C/O 2026 Interviews cancelled for some schools

[Dogsandcats22]

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How do you guys feel about this?? I dont understand how they are going to cut down thousands of applications to a few hundred just based on applications.

 

[supershorty]

I’m not an applicant, but I don’t see how this is any different from the schools that just don’t interview. Not every program does interviews

 

[SkiOtter]

It also saves the school a ton of money not having to host interviews. Most do multiple days of interviews too (I think illinois is the only one that I’m aware of who does everyone all on one day) which adds to the cost tremendously and disrupts the day for faculty/staff more than once. It also saves applicants a lot of money and having to choose between interviewing at different schools if they’re offered the same day. I don’t fault the school for trying to cut down on costs for everyone involved and see if accepting a class without interviews still gets them a class they’re happy with 🤷🏻‍♀️

 

[tacochan]

Which schools have been confirmed to no longer grant interviews?

 

[plsletmein2026]

Do you mean schools cancelling them due to COVID? Or just all together?
I know it was disappointing last year when a lot of schools had to cancel interviews due to COVID and not being able to set up virtual interviews in time. This happened with VMCVM last year so they had to put more selective about GPA than they usually are. I don't really see this being an issue this year though cause schools have had plenty of time to set up virtual interviews if they want them.
As far as stopping interviews all together, I know for CSU they did some studies when they were still having them and realized they picked the same students they would have without the interviews so they stopped them all together.

 

[that redhead]

CSU […] realized they picked the same students they would have without the interviews so they stopped them all together.

How did they determine that? I’d be interested to see this information.

 

[plsletmein2026]

How did they determine that? I’d be interested to see this information.

My friend is a student and said she asked her mentor about when they stopped interviews in 2020 and the mentor said way before COVID they stopped interviews (when they were still doing the traditional interview) because they evaluated how often the interview changed who they chose and it was so infrequent they felt like it was wasting everyone's time/money. I don't know how but I'm assuming they would have just ranked the students before the interview vs. who they wanted after? Anyway, I guess CSU started losing students they wanted to other schools that had interviews, because in surveys the students reported it made them feel wanted and welcome. So they restarted them (I think around 2017?? idk) but they switched to the MMI instead of traditional interview. The mentor at that time didn't think there had been a comparison done since switching to a different interview style, but I would imagine this has something to do with them choosing to cancel them again.

 

[deleted1117156]

What schools are doing this? has anyone heard if Midwestern is offering interviews?

 

[zenarcade]

What schools are doing this? has anyone heard if Midwestern is offering interviews?

Yes, they have been offering interviews

 

[Lisagk]

I can see why people are bummed about not having interviews. Some people enjoy the aspect of meeting with interviewers and engaging with them verbally. Not to mention also a good opportunity to learn more about the school and the program.

However, I'm here to offer an alternative view as to why getting rid of interviews might be a good thing. Lots of the interview process is subjective to the interpretation of the interviewer. Unfortunately this means that negative implicit biases might factor into play as to whether someone makes the final cut or not for getting acceptance letters. These implicit biases might be detrimental to students with disabilities such as physical disabilities or speech impediments. Not to mention it gets very expensive to travel and it might not be something that would be possible for someone who is economically challenged. As a diverse array of representation is necessary in order to serve all reaches of society, getting rid of interviews at least cuts out a factor that could be excluding people who would otherwise be a great asset to the field and make a fantastic doctor. Plus, hopefully people polished their applications and their essays enough that they really shine through with their writing 🙂

This is coming from someone who got multiple interview invites and had a really good experience with the interviews I went to and ended up attending a school that didn't interview at all

 

[battie]

From the perspective of someone who helped with interview (student coordinator 3 years, then clinical year student interviewer), interviews are a *ton* of work for everyone involved. I even did interviews during COVID via zoom, and that was a wild ride in of itself. And, honestly, with 2 applicants for every spot available, they don't need to sell themselves. They'll fill the spot. Unfortunately, vet schools are not the programs getting a ton of money from their home university either. Cuts are going to be made one way or the other.

Likewise, I likely would not have gotten into school without my interview. So I am always in favor of them continuing however they can. I feel like they give a good perspective; I feel like there were a few people who interviewed that would have been a bad fit for the school. I think it benefits the students and the school in an intangible way

 

[Trilt]

My friend is a student and said she asked her mentor about when they stopped interviews in 2020 and the mentor said way before COVID they stopped interviews (when they were still doing the traditional interview) because they evaluated how often the interview changed who they chose and it was so infrequent they felt like it was wasting everyone's time/money. I don't know how but I'm assuming they would have just ranked the students before the interview vs. who they wanted after? Anyway, I guess CSU started losing students they wanted to other schools that had interviews, because in surveys the students reported it made them feel wanted and welcome. So they restarted them (I think around 2017?? idk) but they switched to the MMI instead of traditional interview. The mentor at that time didn't think there had been a comparison done since switching to a different interview style, but I would imagine this has something to do with them choosing to cancel them again.

NCSU did something similar ages ago. I don't know specifics because it was well before my time, but I know they looked at who would have made the class without interviews, who made them with, and the difference was very small (and the interviews SUCH an ordeal and amount of time and money on both sides) that they stopped them.

 

[Viscernable]

Death to in-person interviews please.