How many interviews to feel comfortable?

Started by Dr. Premed
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Dr. Premed

Dr. Premed

Full Member
5+ Year Member
So far I have 3, but I am hoping to get at least 4. Assuming most schools have a 40% interview acceptance rate, one's chance of being rejected at all 4 schools is .6 x .6 x .6 x .6 = 13%. So you have an 87% chance of getting into at least one school, which is not that bad based purely on chance.
 
I went on 6 interviews and I got 4 acceptances. Of the two that rejected me, one place was somewhere I didn't want to go at all and I might have been obvious about that during the interview . For the second rejection, well, I totally bombed the interview, lol.

I think you'll be in good shape with 3 interviews. I think another metric would be how many secondaries you submitted and how many II you got. If that ratio is pretty high, you're probably a desirable candidate, and you probably could go to fewer interviews.
 
cliquesh said:
I went on 6 interviews and I got 4 acceptances. Of the two that rejected me, one place was somewhere I didn't want to go at all and I might have been obvious about that during the interview . For the second rejection, well, I totally bombed the interview, lol.

I think you'll be in good shape with 3 interviews. I think another metric would be how many secondaries you submitted and how many II you got. If that ratio is pretty high, you're probably a desirable candidate, and you probably could go to fewer interviews.
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For AMCAS, I sent out 5 primaries, got 5 secondaries, completed 3 secondaries, and no interviews yet.

For AACOMAS, I sent out 6 primaries, got 6 secondaries, completed 6 secondaries, and got 3 interviews so far.

I just really hope one pans out. One school is twenty minutes from where I live, so I feel like if I will be accepted somewhere, it will be there
 
getfat said:
Some people will reference the "Three equals MD" reference but from my impression DO schools stress the interview a lot more than other schools. A lot of these schools stress fit a lot more than stats.

Don't get complacent just because you have four interviews. Now is the time to seal the deal in your interview :highfive:
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I feel like I am a better interviewer than I am an applicant on paper, but I guess we will see. I think what I most concerned about is answering the "Why DO?" question without sounding overly generic. I like the concept of holistic medicine a lot, and I think the OMM is a great technique, but is there anything else, maybe more personal, I can touch on if this question comes up?
 
Dr. Premed said:
For AMCAS, I sent out 5 primaries, got 5 secondaries, completed 3 secondaries, and no interviews yet.

For AACOMAS, I sent out 6 primaries, got 6 secondaries, completed 6 secondaries, and got 3 interviews so far.

I just really hope one pans out. One school is twenty minutes from where I live, so I feel like if I will be accepted somewhere, it will be there
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I think you'll be alright for DO schools. However, you probably undersold yourself for MD schools with only applying to 5 schools.
 
Dr. Premed said:
I feel like I am a better interviewer than I am an applicant on paper, but I guess we will see. I think what I most concerned about is answering the "Why DO?" question without sounding overly generic. I like the concept of holistic medicine a lot, and I think the OMM is a great technique, but is there anything else, maybe more personal, I can touch on if this question comes up?
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I talked about a specific DO who I thought was a great physician.
 
cliquesh said:
I think you'll be alright for DO schools. However, you probably undersold yourself for MD schools with only applying to 5 schools.
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I always thought my MCAT killed my chances of an MD program 🙁 I applied to 2 instate MD programs (NJ) and also Drexel because I thought I'd have the best chance there versus anywhere else
 
Dr. Premed said:
I feel like I am a better interviewer than I am an applicant on paper, but I guess we will see. I think what I most concerned about is answering the "Why DO?" question without sounding overly generic. I like the concept of holistic medicine a lot, and I think the OMM is a great technique, but is there anything else, maybe more personal, I can touch on if this question comes up?
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Yeah that part is never fun. If you had any exposure to OMM shadowing physicians it might be good to mention this. Another idea i used if you mentioned the importance a mentor (DO) had on you as you navigated through the pre-med years. Show how you could relate how this person runs there practice and how you could see yourself doing something similar (don't say anything about holistic perspective though).
 
Dr. Premed said:
I always thought my MCAT killed my chances of an MD program 🙁 I applied to 2 instate MD programs (NJ) and also Drexel because I thought I'd have the best chance there versus anywhere else
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I don't know your story, your mcat score, or how many times you've taken the mcat, but I always advocated that borderline applicants hold off for a year or two before going the DO route. If you busted your butt for the mcat and have taken it at least twice with a subpar scores each time then go DO without hesitation. If, on the other, you didn't give it your all and/or you've only took it once, it might be best to retake it.

After taking many board exams I've learned that doing a bunch of practice questions is the way to beat standardized tests.
 
getfat said:
Yeah that part is never fun. If you had any exposure to OMM shadowing physicians it might be good to mention this. Another idea i used if you mentioned the importance a mentor (DO) had on you as you navigated through the pre-med years. Show how you could relate how this person runs there practice and how you could see yourself doing something similar (don't say anything about holistic perspective though).
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Can I PM you? I want to bounce some ideas about the Why DO? question
 
Unless you have borderline stats my answer will be "not many as you think."

I've attended 4 interviews, two acceptances, 1 WL, and one pending decision. I honestly feel if you have average stats that 3 is plenty. Also remember DO waitlists have a lot of movement.
 
ortnakas said:
Statistics aside, you probably won't actually feel comfortable until you have an acceptance in hand.
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Yeah you're right, I still don't feel comfortable with 3 at the moment. I just feel better than when I had 2 that is all. I'm worried I'll give some generic bull**** answer instead of a more personal one if I get too nervous...
 
I have 5 As of right now (have been to two of those already) but I still do not feel comfortable I don't know but to me the number of interviews doesn't really matter because each school is an individual and somone with 1 interview can get in and someone with 10 may not get in anywhere
 
Goro and LizzyM did mention that 3 interviews was the average it took to receive an acceptance in the previous years. Although, I did only have one interview and was later accepted so at the end of the day its just depends on you.
 
summergirl said:
I have 3 coming up and I do not feel comfortable with my odds of acceptance at all.
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Just take a deep breath. Interviews are no problem -- smile, speak clearly and confidently, and crack a little joke or two. I've managed to soften the most stiff of interviewers on the allo circuit..................of course, I was waitlisted...so....:bored:

You'll be fine! Revel in the accomplishment!
 
I've got 4 IIs two of which are in a week and a half and an acceptance. I think it really depends on where those IIs come from and how good of a fit you are with the schools!
 
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Regardless of how many interviews you get, you need to rehearse and practice a bit before going into the interview. Yes, relax, be yourself, and do your research about the school, and if you can sell yourself and seem enough like a "fit" to the school, you'll be accepted. If you can do this at least three times, that bodes really well for your chances.

Good luck friend!
 
Dr. Premed said:
So far I have 3, but I am hoping to get at least 4. Assuming most schools have a 40% interview acceptance rate, one's chance of being rejected at all 4 schools is .6 x .6 x .6 x .6 = 13%. So you have an 87% chance of getting into at least one school, which is not that bad based purely on chance.
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Applied to three
Interviewed at three
Accepted to two
 
As mentioned somewhere above, LizzyM and Goro had a thread about this...

Aaaaaand here it is!
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/interviews-three-a-doctor-youll-be.1215042/

I'm not sure how true the phrase, "interviews three, a dcotor you'll be," is but I had three II, attended my first and was accepted there. (Other two I cancelled.) I think you'll be absolutely fine with your stats.

Good luck to you OP.
 
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