me:
"there was one other guy on my day who interviewed with her and he felt bad about it too. she asked us the exact same questions. as we were sitting in the little admissions room, a current med student came in and was talking. apparently he had interviewed with her 2 years ago and she asked the exact same 4 questions. i can't believe that such a great school would pick such terrible interviewers. she literally took my app off the top of printer when i walked in. i don't think she'd even looked at it. i've got a feeling i'll be getting some terrible news within the next week or so because of it"
That's not right.
Anonymously, here was what was messaged to me:
"there was one other guy on my day who interviewed with her and he felt bad about it too. she asked us the exact same questions. as we were sitting in the little admissions room, a current med student came in and was talking. apparently he had interviewed with her 2 years ago and she asked the exact same 4 questions. i can't believe that such a great school would pick such terrible interviewers. she literally took my app off the top of printer when i walked in. i don't think she'd even looked at it. i've got a feeling i'll be getting some terrible news within the next week or so because of it"
That's not right.
Last edited:
- Joined
- May 27, 2008
- Messages
- 3,280
- Reaction score
- 82
Hmmm I have a feeling this is an issue of lack of communication rather than ill will.
Can someone tell me who that interviewer was? I can let the admission people know. We really shouldn't have someone who makes people that uncomfortable, and I'm sure the admission people just plain don't know cause acceptees aren't going to look a gift horse in the mouth and waitlistees don't want to piss them off. I'm a first year, I know some of the second years on the admission committee, so I dont care 😛. Anyway, yeah, let me know who it is and I'll pass the info along.
Can someone tell me who that interviewer was? I can let the admission people know. We really shouldn't have someone who makes people that uncomfortable, and I'm sure the admission people just plain don't know cause acceptees aren't going to look a gift horse in the mouth and waitlistees don't want to piss them off. I'm a first year, I know some of the second years on the admission committee, so I dont care 😛. Anyway, yeah, let me know who it is and I'll pass the info along.
https://www.vanderbiltchildrens.org/interior.php?mid=5728&did=2848
I do hope this helps because I don't think anyone should feel this way about Vandy due to such a poor interview experience. It is a good school, but my own experience totally ruined my perception of the place. I've been lucky to have other acceptances, but such an experience would be really unfair to those for whom Vandy is a top choice. Here's to hoping no one else is subjected to this interviewer...
for those who had bad interview experiences, was it because the interviewers did not care to learn more about you by talking the entire time, or was it because the interviewer was asking short questions and being non-conversational?
please let me know.
please let me know.
Except, WashU audits their interviews by having a certain portion of their interviewers accompanied by another interviewer. They say they do it to ensure quality and consistency. Vandy should consider doing something like this too. Well, I'm going to WashU next week. Hopefully, I'll have a better experience than what I did with Dr. Roumie.
Unfriendly and non-conversational. When we did converse, it was not about anything really meaningful at all. The questions were not meant to "assess my personality" either. She had a couple questions that took up 10 minutes and then she asked was like "anything else?" It was like she wanted me out of there as fast as possible. Total BS.
- Status
