How do adcoms determine whether you get an interview?

[dreaminOfMD>.<]

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So how do the admissions committees deterimine whether you application goes in the trash or is considered for an interview in terms of GPA? Do they just look at the OVERALL or do they look at your year-by-year GPAs? If they look at it year by year, what are their criteria for either rejecting the applicant, or inviting the applicant for interview?

Sorry, one more question. If they look at your year-by-year GPA, then do they look at each class that you have taken for the year and the grades you recieved in each of those classes?

I'd appreciate any insight...thanks...

 

[ready]

It probably varies with each school. It seems pretty obvious that most schools utilize a filter (a combination of GPA and OVERALL MCAT) to screen out anybody they think wouldn't do well at their school. I imagine that cuts it in half (at best). I know some schools then use a file reviewer to evaluate your app.

Some schools state on their web sites/brochures that they take into account an applicant's improvement. I am one of those students who got off to a horrible start and then improved drastically. I'm sure some schools decided not to interview me because of this, but at the schools that interviewed me they definately noticed. In one interview, the interviewer showed me the comments the file reviewer had made on my app and it was pretty detailed, she/he had noticed the discrepancy and noted the fact that the poor grades that I earned were in classes like History of the Theatre and other BS classes.

So I guess to answer your question, yes at some schools they look that closely. However, I doubt schools would notice unless you made an effort to direct them towards it. My life changed so drastically that I made a reference to the events leading to this change in my essays. You've gotta remeber these people have to deal with thousands of apps. How closely would you look?

 

[carrigallen]

basically, that little photo you paste to your secondaries determines everything.

The color of suit you wear just helps determine waitlist or rejection. I should also mention that typing the addresses on your envelopes will also help swing the committee vote, but only in the event of a split decision over your photograph. Photographs are evaluated for attractiveness, well-centerness, and mature presentation (taped/stapled/glued, in that order).

Some schools do adhere miniature transmitters to nametags given during the interview luncheon, which simply allows them to monitor comments made by the interviewee(s) during the day, but these can easily be crumpled up and discarded. Therefore, it is advisable to direct any negative comments towards the lapel of a fellow applicant.

 

[SolidGold]

Originally posted by carrigallen
basically, that little photo you paste to your secondaries determines everything.

The color of suit you wear just helps determine waitlist or rejection. I should also mention that typing the addresses on your envelopes will also help swing the committee vote, but only in the event of a split decision over your photograph. Photographs are evaluated for attractiveness, well-centerness, and mature presentation (taped/stapled/glued, in that order).

Some schools do adhere miniature transmitters to nametags given during the interview luncheon, which simply allows them to monitor comments made by the interviewee(s) during the day, but these can easily be crumpled up and discarded. Therefore, it is advisable to direct any negative comments towards the lapel of a fellow applicant.

But I sometimes wonder if it really is as random as that.

 

[dreaminOfMD>.<]

Thanks for the sarcasm guys 👍

Can anyone offer me some insight to my questions? I understand that they may be petty concerns...but they concern me quite alot actually. I'd appreciate any posts giving me some more knowledge on it...

Thanks

 

[dreaminOfMD>.<]

By the way, Ready, thanks for your post!🙂