Everyone even at interviews?

[MG Md 2B]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I've heard from several people that once you get to the interview stage everyone is considered to be on a relatively even platform. I guess they're meaning that your mcats, gpa, secondary comments and such were acceptable and made the cut, or else you wouldn't get an interview. Is this true? If so, is it entirely the interview that either makes or breaks you once you get to that point? Thanks!

 

[JDAWG07]

I've heard from several people that once you get to the interview stage everyone is considered to be on a relatively even platform. I guess they're meaning that your mcats, gpa, secondary comments and such were acceptable and made the cut, or else you wouldn't get an interview. Is this true? If so, is it entirely the interview that either makes or breaks you once you get to that point? Thanks!

The answer is yes and no. Yes, getting to the interview stage means you have a legitimate shot regardless of the other elements of your application. This is more true of certain elements of your app than others. However, getting to the interview still only means you have a shot. Unless you blow them away at the interview, you must still look good on paper when the committee votes on you. In addition, I've heard that LOR's still hold a lot of weight even after you're invited for an interview. The interviewer only knows you for an hour but the writers of your LOR's have known you for years. If you really need to impress committees because of a low GPA or something, it's absolutely essential that you have killer recommendations.

 

[leechy]

From what I've heard, at the time of voting the committee has your entire application before it, so the other parts of your app might still make a difference.

 

[NubianPrincess]

I was hoping this was the case, but then I though to myself...if I were on an adcom making a final decision about whether or not to admit an applicant, would I disregard all else and only be considering interview results in making my final determination? Can't say that I would.

I believe that at the stage of interview everyone has a fair shot at the school, but I do believe that other parts of the application can still make a decision go one way or another. Just my 0.02 since I've never been on an adcom 🙂

 

[CalBeE]

To me, making to the interview can mean either adcom thinks my application "Made the cut" or "gives me the benefit of doubt". Either way, they probably didn't spot any major red flag in my app. However, I really doubt everyone's even at the interview stage...I'm sure they'll go back and review the whole app before decision.

 

[neoncandle]

You'll have to answer questions well about the stuff that makes your app weaker, but if you are being interviewed you have a chance. Good luck!

 

[bewitched1081]

I've heard from several people that once you get to the interview stage everyone is considered to be on a relatively even platform. I guess they're meaning that your mcats, gpa, secondary comments and such were acceptable and made the cut, or else you wouldn't get an interview. Is this true? If so, is it entirely the interview that either makes or breaks you once you get to that point? Thanks!

i dont think its true. there is still some kind of ranking going on even at the interviews.

 

[superdevil]

i would sincerely doubt (for better or worse) that everyone is "even" once they reach the interview stage. med schools want this process to be easy on them, so it would certainly not be in their best interest to have to start all over again re-evaluating applicants from scratch after interviews. even more to the point, what reason do you think a med school would have to consider a 3.9/42 applicant as "even" with a 3.2/27 applicant at any point in the process? med schools value numbers just as much as we applicants do, you know. 😉

my pre-med advisor insists that once you get an interview, you're good enough on paper to admit, and that a spot in the case is "yours to lose" at the interview. she's been right about pretty much everything thus far, but i'll have to see this to believe it. 😎

 

[Davina3000]

I do think that there is some truth to the fact that once you have made it to the interview, your application has been deemed acceptable for admit. At the same time, after the interviews the ADCOM is looking to admit a group of students that will make up a solid yet diverse class. Yes they want people with high stats, but if everyone applying with high stats wants to be a neurosurgeon and practice in an urban area, they are going to run into problems with that class. After the interviews, they really have to look at the candidate as a whole package and try to make up a class that will have diverse interests and goals. In my opinion this fact alone puts us all on even ground after the interview because we really can't say for sure what they are looking for to round out their class. One school may be looking for stats and one may be searching for candidates who expressed strong interest in primary care.