2010-2011 Stanford University Application Thread

[karayraisu]

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Can I ask whether the rejection letter is sent to the permanent or the mailing address? There's no one at my permanent address for at least another month.

I'm pretty sure by this time there's no more hope of getting an interview here, but I'm really confused why most of my friends have gotten rejections letters already but I have yet to receive this elusive letter. I hope I don't become a statistic!

Thanks.

 

[NickNaylor]

Mine was sent to my permanent address.

Sounds like you probably should've chosen a permanent address where people would be? 😕

 

[karayraisu]

Mine was sent to my permanent address.

Sounds like you probably should've chosen a permanent address where people would be? 😕

Thanks. There were people there but they're on a three-month vacation abroad.

 

[phosphokinase]

Got the call today!!!!!! ahhhhh I am so unbelievably excited!!!!!!
😍 Stanford!!! top choice! 😀:

Interviewed Jan 8th Everyone!

 

[Berkely10]

OMG congratulations!!!!

Jan 8th though? That is a Sat right?

Also, did you get the email saying you would receive the decision in the mail?

 

[phosphokinase]

OMG congratulations!!!!

Jan 8th though? That is a Sat right?

Also, did you get the email saying you would receive the decision in the mail?

Yes, it was a Saturday- odd, I know. I didn't get any e-mail, just the call from Dr Garcia. He said I will be getting a packet in the mail, I don't know when though because I pretty much stopped listening after the "accepted part", I was too excited to focus lol

 

[Berkely10]

Haha I can imagine. Thanks for the quick reply! I interviewed on the 10th so I feared you had mistaken your interview date :/ Well, assuming nobody interviewed on the 9th and that decisions for the 10th haven't already been made then I guess ill know my fate soon enough

 

[phosphokinase]

Haha I can imagine. Thanks for the quick reply! I interviewed on the 10th so I feared you had mistaken your interview date :/ Well, assuming nobody interviewed on the 9th and that decisions for the 10th haven't already been made then I guess ill know my fate soon enough

I'm sure you will! Hopefully you get the wonderful call as well

 

[Torquester]

New to SDN, but I have been following this thread for a little bit. I figured I should post a little insight. I would absolutely love to go to Stanford, but hadn't heard back one way or the other (rejection or interview invite). I emailed the admissions office and the assistant director of admissions indicated that interview invites are offered up through March 2011.

I know this is contradictory to prior posts, but perhaps a little hope remains for those who have heard nothing since submitting their secondary.

 

[hopefuldoc97239]

I got gutsy this morning and wrote to Stanford asking for an interview on a specific date.

I know this might come off as "pushy," but since the clock is ticking I figure I don't have much to lose with Stanford, and as long as I'm flying in to interview at UCSF I might as well give it a try asking to interview at Stanford while I'm in town.

We'll see how this plays out!

 

[mdphd72]

So I was rejected from MSTP but just interviewed for med only on the 5th. Do I actually have a chance or was this just a sympathy interview they offer all MD/PhDs who don't get an MSTP interview offer?

 

[Evergrey]

So I was rejected from MSTP but just interviewed for med only on the 5th. Do I actually have a chance or was this just a sympathy interview they offer all MD/PhDs who don't get an MSTP interview offer?

Applying to med school, especially Stanford, is so competitive that I can't imagine them giving out "pity" interviews. I don't speak with authority, but I would wager that you have a solid chance at an acceptance 👍

 

[Berkely10]

Anyone from 1/10 hear back yet?

 

[mdphd72]

Anyone from 1/10 hear back yet?

Did they say when they would start getting back to people? I actually don't remember. But I interviewed 2/5

 

[Berkely10]

As far as I can tell someone who interviewed on 1/7 heard back two weeks ago and someone who interviewed 1/8 heard back last week.

Hopefully that means 1/10 decisions will be soon.

As far as a specific date, I don't think they have a set schedule

 

[phosphokinase]

Did they say when they would start getting back to people? I actually don't remember. But I interviewed 2/5

During my interview day on Jan 8th they said we would hear from them the first or second week in Feb.

 

[mdphd72]

During my interview day on Jan 8th they said we would hear from them the first or second week in Feb.

GAHHHHHHHHH I just want to knowwww so I can stop daydreaming about receiving the phonecall hahah

 

[Berkely10]

Hey did you ever receive that email about getting a packet in the mail? Also, what time of day did they call you haha. I want to be able to say "o well maybe the next day" after 2pm or something

 

[Berkely10]

GAHHHHHHHHH I just want to knowwww so I can stop daydreaming about receiving the phonecall hahah

haha I cant imagine you will hear back before me (I interviewed on 1/10) even considering that I might get wl or *knocks on wood* rejected by snail mail.

 

[mdeast]

So I was rejected from MSTP but just interviewed for med only on the 5th. Do I actually have a chance or was this just a sympathy interview they offer all MD/PhDs who don't get an MSTP interview offer?

I'm pretty sure we have a couple of people in my class who came in this way. So yes, you're definitely be considered...they wouldn't have taken the time to interview you if they didn't think they wanted you here. Also keep in mind that you can apply again for the MSTP program at any point in your Stanford career (meaning we have 1st years doing that for next year). It's definitely an uphill battle in your younger years, but a bit easier to do after you've completed your first pre-clinical years.

As for anyone who hasn't heard back, I'm pretty sure we've extended our interview session through March and added an extra date for a remaining batch of interviewees the office wanted to bring to campus. So again, if you haven't heard anything yet it still means you're in the running for some of the last available spots.

 

[phosphokinase]

Hey did you ever receive that email about getting a packet in the mail? Also, what time of day did they call you haha. I want to be able to say "o well maybe the next day" after 2pm or something

I never received an e-mail about getting a packet in the mail. I got the phone call at 6:50pm from a 650 area code haha... I totally just checked my phone
Oh and I got my acceptance packet in the mail yesterday too... it's real! lol
Good Luck

 

[kevinlu]

So I was rejected from MSTP but just interviewed for med only on the 5th. Do I actually have a chance or was this just a sympathy interview they offer all MD/PhDs who don't get an MSTP interview offer?

Hi,

As a fellow MSTP applicant, I can offer you some insight on this. 🙂

The two committees work separately, but together. Evaluations of all MSTP applicants and potential fellows have to go through the MD pipeline first, then reach the MSTP only if the MD committee finds them suitable. I interviewed in early December for both the MSTP and MD, and it was made 100% clear that independent evaluation by the School of Medicine happened first after you finish interviewing.

You must be accepted MD first, and only then will the MSTP open your file again for final review. So just because the MSTP chooses 50 people to invite for interviews every year, it does not mean they will have to whittle that 50 down to the 12-16ish they will accept. Not all 50 will make it through the MD cut, so much of the work is done at that step.

In your case, however, I think the MSTP could not offer you an interview and passed you on to the School of Medicine. Their evaluation of you was separate and independent, and they decided to give you an MD interview because they thought you were deserving of one. Simple as that. No pity involved. 🙂


And for full disclosure, I was one of those MSTP interviewees who is having trouble getting past the MD stage. I was waitlisted for the School of Medicine in mid-January (SOOOO early in the "rolling decisions" cycle...it doesn't imply anything good). After the MMIs happened, I knew I was going to have a hard time with the MD acceptance. 🙁 I'm putting a lot of my willpower into getting off the waitlist ASAP, because only then will the MSTP give me that final look-over. I care because this is most definitely my top choice after going to 16 different schools. Such a long interview season...

 

[mdphd72]

I'm pretty sure we have a couple of people in my class who came in this way. So yes, you're definitely be considered...they wouldn't have taken the time to interview you if they didn't think they wanted you here. Also keep in mind that you can apply again for the MSTP program at any point in your Stanford career (meaning we have 1st years doing that for next year). It's definitely an uphill battle in your younger years, but a bit easier to do after you've completed your first pre-clinical years.

As for anyone who hasn't heard back, I'm pretty sure we've extended our interview session through March and added an extra date for a remaining batch of interviewees the office wanted to bring to campus. So again, if you haven't heard anything yet it still means you're in the running for some of the last available spots.

I guess I wasn't trying to suggest a "pity" interview so much as a "default" interview option after MSTP rejection. But I read that they only interview 50/250 MSTP applicants on their faq page. And I doubt that 200/600 or so of the med interviewees were MSTP applicants. And I also read that they accept 1-2 internal MSTP applicants each year!

So I know that they and many others believe that the MMI scoring more closely correlates to physician success. I'm wondering if their MMI scores are making them realize that the pool they've been choosing for interviews isn't the best according to MMI and that's why they've extended it? :/ Or maybe they just want more MMI practice--I think that's valid.

 

[koolkat2011]

Does anyone know through what date they've made decisions on? Has anyone heard back from 1/12?

Thanks!

 

[ddsunnyd]

I'm pretty sure we have a couple of people in my class who came in this way. So yes, you're definitely be considered...they wouldn't have taken the time to interview you if they didn't think they wanted you here. Also keep in mind that you can apply again for the MSTP program at any point in your Stanford career (meaning we have 1st years doing that for next year). It's definitely an uphill battle in your younger years, but a bit easier to do after you've completed your first pre-clinical years.

As for anyone who hasn't heard back, I'm pretty sure we've extended our interview session through March and added an extra date for a remaining batch of interviewees the office wanted to bring to campus. So again, if you haven't heard anything yet it still means you're in the running for some of the last available spots.

man.... REALLLLY hoping for a spot in this final remaining recently added interview day!!!

 

[karayraisu]

As for anyone who hasn't heard back, I'm pretty sure we've extended our interview session through March and added an extra date for a remaining batch of interviewees the office wanted to bring to campus. So again, if you haven't heard anything yet it still means you're in the running for some of the last available spots.

Still haven't received the rejection letter, both at the permanent and the mailing address. 😉

This is like live-version Survivor, hahaha (although the last time I said this I got rejected by UCSF 3 days later...😛)

ps. Should I send in a pre-interview update, even though I know they don't read those updates?

 

[mdphd72]

Hi,

As a fellow MSTP applicant, I can offer you some insight on this. 🙂

The two committees work separately, but together. Evaluations of all MSTP applicants and potential fellows have to go through the MD pipeline first, then reach the MSTP only if the MD committee finds them suitable. I interviewed in early December for both the MSTP and MD, and it was made 100% clear that independent evaluation by the School of Medicine happened first after you finish interviewing.

You must be accepted MD first, and only then will the MSTP open your file again for final review. So just because the MSTP chooses 50 people to invite for interviews every year, it does not mean they will have to whittle that 50 down to the 12-16ish they will accept. Not all 50 will make it through the MD cut, so much of the work is done at that step.

In your case, however, I think the MSTP could not offer you an interview and passed you on to the School of Medicine. Their evaluation of you was separate and independent, and they decided to give you an MD interview because they thought you were deserving of one. Simple as that. No pity involved. 🙂


And for full disclosure, I was one of those MSTP interviewees who is having trouble getting past the MD stage. I was waitlisted for the School of Medicine in mid-January (SOOOO early in the "rolling decisions" cycle...it doesn't imply anything good). After the MMIs happened, I knew I was going to have a hard time with the MD acceptance. 🙁 I'm putting a lot of my willpower into getting off the waitlist ASAP, because only then will the MSTP give me that final look-over. I care because this is most definitely my top choice after going to 16 different schools. Such a long interview season...

Thanks for the info! It feels good to know that Stanford medicine is interested in me period, especially when they're my top choice for school. But I really want to be an MSTP student there. The possibilities are endless, the skills obtained are invaluable, the resources and motivation are plentiful.... I could go on and on If only we could combine our applications! hahah. I actually think that my not being published yet has played a big role. I've been in 3 different labs in the last 4 years without any publications, which I think looks like I'm unproductive. But on top of mitigating circumstances, I just have things in the transcript phase. But this could VERY WELL just be me making excuses to make me feel better hahah.

As for the long interview season, I definitely know what you mean. I still have 3 left and 2 schools who haven't given me anything yet (but those are most likely rejections because of how late in the game it is). I think MD/PhDs tend to interview more because (1)the program is such a huge time commitment that you want to REALLY be sure that you love the place, (2)it's incredibly competitive, and (3) med students can start declining interviews when they hear back from a school while we have to wait until the very end haha.

 

[dragon529]

Rejected via snail mail today. Gluck to the rest of yall!

 

[mdphd72]

Does anyone know through what date they've made decisions on? Has anyone heard back from 1/12?

Thanks!

A few posts back someone said an applicant around that day recently heard back. So it could be any day now!

 

[kevinlu]

I guess I wasn't trying to suggest a "pity" interview so much as a "default" interview option after MSTP rejection. But I read that they only interview 50/250 MSTP applicants on their faq page. And I doubt that 200/600 or so of the med interviewees were MSTP applicants. And I also read that they accept 1-2 internal MSTP applicants each year!

So I know that they and many others believe that the MMI scoring more closely correlates to physician success. I'm wondering if their MMI scores are making them realize that the pool they've been choosing for interviews isn't the best according to MMI and that's why they've extended it? :/ Or maybe they just want more MMI practice--I think that's valid.

They interview 50 people a year. They've got a lot more than 250 applicants in reality, I think.

The class is supposed to be around 10 each year. Sometimes they have more, most times less. They only accept a handful more than their class size, though. The lower end of the range the directors gave us was 12 acceptances for their 10 person class. That's a crazy retention rate.

And I personally disagree with the MMIs as I experienced them on my interview day. Based on my experience, I think it tends to select for a very specific, stubborn personality type that can commit to a choice and barrel on through any arguments. But again, that's just my personal opinion on the matter. (And it might have something to do with the fact that if I hadn't chosen to apply the first year the MMIs were implemented, I'd probably have done much better at traditional MD interview 🙄).

 

[mdeast]

Thanks for the info! It feels good to know that Stanford medicine is interested in me period, especially when they're my top choice for school. But I really want to be an MSTP student there. The possibilities are endless, the skills obtained are invaluable, the resources and motivation are plentiful.... I could go on and on If only we could combine our applications! hahah. I actually think that my not being published yet has played a big role. I've been in 3 different labs in the last 4 years without any publications, which I think looks like I'm unproductive. But on top of mitigating circumstances, I just have things in the transcript phase. But this could VERY WELL just be me making excuses to make me feel better hahah.

As for the long interview season, I definitely know what you mean. I still have 3 left and 2 schools who haven't given me anything yet (but those are most likely rejections because of how late in the game it is). I think MD/PhDs tend to interview more because (1)the program is such a huge time commitment that you want to REALLY be sure that you love the place, (2)it's incredibly competitive, and (3) med students can start declining interviews when they hear back from a school while we have to wait until the very end haha.

Just a quick reiteration....if you end up accepted MD and want to do MSTP you can apply later in your career. Many students do this and find creative ways to make the first two years of tuition a little less daunting (MedScholars, TAing, outside fellowships, etc.). That being said, if you get MSTP funding elsewhere I'd think long and hard before giving that up for a MD-only spot should you arrive in that situation. And always remember that Stanford is a great place (certainly not without it's faults...but a great place)....but in the long run, getting a MD/PhD from any of the schools you're considering will be a fun, enlightening, and career building experience.

 

[mdphd72]

Just a quick reiteration....if you end up accepted MD and want to do MSTP you can apply later in your career. Many students do this and find creative ways to make the first two years of tuition a little less daunting (MedScholars, TAing, outside fellowships, etc.). That being said, if you get MSTP funding elsewhere I'd think long and hard before giving that up for a MD-only spot should you arrive in that situation. And always remember that Stanford is a great place (certainly not without it's faults...but a great place)....but in the long run, getting a MD/PhD from any of the schools you're considering will be a fun, enlightening, and career building experience.

Yeah I know you can internally apply. But they said they only take 1-2 each year like that. If I get in MD, I plan on contacting the MD/PhD director to talk to you her seriously about my chances of internally matriculating to the MSTP. I know it will be a hard decision between Stanford MD and a fully funded MD/PhD program, which may sound crazy to some. But I'm not all about the money, since I went to college knowing I would come out ridiculously in the hole haha. I love Stanford, and so far there is only one other place that comes anywhere close on my list. I feel like getting a 5 year MD with intense research included at Stanford will be just as high quality if not higher than many MD/PhD programs out there.

I guess we'll have to see what happens. Statistically speaking, it's more likely Stanford will make the decision for me with a rejection.

 

[kevinlu]

I feel like getting a 5 year MD with intense research included at Stanford will be just as high quality if not higher than many MD/PhD programs out there.

As an MD-PhD applicant, you should be well aware that an MD anywhere with an extra "research year" isn't going to compare to the quality of an MSTP. (Take for example the Cleveland Clinic's 5-yr MD)

The most important thing you can factor into research training is time, and you should know very well that one year is simply not enough time to get any significant productivity out of your research. Doing the research training part-time for 5 years while you do your MD is also not enough. You really need at least 3 years of that dedicated, full-time "protected time" the PhD offers to get trained how to be an independent scientist.

That said, Stanford may be the only place I'd seriously consider going just MD at first over an MSTP somewhere else. But that is for both practical and very personal reasons.

 

[mdphd72]

As an MD-PhD applicant, you should be well aware that an MD anywhere with an extra "research year" isn't going to compare to the quality of an MSTP. (Take for example the Cleveland Clinic's 5-yr MD)

The most important thing you can factor into research training is time, and you should know very well that one year is simply not enough time to get any significant productivity out of your research. Doing the research training part-time for 5 years while you do your MD is also not enough. You really need at least 3 years of that dedicated, full-time "protected time" the PhD offers to get trained how to be an independent scientist.

That said, Stanford may be the only place I'd seriously consider going just MD at first over an MSTP somewhere else. But that is for both practical and very personal reasons.

While I agree that MOST places with an extra research year wouldn't do much, most of the MD/PhD programs I applied to aren't even MSTP. And while I know very well that you can't produce incredibly viable RESULTS in a year, I believe the experience with grant writing, transcript editing, bench work, and the thought process of research at Stanford would be incredibly beneficial. I would consider pursuing a PhD after, but the reality is that you can be a great scientist and run a lab with just an MD. You can collaborate with PhDs and provide the clinical end of things with also the clinical legal end of things. And there are great successful labs with MD heads at institutions across the country. Of course, the debt largely prevents this from happening.

And I too would ONLY consider this MD option through Stanford. It has low debt rates, my boyfriend will be at Stanford for graduate engineering, and I strongly believe in the education produced by the institution. 🙂

 

[Kodiak10]

Speaking of the MSTP...does anyone know if Stanford has offered any MSTP acceptances yet?

Apparently the decisions come out in mid-March, but it seems like we would need to know sooner if we want to attend the early-April preview weekend.

 

[Berkely10]

Anyone from 1/10 read this thread? Have you heard back yet? Any idea if decisions were made? Anyone after 1/10 hear back?

 

[Torquester]

Rejected pre-interview yesterday. complete 9/27.

🙁

 

[hopefuldoc97239]

As an MD-PhD applicant, you should be well aware that an MD anywhere with an extra "research year" isn't going to compare to the quality of an MSTP.

+1 👍

I feel like getting a 5 year MD with intense research included at Stanford will be just as high quality if not higher than many MD/PhD programs out there.

When your grant comes up for review at the study section, the first thing they're going to ask is whether you have the appropriate training to perform the work you've proposed. They won't give two ****'s about your Stanford MD if you don't have training in the specific techniques you've outlined. In fact, they won't even care if you have the MD and PhD unless you have the appropriate training to perform the work that you've proposed. The PhD will give you this training.

The next thing they'll want to know is whether you have a track record of productivity. Just because you know how to use a PCR machine doesn't mean that you're good at turning raw data into papers. Plenty of brilliant researchers fail to get grants because they don't have the follow-through to see their data all the way to publication. The review committee won't care one bit about your Stanford MD if you don't have publications that are relevant to your proposed research. The PhD will give you these publications.

Lastly, the review committee will want to know whether you know how to problem-solve a research project that's hit a dead end. If you happen to publish a couple papers in one year while getting an MD, everyone's going to know that you walked in to the lab right when the PI was getting ready to publish with or without you. The PhD will give you this experience.

Keep in mind that many (if not most) of the reviewers on the study section have PhD's, and that they think pretty highly of this degree!! If you're serious about wanting to be a researcher, then do not turn down an MD/PhD offer for an MD based on the prestige of the MD school!!

Congratulations on the MD/PhD offer. That's a significant accomplishment. Now don't screw the pooch by turning it down!

 

[thecrabcooker]

Anyone from 1/10 read this thread? Have you heard back yet? Any idea if decisions were made? Anyone after 1/10 hear back?

Hi Berkely10,

I interviewed on 1/10 as well. I have not heard back yet. I guess we will hear soon enough! 🙂

 

[mdphd72]

+1 👍




When your grant comes up for review at the study section, the first thing they're going to ask is whether you have the appropriate training to perform the work you've proposed. They won't give two ****'s about your Stanford MD if you don't have training in the specific techniques you've outlined. In fact, they won't even care if you have the MD and PhD unless you have the appropriate training to perform the work that you've proposed. The PhD will give you this training.

The next thing they'll want to know is whether you have a track record of productivity. Just because you know how to use a PCR machine doesn't mean that you're good at turning raw data into papers. Plenty of brilliant researchers fail to get grants because they don't have the follow-through to see their data all the way to publication. The review committee won't care one bit about your Stanford MD if you don't have publications that are relevant to your proposed research. The PhD will give you these publications.

Lastly, the review committee will want to know whether you know how to problem-solve a research project that's hit a dead end. If you happen to publish a couple papers in one year while getting an MD, everyone's going to know that you walked in to the lab right when the PI was getting ready to publish with or without you. The PhD will give you this experience.

Keep in mind that many (if not most) of the reviewers on the study section have PhD's, and that they think pretty highly of this degree!! If you're serious about wanting to be a researcher, then do not turn down an MD/PhD offer for an MD based on the prestige of the MD school!!

Congratulations on the MD/PhD offer. That's a significant accomplishment. Now don't screw the pooch by turning it down!

While I definitely agree with what you're getting at, my point was that many MD/PhD programs out there don't appear to offer very high quality PhDs. With independent PhDs you are done when you have done significant work. In many MD/PhD programs, the dozens and dozens of students I've talked to say "I'm done when my 2/3/3.5/4 (whatever the school promises) years are up. They push you through seemingly regardless of the graduate's work. If I can get an MD and PhD at Stanford separately (or another great biosciences/biomed graduate program), I think I would be better off (but a lot more in debt) than getting an MD/PhD at a school with a dud PhD that won't prepare me to think creatively or work towards independently running a lab. At Stanford, I trust that I would be exposed to productive labs worth emulating. But at many institutions, I might not see anything like that. And while I also think that a PhD gives all the advantages you mentioned, I can't help but think how the best and most productive labs I've been in have been run by MDs. Not to mention, there are a lot of other factors involved than just getting grants 15 years down the road when choosing an institution of higher learning.

But in the end, I have applied to a few programs that I believe to offer strong and beneficial PhDs that I would choose over Stanford unless I was told I had a strong chance of entering into the MD/PhD 2nd year.

Also, thanks for the kudos! We've all worked very hard to get where we are. 🙂

 

[jeepy]

bam, rejection via snail mail today, the same day I get a UCLA rejection too.

man the west coast is just not a fan of me (despite my various connections to the west!) oh well, thanks for keeping me until this long, stanford. I still love you.

 

[mdphd72]

bam, rejection via snail mail today, the same day I get a UCLA rejection too.

man the west coast is just not a fan of me (despite my various connections to the west!) oh well, thanks for keeping me until this long, stanford. I still love you.

Bummer. 🙁 Way to keep your chin up though and sticking to your guns when it comes to loving the school! hahah.

If you don't mind me asking, was that rejection pre or post interview?

 

[jeepy]

Bummer. 🙁 Way to keep your chin up though and sticking to your guns when it comes to loving the school! hahah.

If you don't mind me asking, was that rejection pre or post interview?

it was pre-interview, no worries if you're waiting on a post-interview response! best of luck to ya 🙂

 

[Berkely10]

So I received my waitlist letter today :/ Anyone have advice on measures that should be taken to increase my chances?

mdeast any advice would help as it seems you won this battle last year?

Interviewed 1/10

 

[thecrabcooker]

So I received my waitlist letter today :/ Anyone have advice on measures that should be taken to increase my chances?

mdeast any advice would help as it seems you won this battle last year?

Interviewed 1/10

Oh darn, that probably means I either got waitlisted or rejected as well-- I certainly didn't get a phone call from Dean Garcia. 🙁

 

[koolkat2011]

anyone heard back today? when does he usually call?

 

[floppydisque]

Just got the acceptance call! Holy **** I seriously don't know what to think right now. Can't wait to spend another four(five) years here! Interviewed on 1/12.

 

[phosphokinase]

Just got the acceptance call! Holy **** I seriously don't know what to think right now. Can't wait to spend another four(five) years here! Interviewed on 1/12.

👍 Congrats!!! 🙂

 

[Aubergine3000]

Got the call yesterday (02/18) as well! I totally fell in love with Stanford when I interviewed, so I'm really psyched! And kinda shell-shocked, actually. I don't think it's really sunk in completely yet, but I'm excited enough that I can't fall asleep - hence the random post at a god-forsaken hour…

I interviewed on 01/12.

With regard to the timing of admissions calls, here's what I've gathered from this thread (and because I can’t sleep, I’ve taken the liberty of overzealously cataloging the details here, heh):

Interviewed 12/04 à call received Fri. 01/07 (arsenophilia, lsj011, aspiringdoc2011)
Interview date unclear à call received Mon. 01/17 (on a holiday) (rb93)

Interviewed 01/07 à call received Thurs. 01/27 (dinodino)
Interviewed 01/08 --> call received Thurs. 02/03 (phosphokinase)
Interviewed 01/10 --> call PROBABLY received 02/10 or 02/11 ((no SDN acceptance posts))
Interviewed 01/12 --> call received Fri. 02/18 (floppydisque, me)

If you look at the interview dates since the start of January, there’s a pretty regular pattern to the admissions calls… It seems to me that each week the admissions committee has been considering a single day's worth of applicants (either that or they're just staggering the admissions calls to one interview group per week so that Dean Garcia isn't overwhelmed with call-making!). For the most part, the oh-so-eagerly-awaited calls go out on Thursdays or Fridays (with the exception of the person who received a Monday call… though that was a holiday and maybe Dean G was catching up on calls or left the office early for the long weekend so didn’t make the usual end-of-week calls the week prior…)

So there are certainly exceptions…

BUT based on the data we've collectively pooled (go us crazy pre-meds!😉), I think you can use the pattern outlined above to at least estimate when you should start obsessively checking your phone for the 650 area code! I extrapolated from it to figure out my *potential* acceptance date, and it ended up being correct (double yay!)

Good luck to everyone!

 

[mdphd72]

Got the call yesterday (02/18) as well! I totally fell in love with Stanford when I interviewed, so I'm really psyched! And kinda shell-shocked, actually. I don't think it's really sunk in completely yet, but I'm excited enough that I can't fall asleep - hence the random post at a god-forsaken hour…

I interviewed on 01/12.

With regard to the timing of admissions calls, here's what I've gathered from this thread (and because I can't sleep, I've taken the liberty of overzealously cataloging the details here, heh):

Interviewed 12/04 à call received Fri. 01/07 (arsenophilia, lsj011, aspiringdoc2011)
Interview date unclear à call received Mon. 01/17 (on a holiday) (rb93)

Interviewed 01/07 à call received Thurs. 01/27 (dinodino)
Interviewed 01/08 --> call received Thurs. 02/03 (phosphokinase)
Interviewed 01/10 --> call PROBABLY received 02/10 or 02/11 ((no SDN acceptance posts))
Interviewed 01/12 --> call received Fri. 02/18 (floppydisque, me)

If you look at the interview dates since the start of January, there's a pretty regular pattern to the admissions calls… It seems to me that each week the admissions committee has been considering a single day's worth of applicants (either that or they're just staggering the admissions calls to one interview group per week so that Dean Garcia isn't overwhelmed with call-making!). For the most part, the oh-so-eagerly-awaited calls go out on Thursdays or Fridays (with the exception of the person who received a Monday call… though that was a holiday and maybe Dean G was catching up on calls or left the office early for the long weekend so didn't make the usual end-of-week calls the week prior&#8230😉

So there are certainly exceptions…

BUT based on the data we've collectively pooled (go us crazy pre-meds!😉), I think you can use the pattern outlined above to at least estimate when you should start obsessively checking your phone for the 650 area code! I extrapolated from it to figure out my *potential* acceptance date, and it ended up being correct (double yay!)

Good luck to everyone!

Congratulations!! I'm super jealous! 😛

How did you know how many interview days Stanford held in order to calculate your expected day? Do they have a calendar somewhere?