How long after completing your interview do schools decide to accept you?

[deleted993098]

I'm not asking how long do they take to send an acceptance, but how long after do adcoms make a decision about you? Do they meet that same day and decide your fate? Or do they take a couple weeks?

Edit: Just wanted to clarify. I meant how long after the interview, do adcoms get together and look at your overall app and decide whether to accept you or not. For example, some schools send an acceptance after 4 weeks. However, I am sure they decided your fate much earlier than then. Like did they decide to accept you the same day as your interview and then just waited 4 weeks to send the A?

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[Rachapkis]

Schools vary greatly on how quickly they will get back to a student. What's more, a given school's response time may vary greatly depending on the candidate (e.g., a school may respond quickly to the auto-accept and auto-reject candidates, while taking more time with those on the fence). I realize that this advice is probably wasted, but try to do things that help you or that you enjoy (e.g., improve your application, study for school, watch good movies, prepare good food, etc.), rather than trying to speculate about whether you will be accepted or not. (Of course, I realize that this is easier said than done.)

 

[907914]

Some schools are very openly Day oners. Some wait until March for everyone. Most are rolling after oct 15

 

[Engrailed]

Joe interviews at SOM in October
Bob interviews at SOM in December

Is Joe likely to hear back (on a potential A) sooner than Bob? Or is the order completely random and can come at at any time?

 

[907914]

Joe interviews at SOM in October
Bob interviews at SOM in December

Is Joe likely to hear back (on a potential A) sooner than Bob? Or is the order completely random and can come at at any time?

At most schools Joe is likely to hear back sooner than bob if their interview quality was equal. At many schools it won’t matter because the school sends all acceptances at once. If bob interviewed better than Joe (as in Joe had a bad interview) then Joe probably won’t ever get an acceptance.

In general, earlier interview invites yield earlier or statistically higher likelihood of acceptance. Not necessarily due to rolling admissions but because earlier invites are usually the applicants who were most prepared and the ones the schools liked the most.

 

[Rachapkis]

What do you mean by auto-accept and auto-reject?

Auto-accept is my shorthand for a candidate who the school knows for certain they want; auto-reject is a candidate who the school knows for certain they don't want.

 

[theKingLT]

I had one interview where the interviewer told me straight up that they would meet that afternoon, he would present his case for me, and then they would decide right then A, R, or WL, but that I wouldnt find out for a few months since it was non-rolling admissions

 

[On_The_Way_Up]

5 to 10 minutes

 

[Mt. Marcy]

5 to 10 minutes

That fast of a turnaround for acceptance means you were a legit SAVAGE.

 

[Dr panda]

That fast of a turnaround for acceptance means you were a legit SAVAGE.

There was a study regarding job interviews, that usually decision is made within few seconds after you entered the room. Firm handshake, appearance, attire, smile, eye contact don’t tell the interviewer that you are a solid candidate, however, it either makes you personally more or less attractive for the interviewer, which sets the entire atmosphere of the following interview. If you meet above criteria and did not say anything odd, dumb, or simply inadequate or inappropriate you are all set. Of course, it depends on the type of job and performance of other candidates, but the bottom line is the same. It works pretty much same way when you meet new people, you either like them or not, you can change your opinion over time when you get to know them better, but first impression is fundamental.

 

[Engrailed]

There was a study regarding job interviews, that usually decision is made within few seconds after you entered the room. Firm handshake, appearance, attire, smile, eye contact don’t tell the interviewer that you are a solid candidate, however, it either makes you personally more or less attractive for the interviewer, which sets the entire atmosphere of the following interview. If you meet above criteria and did not say anything odd, dumb, or simply inadequate or inappropriate you are all set. Of course, it depends on the type of job and performance of other candidates, but the bottom line is the same. It works pretty much same way when you meet new people, you either like them or not, you can change your opinion over time when you get to know them better, but first impression is fundamental.

THis is applicable to most networking engagements as well I imagine. The power of the subconscious (on unconscious?) mind!

 

[907914]

THis is applicable to most networking engagements as well I imagine. The power of the subconscious (on unconscious?) mind!

That’s why I keep the beard. Who needs to conform to gender norms on professionalism when you got swagalicious face fur?

 

[Engrailed]

That’s why I keep the beard. Who needs to conform to gender norms on professionalism when you got swagalicious face fur?

I suppose it also keeps you warm. It’s like a face sweater

 

[Goro]

I'm not asking how long do they take to send an acceptance, but how long after do adcoms make a decision about you? Do they meet that same day and decide your fate? Or do they take a couple weeks?

Edit: Just wanted to clarify. I meant how long after the interview, do adcoms get together and look at your overall app and decide whether to accept you or not. For example, some schools send an acceptance after 4 weeks. However, I am sure they decided your fate much earlier than then. Like did they decide to accept you the same day as your interview and then just waited 4 weeks to send the A?

Read this:
Goro's Guide to Interviews: The View from Behind the Curtain

 

[LizzyM]

The interviewer(s) can like you but they don't make the admission decisions (in many cases). The interviewers should submit their commentaries within 24 hours but sometimes that doesn't happen which can slow down the process of making a decision.

Once your reviewer(s) have submitted their comments, it may take at least 7 days for those comments to be reviewed along with your application and for the committee to discuss and vote. In some cases, the committee may choose to hold off on making a final decision until they've seen a larger proportion of the interview pool. In other cases, the final decision is made but held until a date on which decisions are released.

Sit back and enjoy the ride... you are headed to Mars... it takes awhile.

 

[993444]

The interviewer(s) can like you but they don't make the admission decisions (in many cases). The interviewers should submit their commentaries within 24 hours but sometimes that doesn't happen which can slow down the process of making a decision.

Once your reviewer(s) have submitted their comments, it may take at least 7 days for those comments to be reviewed along with your application and for the committee to discuss and vote. In some cases, the committee may choose to hold off on making a final decision until they've seen a larger proportion of the interview pool. In other cases, the final decision is made but held until a date on which decisions are released.

Sit back and enjoy the ride... you are headed to Mars... it takes awhile.

At some schools, members of the the committee directly conduct the interviews and report to the committee as a whole, correct?

 

[LizzyM]

At some schools, members of the the committee directly conduct the interviews and report to the committee as a whole, correct?

That is one model.