Looking for advice (interview). Is the LizzyM staircase analogy true?

[MaxingRelaxing]

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Hey everyone.

I've had 4 MD interviews so far with 2 acceptances.

However, I have an interview to my top school coming up. Their median stats are astronomically high compared to my stats, I am still in shock I got an interview there, probably because I live nearby and its my alma mater.

What can I do to crush my interview? Is it mostly out of my control? I am asking this since I am likely interviewing for the waitlist and the LizzyM staircase analogy makes sense (can only go a few steps higher from an interview given your stats). I have felt great at my other interviews (had one of my interviewers tear up while I was telling my story), but I feel like I could take it one step higher if I prepare really hard. I also want to be careful of over preparing.

I have an entire month to prepare. Is there anything I can do to increase my chances?

 

[965978]

Don’t go too overboard. Just be yourself. Your interviewing skills are obviously great.

 

[Rachapkis]

It sounds like you've been doing well, so I would keep doing what you're doing. Know all that you can about your application and the school. Have broad outlines for answers to obvious questions. But don't overprepare; you don't what to come across as scripted.

 

[whorobbedthewoods]

I am asking this since I am likely interviewing for the waitlist and the LizzyM staircase analogy makes sense (can only go a few steps higher from an interview given your stats).

Hey so I'm not sure if this is exactly what the analogy says. I don't think your original place on the staircase is purely a result of your stats. There may be other desirable things about your application that placed you higher than you think. I actually just experience something similar firsthand. In January, I received an II from a school where my stats were <10th percentile. Like you, I assumed I was interviewing for a waitlist spot, figuring my position on the "staircase" was probably too low to overcome. On top of that, I didn't feel like I did particularly well at the interview. I was accepted in the next wave a month later.

My point is, you really don't know exactly what the admissions committee is thinking about you at the moment, other than that they liked you enough to give you a shot.

 

[DrFortiusNatando]

Hey everyone.

I've had 4 MD interviews so far with 2 acceptances.

However, I have an interview to my top school coming up. Their median stats are astronomically high compared to my stats, I am still in shock I got an interview there, probably because I live nearby and its my alma mater.

What can I do to crush my interview? Is it mostly out of my control? I am asking this since I am likely interviewing for the waitlist and the LizzyM staircase analogy makes sense (can only go a few steps higher from an interview given your stats). I have felt great at my other interviews (had one of my interviewers tear up while I was telling my story), but I feel like I could take it one step higher if I prepare really hard. I also want to be careful of over preparing.

I have an entire month to prepare. Is there anything I can do to increase my chances?

Even if you are interviewing for the WL, virtually every school will be selecting people off the WL in May. Even top schools like the place you are interviewing. And you will be fresh in their minds, and seem to have a great story, which will only help your case. You do need to just go and be yourself and not over prepare. What you have been doing is working if you got into 2/4 II's already.

And FWIIW, they know you are particularly motivated and interested in their school, just by accepting an interview at this point. In all honesty, many of the top students would not be interested in going on interviews in a month - many are sitting on multiple acceptances, with some prominent school invites going out this week and next, and the top students are starting to plan to go on second looks. The idea of another interview at that point is very unappealing. (None of my advisees would go on any II's at this point!) So at this point in the season, consider yourself a bit higher on the staircase than earlier in the season! They would not invite you now if they were not potentially interested in being able to accept you or WL you high enough to be accepted. No school is interviewing for R spots now!

 

[Goro]

Hey everyone.

I've had 4 MD interviews so far with 2 acceptances.

However, I have an interview to my top school coming up. Their median stats are astronomically high compared to my stats, I am still in shock I got an interview there, probably because I live nearby and its my alma mater.

What can I do to crush my interview? Is it mostly out of my control? I am asking this since I am likely interviewing for the waitlist and the LizzyM staircase analogy makes sense (can only go a few steps higher from an interview given your stats). I have felt great at my other interviews (had one of my interviewers tear up while I was telling my story), but I feel like I could take it one step higher if I prepare really hard. I also want to be careful of over preparing.

I have an entire month to prepare. Is there anything I can do to increase my chances?

1) Be yourself
2) Know what's in your file
3) Practice makes perfect
4) Check out SDN's Interview Feedback forum for likely questions at the school
5) read these:

• Goro's Guide to Interviews
• Goro's Guide to Interviews: The View from Behind the Curtain
• Goro's Guide to YOUR Interview Questions (2018 edition)