Also, don't necessarily assume that being invited late means that you're less desirable. Sometimes different applications are reviewed by different people, who have different standards for judging them. Some initial application reviewers are sieves, others not so much. Sometimes there's a missed connection between application reviewers and their administrative assistant (and some applicants were invited later because of this). Sometimes applicant files are lost in the fray. So, if you don't hear anything call!! But usually being invited late does mean that you're being called to fill a cancellation. An exception would be an applicant who applies late, but has multiple degrees and honors from top schools of the Duke and its peer group variety (which happens rarely, but does happen). As far as being equal after being invited - that's not entirely true, at least not at the shop where I'm at. You'd have to have a stellar interview to break even with someone who's great on paper but has a so-so interview. A great candidate on paper, will always be ahead of less than great candidate on paper if their interview scores are the same. And while interviewers don't know who was invited early and who was invited late, the rank list committee definitely knows where I'm at (I respectfully disagree with rsd who is usually right about everything). I wish I could say more about how the process as I know it works, but I cannot for privacy reasons. And it probably differs from program to program. It is fascinating being on the other side, however. Though, it would have been nice to know what I know now when I was applying. Alas, divulging too much is probably not fair to anyone as I am connected with the application process on the other end and want to be as fair to applicants as humanly possible. Therefore this will be my first and last post and I promise I will not read sdn until match lists are submitted.
