Med School's reject overly qualified candidates?

[geldrop]

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The topic says it all. If someone with a 39 MCAT and a 3.9gpa from an ivy applies to some med school where the avg student gets in with a 28mcat and a gpa of 3.4. Could they reject him just to keep a spot open for someone that they think will actually come. Or maybe just reject him out of spite or to hurt his ego?

 

[tBw]

Indeed, I think thats why Harvard rejected me. I think I was overqualified for them. 😉

 

[uofchopeful]

There are a couple of things to consider. If that person has such high numbers, will he he/she be humble enough to fit in with the rest of the class? Will he/she turn us down if we offer him/her a spot? This is pre-interview.

A post-interview rejection means that the exceptionally qualified candidate is not humble, and will most likely turn down our offer.

Also, the candidate's mental makeup could also be suspicious, as determined by the interviewers(s).

This is by no means a comprehensive list of reasons, just a few of the more poignant ones.

Could be personal bias on the part of the interviewer, but it could also be for practical purposes.

 

[uofchopeful]

Originally posted by the boy wonder
Indeed, I think thats why Harvard rejected me. I think I was overqualified for them. 😉

Good one.

 

[djwdv]

Absolutely that school may not pursue the applicant with those high score if their average is below that. Applying to med school is like applying for a job.. you have to be the right "fit" for that employer and have the right "profile" that employer is looking for. Unfortunately, none of us are 100% certain which med schools want what.. and we have to pay to maybe get the chance to interview and find out!!!!! 🙄

 

[Saluki]

If only this was my problem! Here's my opinion, the only reason that it's going to hurt you is if it seems like that's your back up school. If you apply to Mayo, Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Hopkins, and Finch, Finch is going to be suspicious that they're just a back up plan and they don't want to waste their time with people who aren't actually coming or who won't be happy when they get there. However, if you apply to your state school and then one or two other schools, and you express your desire to go to the state school strongly enough, then I think you'll get in.

 

[Moskeeto]

I think if an applicant with exceptional stats writes a subpar personal statement, it can do more damage than if a avg applicant wrote a bad one. It seems that some adcoms may be eagerly looking for something wrong with someone with a 40 and 3.9 and may be quick to label the applicant cocky or pretentious or only book smart.

overall, i have no idea what I'm talking about, but i agree with you. not that its a big deal in the long run, unless someone really has their sights on their state school and doesn't want to go top ten.

 

[dynx]

Interesting... I've had a cali resident tell me the reason he didn't get into UCLA was because he was over qualified and they didn't think he would attend...Consequently the only school he got into was some third rate project out of state which I won't name out of fear of offending people. He had a 3.9 and 35 MCAT out of Stanford. Apperently the only crap school he got into didn't think he was over qualified but UCLA and UCSF did? weird! I think he was an arrogant prick. I don't believe in over qualified.

 

[sponch]

i think schools do screen out over qualified students. my roommate had great scores and was also a humble, kind, compassionate person. mcph/drexel and jefferson rejected him outright. no interview, nothing. he ended up a top ranked school.

 

[lattimer13]

i like what dynx has to say

 

[VienneseWaltz]

Originally posted by the boy wonder
Indeed, I think thats why Harvard rejected me. I think I was overqualified for them. 😉

Oh, you don't know that! Probably, they figured that in your case they could skip the interview and admit you outright.

I am certain that is what happened in my case.

 

[Mutterkuchen]

Originally posted by dynx
Interesting... I've had a cali resident tell me the reason he didn't get into UCLA was because he was over qualified and they didn't think he would attend...Consequently the only school he got into was some third rate project out of state which I won't name out of fear of offending people. He had a 3.9 and 35 MCAT out of Stanford. Apperently the only crap school he got into didn't think he was over qualified but UCLA and UCSF did? weird! I think he was an arrogant prick. I don't believe in over qualified.

Sound like BS to me. UCLA and UCSF are amoung the top tiered schools in the nation.

I don't think that it is a big deal that schools reject student that they don't think will come. It is the applicant's responsibility to convince the adcom that they would be a good match for the school.

 

[Moskeeto]

I don't think a 3.9 and 35 is overqualified for UCLA by any means. I'll bet your friend's arrogant prick side showed in his essays or LORs. During one of my interviews, the interviewer told me that they get a ton of LORs with "code" in them that the students are dicks and they actually listen to it. Also, his ECs may have been lacking.

 

[nero]

Originally posted by Moskeeto
I don't think a 3.9 and 35 is overqualified for UCLA by any means. I'll bet your friend's arrogant prick side showed in his essays or LORs. During one of my interviews, the interviewer told me that they get a ton of LORs with "code" in them that the students are dicks and they actually listen to it. Also, his ECs may have been lacking.

agreed.....some other schools, i'd say lower than say 20 or 30 will do this......i'm by no means a superstar applicant like many sdners, but when i went ot an interview at uf they saw my list of schools (they require it) and told me they ddint' think i'd come there.....yeah applied to a few top schools, but that doens't mean anything......that kinda pissed me off....also i got the same thing at another interview.....they said, you're not going to come here...are you?.......i felt like at both interviews i was trying to convince them that i'd be wiling to come tehre, more than them getting to know me...........and since i'm not superstar, i didn't understand this...........

nero

 

[heelshmeel]

Originally posted by dynx
Interesting... I've had a cali resident tell me the reason he didn't get into UCLA was because he was over qualified and they didn't think he would attend...Consequently the only school he got into was some third rate project out of state which I won't name out of fear of offending people. He had a 3.9 and 35 MCAT out of Stanford. Apperently the only crap school he got into didn't think he was over qualified but UCLA and UCSF did? weird! I think he was an arrogant prick. I don't believe in over qualified.

I thought the story was odd... and then I saw the key part... 'soandso' probably didnt get the seat because he is an arrogant prick! 😉

 

[dynx]

I agree...I would be interested if you had any examples of that "code" though. That's pretty underhanded to put a subtle stream in a letter saying don't pick this guy, I like it. As far as my "Friend" i am sure his conceit showed through.

 

[Street Philosopher]

some schools do and some schools don't care. in the end, a rejection is a rejection. who cares what the reason was.