Calling schools... Shot at an interview?

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Tweeter

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It seems that a lot of people who use these forums are not averse to calling schools to check their statuses, etc. I decided early on in the process not to call anywhere because I didn't want to annoy anyone and didn't want my file to end up in some secret 'blacklisted' pile. I realize now, however, that it is late Jan., the 'blacklisted' pile does not exist, and my chances for getting interviews at any remaining schools is dwindling every minute that I sit around and wait.
Should I call some of the schools that I am still waiting on (for interview invites) or do these calls just get you nowhere but rejectionville (or a sad notice that you have already been rejected by the committee)?
Any success stories? Which schools?
 
i'm on your boat man, but I have called one school, and they did sound rather pissed.........funny that I haven't heard jack s**t from them either. +pissed+
 
I called like 20 schools back in November and December to find out what was up - I was real friendly and I didn't get any attitude - but I didn't get anything else either. That's my experience, but I have heard of people getting interviews when calling.
 
After reading posts on SDN, I decided to call most of my schools to check on the status of my app. Most of the schools didn't tell me much except that my application was complete (which I already knew) and that it was under review. However, I did find out from 2 of my schools that interview invites had been extended via snail-mail, and because I called I was able to schedule my interviews sooner than if I had waited until I got the letters.

I was really polite with everyone and none of the places I called sounded annoyed. Each place I called I just asked if I could please check on the status of my application, and after getting a response I didn't pry any further so as not to annoy (i.e. if they told me my application was still under review, I left it at that and didn't push for deadlines on when I would hear).

Hope this helps! 🙂
 
Hehe...when I was at Pitt, the phone was ringing every five seconds in the admissions office--always someone checking on their status. I could see where that'd get annoying after awhile. That said, we paid some of these schools upwards of $100, so I think we have a right to know where we stand in a timely fashion. I've only called two schools so far...one just told me that I should hear in a couple of weeks. when I called the other, I learned that one set of letters had not arrived. I had the letters sent ASAP and I got an interview soon after (and a subsequent acceptance.)
 
I have a success story.

I called NJMS about two weeks ago to find out what was up with my application.

I just asked the admissions lady if they had completed my file, and she told me that I had just come out of screening and they were getting ready to send out the invite. Instead of having to wait for the snail mail invite, she set up it on the phone. My interview there is the 23rd. 🙂
 
I've caleed a few schools. Most just said that my app. was complete (most were very nice about it). One sounded suprised when she brought up my file and saw that it hadn't been reviewed yet. She told me that I should definitely hear something in the next few weeks. I received an interview invite about a week later from that school, so maybe my calling attention to my file brought it up to the committee's attention? Who know. Mostly, I'm still waiting.

~H
 
My current roommate called BU saying he would be in the interview and got an interview one hour later, and I've heard of people doing this for Georgetown, too. But def do it for BU.
 
i hadn't heard from my top choice as of Jan 7th, so I emailed the asst dean for admissions to ask about the status of my application. She wrote back and said they'd been backed up in the admissions office and that I had been screened and put-in for an interview back in Nov. I was directed to another staffer who scheduled me for an interview a week later! I was told during my interview that I was smart for having called because otherwise I may have been inadvertently waiting a while.

So, while I don't advocate nagging or anything like that, it might be a good idea to check on the places, esp. your top choices.

Good luck!!!
 
youcandoit, do you mind sharing where?
 
No luck here with calling. I've called some schools 3 times over the last several months only to get the same answer...your application is complete and under review.
 
Calling or emailing is totally acceptable unless they say on their web page or on any paperwork they have sent you telling not to contact them. I recall there have been some schools who tell you not to contact them, but I can't remember which ones they are.
 
There's no "blacklist" pile for calling about your app. In fact, some schools include a statement with their secondary that says it is your responsibility to check on the status of your application and here's our phone # and/or email address. I could see it getting annoying if you called, say, 8 times, but if you call once or twice or even three times, they A) probably won't recall that you had ringed them before, B) get so many neurotic premed kids calling their offices like 20 times because their either anal or there have been problems with their app that your three calls seem reasonable, and C) no one ever discredited anyone for persistence.

Just be friendly, understanding, and clear of mind about what you are asking about.
 
Robert Wood Johnson is good with calling... Every other school I've called isn't exactly the most friendly, though through email, at least u don't get the nastiness of their attitutes that you do by phone... You may wanna try that?
 
Originally posted by Tweeter
Any success stories? Which schools?

Last year when I applied, CWRU (or US mail) lost one of my LORs. When I told them I would forward over another copy and they ageed to complete my application without it, they gave me an interview invite the next day. If I hadn't called, my app would have went into the rejection pile for being incomplete.
 
How are the following schools about accepting calls re: applications?

Jefferson
Temple
GWU
OHSU
 
Einstein basically told me to eff-off when I called. The lady literally cut me off mid-sentence and blurted something like, "We're so swamped we just don't have time to answer questions like this." I wanted to be like, well I don't have the time or inclination to spend 300 bucks to fly out to meet you folks, then.
 
I actually had really good luck with a variation on this. I was working in a lab at my top choice school, and happened to be walking by the admissions office when I decided to pop in and check on my application status. They were really friendly, looked up my file, said, "Yep, you're complete...hey, how would you like to interview this Friday?" It turned out that Friday was the very first day of interviews for this school, and my getting an interview that day was totally a result of my going in and having my face in front of them at the right time.
 
I've posted this before.

Calling Wake Forest about my application status earned me an interview. I was supposed to be "in line" for one, but so maybe I would have gotten one anyway, but it certainly moved me up the ladder. Then again, I got listed so maybe it wasnt that great.
 
CAll! CAll ! Call.

It is really strange how people seem to be apprehensive about calling...hello you spent how much $$ applying and doing essays..you better call and make sure they have all of your stuff.

My friend who was very competitive and complete in July, didn't call and just found out that he was missing a LOR and now he app is not complete and the deadline has passed.

Call Them. Really.

I called, they are very nice and cordial, and it gets them to remember your name..can only help..

Pick up the phone:clap:
 
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