Infamous "Hold for Interview"...Blah!

[Explosivo]

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Well I just got nailed twice with the "Hold for Interview" deal. First I called Tulane and they told me first. Then I got a letter from Penn State stating as much. I really wonder if they actually end up interviewing a significant number of people off these hold for interview deals. I've been on them before only to be strung along for months and then getting rejected eventually albeit this time I got them in september and not February so it could be different I guess.

I'm guessing right now that most schools are trying to interview as many top notch applicants with sky high MCAT scores as possible and then maybe later I'll get my chance since my MCAT is not all that horrible and compares very favorably to the averages at both of the schools that are "holding" me right now.

Anybody have any thoughts on these letters? Feel free to share any "holds" you are getting as well.

 

[bruinmojo]

well, i'm still on hold for an interview at UCSD :-/

 

[buglady]

Don't worry Explosivo, I got a "hold for interview" from Penn State today, also! It's my first, so not sure how I should really react? Little disappointed, also, but hey, whatever.

I applied to several schools, so unless I end up with 15 hold for interview letters, then I'll start tweaking out 😉 !

 

[holler79]

I was on 3 "hold for interviews" lists last year at GW, Penn St., and SUNY Downstate. I was never interviewed at any of them.

 

[SolidGold]

The "hold" for interview statement is just a nice way of saying "sorry, but we see no reason to interview you and it would be a waste of yours and our time." I got the same thing from Penn State last year and of course, no interview.

 

[oldman]

i'm still on hold for george washington.

 

[Kermie]

Last year when I applied I was put "on hold" for interview at george washington. So I called them up and asked them what that meant. They basically told me that I was not good enough to interview right away, but I was not bad enough to reject right away either (well, they did not put it that way, but that was the gist). Some people do get interviewed off the hold list though, so you could use this opportunity to update them on any new information (new grades, letters, publications, etc...). You never know....

 

[Nefertari]

On hold for interview @ UCSD. I emailed them:

Dear Ms. Coleman,

Thank you for your notification. Could you please clarify whether the "Hold" category means that your office is waiting for my August MCAT scores or that I'm so far down on your list that the possibility of an interview is unrealistic.


And received this response:

"If you took the August MCAT's we will refigure your application based on your new scores. If not, the committee reviews those applications monthly and you can hear anytime between now and th end of April.

Yvonne"

 

[Resident Alien]

hold for interview is just more reason to stress you. 😡

 

[bruinmojo]

wow, this has been a list of very disappointing comments by everyone. Though I guess the truth always hurts 😡

Ouch, I've lost hope for UCSD then. ehh, what is there to do?

I'm hoping it wont be like this with other schools.

 

[Nefertari]

Originally posted by bruinmojo
wow, this has been a list of very disappointing comments by everyone. Though I guess the truth always hurts 😡

Ouch, I've lost hope for UCSD then. ehh, what is there to do?

I'm hoping it wont be like this with other schools.

bruinmojo,

Did you take aug mcat? Don't lose hope til the rejection letter. 😉 Though I know exactly what it feels like. Being wait-listed is like being in purgatory. But being on hold for an interview is like waiting to get into purgatory!!

Don't let it get you down, esp. if you have 2ndaries to finish.
🙂 🙂 🙂

 

[CyclinE]

personally, i think "hold for interview" is prolly better than waitlisted.

waitlisted = they didn't like u enough as a person to accept you immediately

hold for interview = they didn't like your number enough to interview you immediately

at least u didn't waste time & bling on an interview

 

[bruinmojo]

Originally posted by Nefertari
bruinmojo,

Did you take aug mcat? Don't lose hope til the rejection letter. 😉 Though I know exactly what it feels like. Being wait-listed is like being in purgatory. But being on hold for an interview is like waiting to get into purgatory!!

Don't let it get you down, esp. if you have 2ndaries to finish.
🙂 🙂 🙂

Thanks Nefetari for the support. I actually took the MCAT back in April 2001. I believe the only thing hurting me is the fact that I did poorly on my verbal section. Atleast, numberwise, that is all they can really criticize.

We'll just wait and see what happens in the coming months.

good luck to ya!

 

[clittle1981]

I called Tulane today and I am also on hold🙁 Not a good day, also rejected post-secondary by Wake Forest today; my first official rejection.

 

[DrBravesgirl]

this might be a dumb question, but is a 'hold for interview' letter the same thing as 'we've received all your application materials' letter?

 

[Explosivo]

Originally posted by DrBravesgirl
this might be a dumb question, but is a 'hold for interview' letter the same thing as 'we've received all your application materials' letter?

No.

A hold for interview letter is given after all materials have been received AND those materials have been given a review by the committee.

For all intents and purposes it is a half-assed rejection letter sent by schools that have some kind of problem sending out real rejection letters.

 

[japonesa]

In my e-mail from UCSD putting me on hold, they said that 25% of those on hold get interviewed, so I guess we still have a chance, right?

 

[japonesa]

hehe...nevermind. they only interview 25% of those receiving secondaries. I wonder how many of those getting secondaries get put on hold? 😕

 

[PrincessCKNY]

Yesterday was kind of bittersweet for me. Although I got put "on hold" for an interview by UCSD, I scored my first interview at NYMC!🙄 Just think of it as their loss you guys. Keep pluggin away and hopefully everything will work out in the end.

 

[wfu2005]

Someone mentioned above about the interview category at Wake Forest. Basically, Wake has some sort of policy where they invite some people to interview, put some in an interview category, and some get rejected. Many of the people that are in the interview category will get an interview simply by calling. Basically, they want to see that you are interested. I know of MANY people in my class that called and scheduled an interview right there. They essentially were callling to check on their status and ended up with an appt. for interview. So the moral of the story is, call them up and check on your status, you just might be surprised.