Is there a significant advantage to interviewing in Sept instead of Oct...

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For either MD or DO schools, is there an appreciable advantage to interviewing in September vs. October or October vs. November ?

Not talking about applying, but interviewing. I know interviewing in the Fall 2014 gives you an edge over interviewing late like in January 2015.

I'm asking because the few September interview dates available to me conflict with my school schedule but the ones available in October do not.

 

[theseeker4]

For either MD or DO schools, is there an appreciable advantage to interviewing in September vs. October or October vs. November ?

Not talking about applying, but interviewing. I know interviewing in the Fall 2014 gives you an edge over interviewing late like in January 2015.

I'm asking because the few September interview dates available to me conflict with my school schedule but the ones available in October do not.

It of course depends on the school, but as a general rule, the later you interview, the more people you are competing with, and often for a more limited number of seats. If you absolutely cannot miss anything to make a September interview date, simply try to schedule the earliest one you can. Obviously it would be minimally harmful to interview on October 2nd as opposed to September 29th, but would be significantly more-so to interview on October 30th as opposed to September 2nd......

 

[singergirl18]

It of course depends on the school, but as a general rule, the later you interview, the more people you are competing with, and often for a more limited number of seats. If you absolutely cannot miss anything to make a September interview date, simply try to schedule the earliest one you can. Obviously it would be minimally harmful to interview on October 2nd as opposed to September 29th, but would be significantly more-so to interview on October 30th as opposed to September 2nd......

Would there be a significant difference between late September and early September in your opinion? I know it is hard to say.

 

[LizzyM]

I do not believe that there is an advantage/disadvantage to early vs. later. At my school, we have an idea that we are going to admit about x% of each month's interview pool. We don't use up all our offers early in the season with nothing to offer those later in the season. As much as we attempt to invite the superstars early in the season, the quality of the applicants is high all season long and we find plenty of excellent applicants, and we have offers to make to them, later in the season as well.

 

[Osteoth]

I do not believe that there is an advantage/disadvantage to early vs. later. At my school, we have an idea that we are going to admit about x% of each month's interview pool. We don't use up all our offers early in the season with nothing to offer those later in the season. As much as we attempt to invite the superstars early in the season, the quality of the applicants is high all season long and we find plenty of excellent applicants, and we have offers to make to them, later in the season as well.

So then what is with all the hubbon on SDN about applying early?

 

[Bin Rushd]

I do not believe that there is an advantage/disadvantage to early vs. later. At my school, we have an idea that we are going to admit about x% of each month's interview pool. We don't use up all our offers early in the season with nothing to offer those later in the season. As much as we attempt to invite the superstars early in the season, the quality of the applicants is high all season long and we find plenty of excellent applicants, and we have offers to make to them, later in the season as well.

So does this mean, for the average applicant, it is a myth that applying early entails some sort of advantage. For example, I have submitted all my secondaries already and I am an average applicant. I already have multiple "holds". So this means that applying early wasn't that big of a deal because these schools think they'll get better applicants down the road. See what I mean? Does this make any sense?

 

[Aerus]

So then what is with all the hubbon on SDN about applying early?

So does this mean, for the average applicant, it is a myth that applying early entails some sort of advantage. For example, I have submitted all my secondaries already and I am an average applicant. I already have multiple "holds". So this means that applying early wasn't that big of a deal because these schools think they'll get better applicants down the road. See what I mean? Does this make any sense?

This is how I interpret the "apply early" rally on SDN. Disclaimer: This is a completely made up hypothetical case.

A hypothetical school wants to interview 2000 applicants in order to admit a class of roughly 250~

In July-August, you are among 2000 applicants. They plan on sending about 400 interview invites. That's 20% of the pool.

In September-October, 6500 more applicants come in + the 1600 who didn't get an interview in July-August. That's 8100 applicants. They plan on sending about 800 invites. That's already only 9.88% of the pool.

By November, an additional 1500 applicants send in their apps (close to the deadline). Out of 8800 applicants who haven't been interviewed thus far, they will send out the last 800 interviews to whoever is left, which is now at 9.10% of the pool.

Yes, as the cycle progresses they send out more invites than earlier on. But the pool increases a lot faster than the amount of invites they probably send out. Also remember, as the cycle continues, there are less and less interview spots (out of 2000), so it's expected that selectivity increase a bit.

 

[Osteoth]

This is how I interpret the "apply early" rally on SDN. Disclaimer: This is a completely made up hypothetical case.

A hypothetical school wants to interview 2000 applicants in order to admit a class of roughly 250~

In July-August, you are among 2000 applicants. They plan on sending about 400 interview invites. That's 20% of the pool.

In September-October, 6500 more applicants come in + the 1600 who didn't get an interview in July-August. That's 8100 applicants. They plan on sending about 800 invites. That's already only 9.88% of the pool.

By November, an additional 1500 applicants send in their apps (close to the deadline). Out of 8800 applicants who haven't been interviewed thus far, they will send out the last 800 interviews to whoever is left, which is now at 9.10% of the pool.

Yes, as the cycle progresses they send out more invites than earlier on. But the pool increases a lot faster than the amount of invites they probably send out. Also remember, as the cycle continues, there are less and less interview spots (out of 2000), so it's expected that selectivity increase a bit.

I feel like it would also stand to reason that if a school really wanted a student, they would offer an interview invite early. And if said student is accepted, especially if the location of the school is far away, they are less likely to make trips out that way again if they are satisfied with the school.

As a result, as the interview cycle rolls on the talent pool might subsequently decrease as the stronger applicants who were interviewed earlier start to withdraw from schools due to early acceptances.

Alot of this is conjecture though, I am interested in @LizzyM's opinion on this.

 

[Aerus]

I feel like it would also stand to reason that if a school really wanted a student, they would offer an interview invite early. And if said student is accepted, especially if the location of the school is far away, they are less likely to make trips out that way again if they are satisfied with the school.

As a result, as the interview cycle rolls on the talent pool might subsequently decrease as the stronger applicants who were interviewed earlier start to withdraw from schools due to early acceptances.

Alot of this is conjecture though, I am interested in @LizzyM's opinion on this.

This theory would hold better if we assume that all great applicants applied early on. You have stellar people who apply throughout the cycle. One of my friends who is currently at a top 20 submitted her primary in September! She thought that even after applying so late, she would get offers from the top 5's easily.

So yeah, not all top notch applicants make wise decisions. If you applied late rather than early, instead of competing with a couple top careful applicants for interview spots, you're competing against many top arrogant/careless applicants for interview spots!

 

[Goro]

No

 

[PakiMDDreamer]

One of my friends who is currently at a top 20 submitted her primary in September! She thought that even after applying so late, she would get offers from the top 5's easily.

Yes I have a friend matriculating to HMS this year and he submitted his primary late in the summer, he was admitted HST too which is a much smaller program