Need Advice/Support regarding "Interview Holds."

[DanPreMed]

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Hello wonderful people! I am posting because I am very nervous and need reassurance about my applications as have not seen the best news. I sent 15 applications, 5 have responded. I have interviewed at 3 (AMC, Jacobs Buff, and Wake Forest). Alternate list for AMC (students have told me 70-85% is put on this list for the incoming class, so I am less worried about it), waitlist for wake forest, and nothing from Jacobs Buff. I have also been put into two "interview holds," for Upstate and Tulane.
How should I proceed? I am very interested in Upstate and Tulane, and I will send letters of intent and update material, but are the chances astronomically low that I get an interview due to me being in this middle position?
I am very nervous and would be glad to hear any advice or example letters that helped students get in!

I mentioned my application in a previous post but for summary:
508 MCAT, 4.0 GPA, Bio Student (Senior in college)

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Thread 'WAMC and school list help, 4.0/508, NY resident' WAMC and school list help, 4.0/508, NY resident

At this point, trust the process. What are you updating? Do you know if the schools encourage updates? Three interviews is a great result. Keep your chin up.

As for the two interview holds, Tulane is your longest shot. It's a private school that receives tons of OOS applications including Texas applicants. On the other hand, Upstate is your in-state program, so I think your chances are not "astronomically" low there. (You'd have to see if it's the issue o the low MCAT or other experience hours.)

 

[Butalbusaur]

Dude 5 interviews as a traditional student is really good. Don’t sell yourself short. You’re in a really good spot. Have faith!!!

 

[PickaGodnPray]

I am very interested in Upstate and Tulane, and I will send letters of intent and update material, but are the chances astronomically low that I get an interview due to me being in this middle position?

I do hope you do not plan to send plural letters of intent. These also only hold any weight post interview and will not be the reason you are taken off interview hold at Upstate or Tulane. It is the equivalent of sending a lengthy text to an ex begging them to come back because you love them which never works and just looks desperate.
You already have multiple interviews, focus your energy on those schools as they see something in you worth investing in. If you want, provide other schools on your list with an update letter in which you can reconfirm your interest that way.

 

[DanPreMed]

Thread 'WAMC and school list help, 4.0/508, NY resident' WAMC and school list help, 4.0/508, NY resident

At this point, trust the process. What are you updating? Do you know if the schools encourage updates? Three interviews is a great result. Keep your chin up.

As for the two interview holds, Tulane is your longest shot. It's a private school that receives tons of OOS applications including Texas applicants. On the other hand, Upstate is your in-state program, so I think your chances are not "astronomically" low there. (You'd have to see if it's the issue o the low MCAT or other experience hours.)

Thank you for your response!
Upstate mentioned that I can upload a brief update page, which I plan to do. From other comments I assume that I shouldn't supplement this with a letter of intent, until after a interview? I think Tulane wasn't as specific and just mentioned that if I would like I can upload more documents.

- My update would be focused on my research that I have done since my primary and secondary application and how it has progressed ( Animal training, personal project, yearlong commitment, etc.), volunteering for my local Parkinson's community, as well as service (service project and volunteering for a class that focuses on increasing awareness to our local Aphasia Center). I can also talk about my teaching assistant and tutor position that I have started this year.

Would this be a strong update letter?

 

[DanPreMed]

I do hope you do not plan to send plural letters of intent. These also only hold any weight post interview and will not be the reason you are taken off interview hold at Upstate or Tulane. It is the equivalent of sending a lengthy text to an ex begging them to come back because you love them which never works and just looks desperate.
You already have multiple interviews, focus your energy on those schools as they see something in you worth investing in. If you want, provide other schools on your list with an update letter in which you can reconfirm your interest that way.

Hello, thank you for your response!
I wasn't planning on sending letters of interest. The two schools Tulane and Upstate that have me on hold before an interview desicion mentioned an update letter that I can upload to help my application. I was wondering if this supplement would drastically change my odds, as upstate is a school I really want to interview at.

On a side note, thank you for noting letter of intents. Should I send a letter of intent to Jacob's buffalo? I have not received a decision at this current moment, or are letter of intents more focused for waitlists?

 

[DanPreMed]

Dude 5 interviews as a traditional student is really good. Don’t sell yourself short. You’re in a really good spot. Have faith!!!

Thank you!! Unfortunately, only 3 interviews (2 of them are in a pre-interview hold), but I keep joking that I technically haven't heard of a rejection yet ha-ha! Ill try to be optimistic about my other schools, and any future decisions / movement off the waitlist as I know it's pretty early in the cycle.

 

[PickaGodnPray]

Those updates will not improve your odds at either program. Research is not something to update on unless you receive a grant or pub. As for your other activities, unless you added over 100 hours in these and they were entirely new, not mentioned on your application, I would not add them.

Additionally you stated letters of intent before, not interest. Letters of interest also don’t really do anything. As for intent, you can only send one to a school you would attend no matter where else you got in, but those are typically saved for post interview decisions.