How do schools decide who to interview?

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This might be somewhere on SDN but a search did not find it. I am sure many schools have different ways of doing it and certain groups may receive priority for the order in which their apps are reviewed. What are some of the ways schools decide who to interview? Does it take 2 readers and a certain "score threshold"? Do applicants need to be spoken about at a committee meeting to receive an interview?
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This varies so much that it would be literally impossible to answer your question.

I read somewhere that USC uses a single screener for each MCAT score (how that is possible, I have no idea) and every decision to extend an II rests on the admissions dean.

I also read that Dartmouth has only two screeners to decide whether you get an II.
 
At my medical school, interview invitations were handled by senior members of the admissions committee. A few of them would review applications to make that initial decision. There was no formal discussion in a committee setting, though I’m sure they would talk about specific applicants if needed. No score threshold as far as I know.
 
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spuding102 said:
This might be somewhere on SDN but a search did not find it. I am sure many schools have different ways of doing it and certain groups may receive priority for the order in which their apps are reviewed. What are some of the ways schools decide who to interview? Does it take 2 readers and a certain "score threshold"? Do applicants need to be spoken about at a committee meeting to receive an interview?
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To get an early interview, you must be an allstar. This means 5-10 points above MCAT median/90th percentile. Same goes for GPA. And a tolerable enough primary+secondary. Other factors are often used. My medical school has an undergraduate school that feeds us a lot of students - we review our undergraduate students before other applicants.
 
Dr. Stalker said:
To get an early interview, you must be an allstar. This means 5-10 points above MCAT median/90th percentile. Same goes for GPA. And a tolerable enough primary+secondary. Other factors are often used. My medical school has an undergraduate school that feeds us a lot of students - we review our undergraduate students before other applicants.
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Thanks. What is the order in which you stratify apps. Is it host undergrad + top stats first or URM +top stats or the more "factors" you have the higher your review priority?
 
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An adcom at my school said it’s based on a points system from several categories.

They are MCAT, cGPA, sGPA, leadership, research, clinical experience, clinical volunteering, nonclinical volunteering, teaching experience.

This is to get an interview. Then for acceptance you are given points based on how you did at the interview and then that is taken into account.
 
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Peter Pan. said:
An adcom at my school said it’s based on a points system from several categories.

They are MCAT, cGPA, sGPA, leadership, research, clinical experience, clinical volunteering, nonclinical volunteering, teaching experience.

This is to get an interview. Then for acceptance you are given points based on how you did at the interview and then that is taken into account.
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What school do u go to cuz I would for sure get an II there lol
 
Moko said:
Extra roll(s) are given for post counts > 5000 and > 10000, respectively. Sorry all.
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This process has so broken me that as soon as I read this, I felt an instinctual millisecond flash of remorse for not having posted more.
 
spuding102 said:
Thanks. What is the order in which you stratify apps. Is it host undergrad + top stats first or URM +top stats or the more "factors" you have the higher your review priority?
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A few different piles:
1. Our undergrads get moved to a separate pile for review
2. MCAT threshold. Yes, GPA plays a role. But much easier to separate applicants on MCAT Scores
3. URM is another pile

Human eyes, will, in fact spend 15-30 seconds on your application. They will check for the 505 applying to a T20 to see if there is anything unique, such as being an olympic athlete or otherwise spectacular EC. Those are the low LizzyM or low MCAT scories that exist.
 
mwsapphire said:
Nooo he meant for stratifying. And then actually reading.
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Correction: After stratification.

Particularly in the lower stat applicants to see if there is anything noteworthy.

For the top tier applicants/those that will likely be interviewed, applications might even get a full 60 seconds of review...just to double check LoRs and pick up any academic or application blemishes/lies.
 
Dr. Stalker said:
Correction: After stratification.

Particularly in the lower stat applicants to see if there is anything noteworthy.

For the top tier applicants/those that will likely be interviewed, applications might even get a full 60 seconds of review...just to double check LoRs and pick up any academic or application blemishes/lies.
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Could you please specify what you mean by application blemishes/lies?
 
AegonTargaryenVI said:
Could you please specify what you mean by application blemishes/lies?
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GPA listed (on secondary) doesn't match AMCAS.
AMCAS GPA doesn't match officially sent in transcript.
Academic blemishes such as IA that pop up. Like wow 518 MCAT + 4.0 + IA...let's see what the IA is because we want to interview student.
 
Dr. Stalker said:
GPA listed (on secondary) doesn't match AMCAS.
AMCAS GPA doesn't match officially sent in transcript.
Academic blemishes such as IA that pop up. Like wow 518 MCAT + 4.0 + IA...let's see what the IA is because we want to interview student.
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So you are saying students are interviewed/selected for interview before their application has even been fully reviewed/read?
 
Dr. Stalker said:
A few different piles:
1. Our undergrads get moved to a separate pile for review
2. MCAT threshold. Yes, GPA plays a role. But much easier to separate applicants on MCAT Scores
3. URM is another pile

Human eyes, will, in fact spend 15-30 seconds on your application. They will check for the 505 applying to a T20 to see if there is anything unique, such as being an olympic athlete or otherwise spectacular EC. Those are the low LizzyM or low MCAT scories that exist.
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How can one review an entire application in 15-30 seconds? Especially LoR or W/A?
 
ChymeofPassion said:
For an interview? Or is this for making piles to stratify apps.
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Probably varies from institution to institution. I do not know anything about the process, but I do know that’s about all the information they can get in 15-30 seconds.
 
ChymeofPassion said:
How can one review an entire application in 15-30 seconds? Especially LoR or W/A?
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Admissions is proficient in this.
Personal statement + secondaries are often generic. PS: "I want to be a doctor because I had X surgery..." Very common reason for pre-meds to write about as why they became interested in medicine. Secondary: "I like y school of medicine because of z reason" <-- Probably 25% of applicants will list those same reasons. LoRs are reviewed quickly because...well...they just recommend a student.
 
MemeLord said:
So you are saying students are interviewed/selected for interview before their application has even been fully reviewed/read?
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No.
They are put in a pile of applications that the school thinks they will interview. From there, human eyes review said interview-potential applicants and make the decision.
 
Do you all think schools order work/ activities from most hours spent to least hours spent?

LM, do work/ activities get put into that “Dashboard” ?
 
mwsapphire said:
So...why even write all that stuff if it's not looked at seriously? ( I know the quick reveiw is for stratification but it seems like those essays we spend hours on get looked at for such little time.)
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Yeah how will the ADCOMS know about my super quirky EC that makes me standout from the other applicants and enhance the diversity of the incoming class
 
OxenFoxen said:
Yeah how will the ADCOMS know about my super quirky EC that makes me standout from the other applicants and enhance the diversity of the incoming class
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I know you're being facetious but those secondaries take forever.
 
TRexLife4 said:
This varies so much that it would be literally impossible to answer your question.

I read somewhere that USC uses a single screener for each MCAT score (how that is possible, I have no idea) and every decision to extend an II rests on the admissions dean.

I also read that Dartmouth has only two screeners to decide whether you get an II.
Click to expand...

What might Dartmouth’s two screeners be??
 
Peter Pan. said:
An adcom at my school said it’s based on a points system from several categories.

They are MCAT, cGPA, sGPA, leadership, research, clinical experience, clinical volunteering, nonclinical volunteering, teaching experience.

This is to get an interview. Then for acceptance you are given points based on how you did at the interview and then that is taken into account.
Click to expand...
An adcom from SUNY Upstate came to my school and said that they use a similar process.
 
CaptainWEMT said:
An adcom from SUNY Upstate came to my school and said that they use a similar process.
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Then i wonder what happens if someone has lots of volunteering and no research, or vice versa, and if that could be considered "eqaul" to someone who has a little but of everything.Which is better? There are still questions.
 
LabileEmotions said:
Not all categories are weighted equally. Having a zero in a category is not a good look, and is likely not offset by strength in another.

This line of questioning is getting to the point of paranoiic, and obsessive to the max. It shows a lack of self discipline.

Learn patience and leave your mind alone. The truth as to whether you get an II, and how many, will reveal itself in time. Once your applications are submitted, there is not a thing you can do but wait. Developing self discipline will be key to your mental health. This is a very long process.
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I'm not paranoid, I'm just curious as that is the point of this thread. Relax, bro. I don't think there's a lack of self discipline associated with speculating.
 
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