Interview Early vs. Late?

[discgoddess]

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Is there any advantage/disadvantage to interview early vs. late? I've heard that late interviews allow you to be fresh in their minds...

 

[TruTrooper]

Is there any advantage/disadvantage to interview early vs. late? I've heard that late interviews allow you to be fresh in their minds...

I am trying to get them late hoping that I will be fresh in their minds. Also, I schedule my less desirable programs earlier in order to practice for the more desirable programs.

 

[Methyldopa]

I am trying to get them late hoping that I will be fresh in their minds. Also, I schedule my less desirable programs earlier in order to practice for the more desirable programs.

I don't think it really matters whether you go early or late in the interview season. You can argue both ways as to when to go. But a practice interview(s) should help.

 

[k-money]

Hey all, just interviewed at U Minn and had the same concerns since it was an early group. Here is what we were told..they apparently have a point system of some sort based on your interviews with them (I had 5 interviewers my day). The points are tabulated, these numbers are later thrown into the hat for their match list. Makes me wonder if many programs are doing this. I didn't get to see the point system but I sure hope compatibility ranks high in the point distribution

I don't think it really matters whether you go early or late in the interview season. You can argue you both ways as to when to go. But a practice interview(s) should help.

 

[Methyldopa]

Hey all, just interviewed at U Minn and had the same concerns since it was an early group. Here is what we were told..they apparently have a point system of some sort based on your interviews with them (I had 5 interviewers my day). The points are tabulated, these numbers are later thrown into the hat for their match list. Makes me wonder if many programs are doing this. I didn't get to see the point system but I sure hope compatibility ranks high in the point distribution

In fact from my understanding several schools employ the point system.

 

[moya moya]

Cna you explain more about what you mean when you say the points are tabulated and then thrown into a hat for the match list? Does this mean that they don't necessarily rank candidates by discussing them individually, but rather by adding up all the points they received and then arbitarily ranking the highest scoring candidates? If so, it makes me a little nervous to think that the ranking is so random.

Hey all, just interviewed at U Minn and had the same concerns since it was an early group. Here is what we were told..they apparently have a point system of some sort based on your interviews with them (I had 5 interviewers my day). The points are tabulated, these numbers are later thrown into the hat for their match list. Makes me wonder if many programs are doing this. I didn't get to see the point system but I sure hope compatibility ranks high in the point distribution

 

[Methyldopa]

Cna you explain more about what you mean when you say the points are tabulated and then thrown into a hat for the match list? Does this mean that they don't necessarily rank candidates by discussing them individually, but rather by adding up all the points they received and then arbitarily ranking the highest scoring candidates? If so, it makes me a little nervous to think that the ranking is so random.

How is it random if it's based on your performance on the interview day??

 

[moya moya]

What I mean is that, from K-Money's original posting, I got the impression that if several candidates receive the same number of total points, then all their names are thrown into a hat and then arbitarily selected from the hat and ranked. That's why I posted my original question, because I want to clarify exactly what K-Money meant by the original post that "these numbers are thrown into the hat for their match list." If you could shed some more light on this matter, it would be greatly appreciated.

How is it random if it's based on your performance on the interview day??

 

[yul]

while of course there will be an element of randomness in the selection process (based on one person's impression of a candidate versus another persons impression), i think it is safe to assume that most committees will take the time to rank each candidate in a fair and somewhat objective way. where there may be a tie, i'm sure that a certain amount of debate will end up settling the order of the list. maybe when that fails they bring out the hat.

 

[penguins]

I think the "hat" was just meant as a metaphor. The secretary just adds the literal score sheet to your file and that "score" becomes part of your application. You have academic record, personal statement, USMLE scores and interview score, and other things. The score for you interview is meant as a method of making the "recall/memory" of your interview encounter more objective than a subjective fading memory.
The committee reviews your entire file and rather than depending on the memory or just notes of the interview, they look at the score sheet. During my interview there, several of the faculty made notes on the bottom of my score sheet.
Hope this clears it up.

 

[GopherBrain]

Is this topic exhausted, or are people still stressing? I know the U of MN Program Director and would be happy to try to get the real answer, if enough people are really curious.

 

[Methyldopa]

rank each candidate in a fair and somewhat objective way.

There ain't nothing objective about the interviews you are about to go on. It's entirely whether you made an impression on the interviewer or not. The whole process is totally subjective.

Otherwise your step1 and/or 2 scores would solely determine whether you get a spot at a program.

 

[discgoddess]

Gopher, please do find out from your PD!

Thanks!

Anyone know the common actual categories for this point system?

I've heard things like "5 pts for MD PhD, 5 points for MBA, 5 points for each honors grade yadda yadda."

Reminds me of "5 points for Gryffindor!"

 

[GopherBrain]

Gopher, please do find out from your PD!

Thanks!

Anyone know the common actual categories for this point system?

I've heard things like "5 pts for MD PhD, 5 points for MBA, 5 points for each honors grade yadda yadda."

Reminds me of "5 points for Gryffindor!"

5 points for MBA???

 

[GopherBrain]

OK you stress-crazed applicants! 😀 I've got the inside story on how the U of MN (Go Gophers!) makes their ROL. It's not nearly as exciting as speculation would lead you to believe. I'm not sure what K-Money's interviewer was trying to convey with the "draw from a hat" metaphor.

On interview day you meet with multiple interviewers, and afterwards each interviewer rates you from 1-5 (plus, obviously, makes more personal notes). These scores are averaged into a raw score. At the end of interview season these scores are organized into a very preliminary ROL. Then, in early January, all of the interviewers meet for a ranking meeting. Each application is reviewed, in detail, one at a time. All interviewers can comment on the strengths of each application. There is considerable reorganization of the rank list at that time.

When making the final ROL, they don't use a rigid point system (sorry MBAs, there go your 5 points! 😀 )

I hope this helps! Best of luck!

 

[brainstorm]

Really appreciate it GopherBrain! 👍

 

[Perseverator]

Hugely important insight!