Interview Story

[DocJ]

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I interviewed at the U. of Chicago Pritzker in early September. There was an amazing coincidence at my faculty interview.

The interview began in a typical fashion, and we discussed my life experiences and research. Toward the end of the interview, I asked the faculty member what her specialty was, and I learned that she was an expert in an autoimmune disease that I am particularly interested in. One week before the interview, I just happened to read several papers she had published, and I didn't even realize the papers were from Pritzker! It was a total coincidence! (I don't usually read primary research articles for fun; these were the only papers that I happened to be very familiar with at the time.) Needless to say, we had a great discussion about her research, and she told me she was very impressed, and that I should come and work in her lab if I choose to attend Pritzker.

I have a 3.97, 33Q (<--which may not be good enough for them), a BS in Mol. Bio., a BA in Russian, did humanitarian service in Siberia for 2 years, and I couldn't have hoped for a more amazing interview.

I just found out that they wait-listed me.

CRAPSHOOT.

 

[Optimistic]

I dont know what to say. I guess they are never happy.But I am sure with that good score and experiences you will get in some good school, may be even better then this one.

 

[sundevil1]

DocJ

I was at Pritzker last week and was very impressed. I had nothing like your experience but part of the interviewers job ,in general, is to make you feel comfortable and like you are doing a good job. Without this it might be hard for you to really open up and let them get to know you. I know, it sucks. They make you love school, you think you did great and then you get disappointed when the decision comes. Well, at least you are on the waitlist so you still have good chance. However, I'm sure you'll have other experiences where you did well and the acceptance naturally follows. This is only one school so just pace yourself. Good luck with everything else.

 

[DocJ]

Thanks for the encouragement.

I know what you mean with interviewers making you feel comfortable and good about your chances. The thing about this interview, though, was that I even knew the name of a mutant gene this professor had discovered and the specific frameshift mutation and mechanism of inheritance--and this was all from a recent publication.

So anyway, I didn't feel like it was a matter of the interviewer trying to make me feel like it was a good interview. It was just an amazing coincidence that I knew these papers and happened to be interviewed by the professor that published them (who I didn't even know was from Pritzker prior to the interview). I guess I got my hopes up after the interview.

 

[gel1]

DocJ,
I am sorry that things did not turn out how you had hoped. It sounds like you had very interesting interviews. Anyway, I've heard that they take a number of people off the waitlist. Good luck.

 

[urasia]

wow, DocJ, that does sound like an amazing interview. if i were the professor, i would definitely push for your case. but don't worry, you have very good credentials, so i'm sure you'll get in somewhere. and i'm very impressed with your humanitarian experience in siberia. i'm thinking of going to china for one year or two. can i ask you what do you do in the US while waiting for med school interviews?

 

[earthlink]

hey docj just wondering how old you are you have some quite impressive accomplishments. :

 

[earthlink]

hey docj just wondering how old you are you have some quite impressive accomplishments. :

 

[DocJ]

I just turned 23.

 

[Vdawg]

this could be real off the wall... but maybe the interviewer thought you looked her up and read her stuff. hopefully not but I heard UofC is real picky. you'r lucky to be on the waitlist

 

[gower]

At this stage, there is no reason to feel slighted. While Pritzker has a class size of 104, those seats are not available to all comers. The entering class is typically comprised of about 12-15 MSTP students, 2 in the MAS program, 4-6 in the early acceptance program (open only to U Chicago undergrads), 1-2 Early Decision, and 80 in regular admissions. Moreover, state capitation rules encourage Pritzker to have 35-40% of the student body be residents of Illinois.

If you fit into none of these categories, you are competing for no more 80 places, not 104, itself a small class.

The wait list consists of three subgroups of decreasing priority and increasing size. Additional transcript information and notification of honors and awards are helpful to submit. A letter of intent is a valuable way to show the intensity of interest in Pritzker. After June 15, an advisor or student can be given general information about likelihood of acceptance. Greatest movement from wait list occurs in June.

 

[candbgirl]

Anyone know how to get registeration in canada??

What?