Done with interviews by Christmas?

[Klyx]

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I've looked over several people's MDapps profiles, and it seemed like as long as the primaries and secondaries were submitted ASAP, they finished all their interviews by the end of the year (December). Is this a relatively accurate assessment?

I ask because I'd love to either study abroad or take some time off January-March of the application cycle. If all the interviews were done by around Christmas time, I wouldn't need to worry about flying back to the States.

 

[stkjhu]

I've looked over several people's MDapps profiles, and it seemed like as long as the primaries and secondaries were submitted ASAP, they finished all their interviews by the end of the year (December). Is this a relatively accurate assessment?

I ask because I'd love to either study abroad or take some time off January-March of the application cycle. If all the interviews were done by around Christmas time, I wouldn't need to worry about flying back to the States.

I submitted my primary late June and got verified in late July. Complete at most schools by early August (not the earliest, but not late either) and I finished my interviews by December.

However, it's also possible that you get interviews after the new year. My pre med committee says there's usually a surge of interview invites in January. I had friends that received a couple interview invites January-March even though they were complete the same time as me.

 

[DrEnderW]

If it were me, I would not be out of the country during interview season for anything more than a vacation.

While there's a good chance you'll have interviews before winter break if you're early, you have no idea when schools will decide they want to extend you an invite. I interviewed at one of my top chances in Feb. after submitting in July. Many schools offer a large number of interviews on a given day and have you select dates - it's first come, first serve with regards to emailing or calling back even.

 

[NewYorker9]

I've looked over several people's MDapps profiles, and it seemed like as long as the primaries and secondaries were submitted ASAP, they finished all their interviews by the end of the year (December). Is this a relatively accurate assessment?

I ask because I'd love to either study abroad or take some time off January-March of the application cycle. If all the interviews were done by around Christmas time, I wouldn't need to worry about flying back to the States.

I finished interviewing around mid December (eleven total interviews) so it is definitely possible. Like you alluded to I had my secondaries and primary all submitted very early, plus I scheduled interviews early with most in September through November.

This is a situation where you could email admissions committees indicating you would be unavailable in 2014 due to studying abroad and they may bump your app towards the top of the pile. Some schools (maybe Cornell or Penn) even ask in their secondary if there are times you will not be free to interview. It's not a guarantee though and you may risk missing an opportunity to interview because of this. However, I don't think admissions would be too sympathetic to you "wanting to take time off." That's different than being out of the country.

 

[Doctor Strange]

Submitted early and was done with interviews by mid-October. I had an acceptance at my top choice the first week of November. It's definitely possible. See MDApps for details.

 

[xffan624]

I've looked over several people's MDapps profiles, and it seemed like as long as the primaries and secondaries were submitted ASAP, they finished all their interviews by the end of the year (December). Is this a relatively accurate assessment?

I ask because I'd love to either study abroad or take some time off January-March of the application cycle. If all the interviews were done by around Christmas time, I wouldn't need to worry about flying back to the States.

It's variable but possible. I was very early, but my app was not the strongest one so I got interview invites throughout the year (Aug, Sep, Oct, Dec, Jan, Mar). Jan was the interview invite that resulted in my acceptance.

 

[Klyx]

Thanks for the quick responses. Does anyone know of schools that are notorious for holding their interviews late? I've heard UCLA didn't hold their interviews until February. Any other schools?

 

[Ost3oclast]

I submitted my primary late June and got verified in late July. Complete at most schools by early August (not the earliest, but not late either) and I finished my interviews by December.

However, it's also possible that you get interviews after the new year. My pre med committee says there's usually a surge of interview invites in January. I had friends that received a couple interview invites January-March even though they were complete the same time as me.

Yep, this. OP, I got a flurry of interviews in September/October, then it died down for a couple months and picked back up in January. It can happen year round.