Decisions after interviews?

[Psycho Doctor]

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So let me ask this..if you get an interview does it mean they are ready to accept you if you perform well on the interview? Or are there questionable students that they still interview and if they do really well they get accepted? If you get the interview and then get rejected does it mean you really blew the interview?

I'm just wondering b/c i've heard so many post-interview rejections and their stats look good IMO. Did most people think they performed well on the interview?

I've only heard from one school post-interview. I thought all my interviews so far went fairly well, some really well. I realize I may not be a good judge but if I get rejected at this point, was it my stats or my interview? And yes it matters b/c I have a bunch more interviews to go so maybe i need to change my interviewing strategy.

Thanks guys, you're the best....

 

[Law2Doc]

So let me ask this..if you get an interview does it mean they are ready to accept you if you perform well on the interview? Or are there questionable students that they still interview and if they do really well they get accepted? If you get the interview and then get rejected does it mean you really blew the interview?

I'm just wondering b/c i've heard so many post-interview rejections and their stats look good IMO. Did most people think they performed well on the interview?

I've only heard from one school post-interview. I thought all my interviews so far went fairly well, some really well. I realize I may not be a good judge but if I get rejected at this point, was it my stats or my interview? And yes it matters b/c I have a bunch more interviews to go so maybe i need to change my interviewing strategy.

Thanks guys, you're the best....

While the percentages vary from school to school, most places will only be able to accept around 25% or so of those interviewed. Thus not only do you need to perform well at the interview, but you need to outperform three quarters of the other people they interview. All you can do is relax, act enthusiastic and have lots of good questions to ask; the rest is really out of your hands.

 

[i61164]

So let me ask this..if you get an interview does it mean they are ready to accept you if you perform well on the interview? Or are there questionable students that they still interview and if they do really well they get accepted? If you get the interview and then get rejected does it mean you really blew the interview?

I'm just wondering b/c i've heard so many post-interview rejections and their stats look good IMO. Did most people think they performed well on the interview?

I've only heard from one school post-interview. I thought all my interviews so far went fairly well, some really well. I realize I may not be a good judge but if I get rejected at this point, was it my stats or my interview? And yes it matters b/c I have a bunch more interviews to go so maybe i need to change my interviewing strategy.

Thanks guys, you're the best....

You can leave the interview feeling like you rocked it and still get waitlisted/rejected. It has happened to me and others that I have talked to. I don't think that your interview strategy is going to get you accepted. As long as your not blowing the interviews, just keep doing what you're doing. Your interviewing skills will naturally improve.

 

[tinkerbelle]

So let me ask this..if you get an interview does it mean they are ready to accept you if you perform well on the interview?

No. A lot of people do well in the interview. So having a good interview doesn't mean you will be accepted.

Or are there questionable students that they still interview and if they do really well they get accepted?

I'm sure schools interview a lot of "so-so" applicants. Of course, having a good interview will help you. Especially if you demonstrate a real interest in attending the school. However, keep in mind that the so-so applicants with good interviews will still be compared to outstanding applicants with good interviews.

If you get the interview and then get rejected does it mean you really blew the interview?

No. It means that there were other applicants who had better credentials and had a decent interview.

I'm just wondering b/c i've heard so many post-interview rejections and their stats look good IMO. Did most people think they performed well on the interview?

I thnk most of us believe we did well. Although it is hard to judge. YOu can never tell what is really going through your interviewer's mind. I've had awesome interviews and gotten waitlisted, and I've had HORRIBLE interviews where I've still gotten accepted.

I've only heard from one school post-interview. I thought all my interviews so far went fairly well, some really well. I realize I may not be a good judge but if I get rejected at this point, was it my stats or my interview? And yes it matters b/c I have a bunch more interviews to go so maybe i need to change my interviewing strategy.

Awww... so it wasn't good news Psycho? I'm really sorry to hear that. You know I'm rooting for ya. I think you have really good stats... so perhaps you're not showing very much interest in the school.. or perhaps your interviewer thought you were too good for the school? Or perhaps you offended the interviewer with something you said? I don't think you'll ever know for sure. Have you done any mock interviews? Those really help.

I know you volunteered as a counselor, so you should be pretty good at reading people's emotions and body language (or at least i like to think we're good at this type of stuff 😀 ). So if you think you rocked the interview, then maybe you did. Maybe you're an awesome applicant, but there are a few other applicants that are even better. And in that case, there's really nothing you canchange.

Good luck on the rest of your interviews Psycho Sorry if my post makes no sense. I'm typing quickly 🙂

 

[Psycho Doctor]

While the percentages vary from school to school, most places will only be able to accept around 25% or so of those interviewed. Thus not only do you need to perform well at the interview, but you need to outperform three quarters of the other people they interview. All you can do is relax, act enthusiastic and have lots of good questions to ask; the rest is really out of your hands.

yikes!!! I didn't know it was that low once you got to the interview. 👎

but then is your entire app still being considered or at that point is it solely based on the interview?

 

[leechy]

Yeah, this is a tough question that everyone wishes they knew the answer to. Most people I've spoken to feel that they do well at their interviews, so I'm not sure how people are differentiated at the interview stage. I suspect, as you suggested, that the interview might be weighted differently for different people. There are probably some people who are so good on paper that the interview is just a time to make sure they're normal; they might not be penalized much for a mediocre interview. There are probably other "borderline" candidates for whom the interview could really make or break their candidacy.

 

[leechy]

but then is your entire app still being considered or at that point is it solely based on the interview?

I think at most places, they have an adcom meeting after you interview, where the committee weighs the entire application again, including the input from interviewers. So it's not just the interview. But sometimes, if the interviewer is actually on the committee, they could have a strong influence on the outcome.

 

[tinkerbelle]

yikes!!! I didn't know it was that low once you got to the interview. 👎

but then is your entire app still being considered or at that point is it solely based on the interview?

They still consider your entire app... not just the itnerview

And the percentage of post-interview acceptances vary...although i think he's right... 25% is about average. Although at some schools you have about 50% after interviewing

 

[Psycho Doctor]

No. A lot of people do well in the interview. So having a good interview doesn't mean you will be accepted.



I'm sure schools interview a lot of "so-so" applicants. Of course, having a good interview will help you. Especially if you demonstrate a real interest in attending the school. However, keep in mind that the so-so applicants with good interviews will still be compared to outstanding applicants with good interviews.



No. It means that there were other applicants who had better credentials and had a decent interview.

I'm just wondering b/c i've heard so many post-interview rejections and their stats look good IMO. Did most people think they performed well on the interview?

I thnk most of us believe we did well. Although it is hard to judge. YOu can never tell what is really going through your interviewer's mind. I've had awesome interviews and gotten waitlisted, and I've had HORRIBLE interviews where I've still gotten accepted.



Awww... so it wasn't good news Psycho? I'm really sorry to hear that. You know I'm rooting for ya. I think you have really good stats... so perhaps you're not showing very much interest in the school.. or perhaps your interviewer thought you were too good for the school? Or perhaps you offended the interviewer with something you said? I don't think you'll ever know for sure. Have you done any mock interviews? Those really help.

I know you volunteered as a counselor, so you should be pretty good at reading people's emotions and body language (or at least i like to think we're good at this type of stuff 😀 ). So if you think you rocked the interview, then maybe you did. Maybe you're an awesome applicant, but there are a few other applicants that are even better. And in that case, there's really nothing you canchange.

Good luck on the rest of your interviews Psycho Sorry if my post makes no sense. I'm typing quickly 🙂

thanks tinkerbell for all the info.

and no, i haven't actually received any bad news yet..maybe it's waiting for me in my apartment mailbox, though 🙁 . 1 acceptance and nothing from 5 other schools i interviewed at.

edit: why didn't this quote correctly, all i did was hit "reply" and it looks ok in the edit format...oh well... 😕

 

[tinkerbelle]

and no, i haven't actually received any bad news yet..maybe it's waiting for me in my apartment mailbox, though 🙁 . 1 acceptance and nothing from 5 other schools i interviewed at.

YAY You have an acceptance! I'm so happy for you 🙂 Is this a school you really want to attend (and therefore super excited) or just a back up school (and therefore not so excited)?

I hope you hear good news from the rest of the schools

P.S. How did Duke go? I fell in love with the school. Wasn't their lecture hall awesome?

 

[tinkerbelle]

Hey Psycho, are you still there? I have to make a prayer for this meeting today and I want someone to read it. I hate making prayers. I never know what to say cause I usually pray in my head... not to a whole darn audience. Anyways. Sorry to hijack your thread for something non-med related.

 

[TexasSnow]

I spoke with the Dean of Admissions at UT-Southwestern (Dallas), and he said the purpose of the interviews was to primarily weed out those that seemed to suffer from psychological disorders, and also determine whether you are personable. Usually, the interview serves as another "letter of recommendation" (this time the writer is known by the adcom), as most schools will have the interviewer write his/her recommendations. So unless you are interviewing with the Dean of admissions or someone on the adcom, the actual interview doesn't harm you as much as you might fear.

 

[Childe]

It's really going to vary by school.. some place more emphasis on it, some make all interviewees essentially on an even ground, etc.

 

[acl3623]

it must vary. you gotta think, at top-notch schools most of the applicants that they interview are going to have great stats and great extra curriculars. i think at these schools the interview is extremely important because its your chance to put your personal mark on your application. at schools that have lower entrance stats, i think the interview matters just as much as the rest of your app if not less. who knows...

 

[Psycho Doctor]

Hey Psycho, are you still there? I have to make a prayer for this meeting today and I want someone to read it. I hate making prayers. I never know what to say cause I usually pray in my head... not to a whole darn audience. Anyways. Sorry to hijack your thread for something non-med related.

so sorry tinkerbell...i did run out, my grandma was taken to the emergency room, very bad prognosis..then i had to fly out....this is the firs ttime i even saw your comments.... 🙁

 

[Shaz]

You can leave the interview feeling like you rocked it and still get waitlisted/rejected.

True, but it also depends on the school. Great interview at Vandy will not get you in, but a great interview at Hopkins or Harvard probably (hopefully) will.

 

[VeggieGal]

why do u say that about vandy? b/c everyone has a good interview there? i don't think that's necessarily true, but i would love to hear your reasoning as i recently interviewed at vandy. 🙂

 

[eralza]

I spoke with the Dean of Admissions at UT-Southwestern (Dallas), and he said the purpose of the interviews was to primarily weed out those that seemed to suffer from psychological disorders, and also determine whether you are personable. Usually, the interview serves as another "letter of recommendation" (this time the writer is known by the adcom), as most schools will have the interviewer write his/her recommendations. So unless you are interviewing with the Dean of admissions or someone on the adcom, the actual interview doesn't harm you as much as you might fear.

You've got to admit that UTSW is an exception with their acceptances. They seem to be really selective with whom they invite for interviews, and as a result, end up accepting about 50%.

 

[MoosePilot]

so sorry tinkerbell...i did run out, my grandma was taken to the emergency room, very bad prognosis..then i had to fly out....this is the firs ttime i even saw your comments.... 🙁

Sorry, Psycho about your grandmother's health. I'll include her in my prayer tonight (this morning I suppose). I wish her a quick recovery.

Congratulations on your acceptance. Just remember once you've done what you can do, everything else is up to someone else... trust His judgement. He'll put you in the school He knows is right for you.

 

[tinkerbelle]

so sorry tinkerbell...i did run out, my grandma was taken to the emergency room, very bad prognosis..then i had to fly out....this is the firs ttime i even saw your comments.... 🙁

Oh psycho, I'm so sorry to hear that 🙁 I hope your grandma gets better soon

 

[sootymangabey]

I think the reference to Vandy was regarding the fact that Vandy outright accepts very few people. I was told 10% accept, 10% rejection, 80% waitlist.

 

[Psycho Doctor]

Sorry, Psycho about your grandmother's health. I'll include her in my prayer tonight (this morning I suppose). I wish her a quick recovery.

Congratulations on your acceptance. Just remember once you've done what you can do, everything else is up to someone else... trust His judgement. He'll put you in the school He knows is right for you.

thanks Moosepilot and tinkerbell. I'm just totally overwhelmed right now..things aren't looking good.

And you're right it's all in our Lord's hands at this point..well it always has been. 🙂

 

[Shaz]

why do u say that about vandy? b/c everyone has a good interview there? i don't think that's necessarily true, but i would love to hear your reasoning as i recently interviewed at vandy. 🙂

Well, I had an awesome interview at Vandy. My interviewer and I were both on the same page and had a lot in common;he was genuinely interested in hearing my life story and said he'd write a great evaluation. I got waitlisted.

The interviewer at Hopkins liked me as well, but the Northwestern interviewers were ice cold. However, I did get the good-thick letter from them both. It all seems kind of random to me.

But, if you ask me, deep down inside I truly think interviews are determined more by the person who interview's you rather than you. If your interviewer is a bolsterous/energetic/vocal person who can talk about you infront of a committee really well, then that certainly is better than getting a 4.1/48Z.