II

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giguerex35

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hey so i received an interview at a newer DO school and it is upcoming in the net couple weeks. I have a sub 500 mcat and i cant seem to shake the feeling that i am not actually interviewing for a spot in the class. I am not sure what other reason they would have for giving me an interview as i dont know anybody at the school or any inside connections that could get me a courtesy II. I did do my undergrad in the state that the school is located but not at the school itself so again its not like i am getting some sort of guaranteed interview. Am i just completely overthinking this and that i am actually interviewing to be in the class or am is this just a courtesy II for some reason i am unaware of. The rest of my application is right around the average gpa and i have a do letter, shadowing, research etc. every other part of my app is fine. Also i know that some of the newer schools do have mcat averages around 500-502 so i understand that technically half would have to be under the average and therefore have to be sub 500 but any insight would be helpful thanks
 
hey so i received an interview at a newer DO school and it is upcoming in the net couple weeks. I have a sub 500 mcat and i cant seem to shake the feeling that i am not actually interviewing for a spot in the class. I am not sure what other reason they would have for giving me an interview as i dont know anybody at the school or any inside connections that could get me a courtesy II. I did do my undergrad in the state that the school is located but not at the school itself so again its not like i am getting some sort of guaranteed interview. Am i just completely overthinking this and that i am actually interviewing to be in the class or am is this just a courtesy II for some reason i am unaware of. The rest of my application is right around the average gpa and i have a do letter, shadowing, research etc. every other part of my app is fine. Also i know that some of the newer schools do have mcat averages around 500-502 so i understand that technically half would have to be under the average and therefore have to be sub 500 but any insight would be helpful thanks

I don't think courtesy IIs exist. If they do, this isn't one of them. This program found you competitive enough to very seriously consider you for their school, period. You are not an imposter. Sounds like you are right around their averages, too, and have experience near their community.

You are a good fit for the program and they are seriously considering you.That is really the only perspective you should go into an interview with, even if it was a courtesy II (it is not). It would be a significant waste of resources on their part if they did not have the intention to seriously consider you. It would be a serious waste of your resources if you did not go into the interview without serious intent to show/discuss how you are right for their program and how their program is right for you!

I have had this same worry for my IIs. Fight back against that feeling. Find the strengths in your application and believe in yourself. Be ready to talk about your weaknesses, but do your best to show how you have worked and continue to work on them (and they're [subtly] really not that bad, after all!).

Also, look at the stats for IIs offered/acceptances. That tells a story- most schools have a 30%+ acceptance rate from IIs, which is a massive increases from the previous cutoffs in the process.
 
I don't think courtesy IIs exist. If they do, this isn't one of them. This program found you competitive enough to very seriously consider you for their school, period. You are not an imposter. Sounds like you are right around their averages, too, and have experience near their community.

You are a good fit for the program and they are seriously considering you.That is really the only perspective you should go into an interview with, even if it was a courtesy II (it is not). It would be a significant waste of resources on their part if they did not have the intention to seriously consider you. It would be a serious waste of your resources if you did not go into the interview without serious intent to show/discuss how you are right for their program and how their program is right for you!

I have had this same worry for my IIs. Fight back against that feeling. Find the strengths in your application and believe in yourself. Be ready to talk about your weaknesses, but do your best to show how you have worked and continue to work on them (and they're [subtly] really not that bad, after all!).

Also, look at the stats for IIs offered/acceptances. That tells a story- most schools have a 30%+ acceptance rate from IIs, which is a massive increases from the previous cutoffs in the process.
Thanks much appreciated
 
Unless you are the child of a professor at the school or something, no one is going to waste their time and yours by interviewing you when they don't consider you a serious contender.
 
they wouldn't bring you in if they weren't interested, especially at this point in the cycle.
 
Please take this advice. You will thank yourself (and me!) later.

Come up with great, strong reasons why you want to attend the school. Have them ready, and be convincing. There's a 99% chance they'll ask you why you want to go to the school. It's the most important question you'll answer, so make it good.
 
Have the right attitude. Don't go in thinking, "They're giving me a shot because they pity me." Instead, think, "I earned this, and I'm going to prove it to them."

Frankly, adcoms don't have the time to bring in random people for interviews. They carefully choose the people they're interested in.
 
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