Interview Invites-- when to start worrying?

[ForeverandEver]

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I only have a few interview invites so far, and I need about 15. When should I start worrying that I don't have enough? (I'm worried that I've applied to too many "reach" or "out-of-reach" programs.)

 

[SweetTonics]

I only have a few interview invites so far, and I need about 15. When should I start worrying that I don't have enough? (I'm worried that I've applied to too many "reach" or "out-of-reach" programs.)

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=856362
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=856263

 

[2012mdc]

I only have a few interview invites so far, and I need about 15. When should I start worrying that I don't have enough? (I'm worried that I've applied to too many "reach" or "out-of-reach" programs.)

I have zero. Try to take a deep breath.

 

[ForeverandEver]

Thanks for putting things in perspective lol. (Although we may not even be applying for the same thing; I'm applying for internal medicine.)

 

[cyneuron]

I have zero. Try to take a deep breath.

Same here man. Let the waiting take over us...🙂

 

[DocKSV]

Ditto, no invites here either.

Rejections:
Loyola univ.
Cleveland Clinic Florida

Applying for medicine.

 

[aa62]

OP 🙄 Be happy you have something.

Applied to Surgery (123 apps) and IM (75 apps).

No invites so far (although I'm waiting on my step 2ck score on Sept 27).

5 surgery rejections (Brooklyn Hosp-visa issue, Albington PA, U of Arizona, U of MD and Palmetto SC-visa issue).
1 IM rejection (Wright State-visa issue).

Its still early but...

 

[MiesVanDerMom]

I only have a few interview invites so far, and I need about 15. When should I start worrying that I don't have enough? (I'm worried that I've applied to too many "reach" or "out-of-reach" programs.)

How do you know that you need 15?

 

[cartoria]

I'm not sure why for the OP, but some people are baseing it on some charts from the NRMP Charting Outcomes 2011. It's an interesting read as these things go. You can look at a chart for whichever residency type you and interested in and see what the probability of matching was based on the number of programs the student ranked.

Here's a link

http://www.nrmp.org/data/chartingoutcomes2011.pdf

 

[ForeverandEver]

After reviewing my application, that's what one of my advisers (at my school) told me.

 

[MiesVanDerMom]

I'm not sure why for the OP, but some people are baseing it on some charts from the NRMP Charting Outcomes 2011. It's an interesting read as these things go. You can look at a chart for whichever residency type you and interested in and see what the probability of matching was based on the number of programs the student ranked.

Here's a link

http://www.nrmp.org/data/chartingoutcomes2011.pdf

That data makes it look like you need more interviews if you're an AMG than if you're an Independent. I'm more confused than ever as to how many interviews I need as a D.O.!

 

[ForeverandEver]

Still can't help worrying...people from my school with higher scores and higher class rankings than me have already received interview invitations from the schools that I've applied to. *sigh*

 

[digitlnoize]

It really, really depends on the schools and the programs within the school. And each specialty is different. For example, I've gotten a invite to Vanderbily psych, but my friend with WAY better scores than me hasn't heard a peep from their Peds dept. Tons of places haven't even started looking yet...I know it's hard, but relax!

 

[2012mdc]

It really, really depends on the schools and the programs within the school. And each specialty is different. For example, I've gotten a invite to Vanderbily psych, but my friend with WAY better scores than me hasn't heard a peep from their Peds dept. Tons of places haven't even started looking yet...I know it's hard, but relax!

It's hard when you don't even have 1 yet.

Programs that I thought I was competitive for have given out invites and it sucks not even having one. It can really affect your confidence.

 

[digitlnoize]

It's hard when you don't even have 1 yet.

Programs that I thought I was competitive for have given out invites and it sucks not even having one. It can really affect your confidence.

I know, but it's very, very early. For example: one program I applied to sent out some invites, but I wasn't one of them. I figured my chances there were shot. Turns out they just hadn't gotten to my app yet. Got an invite 1-2 weeks later.

Programs get hundreds of applications. They can't possibly get through them all in the first few weeks.

Number applied to matters too. I applied to WAY too many (30-ish), and have gotten 10 or so invites, but that leaves 20 places I haven't heard from...if I'd applied to 15 programs, I might not have heard anything either.

It's still very early. Hope that helps.

 

[2012mdc]

I know, but it's very, very early. For example: one program I applied to sent out some invites, but I wasn't one of them. I figured my chances there were shot. Turns out they just hadn't gotten to my app yet. Got an invite 1-2 weeks later.

Programs get hundreds of applications. They can't possibly get through them all in the first few weeks.

Number applied to matters too. I applied to WAY too many (30-ish), and have gotten 10 or so invites, but that leaves 20 places I haven't heard from...if I'd applied to 15 programs, I might not have heard anything either.

It's still very early. Hope that helps.

I applied to 45 and haven't heard anything. Classmates who are applying in the same specialty have heard back from a few at least. It's distressing being the only one w/o an invite.

I know it's early but it sucks to be without one when others are hearing back. Makes me paranoid that I somehow screwed up my app royally.

At this point nothing can restore my confidence outside of an invite.

 

[HumbleMD]

I applied to 45 and haven't heard anything. Classmates who are applying in the same specialty have heard back from a few at least. It's distressing being the only one w/o an invite.

I know it's early but it sucks to be without one when others are hearing back. Makes me paranoid that I somehow screwed up my app royally.

At this point nothing can restore my confidence outside of an invite.

I've only got one at my home institution. To alleviate (some) of my fears I looked up old interview invite threads to see if the programs I applied to did early invites. Almost all of the programs I apply to didn't even start until October. Maybe this would help?

 

[2012mdc]

I've only got one at my home institution. To alleviate (some) of my fears I looked up old interview invite threads to see if the programs I applied to did early invites. Almost all of the programs I apply to didn't even start until October. Maybe this would help?

Yeah I'm probably overreacting but I thought I was competitive at the 4 programs I applied to that have sent out invites so far. None of them were "reaches". Just makes me lose a lot of confidence about my chances at other programs

 

[digitlnoize]

Yeah I'm probably overreacting but I thought I was competitive at the 4 programs I applied to that have sent out invites so far. None of them were "reaches". Just makes me lose a lot of confidence about my chances at other programs

This is what I'm saying...that's only 4 programs who probably just haven't gotten to your app yet. Just because they've made a decision on other people's doesn't mean they've made a decision on yours.

Try to look at it from the PDs point of view: You have a pile of 600 apps to look at, and you're busy with all the other crap PDs have to do, and you want to go home and see your family. You're not going to get very far. Some places will make getting invites out a priority, others won't.

It's VERY early, and there's still time. What are you applying to?

 

[batch]

Agreed its way too early to stress.Some would say one should never stress 🙂

There is a new site that lets people track invites (user-submitted, so its not 100% accurate, but you can see trends at least). I don't want to spam the forum so PM me if you are interested. fyi, I'm not affiliated with the site.

Anyways, from what I understand October is the peak month, but invites keep rolling out after that as well.

 

[gutonc]

There is a new site that lets people track invites (user-submitted, so its not 100% accurate, but you can see trends at least). I don't want to spam the forum so PM me if you are interested. fyi, I'm not affiliated with the site.

Pretty much every specialty-specific SDN forum has just such a list as well. Just go there to look.

 

[ForeverandEver]

Some of the schools I applied to that I was competitive for, I haven't heard back from, but my classmates have. These classmates are ones with higher scores/class ranks, applying in the same specialty, and who applied after I did (so I don't see how they couldn't have gotten to my application before theirs). I'm starting to wonder if I should apply to more programs. I've already applied to quite a few.

 

[HumbleMD]

Some of the schools I applied to that I was competitive for, I haven't heard back from, but my classmates have. These classmates are ones with higher scores/class ranks, applying in the same specialty, and who applied after I did (so I don't see how they couldn't have gotten to my application before theirs). I'm starting to wonder if I should apply to more programs. I've already applied to quite a few.

What specialty are you applying in? I'm running into the same boat in OBGYN. I think the thoughts you are having now are more appropriate for the second week of October (when data says 1/2 of the interviews have been given out). Remember we're still in September. Some schools don't even have their transcripts out.

I am having the same feeling, but I'd wait at least until the October 1st to start worrying about expanding your list of programs.

 

[digitlnoize]

I don't see how they couldn't have gotten to my application before theirs...

They don't always go in order...

It's hard to say, honestly, without knowing more info...

I would look at both the NRMP Match Stats from 2010 and 2011 for your specialty and see if you fit the average numbers for successful matched applicants. Then, look at the NRMP Program Directors' Survey from 2010 and see what PDs in your specialty felt was important, and the number of applicants vs interviewees vs ranked.

Finally, look at the last few years' SDN Interview Invite Thread and see when your interested programs offered interviews in past years. One year is not enough data. Go back.

 

[ForeverandEver]

I'm applying to internal medicine.