Goro

[postbacpremed87]

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Do schools sometimes hold off on less competitive applicants for the first round of interviews?

It seems to me that the really competitive folks are getting interviews left and right, but canceling a lot in between or getting accepted but deciding not to attend....doesn't this open up ii slots for lower stats?

 

[Euxox]

You know, if you want to ask a specific person a question, there is a private messaging system that is meant for just that sort of thing.


Anyway, while we wait for Goro to respond, here are my two cents:

Do schools sometimes hold off on less competitive applicants for the first round of interviews?

The general trend is that the most competitive applicants are interviewed first.

It seems to me that the really competitive folks are getting interviews left and right, but canceling a lot in between or getting accepted but deciding not to attend....doesn't this open up ii slots for lower stats?

I don't know about that. I don't think that competitive applicants will be cancelling interviews left and right because it is still early in the season. No MD schools can offer acceptances until October 15th (I'm not sure how it works for DO schools) and even the most competitive applicants probably won't feel comfortable cancelling interviews until they have at least one acceptance.

 

[Goro]

Yup, that's how it works. Start with best, then go lower as time goes on. The most competetive candidates tend not to start cancelling until they get into their #1 choice.

Do schools sometimes hold off on less competitive applicants for the first round of interviews?

It seems to me that the really competitive folks are getting interviews left and right, but canceling a lot in between or getting accepted but deciding not to attend....doesn't this open up ii slots for lower stats?

 

[plateletfactor5]

Hey Goro,

Can you define the "best"? Is it based solely on the GPA, MCAT, ECs or have they looked at LOR and everything at this point?

Yup, that's how it works. Start with best, then go lower as time goes on. The most competetive candidates tend not to start cancelling until they get into their #1 choice.

 

[Goro]

Depends upon the schools. Some like high MCAT to the exclusion of GPA and vice versa, others combine both. But you have to start somewhere, and the school's minimum is the cut-off where you don't look beyond.

So, as a rule of thumb, someone with a GPA of 3.5/MCAT 30 would get looked at before a GPA of 3.2/30 or a 3.5/24. Next, up would be the gal with a 3.4/29, then the guy with 3.3/28, etc So the closer one is to the bottom of the minimum, the longer they have to sweat.


Capeesh?

Hey Goro,

Can you define the "best"? Is it based solely on the GPA, MCAT, ECs or have they looked at LOR and everything at this point?