HOw can they possibly screen?

[medlaw06]

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So I was looking through Freida just to see some programs that I would be interested in applying to, and it completely baffled me how some of these places interview so many people. Just as an example, Montefiore INTERVIEWED 650 people last year for their 1st year spot!?!?! Now, correct me if I am wrong, but if they are interviewing that many people, can u imagine how many people must apply there!?!? I am guessing they must get like 2000 applicants!!

so my question is to anyone who may be a PD or would know about these things: how can the program possibly "weed through" so many applicants? someone posted on another forum that certain fields like IM look at more than just the scores, and EM actually wants to see how you as a person can "get along" with others in their team. How's this at all possible with so many applicants?

 

[texdrake]

So I was looking through Freida just to see some programs that I would be interested in applying to, and it completely baffled me how some of these places interview so many people. Just as an example, Montefiore INTERVIEWED 650 people last year for their 1st year spot!?!?! Now, correct me if I am wrong, but if they are interviewing that many people, can u imagine how many people must apply there!?!? I am guessing they must get like 2000 applicants!!

so my question is to anyone who may be a PD or would know about these things: how can the program possibly "weed through" so many applicants? someone posted on another forum that certain fields like IM look at more than just the scores, and EM actually wants to see how you as a person can "get along" with others in their team. How's this at all possible with so many applicants?

Some programs probably record applicants as interviews even if they do not interview them.

 

[medlaw06]

Some programs probably record applicants as interviews even if they do not interview them.

REALLY!?! BUt why the hell would you wanna do that? So more people can apply? But let's say that they don't actually interview that many people, I am guessing they still receive atleast a thousand applicants (true?)...so how do they manage to screen all the applicants....just tell the secretary to throw out all the applicants below a score of X....

 

[Gauss]

secretaries do most of the screening
either they follow certain parameters - gpa, boards, name of school
or its more subjective where they simply browse the file and decide if they want to interview them

why does this surprise you? After going through this with college and med school why would it be different?

 

[medlaw06]

secretaries do most of the screening
either they follow certain parameters - gpa, boards, name of school
or its more subjective where they simply browse the file and decide if they want to interview them

why does this surprise you? After going through this with college and med school why would it be different?

i figured it would be kinda different since you are "out there in the real world" now, I suppose....i'm probably quite naive too about this stuff....med school and college was a little different since you can get like 4,000-10,000 applicants and it is obviously a lot more than for residencies...and it's still just school....you're not paying people for this....i kinda figured that for residencies, you'd look at things that are more than just numbers since you are "stuck" with the other person for the next X amount of years....finally, i always hear on these forums that personality makes a huge difference (especially in certain fields like IM, EM) and board scores aren't always the #1 thing on someone's list....but then I hear that they screen on board scores...so then board scores DO become the most important thing b/c if you can't get your foot in the door, how can you match?

I will be applying to residencies this year and am a little nervous...I have always done very well on rotations and such because my fundamental knowledge base is strong. HOWEVER, it apparently would mean little if I don't do well on the Boards, and I have been a notoriously bad test taker all my life (get too nervous, double-guess). This is what scares the crap out of me!!

 

[Gauss]

board scores and/or gpa is primarily used as screening for granting interviews
after interview stage your whole app may be considered
but its very very subjective

personality is overrated - top programs will still take a top student from a big name school 90% of the time over someone with a good personality

you're gonna drive yourself crazy with this
go take a benzo and try to believe that you will get one of your top 3 choices (unless you're going for a super competitive field like derm)