Interview Afterthoughts?

[dreee]

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Would there be any reason for a school to reject or waitlist an applicant post-interview for red flags on their primary/secondary app? To clarify, if I am granted an interview, does that mean the school is satisfied with my app and the final decision is made from the interview? Or do they re-review my primary/secondary app even after the interview?

In my situation, I have a couple "red flags" on my secondary and received an interview from a school I would love to attend. I enjoy interviews and see myself as a strong interviewee. I'm afraid of despite an awesome interview, they may still choose to reject me based on items on my transcript, EC's not strong enough, etc - all secondary app concerns. I am hoping a school wouldn't choose to interview an applicant they're iffy about.

Any help is appreciated 🙂. Thank you.

 

[gyngyn]

Would there be any reason, for a school to reject or waitlist an applicant post-interview for red flags on their primary/secondary app? To clarify, if I am granted an interview, does that mean the school is satisfied with my app and the final decision is made from the interview? Or do they re-review my primary/secondary app even after the interview?

In my situation, I have a couple "red flags" on my secondary and received an interview from a school I would love to attend. I enjoy interviews and see myself as a strong interviewee. I'm afraid of despite an awesome interview, they may still choose to reject me based on items on my transcript, EC's not strong enough, etc - all secondary app concerns. I am hoping a school wouldn't choose to interview an applicant they're iffy about.

Any help is appreciated 🙂. Thank you.

Sometimes the screeners miss something that the committee does not.

 

[Turambar]

If they were on the fence and chose to interview you, I'm inclined to think that a good interview can only reinforce them in thinking that you should be admitted. I'm afraid I can't offer you a clearer answer, because there are other factors which are out of your control.

 

[dreee]

@gyngyn Hmm, I never considered that. I hope my interview will be strong enough to dispel any concerns that may come up post-interview that the committee was not aware of. Thanks for your insight.
@Turambar I was thinking the same, that a great interview will reinforce their positive analysis of me and result in an acceptance. This school also has a strong in-state bias, and I am out of state. I'd hope they took all aspects of my app into account before offering me an interview. I guess I'll find out after my interview! Thanks for your help.

 

[Goro]

This happens at my school all the time as we don't pre-screen.

Would there be any reason, for a school to reject or waitlist an applicant post-interview for red flags on their primary/secondary app? To clarify, if I am granted an interview, does that mean the school is satisfied with my app and the final decision is made from the interview? Or do they re-review my primary/secondary app even after the interview?

In my situation, I have a couple "red flags" on my secondary and received an interview from a school I would love to attend. I enjoy interviews and see myself as a strong interviewee. I'm afraid of despite an awesome interview, they may still choose to reject me based on items on my transcript, EC's not strong enough, etc - all secondary app concerns. I am hoping a school wouldn't choose to interview an applicant they're iffy about.

Any help is appreciated 🙂. Thank you.

 

[rilte4]

This happens at my school all the time as we don't pre-screen.

I've seen you mention this a couple times, but I'm confused by it. Does your school interview everyone with a complete application? That sounds like an outrageously high number of interviews to conduct, so I'm sure I'm misinterpreting.

 

[Buck Winters]

Would there be any reason, for a school to reject or waitlist an applicant post-interview for red flags on their primary/secondary app? To clarify, if I am granted an interview, does that mean the school is satisfied with my app and the final decision is made from the interview? Or do they re-review my primary/secondary app even after the interview?

In my situation, I have a couple "red flags" on my secondary and received an interview from a school I would love to attend. I enjoy interviews and see myself as a strong interviewee. I'm afraid of despite an awesome interview, they may still choose to reject me based on items on my transcript, EC's not strong enough, etc - all secondary app concerns. I am hoping a school wouldn't choose to interview an applicant they're iffy about.

Any help is appreciated 🙂. Thank you.

It happened to me. I was rejected post interview. When I called to discuss the application, they said it was my GPA and OOS status that led to my rejection. They said my interview went great and the rest of my application was great. Left a pretty sour taste in my mouth.

 

[Vivalarevolution]

Would there be any reason, for a school to reject or waitlist an applicant post-interview for red flags on their primary/secondary app? To clarify, if I am granted an interview, does that mean the school is satisfied with my app and the final decision is made from the interview? Or do they re-review my primary/secondary app even after the interview?

In my situation, I have a couple "red flags" on my secondary and received an interview from a school I would love to attend. I enjoy interviews and see myself as a strong interviewee. I'm afraid of despite an awesome interview, they may still choose to reject me based on items on my transcript, EC's not strong enough, etc - all secondary app concerns. I am hoping a school wouldn't choose to interview an applicant they're iffy about.

Any help is appreciated 🙂. Thank you.

Don't want to burst your bubble but they definitely do. I have a big red flag and still got 6 II's last cycle (only 1 private school). Got rejected from every single one (waitlisted at the private). I feel like some state schools just invite you based on stats and then later on they look at your application lol.

Anyway, regardless, go in there, do your thing and hope for the best! 🙂

 

[dreee]

It happened to me. I was rejected post interview. When I called to discuss the application, they said it was my GPA and OOS status that led to my rejection. They said my interview went great and the rest of my application was great. Left a pretty sour taste in my mouth.

Wow. I'm am completely grateful for any interview opportunity I get, but that is something I don't understand. Why interview an applicant, yet ultimately reject them based on secondary stats? Unless it's what gyngyn mentioned, where the committee members see something the screeners don't. But factors as large as OOS status and GPA..I don't understand that.

 

[dreee]

I've seen you mention this a couple times, but I'm confused by it. Does your school interview everyone with a complete application? That sounds like an outrageously high number of interviews to conduct, so I'm sure I'm misinterpreting.

+1. I'd like a little more clarification as well.

 

[Curioso06]

It seems really illogical to interview and then reject an applicant due to some factor that was clearly defined at the pre-interview phase already (e.g., OOS vs. IS status, GPA, MCAT, etc.)

The only explanations I can come up with when adcoms tell interviewed and rejected applicants are these:

1) The interview was decent but not stellar enough to push you into the acceptance pile but they cite something more tangible in your application, like GPA, MCAT, etc. in order to quell your anxiety

2) They have some mandate to interview some number of OOS or IS applicants (or any other type of applicant). I think some state schools are like this for IS applicants

3) Only in hindsight was it clear that your metrics were below what their target range was, because they can only make this comparison once they've interviewed much or all of the applicant pool

There are probably more explanation for inviting candidates only to reject them based on stats, but these are the ones I can reason

 

[dreee]

It seems really illogical to interview and then reject an applicant due to some factor that was clearly defined at the pre-interview phase already (e.g., OOS vs. IS status, GPA, MCAT, etc.)

The only explanations I can come up with when adcoms tell interviewed and rejected applicants are these:

1) The interview was decent but not stellar enough to push you into the acceptance pile but they cite something more tangible in your application, like GPA, MCAT, etc. in order to quell your anxiety

2) They have some mandate to interview some number of OOS or IS applicants (or any other type of applicant). I think some state schools are like this for IS applicants

3) Only in hindsight was it clear that your metrics were below what their target range was, because they can only make this comparison once they've interviewed much or all of the applicant pool

There are probably more explanation for inviting candidates only to reject them based on stats, but these are the ones I can reason

Thanks for clearly defining some reasons for me. #1 makes sense as to why adcoms say GPA, MCAT, etc when those stats were obvious before the interview. It may be easier to say that then get into details about their interview performance.

#2 is actually what I'm afraid of. I'm OOS and I know I'm competing against other OOS interviewees in a school with a strong in-state bias. They may feel the other OOS interviewees have stronger in state ties than me.

Not too worried for #3 in my case, my stats are above the past averages. But depending on the current pool, that could be different.

You've definitely given me some points to think about.

 

[p0gono]

Another possibility is a red flag LOR or the LORs in general.

This reason is probably less likely than some of the others, but it is reasonable to think that LORs might not get reviewed until after the interview invitation is issued (depending on the school's specific workflow).

They are also unlikely to tell you if an LOR was the reason they decided to reject you due to the confidentiality around them.

 

[Goro]

No, with > 6000 apps, I have trouble believing that only 500 rise above our minimum stats. I don't know what our wily old Admissions dean does to choose who he wants for interviews.

I've seen you mention this a couple times, but I'm confused by it. Does your school interview everyone with a complete application? That sounds like an outrageously high number of interviews to conduct, so I'm sure I'm misinterpreting.

 

[Spinach Dip]

No, with > 6000 apps, I have trouble believing that only 500 rise above our minimum stats. I don't know what our wily old Admissions dean does to choose who he wants for interviews.

Something like this, maybe?