Interviews: the View From Behind the Curtain

[aaronrodgers]

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Roughly how many schools adhere to the guideline of revealing admission results around Oct 15 (is it a different date this cycle)? Why should they?

 

[gyngyn]

Roughly how many schools adhere to the guideline of revealing admission results around Oct 15 (is it a different date this cycle)? Why should they?

No US MD school can release acceptances (other than Early Decision) prior to traffic day.

 

[april5115]

So to clarify:
"Higher stair" applicants are typically those offered interviews earlier in the cycle, and are therefore more likely to receive an acceptance (barring any changes), because they started out on a higher stair to begin with?

In other words, do schools interview candidates they are more likely to accept first, since they know they have spots available?

 

[deleted1140676]

So to clarify:
"Higher stair" applicants are typically those offered interviews earlier in the cycle, and are therefore more likely to receive an acceptance (barring any changes), because they started out on a higher stair to begin with?

In other words, do schools interview candidates they are more likely to accept first, since they know they have spots available?

Also would like to know about this! 🙂

 

[LizzyM]

Dang, this is one old thread! The staircase analogy still holds but, frankly, we are still interviewing people on the top stair or just one down from the top at the end of the interview cycle. I saw no decline in quality at the end compared with the beginning. Some schools hold all offers until the end, others will figure that they can make offers to those so high on the staircase after the interview that they are going to be at the top at the end of the season so they might as well hear now, while they might have some enthusiasm for our school than four or five months from now when they are holding five other offers. Other schools may figure that if they are going to admit 30% of those who will be interviewed they'll start by making offers to the top 20% of the first interview group, 20% of the second group and so forth and then have additional offers to make at the end once they can compare the groups against each other.

 

[deleted1153647]

Dang, this is one old thread! The staircase analogy still holds but, frankly, we are still interviewing people on the top stair or just one down from the top at the end of the interview cycle. I saw no decline in quality at the end compared with the beginning. Some schools hold all offers until the end, others will figure that they can make offers to those so high on the staircase after the interview that they are going to be at the top at the end of the season so they might as well hear now, while they might have some enthusiasm for our school than four or five months from now when they are holding five other offers. Other schools may figure that if they are going to admit 30% of those who will be interviewed they'll start by making offers to the top 20% of the first interview group, 20% of the second group and so forth and then have additional offers to make at the end once they can compare the groups against each other.

Does how quick an applicant receives an II after submitting a secondary have any bearing to their place on “the staircase”?

 

[LizzyM]

Does how quick an applicant receives an II after submitting a secondary have any bearing to their place on “the staircase”?

You'd think that it would but every adcom, I'm sure, has one notorious reader who is always late with their reviews. If you have the bad luck of being assigned to that reader, you might be the top applicant of the year and be invited to the last interview date. Or you have the good luck of being the first applicant read and reviewed for the season, recommended for interview and invited in the very first cohort.

It could be as random as a list of applicants to be interviewed that is alphabetized and you're at the bottom. (and it could be alphabetized by first name or last!)

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Affirming. Giving my perspective, not necessarily representing any program.

It helps us put you on the staircase as long as the screeners get feedback to us quickly. If not, we find another screener. However, if you submit early, we don't give bonus points because you did things earlier. In other words, timeliness does not alter your step on the ladder.

Other things that delay putting you on the ladder include waiting for pending scores (including Casper or PREview), letters, or resolving disparate reviews.

However, when time comes for us to give out II's, those who are on the ladder at the top step/s get considered and invited. If you delay submitting your application, it affects when we put you on the ladder and subsequently get considered for interview until all slots are assigned.

 

[drross90210]

Ladder vs. stair? Ladders are more dangerous........