Getting nervous...

[CaptKirk]

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Talking with classmates about interviews, programs, etc. I've gotten numerous rejections from competitive programs (Mayo, U-Wisc, UCSD, Utah, etc). On the other hand, I have some decent interviews (U of Iowa, U of New Mexico, OHSU). Some of my classmates basically have interviews everywhere.

I'm just wondering - I've heard that once you interview at a program you are essentially equal to other candidates, and that the interview basically determines your fate. Is this at all true? It's just hard to imagine that even though I have some of the same interviews as my more competitive classmates that I have as good a shot as they do.

 

[Zweihander]

Talking with classmates about interviews, programs, etc. I've gotten numerous rejections from competitive programs (Mayo, U-Wisc, UCSD, Utah, etc). On the other hand, I have some decent interviews (U of Iowa, U of New Mexico, OHSU). Some of my classmates basically have interviews everywhere.

I'm just wondering - I've heard that once you interview at a program you are essentially equal to other candidates, and that the interview basically determines your fate. Is this at all true? It's just hard to imagine that even though I have some of the same interviews as my more competitive classmates that I have as good a shot as they do.

From what I've been told (by people who interview) the interviews basically exist to let both parties get to know each other a bit more personally. Your general place on their rank list is based on your resume. Unless you are either incredibly charming or a complete lunatic the interview won't do more than bump you up or down a few spots.

 

[CaptKirk]

In other words, since nearly all of my interview offers have clearly been after the initial interview offers sent out by programs, I can be relatively certain I am not high on anyone's list. Great.

 

[rgarrig]

ascascas

 

[Zweihander]

In other words, since nearly all of my interview offers have clearly been after the initial interview offers sent out by programs, I can be relatively certain I am not high on anyone's list. Great.

Hmmm...
I'm not really sure that's an accurate conclusion. I've never seen much of a pattern behind when people get their interviews and how they end up matching on their ranklist.

 

[kamehame]

Hmmm...
I'm not really sure that's an accurate conclusion. I've never seen much of a pattern behind when people get their interviews and how they end up matching on their ranklist.

Then again, there are so many variables involved that it would be difficult to determine that regardless without having access to all information. When did you receive it? When did you schedule it? What affected the scheduling (e.g., grouping interviews, already had a more desireable one, etc)? Did you match somewhere because you were ranked high or the program fell through their list? And so on.

 

[ScooterBanks]

The best way to explain the value of the interview is this. Think of applicants in three tiers: ones that look really good on paper, ones that look average, and ones that look below average. The ones that look really good and the ones that are below average would have to do phenomenal things, either good or bad, to ultimately get ranked out of their predetermined third. Unless you are just awful, or unless you are one of the most impressive people personally, you are going to be ranked in the top third or the bottom third of a places rank list respectively no matter how you interview. You have to be really extreme in the interview to change that. The interviews matter more for the people who fall into that middle third...meaning, those with average resumes for the program that you are interviewing for. The interview is MUCH more likely to help or hurt you if your statistics are on par with what the typical resident has at a given program.