Is it generally true that schools interview higher stat applicants early on in the cycle, then lower stat applicants later?
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They generally extend interviews to their highest quality applicants first, however the school defines that. Not all are focused on stats. Also every school has different methods of stratifying apps for review
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No
Edit: not always true. Depends on the school as Goro has pointed out.
Edit: not always true. Depends on the school as Goro has pointed out.
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True at my school
I would say generally, no - but it probably depends on the specific school during the specific application cycle. I'm not a high stats applicant by any means (numbers wise, I have pretty expansive ECs) and have received 5 interviews. I also applied to DO programs extremely early because I knew that my numbers weren't generally allopathic-friendly (and wanted to maximize the chances at schools that I had a greater chance of being reviewed at), so I'm sure that also plays a part for certain programs
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A
AnatomyGrey12
As a general rule of thumb yes this is true. The better applicants get interviewed first, and most of these people will have above average stats.
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It seems to not necessarily be 'highest stats' per se but best fit, this often does include stats.
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Stats definitely do matter for the most part, but YMMV
With that being said, LizzyM ~65-66 checking in! Had 12 DO IIs (attended half in September). Northeast ORM with a pretty low, unbalanced MCAT and a so-so GPA. I think my app overall, especially my writing, was above average and got me to the door
With that being said, LizzyM ~65-66 checking in! Had 12 DO IIs (attended half in September). Northeast ORM with a pretty low, unbalanced MCAT and a so-so GPA. I think my app overall, especially my writing, was above average and got me to the door
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YMMV for sure. I'm a low stat applicant, sent in secondaries in August, one ii that month, and nothing since.
LM 63 here. Got one II in late July and absolute silence since
D
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If you look at NYITCOM, so many people have great stats that have been complete since July - I think they are looking for something in particular in their applicants since they pre-screen for a secondary.
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Schools are going to sort applications and skim the cream, rinse and repeat (to mix some metaphors). How they define "cream" will vary and in some cases the quality of the pool is so good that the quality does not decline as the season wears on.
Schools will try to pull in the "hot prospects" before those first offers go out in October because that is the point when the highly desirable applicants will have at least one offer in hand and may become more picky about where they are willing to interview. Gotta catch 'em while they're still hungry.
Schools will try to pull in the "hot prospects" before those first offers go out in October because that is the point when the highly desirable applicants will have at least one offer in hand and may become more picky about where they are willing to interview. Gotta catch 'em while they're still hungry.
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Does anyone have any input whether or not being waitlisted earlier is worse than later?
I interviewed at LECOM early 9/2019 and was waitlisted. I was surprised that I even got an interview since my stats were so bad, and I don't think they actually reject anyone post interview. I can't help but feel like there must have been a red flag or something I am unaware of since they gave me an ii so early, just to waitlist me.
I know it's a long cycle, but I feel kinda screwed since I haven't had any good news in awhile now.
I interviewed at LECOM early 9/2019 and was waitlisted. I was surprised that I even got an interview since my stats were so bad, and I don't think they actually reject anyone post interview. I can't help but feel like there must have been a red flag or something I am unaware of since they gave me an ii so early, just to waitlist me.
I know it's a long cycle, but I feel kinda screwed since I haven't had any good news in awhile now.
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It depends on how the waitlist is structured. Some schools have a ranked waitlist and some don't. If they have a ranked waitlist and you were selected for an early waitlist then chances are you are high on the waitlist (unless you bombed the interview). If it is unranked I would think it would matter less.
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I know people are bad indicators of their interview performance, but I did think it went pretty darn well. Unfortunately, it is an unranked WL 🙁
Thank you for the insight though!
My observation is at many schools quirkier students tend to get early interviews, and more generic ones later. That makes sense; if someone is a potentially valuable and unusual piece of the puzzle of putting together a well-balanced class, med schools will want to find out early in the process if they're worth making an offer to. Late in the cycles, they can fill their remaining spots with "bread and butter" type applicants. "Quirkier" vs. "more generic" is not just about stats.
For context, I am the director of the pre-health program at a large school in the Northeast, so I've seen quite a few applicants, but nevertheless my observations are purely anecdotal.
For context, I am the director of the pre-health program at a large school in the Northeast, so I've seen quite a few applicants, but nevertheless my observations are purely anecdotal.
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Yes.
There's also schools that won't inteview higher stat apps until later, bc they assume they are that persons safety school, and therefore want to fill thier seats before inviting others that don't really intend on going there.
There's also schools that won't inteview higher stat apps until later, bc they assume they are that persons safety school, and therefore want to fill thier seats before inviting others that don't really intend on going there.
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Well how did you improve your app since last cycle?
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I actually didn't apply last cycle
I did an smp at Midwestern which didn't go so great for a myriad of reasons which I talked about
I worked as a scribe for awhile, did more volunteering, actually did my app correctly (I did like everything wrong the first time I applied)
Bumped my expired mcat up to a 511
Honestly I'm guessing the smp not doing enough to raise my sgpa was huge
But I also thought that they wouldn't even offer an interview because of that
I hope this provides enough context; let me know if any more information could help!
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SMP's are intense bc if they don't go well, you have diminished your chances of getting into med school, since it shows them that you will not thrive in that sort of curriculum. You may have to choose a different path (DPM, Dentistry, etc).
The fact that you have a 511 makes me think you can get in somewhere DO, as long as that SMP didn't go terrible like under a 3.2 or something.
Need more info on actual stats, numbers, EC's to make an assumption on your actual chances of acceptance.
Good luck.
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