Invitation Selection Waves

[newsubstancep]

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When programs do rolling interviews in multiple waves, do they usually start with their top applicants in the first wave, then work their way down, until the final wave picks up their lowest prospects?

ie. Should it be promising to be part of an early invite and worrying to be part of a last wave invite?

 

[atsai3]

When programs do rolling interviews in multiple waves, do they usually start with their top applicants in the first wave, then work their way down, until the final wave picks up their lowest prospects?

ie. Should it be promising to be part of an early invite and worrying to be part of a last wave invite?

Varies by program, but if you are looking for a generalization, then yes, program directors generally issue interview invitations to the most attractive candidates early.

The least attractive candidates are generally offered interviews last, after other more attractive applicants have canceled theirs.

-AT.

 

[newsubstancep]

Thanks for the reply atsai. Dont know why i've let myself succumb to the pointless neuroticism of the season.

 

[Jwax]

Thanks for the reply atsai. Dont know why i've let myself succumb to the pointless neuroticism of the season.

Because it is nearly impossible not to. Especially if you read SDN. I've returned to the SDN obsessive user I was as a pre-med in the last 2 weeks since pressing "Submit" on ERAS. Sigh.

 

[Pkboi24]

Because it is nearly impossible not to. Especially if you read SDN. I've returned to the SDN obsessive user I was as a pre-med in the last 2 weeks since pressing "Submit" on ERAS. Sigh.

Ditto.

 

[Gordon Sims]

Varies by program, but if you are looking for a generalization, then yes, program directors generally issue interview invitations to the most attractive candidates early.

The least attractive candidates are generally offered interviews last, after other more attractive applicants have canceled theirs.

-AT.

How many weeks after they've downloaded an application would an invitation to interview be considered "early" or "the first wave?" Would an invitation proffered 2 or 4 weeks out still be considered the first wave? How about 6 weeks?

 

[stapleit]

How many weeks after they've downloaded an application would an invitation to interview be considered "early" or "the first wave?" Would an invitation proffered 2 or 4 weeks out still be considered the first wave? How about 6 weeks?

I dont think you can get answers to questions this specific. It depends on when the selection committee meets,which is program-dependent. The only way to really know is if you or someone you know is part of the "batch".

 

[atsai3]

How many weeks after they've downloaded an application would an invitation to interview be considered "early" or "the first wave?" Would an invitation proffered 2 or 4 weeks out still be considered the first wave? How about 6 weeks?

Chill out.

-AT.

 

[gutonc]

How many weeks after they've downloaded an application would an invitation to interview be considered "early" or "the first wave?" Would an invitation proffered 2 or 4 weeks out still be considered the first wave? How about 6 weeks?

The timeline for the "first wave" ends approximately 2 weeks after the MSPE is released. Which is to say, 2 months from now.

The second wave ends roughly mid January and the third wave about 48 hours before ROLs are due.

 

[Gordon Sims]

The timeline for the "first wave" ends approximately 2 weeks after the MSPE is released. Which is to say, 2 months from now.

The second wave ends roughly mid January and the third wave about 48 hours before ROLs are due.

Seriously?

 

[gutonc]

Seriously?

Yes. Relax.

 

[babel]

Seriously?

Agree with everyone above. The only possible way that I know of to get any extra info as a med student (and to make yourself extra neurotic and freaked out) is to see if there is an interview thread going for your specialty on SDN. You can see what programs have given out interviews, starting when, and can even contact people who've gotten interviews to see how complete their application is, and if perhaps your missing transcript or LOR's are what's holding you back.

Another thing - in terms of when programs download your application - I have concluded that this means absolutely nothing. Some programs downloaded my application on 9/2 even though they specifically state on their website that they wait until the MSPE is in to send out invites. Others waited a week to download and then invited me a few days later. There is NO pattern to it, so just try to ignore it.

Good luck, and try to relax. 😉

 

[twilightdoc]

....There is NO pattern to it, so just try to ignore it.
Good luck, and try to relax. 😉

You are correct- there isn't necessarily a pattern that can be inferred at this early date. Much of the actual "invitation" process is quite manual, and there is usually an overworked administrative assistant who has to deal with compiling the early reviews and then getting the invitations sent out. Some programs may intentionally delay invitations to help "level the playing field" for those students whose schools were slow at uploading transcripts. (A student shouldn't be punished for the inefficiency of his/her school administration...). Plus programs may assign batches of applications to individual faculty members to review, and some may be quicker with turn-around than others. If programs are waiting for the MSPE, that means that it will be early November before those invitations go out. It doesn't seem as if most programs wait for the MSPE, however.

 

[sella turcica]

Much of the actual "invitation" process is quite manual, and there is usually an overworked administrative assistant who has to deal with compiling the early reviews and then getting the invitations sent out.

I heard a rumor from a pretty legitimate source at my school (which will remain anonymous), stating that the particular department I was involved with received a massive number of applications this year. So many, in fact, that their computer became "clogged" with them and they couldn't view all the apps at once. They eventually sorted out the problem within the first week. The whole point of this story is that we all need to take chill pill and relax because the invitations are completely out of our control 😉