Do you truly...

[postbacpremed87]

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Do you truly think there is a path to acceptance at every interview you attend? I know that applicants enter the interview at different places on the totem pole based on stats. I want to feel like I have the power to change my circumstances...that my destiny hasn't been pre-determined.

 

[Elevencents]

Yes. Why bother interviewing you if not?

 

[bionerd89]

Yes. But I do think people with lower stats have to work a little harder to prove themselves and impress the interviewers.

 

[UnderdogMS1]

no, some schools need to reach a quota, and will interview people for the wait list.

no source, just my opinion.

 

[Goro]

If you've been invited for an interview, it's because the Admissions people who do the initial screens think you have the stats and extras to make it in med school.

However, I agree with this post erthat intervewers, who are the ones making the choices (and at my school, have to teach the potential students) have a vested interest in accepting people who will survive our curriculum, and make a good doctor. Therefore, the further away one is from our median, the harder one should try to be impressive.

Yes. But I do think people with lower stats have to work a little harder to prove themselves and impress the interviewers.

 

[michigan1212]

Do you truly think there is a path to acceptance at every interview you attend? I know that applicants enter the interview at different places on the totem pole based on stats. I want to feel like I have the power to change my circumstances...that my destiny hasn't been pre-determined.

Absolutely, a large part of the decision is your interview. If you have an excellent interview then your chances are great for acceptance. If the school perceives you as a competent physician you will be accepted.

 

[Warriors90]

I like to think that you have control, but I'd probably be lying to myself. I had 3 MD interviews last year, got 1 rejection and a 2 waitlists. I attended 4 DO interviews this cycle, and got into all 4 (and I don't think I've changed my interview style at all).

 

[Jdubbss21]

I think you're in control, and I feel as something like this happened to me. I interviewed at a school with an MCAT fairly below the average they have me; however, I feel as though I killed the group interview. I also stayed after and discussed my application, while writing a letter addressing my weaknesses for my file. I ended up getting accepted and I'm still surprised.

 

[sazerac]

Is the acceptance yours to gain, or yours to lose, though?

You might not be interviewed to see if you are good enough to be there, but rather to see if you spectacularly fail.

Then the interview would still have a purpose as far as the school is concerned, but you can't really control your fate in a significantly positive direction.

 

[Warnerade]

If you get an interview to invite…you have a seat at the school as far as I am concerned.

 

[postbacpremed87]

If you get an interview to invite…you have a seat at the school as far as I am concerned.

Hopefully at one school in particular if you know what I mean

 

[geh926]

Personally, I don't think so. I feel schools have you rated somewhat before you interview. For instance, I was accepted at what I felt like was my worst interview and was wait listed at my best one hands down.

 

[QuantumJ]

I've seen a friend interview at a school to be rejected eventually. He contacted admissions and was told his interview was fantastic but his mcat/gpa was too low. So no I dont believe so

 

[Wipeout416]

Personally, I don't think so. I feel schools have you rated somewhat before you interview. For instance, I was accepted at what I felt like was my worst interview and was wait listed at my best one hands down.

Yeah I'd have to agree with this to some extent. Whoever prescreens isn't always the interviewers, and who interviews isn't always the committee. So... when the committee sees your stats, well, there has to be some consideration there. (Varies school to school obvi)

 

[Starry]

I've seen a friend interview at a school to be rejected eventually. He contacted admissions and was told his interview was fantastic but his mcat/gpa was too low. So no I dont believe so

Ouch, that's unfortunate.

After spending time prepping and travelling, that just sucks.

 

[QuantumJ]

Ouch, that's unfortunate.

After spending time prepping and travelling, that just sucks.

Even more so because I interviewed there, it was my favorite school and my stats are the same as his that got him rejected

 

[postbacpremed87]

Even more so because I interviewed there, it was my favorite school and my stats are the same as his that got him rejected

This is why I love schools that do not play around - read schools that admit a high percentage of interviewees.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

This is why I love schools that do not play around - read schools that admit a high percentage of interviewees.

These year there aren't many schools that do this lol

 

[shibby1111]

The interview is to see whether you are pleasant or not, if you can interact like a normal human being, and if you are convincing that the school is right for you without coming across as a jackass. I had 4 interviews: The 1st one I came across as a jackass, 2nd one I didn't know what I was talking about, 3rd was perfection, 4th I was so good that the school thought I wouldn't possibly choose them if accepted so I was rejected (for being so damn good). Be yourself; these interviewers are usually doctors themselves and can read minds. Also, if you have something to say, make sure you know what your talking about, otherwise don't say it, and don't be a jackass; naivety on your part will jump out and smack them in the face. If you haven't graduated medical school, there is nothing you can do or say to impress someone who has - don't try to impress anyone. Just prove that you are capable of getting along with people, that you can have the heart to stick to your goal.

 

[michigan1212]

The interview is to see whether you are pleasant or not, if you can interact like a normal human being, and if you are convincing that the school is right for you without coming across as a jackass. I had 4 interviews: The 1st one I came across as a jackass, 2nd one I didn't know what I was talking about, 3rd was perfection, 4th I was so good that the school thought I wouldn't possibly choose them if accepted so I was rejected (for being so damn good). Be yourself; these interviewers are usually doctors themselves and can read minds. Also, if you have something to say, make sure you know what your talking about, otherwise don't say it, and don't be a jackass; naivety on your part will jump out and smack them in the face. If you haven't graduated medical school, there is nothing you can do or say to impress someone who has - don't try to impress anyone. Just prove that you are capable of getting along with people, that you can have the heart to stick to your goal.

Be yourself, its that simple. Interviewers can identify frauds, don't try to be someone or something you're not. If you only volunteered for 15 hours, don't exaggerate your experience into something it wasn't.

 

[TreadLightly]

no, some schools need to reach a quota, and will interview people for the wait list.

no source, just my opinion.

I've seen a friend interview at a school to be rejected eventually. He contacted admissions and was told his interview was fantastic but his mcat/gpa was too low. So no I dont believe so

I've interviewed and been accepted at 2 schools with what I thought to be pretty marginal, if not bad, interviews. I did most of the things you're not supposed to do and I got in. I had above average stats for these schools so I think that was what helped me. I can't imagine that my interviews had any positive impact on my application, neutral at best.

Either that, or my interviewers were all just super awesome (they were) and I'm really likeable and I don't even know it. My point is that a good interview will probably not help a bad app, and a bad interview will be forgiven for a good app (within reason).

 

[AlienHandSyndrome]

The answer is no, there are plenty of school that interview for the wait-list. If you look at how many acceptances each school offers every year vs the amount of people in the class the number is almost double the amount of offers than they have spots. They have to build a huge wait-list because the best applicants will get multiple acceptances. The interview could be the difference between number 30 and number 100 on the wait-list. Getting on the wait list means they are willing to take you, but you are not the best candidate (statistically anyway).

 

[michigan1212]

Schools who interview for the waitlist can still be impressed and there is a chance they decide to extend an offer.

 

[EMDO2018]

I've seen a friend interview at a school to be rejected eventually. He contacted admissions and was told his interview was fantastic but his mcat/gpa was too low. So no I dont believe so

So why did they interview the poor kid and have him waste time and money? It's bull. I have 6 interviews coming up 2 MD in November, 4 DO in January. I think I have a shot with the DOs, the MDs are just interviewing me for the fun of it.