Do you think they read your PS before granting interviews?

[Cerbernator]

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I am SOL if they don't since it's probably my strong point but it seems improbable due to the sheer number of applicants.

 

[Dr.LeoSpaceman]

I am SOL if they don't since it's probably my strong point but it seems improbable due to the sheer number of applicants.

I would venture to say "maybe". I would imagnie each school is differet, and thus the way they do things is different. Considering its the only opportunity (along with the secondary) to get behind the numbers, I would say that they do read most of them. Perhaps the only time schools do not is when a applicants numbers are either very high or very low. In these cases, the decision may be already made. However the fact that there are people with 38+ MCAT and 3.8+ GPA that get turned down pre-interview, I would think that they do read them.

 

[superdevil]

i'm sure the answer isn't "no." i would imagine that PS's are read at the schools that have fewer applicants for sure. as for those with 5000+ or whatever applicants, i would imagine that it at least somewhat depends on your numbers, like FaytlND said.

 

[efex101]

Of course they read your PS before granting interviews! all my interviewers had read my PS and had questions about things on there. How do you think they screen out of 1000's of applicants with so many with similar numbers? the PS is very important. Once you are interviewed it is usually based on interviewer feedback and whatnot.

 

[EvoDevo]

Of course they read your PS before granting interviews! all my interviewers had read my PS and had questions about things on there. How do you think they screen out of 1000's of applicants with so many with similar numbers? the PS is very important. Once you are interviewed it is usually based on interviewer feedback and whatnot.

Ditto. Every interview that I've ever had, my PS has been a topic of conversation. Sometimes that's the only thing they've read..... 😉

 

[Cerbernator]

No, I mean on deciding who gets interviews other than assigning interviews based on numbers alone.

 

[superdevil]

No, I mean on deciding who gets interviews other than assigning interviews based on numbers alone.

i know this is what you meant, so i tried to answer it (even though i was just guessing). any interviewer can read a PS on the toilet 20 minutes before your interview. it doesn't mean that they know anything about you.

 

[VFrank]

Ditto. Every interview that I've ever had, my PS has been a topic of conversation. Sometimes that's the only thing they've read..... 😉

Of course they read your PS before you actually interview. I think the OP is asking if they read your PS before they DECIDE to give you your interview. I've heard from a couple people that only your interviewer reads your personal statement and his "report" to the adcom includes his comments on it.

 

[Cerbernator]

i know this is what you meant, so i tried to answer it (even though i was just guessing). any interviewer can read a PS on the toilet 20 minutes before your interview. it doesn't mean that they know anything about you.

I know, I wasnt talking to you🙂

 

[calstudent]

I bet it's different at every school. I am sure that some schools do interview based first on numbers (remember the discussion on WashU a couple weeks ago), but I have no doubt that they read them at most schools before offering interviews.
And, if that is your strong point and they don't read them before interviews, then I probably wouldn't want to go to that school because it would be full of numbers people. Remember, most med. schools (I hope) are trying to get good doctors, not good numbers (although, of course, they are a huge stepping stone and say a lot); but, the PS is who you are.
Hope that helps (or mayB i didn't even understand the question?)

 

[TexasRose]

yes, some schools use the PS as part of the decision process to grant interviews.

 

[Gleevec]

I doubt it, lets pick some types of schools and see how many applicants/interviews there are:

1. Elite Private School: Harvard- 5300/720

2. Big Public School: UFlorida- 2000/420

Those are ballpark numbers from an old SDN post. In any case, I dont think Harvard adcoms sit around and read 5300 PS's some of which they would reject based on numbers alone, and I would say the same of UF.

They probably read the PS immediately before the actual interview.

Im sure there are some schools that are the exception to this, but when you're dealing with thousands of initial applications, I just dont see how adcoms could have the time to read through all of that unless they know youre going to be at the interview.

 

[Cerbernator]

So interviews are based solely on numbers then? How do you explain people with lower numbers getting interviews when people with higher numbers get rejected preinterview?

 

[Freakingzooming]

I think they would have to... to get to the interview stage, you have the numbers and qualities they're looking for in an applicant. I mean just think about the time frame... people usually hear from the interview within a couple weeks if they've gotten in or not. If they interview a couple hundred, they would have to have an army of staff to pile through that in a couple weeks. It would be very frentic.

 

[Amicus]

So interviews are based solely on numbers then? How do you explain people with lower numbers getting interviews when people with higher numbers get rejected preinterview?

obviously URM status, geography (some schools really like to have a few people from each county in their state, or for private schools, a wide number of represented states)

im assuming you mean that at a particular school people with lower numbers sometimes get interviewed over people with higher numbers. a school vs school comparison wouldnt mean much.

they probably do look at the extracurriculars leadership ect on your amcas
also they may see something on the transcript that a simple number does not convey. difficulty of major (biochem vs history), the specific courses that the poorer grades were made in (organic vs bio vs french).
there is alot to go on besides personal statment.

but that doesnt mean they dont read the ps, they just dont have to to interview people in the way you describe.

a little math..

6000 apps, 10 minutes to read,=60,000 minutes=1k hours.
a full year of work for one person is 2000 hours. If 2 people spent four hours a day reading apps that would take 125 days. about four months (five not working weekends).
its definitly doable. much more so for state schools.

 

[Cerbernator]

obviously URM status, geography (some schools really like to have a few people from each county in their state, or for private schools, a wide number of represented states)

im assuming you mean that at a particular school people with lower numbers sometimes get interviewed over people with higher numbers. a school vs school comparison wouldnt mean much.

they probably do look at the extracurriculars leadership ect on your amcas
also they may see something on the transcript that a simple number does not convey. difficulty of major (biochem vs history), the specific courses that the poorer grades were made in (organic vs bio vs french).
there is alot to go on besides personal statment.

but that doesnt mean they dont read the ps, they just dont have to to interview people in the way you describe.

a little math..

6000 apps, 10 minutes to read,=60,000 minutes=1k hours.
a full year of work for one person is 2000 hours. If 2 people spent four hours a day reading apps that would take 125 days. about four months (five not working weekends).
its definitly doable. much more so for state schools.

Perhaps but they do charge an arm and a leg for secondaries.

 

[Cerbernator]

Here is my guess, you get 4 piles:
Pile 1: High numbers - auto interview
Pile 2: Average to below average - Get your ps read
Pile 3: Below Average - rejection unless state res.
Pile 4: URM - acceptance, full ride, and trip on Air Force One to meet the pres.

 

[Amicus]

Perhaps but they do charge an arm and a leg for secondaries.

Tell me about it. I overnighted Boston U the 100 dollar app fee and got a rejection letter dated the day they got it. a**holes.

 

[Amicus]

Here is my guess, you get 4 piles:
Pile 1: High numbers - auto interview
Pile 2: Average to below average - Get your ps read
Pile 3: Below Average - rejection unless state res.
Pile 4: URM - acceptance, full ride, and trip on Air Force One to meet the pres.

ohh that reminds me, UMich is autointerview at a 35 or+ MCAT.
At lead that was the consensus of alot of students last year there.
i think the high number auto interview idea is dead on.

 

[47534]

Here is my guess, you get 4 piles:
Pile 1: High numbers - auto interview
Pile 2: Average to below average - Get your ps read
Pile 3: Below Average - rejection unless state res.
Pile 4: URM - acceptance, full ride, and trip on Air Force One to meet the pres.

yeah i think that is pretty much dead on. we were given an example of a screening formula that one med school uses at a meeting once (they wouldn't state which med school). i think it was something like:

(cum. science GPA + cum. overall GPA) x 10 + (bio/phys/verbal MCAT score) x 2

125+ = automatic interview
115 - 124 = further screening
114- = rejection

 

[gobblety_gook]

yeah i think that is pretty much dead on. we were given an example of a screening formula that one med school uses at a meeting once (they wouldn't state which med school). i think it was something like:

(cum. science GPA + cum. overall GPA) x 10 + (bio/phys/verbal MCAT score) x 2

125+ = automatic interview
115 - 124 = further screening
114- = rejection

Wow really? But the average applicant has numbers that are like 3.4 sci, 3.5 cum. and a 30 MCAT or something right? That comes out to be 129.

 

[superdevil]

hahahaha...yea, cerb, i think your list is spot-on.

i suppose i'd have to agree with what seems to be the general consensus here: really high numbers=interview, above-avg/avg/below-avg numbers=greater review of application (including reading the PS), low numbers=, thorough review of app., interview only with extenuating circumstances (URM, state resident at certain schools, etc.).

 

[fun8stuff]

ohh that reminds me, UMich is autointerview at a 35 or+ MCAT.
At lead that was the consensus of alot of students last year there.
i think the high number auto interview idea is dead on.

Not exactly right. They have auto interviews for state applicants with 33 or higher and 3.6+ gpa.