How much weight does the interview hold?

[danimalk]

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Hey guys, I'm new to this forum so bear with me if this is a repetitive question.

I've heard many things about the interview. Some say it is the most critical part of the acceptance while others say it is not. I am a Texas resident, student at Rice Univ., applying for acceptance in 2006. My grades are not as great as I'd like them so I'm hoping the interview holds a lot of weight since I think I'm good at interviews and talking one-on-one.

Thanks guys !

 

[KiwiFruit]

Hey guys, I'm new to this forum so bear with me if this is a repetitive question.

I've heard many things about the interview. Some say it is the most critical part of the acceptance while others say it is not. I am a Texas resident, student at Rice Univ., applying for acceptance in 2006. My grades are not as great as I'd like them so I'm hoping the interview holds a lot of weight since I think I'm good at interviews and talking one-on-one.

Thanks guys !

Hello! Welcome to SDN...this website is pretty awesome. The interview holds a lot of weight...some schools it's weight is 50%. I'm not sure about Texas, but most schools have one-on-one interviews, but there are those schools out there that have committee interviews...check out the interview feedback page to read up on the school you'll be interviewing at.

MCAT and GPA; AMCAS, ECs are important in determining whether or not you'll get an interview. A lot of people also say that if a school will interview you, that means you fit their requirements on paper, but the school just wants you to know if you fit with their student body and if you are the type of person they want to admit to their school. But a great interview sometimes doesn't mean an acceptance...or the other way around...it's a mystery to me....the process is kinda subjective.

There is also a great search function so you can search old threads and whatever...I use it a lot! =p Best of Luck to you on your application process. 😀

 

[rugirlie]

I don't know if this is school dependent or not, but I know for sure that at a certain school they use a point system... so maybe not everything is equal but the interview is DEFINITELY not worth 50%.... you get points for everything, including GPA, MCAT, LORs, etc.. and the interview and then to get acceptance you have to reach a certain point total in the hundreds... if you're slightly below that, they waitlist you and as people drop acceptances, they lower the point total to accept more people... In this case, the interview is important but not any more important than any other part of the application... also, I've heard a lot of people say that most peoples' interviews go well, so I can't picture that being a major deciding factor.. I always thought before that once you got the interview, the actual interview is what would determine whether you got in or not, but I'm fairly certain now that that is def NOT the case at all... interviews are important, but definitely can't get you in if the rest of your app is not stellar. Getting the interview itself is not the end-all for your other application aspects. Sorry this was a long rambling post, but hope it helps.

 

[Ambs]

It also really just depends on the school. For example, at the UWisconsin-Madison, your interview only counts as "another letter of recommendation." At OHSU, it counts for over 50%.

 

[deuist]

I don't know where you guys are getting that the interview is worth 50%. The interview is probably the least important part of the application. The admissions committee justs wants to make sure that you don't drool on yourself. The LOR's are actually the most important. And yes, while most letters are positive, very few are actually so glowing that the committee gets a true feel for the applicant.

 

[Revolution #9]

LORs are the most important part of an application? You have to be kidding.

 

[lagringa87xc]

This question is COMPLETELY school-dependent. The interview is weighted heavily at some places like OHSU, while at others (WashU) the interview is, in the words of deuist, to make sure that you don't drool on yourself.
All components are weighted to some degree, but to say that any one aspect of your application is most important for every school is ridiculous.

 

[Brain]

For the Texas schools, I've heard that the interview is not that important at UTH, UTMB, and UTSW but is very important for UTSA and Baylor. I'm not sure about the other TX schools(TAMU, TTech, and TCOM). Any other Texas peeps care to contribute? I think this topic came up on the Texas waitlist thread, so maybe scroll through that thread.

 

[Prophecies]

For the Texas schools, I've heard that the interview is not that important at UTH, UTMB, and UTSW but is very important for UTSA and Baylor. I'm not sure about the other TX schools(TAMU, TTech, and TCOM). Any other Texas peeps care to contribute? I think this topic came up on the Texas waitlist thread, so maybe scroll through that thread.

I agree with the previous poster concerning the Texas schools.

HOWEVER, if your numbers aren't that great but you are able to land interviews then I think your interviews are going to be VERY important. Because the schools take into account GPA, MCAT, extracurriculars, personal statement, and interview, if you are lacking in GPA/MCAT, then you have to make up for it somewhere else--and the best place to make up for it is the interview.

 

[bmcgilligan]

To get the interview, have a great personal statement (and obviously competitive MCAT, GPA, ECs)

For me, it was my personal statement that set me over the edge. One of my interviewers actually said that he could tell I was talkative and personable from my PS. When writing it, don't try to be extra-Englishy. Write as if you are talking to the ADCOM. Your PS is not going to become a literary masterpiece so don't try to make it into one. (My opinion)

Then, depending on the school, the interview carries a lot of weight. I would say that schools which focus mostly on clinical medicine would care more about the interview than schools that focus mostly on research medicine. Part of being a stellar clinical physician is having a good bedside manner, and the way you talk to other people can show how your bedside manner will be.