Applied Early, Late Interview?

Started by FCBarca1990
BU Medical Sciences
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FCBarca1990

Full Member
10+ Year Member
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For those who have gone through the application cycle and chose to apply early, what are the chances of receiving an interview if you have been overlooked for the first few rounds of interview invites? I submitted most of my applications within two weeks of receiving them, and it's disheartening to see invites being sent out, knowing that they must have seen my application and decided to put it in the "further consideration needed" pile.

I have not been rejected from any schools, but there are more than a handful for which I am waiting. Does a late interview mean my odds of acceptance are significantly lower? Also, is there anything you would suggest that I do in the meantime?
 
After fall grades come out, send in an update letter, where permitted, detailing new coursework grades (only the ones that are good news), progress of pertinent ECs, and a statement of continuing interest in the school.

Or, if you had any major holes in your application EC-wise, you might let them know now if it's been plugged.
 
Would you recommend sending in additional letters of recommendation? I have submitted 5, which were compiled by my premedical committee and attached with the committee letter, but I have two writers (one from a PI, other from a Dean) who I got to know very well this summer and through this year who have expressed interest in writing me strong letters. Do you think it would be advisable to request letters, and, if yes, how would I go about submitting them?

Thanks!
 
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FCBarca1990 said:
For those who have gone through the application cycle and chose to apply early, what are the chances of receiving an interview if you have been overlooked for the first few rounds of interview invites? I submitted most of my applications within two weeks of receiving them, and it's disheartening to see invites being sent out, knowing that they must have seen my application and decided to put it in the "further consideration needed" pile.

I have not been rejected from any schools, but there are more than a handful for which I am waiting. Does a late interview mean my odds of acceptance are significantly lower? Also, is there anything you would suggest that I do in the meantime?
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Get used to it. I totally understand where you're coming from - I had similar feelings last year. However, there are literally an infinite number of reasons why they get interviews and you didn't, only one of which is the strength of your application.

Try not to worry about things like that. You'll go crazy if you do.
 
FCBarca1990 said:
Would you recommend sending in additional letters of recommendation? I have submitted 5, which were compiled by my premedical committee and attached with the committee letter, but I have two writers (one from a PI, other from a Dean) who I got to know very well this summer and through this year who have expressed interest in writing me strong letters. Do you think it would be advisable to request letters, and, if yes, how would I go about submitting them?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
This would only be useful at schools willing to accept supplemental letters at this time. Be sure you are aware of each school's rules, calling if need be. Theoretically, as the letter packet counted as only one letter by AMCAS rules, but since it included individual letters, perhaps some schools will feel you have already filled your quota.

If additional letters won't be acceptable, another way these individuals could help you, particulary the Dean, would be a personal phone call to the Dean of Admissions on your behalf.
 
Thanks for the advice! Sorry for the pestering questions, but how would you recommend timing the call? Should I wait until an admissions decision has been made (for example, being waitlisted) or should I try to present the best application I can before any acceptances are given?
 
Once you've been invited to interview, it's up to you to sell yourself. I'd say the main utility of the phone call would be to encourage that an interview invitation be extended, suggesting that there is more to you than a superficial review of the application would reveal. I don't think that a phone call is going to jump you ahead in a waitlist queue, or get you accepted when you're not what the school is looking for.

So, getting a letter sent or a phone contact made (if your Dean agrees to this extraordinary favor) would seem to be most helpful to you if done sometime this fall.
 
Don't worry. You are not alone. At least you are not an average applicant from CA. I was even told to gear up for next year.
 
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