Interviewing Early

[Green007]

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Here's the deal. I plan on applying for medical school this June in hopes of starting Fall of 2001. I graduate in December 2000 and will obviously have some extra time on my hands. I'm considering going to do an internship abroad from approximately February 2001 to June 2001, but I'm fearful that I might have interviews during that time. Are medical schools likely to do an interview before I leave at my request? If I'm applying in June will the interviews be done before February anyway? I would appreciate some information from all the wise men and women that frequent this site. Thank you.

 

[UHS03]

There is no definite answer to your question. Some schools will interview you quickly but others may make you wait a long time. How many schools are you planning to apply to? Which schools? Some people on this board may have experience with a particular school and be able to help you better. I think you would be taking a risk by leaving in February and I would try to reschedule it possibly for this summer or the summer before you start. I left the country for a month in August of my application year and worried the whole time. I came home to a TON of secondaries that I didn't get in until October because I didn't return from my trip until the beginning of September. I fear that getting them in this late may have hurt me at some schools, as a few require you to return it within a few weeks of getting it. My application was out in July, so the secondaries came in early. There is no way I would have left on a trip any time after August of an application year.

Is it a trip that can be somewhat spontaneous, or did it take a lot of planning? If you get in early, maybe you can still go. Many schools will keep you on the line for a long time between your interview and decision. I guess you could leave during this time, but I know that I was far too anxious to possibly concentrate on anything else. Like I said, certain schools have certain reputations for being quick or making you wait. List some schools you are interested in and I'm sure someone will help you. I go to UHS and they were very quick. I was offerred an interview in early December and accepted about 2 weeks later. I hope this has helped some.

[This message has been edited by UHS03 (edited 03-16-2000).]

 

[Green007]

Thanks for the response UHS03. I plan on applying to six or seven schools including U of Minnesota, Kirksville, Des Moines, Chicago, and Maine. My mother is a DO, but I'm not strictly DO myself. Anyway, I don't plan on leaving for 11 months, so I'm hopeful that I can have everything taken care of before I leave.

 

[DocGibby]

Green007,

I received interviews from Chicago, Des Moines and 4 other DO schools (MSUCOM, UHSCOM, Pikesville, Nova) well before November. Others weren't as punctual. I got my app in ASAP in June and followed up with the secondaries no more than 2 weeks after recieving them in August. A lot of it depends, of course, on your strength as an applicant. If your a fairly strong canidate you'll probably hear from most if not all of them around Sept, Oct, Nov at the latest.

[This message has been edited by DocGibby (edited 03-17-2000).]

 

[Green007]

DocGibby,
Thanks for the reply. What do you mean by strong canidate? How strong should I be?

 

[DocGibby]

In my opinion, a "strong" candidate is one with at least a 3.5 science GPA and 3.5 cumulative GPA. Probably at least all 8's or higher on your MCAT. Along with strong volunteer, hospital, shadowing, etc.. that will put you in the upper level group of applicants. I can not stress enough that this is a generalization, there will always be exceptions. At MSUCOM, for example, you can't even apply early decision unless you have a minimum of a 3.5 sci and a 3.5 cumulative.

 

[Mayqswet]

Green007,

The key to getting early interviews and acceptances is to get your application in the mail (certified, return receipt of course) on June 1 and return your secondary apps (certified mail) with 7 to 10 days.

Also, develop an information packet on yourself to give to your letter writers. Highlight your accomplishments and let them know what the majority of schools you're interested in are looking for in a successful candidate. Give them this packet at least 6 weeks before you want them to write your letter. Communicate to them your intent of returning your supplemental apps within 10 days and give a target date for when you will need the letters to arrive at the schools. You should be pleasantly direct with your letter writers because every year, one or two people don't get all their letters turned in until Sept or Oct.

Lastly, start on your personal statement now. I hired someone from the local paper to help me with wording and the flow; she helped a lot and I ended up with a great one.

DO schools tend to interview and accept desirable candidates quickly. Make yourself a desirable candidate by finding out what each school values. Then focus on those things in your letters to the school, phone calls to admission counselors and conversations during your interview. Be sure to check out interviewfeedback.com for more information on each school.

Good Luck!