Interviewing and Numbers

[surfdevl02]

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I was just wondering what the consensus on SDN is concerning the importance of numbers once you get to the interview stage. Are numbers for the most part disregarded in favor of the impressions you give at your interview? The thing is i have two interviews in Jan and Feb where I'm POSITIVE i'm nowhere near their numbers in MCAT and GPA but i think i interview well. Hopefully my laziness in college won't catch up to me now....for those curious, my interviews are at ucsf and georgetown

 

[Random Access]

I think at least one opinion that is popular on SDN is that you won't get an interview if they absolutely would not consider taking you. That's why people who think they were rejected because of numbers post-interview are encouraged to think there was another reason.

I think the interview becomes more important once you're up to that stage. So if you interview well, you should be set.

That said, if you're "tied" with another applicant, I would imagine numbers could be the tiebreaker? I have no idea though.

 

[UCSBMed1]

I agree with Random Access.

I think once you reach the interview stage, numbers are less important, although they are used to serve as a tie-breaker between two people that both had favorable interviews.

surfdevl02, when is your interview at UCSF? I'm going on 1/15. What about you?

 

[aquaboy]

Numbers still matter and you have to look at how many interviews the schools offer. For example Georgetown interviews around 1200 applicants and only accepts around 400. Getting to the interview stage is a big step but unless your numbers are around their averages you will most likely be waitlisted and might eventually be accepted. Numbers are always important and even in the interview stage because many people interview well and then it comes down to numbers, EC's, etc. to set them apart. Congrats on the interviews, I'm sure you'll do fine!😀

 

[DragonM]

Numbers are always important. Getting into medical school is usually all about numbers. The low scoring people can argue all they want but it boils down to numbers. Interviews are to make sure that you are not a psycho.

 

[Random Access]

Also, if you're too far above the range of a school, sometimes they won't interview you (or accept you) because they think you won't go there. I know people who have interviewed and gotten in at top 10 schools, but got rejected (often without interview) or ignored from schools with a lot lower averages.

 

[nero]

Originally posted by Random Access
Also, if you're too far above the range of a school, sometimes they won't interview you (or accept you) because they think you won't go there. I know people who have interviewed and gotten in at top 10 schools, but got rejected (often without interview) or ignored from schools with a lot lower averages.

This is very very true........

 

[X]

Up until very recently I believed that numbers were not as important after you have gotten an interview. But I am changing my opinion on that and now think that numbers are still a big thing. Here's why i think so.
The decision to let you in is not solely of the person who interviewed you (at least this is the way the process works at the schools I interviewed at). What happens is that the person you interviewed with becomes your advocate (or enemy 😉 ) at the committee meeting. Now he will recommend you at the meeting if you have a good interview and then the committee members vote. His view of you will definitely affect the vote, but these committee members will still consider grades and MCAT heavily when casting their vote. They wont' solely rely on the interviewers impression of you, but will use that as a guide. They will use the interviewer's impression to complete or supplement what they have on paper in front of them. Thus numbers matter. That is at least how I think it all plays out in the end.

My 2 cents

X

 

[UCLA2000]

Numbers are still important because after the interview your file is reviewed in its entirety.

numbers, interview scores etc. and you get an overall score.