How long does an average ADCOM spend reading a primary/secondary?

[HybridEarth]

---

Members don't see this ad.

With the thousands of applications at each school, I was wondering how long a typical ADCOM spends going over the primary and all the experience essays, grades/MCAT, secondaries, and perhaps even letters of rec before determining an interview invite is necessary. This is just out of curiosity... is it typically a few minutes skimming through everything, and going back and reading in depth when determining acceptances later on? I'm confident that the process varies among reviewers and schools, but I'm just curious.

 

[LizzyM]

In my experience, 20-30 minutes per application.

 

[HybridEarth]

Few minutes longer than I expected, thank you kindly

 

[Goro]

About the same for me!

In my experience, 20-30 minutes per application.

 

[Buzzlightyear33]

In my experience, 20-30 minutes per application.

Do you go through the whole application or do you stop and throw it away as soon as you seen a red flag (poor GPA, low MCAT, IA)?

 

[CaliforniaDreamer]

In my experience, 20-30 minutes per application.

Oh good, so just about the amount of time I spent working on it.

 

[HybridEarth]

In your secondaries, you should talk about bravery as an attribute that makes you a desirable future physician 😉 @CaliforniaDreamer

 

[LizzyM]

Do you go through the whole application or do you stop and throw it away as soon as you seen a red flag (poor GPA, low MCAT, IA)?

Applications are screened electronically for low GPA (I can't recall seeing anything more than 10 points below our average MCAT (old scoring system) or more than 0.8 below our average GPA) so that's not an issue. I have to read and classify an application on about 8 attributes before writing a narrative summary.

 

[Cotterpin]

What are the 8 attributes? Do you mean personal attributes or things like ECs, clinical experience, etc.?

 

[deleted393595]

What are the 8 attributes? Do you mean personal attributes or things like ECs, clinical experience, etc.?

GPA, MCAT, ECs, Earth, Fire, Wind, Water, and Heart.

 

[Cotterpin]

What about astrological sign?

 

[Syns]

What about astrological sign?

Sorry, you have to make it to the final selection committee to have your Sign factored into the equation.

An easily defended practice.

 

[Cotterpin]

Sorry, you have to make it to the final selection committee to have your Sign factored into the equation.

An easily defended practice.

But I think my status as an aries is one of my strongest points...

 

[Syns]

Sending mad love your way @Cotterpin
The aries is worth the wait.

 

[ChrisMack390]

Applications are screened electronically for low GPA (I can't recall seeing anything more than 10 points below our average MCAT (old scoring system) or more than 0.8 below our average GPA) so that's not an issue. I have to read and classify an application on about 8 attributes before writing a narrative summary.

Any chance you would share or is that TMI?

 

[starstruck20]

Applications are screened electronically for low GPA (I can't recall seeing anything more than 10 points below our average MCAT (old scoring system) or more than 0.8 below our average GPA) so that's not an issue. I have to read and classify an application on about 8 attributes before writing a narrative summary.

I think she means things like critical thinking skills, altruism, and other interpersonal competencies.

 

[LizzyM]

Any chance you would share or is that TMI?

depth and breadth of coursework and rigor of the school(s) attended
clinical experience
motivations for medicine
research experience
leadership experience
service activities
summary of LORS

 

[amapples]

depth and breadth of coursework and rigor of the school(s) attended
clinical experience
motivations for medicine
research experience
leadership experience
service activities
summary of LORS

And the MCAT?

 

[NeuResurgens]

Oh good, so just about the amount of time I spent working on it.

Lol. I'm *way* too neurotic to accomplish this.

 

[LizzyM]

And the MCAT?

How could I forget the MCAT?!

 

[Dr. Jan Itor]

But I think my status as an aries is one of my strongest points...

Sorry, looks like you have to be a Capricorn to get into med school. And you know it's legit because it's AOL.

http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2009/01/26/best-career-for-your-zodiac-sign/

 

[ChillDawg]

Applications are screened electronically for low GPA (I can't recall seeing anything more than 10 points below our average MCAT (old scoring system) or more than 0.8 below our average GPA) so that's not an issue. I have to read and classify an application on about 8 attributes before writing a narrative summary.

I read that as 0.08 and my bowels almost loosened.