Cycles of Interview Invites?

[anestheticman]

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I'm wondering if most places typically send out a set of initial invites but then send more later and if so, do they send them in groups at typical times like after Nov 1st or just on a rolling basis?

I consider myself to be a low average to weak applicant but I've had a much better response than I thought with 9 interviews already and 2 more that will come from schools I rotated with later (I assume!). But, on the other hand, I haven't had invites from about 15 schools that are on our list so far that others did get invites from, so maybe I am not doing as well as I think I am. I am also realizing I applied to too many programs.

The point is when do you call it quits for waiting to hear from places and when do you start cancelling interviews if you get to your desired number of offers? Also, when is a good time to call up a school and emphasize your interest in an interview if you haven't heard from them yet? Is November 15th a reasonable date to assume you are pretty much done with this hectic scheduling process?

 

[KALKU]

Ja, totally good question. I heard some schools wait till 1Nov when everything is in and supposedly, there's a big wave of invites then. Anyone else have any info?

 

[pgy13]

There will be a big wave on/after Nov 1st. My program has invited some clearly top tier applicants, and has a big "hold" pile waiting for the Dean's letter for the next batch of invites.

 

[anestheticman]

That is what I figured, I mean the Dean's Letter is a BIG deal. I figure if I didn't get one the first time, the Dean's Letter will determine whether I get one later... and if not early November I should probably just forget about the program I take it.

There will be a big wave on/after Nov 1st. My program has invited some clearly top tier applicants, and has a big "hold" pile waiting for the Dean's letter for the next batch of invites.

 

[amyl]

really? the deans letter is a big deal...i thought it was more of a formality. what do they say in them?

 

[anestheticman]

My dean's letter was many, many pages long.

It ranks my performance in each core 3rd year clerkship with a bar graph.

It ranks me against all of my classmates overall for basic science and for 3rd year separately, a "clinical" assessment...

It has the evaluation comments from all of my clerkships.

It also had a background information section for extracurricular and personal information... notable accomplishments before and after medical school...

That's what I remembered. Seems like a big deal to me. If its not at all important, then I'm happy to hear that... since I'm not the best test taker and our grades were mostly based on shelf exam scores.

 

[fascinoma]

Has anyone else noticed that a few programs that say they wait for Dean's Letters have already offered some applicants interviews?

Is this because those candidates belong to the 250+ club?

Just wondering if any of you have heard of this and had any thoughts on the matter. Seems slightly shady. Why not be honest and say, "Invites will be sent after Nov 1st when the Dean's Letter is received...unless you are a super-freak (intellectually) and out-scored the USMLE national average by 100 points." I, like many of you, would appreciate the honesty.

That being said, I am very much looking forward to Nov 1st and the few days afterwards...like a kid waiting to open his presents the night before his birthday...i just hope i'm getting some cool presents instead of a pair of socks...unless when i wear the socks i transform into an anesthesiologist...okay, getting too weird...

 

[Canrenone]

Has anyone else noticed that a few programs that say they wait for Dean's Letters have already offered some applicants interviews?

Is this because those candidates belong to the 250+ club?
.

It seems like all programs have offered interviews all ready. Does anyone know of any specific program that hasn't offered an interview yet?

I have heard many things about that Nov. 1st deadline, I guess we will find out what is true.

The schools I have all ready interviewed at or talked with all said they have filled their interview slots and will not be offering anymore interviews. That is a grand total of 5 schools...I Know large sample size.

I realize the Dean's letter is important but don't they all only list good things?

 

[anestheticman]

I think there are a few in Boston that haven't offered interviews yet. And not all CA programs...

I think the Dean's Letter does only include the positive evaluations, yes.

It seems like all programs have offered interviews all ready. Does anyone know of any specific program that hasn't offered an interview yet?

I have heard many things about that Nov. 1st deadline, I guess we will find out what is true.

The schools I have all ready interviewed at or talked with all said they have filled their interview slots and will not be offering anymore interviews. That is a grand total of 5 schools...I Know large sample size.

I realize the Dean's letter is important but don't they all only list good things?

 

[Dr Serenity]

I think there are a few in Boston that haven't offered interviews yet. And not all CA programs...

I think the Dean's Letter does only include the positive evaluations, yes.

On the contrary. It might depend on the medical school, but I know for a fact that at my medical school, Dean's letters list both positive and not-so-great evaluations. As my dean put it it is more of an evaluation of the student's performance during core clerkships rather than a straight-up recommendation letter stating why residency programs should accept you.

 

[lord_jeebus]

It seems like all programs have offered interviews all ready. Does anyone know of any specific program that hasn't offered an interview yet?

Stanford, MGH, and BWH, unless someone's heard otherwise.

Also UC-Irvine, I think. I'm pretty sure a bunch are waiting for MSPEs.

 

[Ferdie]

no, definitly both positive and negative comments are listed, at least from some (most/all) schools

 

[BenzBen]

no, definitly both positive and negative comments are listed, at least from some (most/all) schools

The "Dean's letter" or Medical Student Performance Evaluation "MSPE" has been standardized for years now. All dean's letters from all institutions must follow the same format and contain the same information including unique characteristics, period of enrollment, any delays in graduation, good and bad comments throughout medical school education, grades, and histograms of where you stand in your class. Finally, there is a summary sentence that uses a set of pre-determined adjectives to describe you based on your standing in your class, usually: outstanding, excellent, superior, very good and good.

The AAMC actually has the guidelines posted on http://www.aamc.org/students/eras/resources/downloads/mspeguide.pdf

I am sure we're all waiting for those damn MSPEs to go out.

 

[polkadotcap]

Stanford, MGH, and BWH, unless someone's heard otherwise.

Also UC-Irvine, I think. I'm pretty sure a bunch are waiting for MSPEs.

BWH has offered first round interview invites.

 

[Jack Burton]

I'm not saying you are wrong, but I find it highly unlikely that BWH has sent out its first round on invites and not one person has posted it on this forum. Now, BID has been sending invites and perhaps BWH has sent invites to Harvard students or those who have done a rotation there, but I know they havent even reviewed all the apps yet.

I think MG, BWH, UCSF, UCSD, Stanford, Hopkins wait unti Nov 1st although I believe some have sent out invites to those that have done rotations there - otherwise this is what they advertise and they stick to it - but you have to think they already have a good idea of who they are sending it to if they send out invites only a coulple of days after invites come out.

 

[polkadotcap]

hey, no problem, we all know how you have to take anonymous forums with a "grain of salt" so to speak, but I received an interview invitation from BWH last week. I don't post all my interviews on here because, frankly, it's not something I'm interested in keeping up with on a forum or broadcasting for that matter. But that's just my own deal. Anyway, take it for what it is worth, but BWH has sent them out. UCSF hasn't waited either. And no, I did not do a rotation there. Just trying to let people know for those that believe me, or care. 🙂

 

[Jack Burton]

Fair enough, and I believe you and dont post my invites for similar reasons, but my guess is they havent sent out many, as there are quite a number of people who do like to post their invites on here, and if you got yours last week, it would have been on here by now.

 

[Ferdie]

SO, it's probably reasonable to expect a few more interviews then, right?
I haven't heard one way or the other from 11 gas programs yet. I have 14 interviews scheduled and think I picked out 3 to cancel (in fact, I'm calling one up in about 2 minutes to tell them). That drops me below the "magic" number of 12, but whatever, today I'm feeling pretty OK about the whole process 🙂

 

[KALKU]

Anyone see the big wave yet?

 

[UMMS FMD]

Not yet. Boo!

Bwah, bwah, bwah...

 

[173291]

I got one interview yesterday (wash u), my first in at least 3 weeks. No rejections, so far. So basically I am still waiting to hear from about 14 programs. Yay or nay. 😡

 

[timeout66]

I got one interview yesterday (wash u), my first in at least 3 weeks. No rejections, so far. So basically I am still waiting to hear from about 14 programs. Yay or nay. 😡

Gasem, I'm in the same boat as you! Haven't heard anything in weeks. I got waitlisted at USC but other than that no rejections or invites! Kinda scary if you ask me.

 

[TayInTheWay]

Gasem, I'm in the same boat as you! Haven't heard anything in weeks. I got waitlisted at USC but other than that no rejections or invites! Kinda scary if you ask me.

I'm in a similar situation. When did you both send in your application? I didn't submit until 9/28. I don't have a stellar application, but I do go to a "Top 10" medical school...for whatever that's worth.

 

[KALKU]

Same here, guys...stressful. may have to have a smoke later on.

 

[173291]

I submitted my application on 9/2/07. So I don't know what the deal is. I would guess that by now, programs should be able to figure out if they are interested in interviewing me or not. I am kind of assuming that I won't be hearing from anyone else from this point on. I will just go on my remaining interviews (which includes very strong programs) and choose which one is best for me.

It is really annoying to not know definitely where I stand with the other 14 programs I applied to.