Getting to interviews...

[040111333]

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[CoxMD]

Hey guys,

I was just wondering...how do med school interviews work? I mean, they are usually offered during senior year right? So how do applicants get around to all the different schools around the country while also studying for exams and preparing for graduation back at their undergrad institution? Wouldn't the interviews clash with final exams and all or can the applicant pick an interview date that works for him/her?

I'm really confused on how this works...

Some/most schools let you choose a date that works for you from a list they provide. Some other schools will tell you what day they want to interview you, and you'll have to make that date work.

 

[Doctor Strange]

Skip classes, rearrange schedules, make-up exams, work with professors.

I was fortunate enough to be able to drive to all six of my interviews, so I generally only needed to miss a day at a time. Flights will be a bit more complicated.

 

[TheShaker]

Most of mine required flying across the country. It was a busy year but all of my profs have been understanding and helpful.

Most schools do give you flexible dates though unless it is late in the cycle.

 

[IncognitoGuy]

Also, if you interview early enough, you at least won't have to worry about interviews clashing with final exams for Fall semester. Otherwise, you will need to notify professors in as advance as possible (so once you set interview dates, start checking for conflicts!). They will generally be very receptive, provided you are responsible and tell them in a timely manner.

 

[TheBossDoctor]

Yet another reason why its good to take a gap year. Don't have to worry about interviews clashing with school/finals 😀

 

[wanderer]

Relatively closer interviews will only kill a day, interviews that are further away should be done on Mondays or Fridays so that you only lose one business day. Most professors won't mind you missing a couple days for things like interviews as they realize the point of college is to get you to the next level.

 

[Ost3oclast]

Yet another reason why its good to take a gap year. Don't have to worry about interviews clashing with school/finals 😀

Yep! It was nice for me. OP, most pre-meds fly out to interviews ( unless within driving range). You'll also see a lot of pre-meds take out credit cards just for this part of the process alone.

 

[040111333]

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[jeghaber]

Thanks for all the info guys! So, when can I typically expect interviews? Like when do schools start releasing interview dates?

Most schools will start offering interviews in August, with some starting the offers earlier (UMichigan, UChicago, etc), and some later (Columbia, Tufts, etc). The last interview offer dates vary from school to school.

 

[700003]

So students should apply to medical school the summer after junior year? And then, a few months later, before senior year starts, they will be offered interviews?

 

[IncognitoGuy]

So students should apply to medical school the summer after junior year? And then, a few months later, before senior year starts, they will be offered interviews?

Your timeline is correct. Just one caveat - it depends on when they submit their application and it has been reviewed by the schools. The former has to occur for schools to consider you for interview, so the sooner you can send your stuff, the better it will be for you.

Otherwise, you're looking at fielding interview offers and attending interviews during almost the entirety of your senior year. The latest schools will interview is May (I think Albany is the only one I've heard of). Most schools taper off interviews around February/March.

 

[040111333]

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[LizzyM]

You can begin filling out the application in May about 15-16 months before you plan to start medical school. For most students, this is the spring of junior year. The application takes quite some time to complete an the first day you can press "send" is in early June. At the same time, you have your transcripts sent from all post-secondary schools you have attended (including college courses you may have taken while still in HS), and you have letters of recommendation submitted on your behalf (some of these may be submitted later in the summer).

Beginning in July, you receive secondary applications and beginning in August (fingers crossed) you begin receiving interview invitations. Those invitations can come at any time but tend to taper off by January for interviews in Feb/March. Offers of admission begin no earlier than October 15 and can extend to March or later. Applicants on waitlist can get off the waitlist up to the first day of orientation at the school (July/Aug/Sept) so it is a long season.

 

[TheShaker]

Yet another reason why its good to take a gap year. Don't have to worry about interviews clashing with school/finals 😀

That's surprising. I would think that it would be harder to get out of work than school.

 

[earf]

Yep! It was nice for me. OP, most pre-meds fly out to interviews ( unless within driving range). You'll also see a lot of pre-meds take out credit cards just for this part of the process alone.

Yep. Applied for a CHASE Slate credit card. High balance, 0% APR for 15 months, and free balance transfers for the first 60 days (meaning putting all my initial costs on other cards and transferring them over once I was approved for this one). Definitely helped me during my interview trail.

 

[BABSstudent]

Hey guys,

I was just wondering...how do med school interviews work? I mean, they are usually offered during senior year right? So how do applicants get around to all the different schools around the country while also studying for exams and preparing for graduation back at their undergrad institution? Wouldn't the interviews clash with final exams and all or can the applicant pick an interview date that works for him/her?

I'm really confused on how this works...

Interviews can clash with exams, I know mine did. Most professors were nice and would allow me to reschedule tests, however, my GPA still took a hit.

All my interviews required long flights (or a 12 hour, round trip drive to my state school) and required taking multiple days off of school. It is important you don't fall behind though because it can be hard to catch up. It is all about planning far ahead of time and keeping everyone notified of your schedule.

 

[Arbor Vitae]

Hey guys,

I was just wondering...how do med school interviews work? I mean, they are usually offered during senior year right? So how do applicants get around to all the different schools around the country while also studying for exams and preparing for graduation back at their undergrad institution? Wouldn't the interviews clash with final exams and all or can the applicant pick an interview date that works for him/her?

I'm really confused on how this works...

Yep it's a huge cluster ****. More people are waiting until they graduate to apply now or taking a year in between. but yeah, if you're doing it during school it's a huge hassle, not to mention super expensive. You have a lot of time on flights though to get some studying done.

 

[Omppu27]

Yet another reason why its good to take a gap year. Don't have to worry about interviews clashing with school/finals 😀

It's all about that gap year 👍