OMG! I Got an Interview!!!

[Assembler]

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To Des Moines University!!!!

I barely found out like 2 min ago. I am so happy! It's my first one! I thought the worst had yet to come, but hopefully I'll hear some more good news soon!

It's on Feb 3rd, but who cares 🙂 😍

 

[EMTLizzy]

To Des Moines University!!!!

I barely found out like 2 min ago. I am so happy! It's my first one! I thought the worst had yet to come, but hopefully I'll hear some more good news soon!

Congrats! Where else have you applied? If you just completed all your secondaries not too long ago then you may be getting quite a few rolling in. Enjoy the buzz!

 

[DD214_DOC]

To Des Moines University!!!!

I barely found out like 2 min ago. I am so happy! It's my first one! I thought the worst had yet to come, but hopefully I'll hear some more good news soon!

It's on Feb 3rd, but who cares 🙂 😍

Congrats, but don't get too excited. Keep in mind that an interview does not mean an acceptance.

 

[MsEvolution]

Congratulations! You're going to love it! I interviewed with them in Portland in October and have had the absolute best "gut" feeling with them out of all my other interviews. Was accepted and I'll be visiting campus in person soon--and I'll be dropping my deposit while I'm there.

BEST of luck! You'll see that they'll make you feel SO welcomed.

 

[Assembler]

Congrats! Where else have you applied? If you just completed all your secondaries not too long ago then you may be getting quite a few rolling in. Enjoy the buzz!

Thank you 🙂 Congrats on your acceptance too 🙂

I was so surprised because my file was barely complete there last week. They sure are quick!

The others places I applied to are KCOM, AZCOM, CCOM, KCUMB, NYCOM, PCOM-GA, PCOM-PA, TUCOM-CA, TUCOM-NV, UNECOM, and WUHS/COMP, most of which recieved my LOR's last week. I still have to fix some LOR things with KCOM and COMP though. I also applied to WVSOM, but they put me on post-secondary, pre-interview hold. Doesn't matter much though because I didn't have a D.O. letter & didn't realize they needed it till afterwards.

 

[Assembler]

Congrats, but don't get too excited. Keep in mind that an interview does not mean an acceptance.

lol, I know, sorry. I'm just kind of stoked, because my MCAT was on the low side (23), so I don't know, I was getting really worried that they'd throw my app in the garbage pile like some of the allopathic schools I applied to.

Well, since it's Feb 3rd, it gives me a lot of time to practice my interview skills. I know it doesn't mean an acceptance, but at least it's a chance at one.

 

[Assembler]

Congratulations! You're going to love it! I interviewed with them in Portland in October and have had the absolute best "gut" feeling with them out of all my other interviews. Was accepted and I'll be visiting campus in person soon--and I'll be dropping my deposit while I'm there.

BEST of luck! You'll see that they'll make you feel SO welcomed.

heh, thank you 🙂 Even though I'm from CA, I would love to go there. The city looks awesome from the pictures they had up, and I believe it is still pretty metropolitan. The thing that really got my attention the most though was the standardized performance assessment lab (the one's with the trained patient actors), and also the cardiology simulator! How cool is that. Well, I'd love to get in anywhere just about now, but I do like the place from what I've heard about it. I'm sure it won't be anything less when I finally interview there.

Congratulations on your acceptance, btw!

 

[DD214_DOC]

Well, since it's Feb 3rd, it gives me a lot of time to practice my interview skills. I know it doesn't mean an acceptance, but at least it's a chance at one.

It might be a chance, it might not be. I still believe some schools invite people to interview whom they never intend to accept.

I also think interviews serve two purposes: (a) For people with really good numbers, it's just a formality. (b) For people with sub-par numbers, it's a necessity that the interviewee demonstrate that he will make a successful student and a competant physician, though the focus is probably more on the former.

Get as much practice as you can. Us low-stat people are under much more pressure at interviews than those with better numbers, as we have something to prove.

 

[Assembler]

You make some good points, though I tend to differ on some of them.

I find it hard to believe that the admissions comittee(s) would invite applicants they feel do not possess the potential to become a good physician, and those whom they would rather not accept anyway. It would be quite a waste of both the interviewee and interviewer's time if that was the case. They already got the secondary application fee, right? There would be no necessity to interview a person beyond that point, unless they have some interest in him/her.

However, I do agree with you on the fact that people with less-than-average numbers do have to go beyond the formality of it all and actually prove that they are capable of handling the curriculum, etc. No interview is a sure-fire thing though, so I would be weary if an applicant did not try to make the best effort possible to lend a good impression to the committee/interviewer. I plan to do that as best I can...

 

[DD214_DOC]

Every school interviews a good chunk more people than they admit every year. They have to prefer certain applicants over others, because interviews aren't a level playing field. If they interview 325 students and only admit 250 each year, then there's something going on.

The only reason I can think of behind this, is if they're hoping a sub-par applicant will prove himself, or it's only to artificially continue the tradition of the interview. (some law schools have done away with interviews alltogether). Adcoms realize the limitations of interviews and know that they cannot assess everything about an applicant in 30 minutes or an hour. If this were true, then you wouldn't have physicians who get busted for sexual assault or any other personality-related problem that may have been detectable in the interview. Very few people act themselves at the interviews.

Thus, unless you stand out as some exemplary person at an interview, your admission is probably dictated more by your numbers than anything else.

 

[Assembler]

The way you put it, it seems as if there is no use even trying. I never made the statement that an interview is the equivalent of an acceptance, and nor will I ever intend to. It is one of the other tools used to weed out people, like everything else in this game.

I already know that many schools interview far more than the number they can accept, and even then, they also sometimes accept more than they have seats for (in hopes that the rest will decline to attend and choose another school).

I am merely saying that it might be possible to actually grab your interviewer's attention, in some way or another, enough that they will actually vouch for you during the committee's decision. If this weren't the case, I would not understand why other people with similar numbers like myself or even lower have gotten in.

I've always been told that osteopathic schools tend to look past the numbers, and onto the person themselves. It is the interviewee's responsibility to make it known that they can add to the value of the classroom, and that they are inherently motivated for the right reasons to enter this profession; beyond their parent's ideals, or monetary compensation, and more on the level of what it means to be compassionate, sincere, and genuine; in essence, an applicant with a personality, unlike many of the typical stringent bookworms you see today.

Communication skills can go a long way...

I believe the biggest blemish on my record is my MCAT score. I can't do anything about it at this point, except pray that I will never have to take it again, and that I will never have to settle on a field of employment I was never attracted to in the first place. Only time will tell the answers that may guide me in the future.

As I recall, JKD, you were pretty excited about the invites you received as well. I'm sorry that VCOM did not go as well as it was planned, however I am in hopes that you will find a place of your choice in the upcoming entering class. There are more to people than numbers. Have some faith, not in theology or religion, but in yourself.

 

[acl3623]

congrats on your invite! thats awesome, youll do well. and dont worry about your MCAT, if the rest of your app is strong youll surely get more invites from other DO schools. at some schools, an interview is very indicative of an acceptance (a lot of schools accept ~80-85% of their interviewees, im not saying all but a lot!) so youve made a huge cut! 👍

 

[no-see-um]

To Des Moines University!!!!

I barely found out like 2 min ago. I am so happy! It's my first one! I thought the worst had yet to come, but hopefully I'll hear some more good news soon!

It's on Feb 3rd, but who cares 🙂 😍

Congrats! Good luck at your interview. Take it to them!

 

[OmedDOC]

To Des Moines University!!!!

I barely found out like 2 min ago. I am so happy! It's my first one! I thought the worst had yet to come, but hopefully I'll hear some more good news soon!

It's on Feb 3rd, but who cares 🙂 😍

Congrats!! and good luck on your interview.. 👍

 

[MsEvolution]

Every school interviews a good chunk more people than they admit every year. They have to prefer certain applicants over others, because interviews aren't a level playing field. If they interview 325 students and only admit 250 each year, then there's something going on.

The only reason I can think of behind this, is if they're hoping a sub-par applicant will prove himself, or it's only to artificially continue the tradition of the interview. (some law schools have done away with interviews alltogether). Adcoms realize the limitations of interviews and know that they cannot assess everything about an applicant in 30 minutes or an hour. If this were true, then you wouldn't have physicians who get busted for sexual assault or any other personality-related problem that may have been detectable in the interview. Very few people act themselves at the interviews.

Thus, unless you stand out as some exemplary person at an interview, your admission is probably dictated more by your numbers than anything else.

I'm thinking they interview plenty more than they accept for the following two reasons:

1. They know that not all the students they accept are going to matriculate. They have to interview more than the number they are planning to accept because they know they will have to extend acceptances to more than the number of slots available.

2. For the same reason that employers interview several prospective applicants. For the same reason you look at several houses before you choose one. For the same reason you test drive the three last cars you've narrowed down in your search to buy a car.

Remember that those chosen for an interview are ranked higher than the vast majority who did NOT get in to interview. I think it's safe to say that if you made the interview list, you ARE competitive. That, in itself, is proof.

That said, good luck!

 

[buomyta]

Good luck and remember to be confident in what you have to offer. To obtain an interview is an honor!! When I received my first interview, I was just so thrilled that they had given me an interview. My MCAT score was far below yours and I got accepted to VCOM and invited to for an interview with PCOM. With VCOM we had 3 interviewers each: my first interviewer was very tough and I really thought he could not get past my MCAT score. He seemed to focus on it the entire interview. I kept bringing my other accomplishments back to the table (gently). I summed it up by saying...If given the opportunity to have a better or even great MCAT score, I would not change a thing. I would never exchange my experiences or the path I chosen to take because it makes me who I am etc... My next two interviewers did not bring it up at all. They both complimented my career path and my vision. Stay strong with your optimism and stay strong with your responses. Don't falter. You will do great and remember all you need is one acceptance. Good Luck...I know you will do well.

 

[DD214_DOC]

I was including the extra students they admit. If you crunch the numbers like I did for VCOM, you come out with this: (this is from memory, may not be exact)

~ 1200ish applicants

~ 325 interviews

~ 250 admitted

~ 150 class size

So you can see schools are interviewing a sizable chunk more than they will ever admit.

I based this data on a few factors. At the interview, we were told they have received about 1200 applications and are only interviewing 325 of the applicants. If you check online, you will find VCOM has an acceptance rate of about 22%, but the school only has around 150 seats. Thus, they are admitting about 260/325 interviewees for their 150 class. About 60 students are getting shafted, whether intentional or not.

 

[acl3623]

a lot of people turn down acceptances...its not that theyre getting the shaft, theyre just going to another school to which they received an acceptance to. in numbers the school still has to count that as an acceptance given out. i've only heard of KCUMB having a problem with that last year...and i dont know how much truth there was to it but it seemed like an xtra 10-15 over their class limit accepted the seat and they just had to defer for a year...just a rumor i heard on the interview trail so dont flame me if im wrong!

 

[DO it right]

You make some good points, though I tend to differ on some of them.

I find it hard to believe that the admissions comittee(s) would invite applicants they feel do not possess the potential to become a good physician, and those whom they would rather not accept anyway. It would be quite a waste of both the interviewee and interviewer's time if that was the case. They already got the secondary application fee, right? There would be no necessity to interview a person beyond that point, unless they have some interest in him/her.

However, I do agree with you on the fact that people with less-than-average numbers do have to go beyond the formality of it all and actually prove that they are capable of handling the curriculum, etc. No interview is a sure-fire thing though, so I would be weary if an applicant did not try to make the best effort possible to lend a good impression to the committee/interviewer. I plan to do that as best I can...

just to get back to your point...i was put on alternate list at NOVA after my interview only because of one reason (as I was told later on): that my verbal score is lower than their average. Couldn't they have thought of this before inviting me? just think about it.

but anywho..I think DMU is great, I'll be putting down my deposit soon. Don't worry and keep your hopes high.

 

[OnMyWayThere]

To Des Moines University!!!!

I barely found out like 2 min ago. I am so happy! It's my first one! I thought the worst had yet to come, but hopefully I'll hear some more good news soon!

It's on Feb 3rd, but who cares 🙂 😍

Great job! You really got over the major hurdle!!! Congrats! Here is a post I made on another thread that might help you out in case you don't see that thread.

I interviewed there and my interview was realllllllllly rough. I mean, it was bad. It was my first one and I realized that I screwed up because of that and they were just hard on me... 4 interviewers looking at me with blank faces and just making me feel horrible about past mistakes. Anyway, two weeks later I got accepted and I just received a letter from one of my interviewers saying he hopes to see me there. I loved the school. Great program, great students, admin, campus, etc. Good luck and don't let them get the best of you! 😀

 

[Docgeorge]

It might be a chance, it might not be. I still believe some schools invite people to interview whom they never intend to accept.

I also think interviews serve two purposes: (a) For people with really good numbers, it's just a formality. (b) For people with sub-par numbers, it's a necessity that the interviewee demonstrate that he will make a successful student and a competant physician, though the focus is probably more on the former.

Get as much practice as you can. Us low-stat people are under much more pressure at interviews than those with better numbers, as we have something to prove.

If you get an interview at DMU the adcoms have decided that you'll probally be able to succeed in medical school. You are all in the same boat great number or marginal numbers in 1 area. The interviews are not pro forma. I've been on interview panels that have turned down people with great stats and accepcted people who thought they never had a chance in hell of getting in cuz of their numbers.

Assembler: Congrats on your interview. You made it past the first big hurtle. We have approx 2700 applicants this year and we'll only interview something like 375 on campus. Your only real job is to go to the interview and be your self. If we (the interview panel) think you're a douche bag no matter what your numbers you porbally wont get in, if on the other hand we see that you are a mature, motivated person who has shown that they can persevere you're porbally going to get in. GOOD LUCK


{EDIT} I'm not a 100% sure (99% sure) on the # of interviews for this year, but I will ask tommarow.

 

[bigbody]

Hey DocGeorge--

I have an interview coming up at DMU.I know the entering class is about 200 people. Do you know how many acceptances they offer if they interview 375?
If I do normal, or pretty well at the interview, should I be good?

Also, are there any tough questions or pointers you would recommend reviewing before going to the interview?

If you get an interview at DMU the adcoms have decided that you'll probally be able to succeed in medical school. You are all in the same boat great number or marginal numbers in 1 area. The interviews are not pro forma. I've been on interview panals that have turned down people with great stats and accepcted people who thought they never had a chance in hell of getting in cuz of their numbers.

Assembler: Congrats on your interview. You made it past the first big hurtle. We have approx 2700 applicants this year and we'll only interview something like 375 on campus. Your only real job is to go to the interview and be your self. If we (the interview panel) think you're a douche bag no matter what your numbers you porbally wont get in, if on the other hand we see that you are a mature, motivated person who has shown that they can persevere you're porbally going to get in. GOOD LUCK

 

[Docgeorge]

I really dont know how many people they give accepctences to. I do know that they gave out 245 accepctences last year only to have most of those people not decline. Luckily they were able to pare that down to 217 by the time school started. The Dean told us that we would not give out that many accepctences this year they really want to stick to 200 people a year.

The only advise that I can give is be yourself. If you try to be someone you're not it's going to come out and thats probally not a good thing. It really is a laid back interivew. It might be a little rough (meaning some tough questions) at times, but thats usually cuz we like you.

With the tough questions, they can really be anything cuz we only have one question that we're required to ask. If you get asked a tough question it's just to get your rational for an anwser you gave.

The interview panel usually consists on 1 PhD, 1 Clinician (MD or DO), and usually a student. We all look for different things in appliciants. When I interview an appliciant I try to ask myself if I work with this person if I think I can I usually vote to admit, if I can't I vote to decline. As far as what the others look for it really is variable depending on the age of the clinicians and Basic Scientiests and their personalities.

Good Luck on your interview I think that you will find your self plesently supprised by the school, the resources it offers you and the people. I know I was.

 

[Assembler]

I was including the extra students they admit. If you crunch the numbers like I did for VCOM, you come out with this: (this is from memory, may not be exact)

~ 1200ish applicants

~ 325 interviews

~ 250 admitted

~ 150 class size

So you can see schools are interviewing a sizable chunk more than they will ever admit.

I based this data on a few factors. At the interview, we were told they have received about 1200 applications and are only interviewing 325 of the applicants. If you check online, you will find VCOM has an acceptance rate of about 22%, but the school only has around 150 seats. Thus, they are admitting about 260/325 interviewees for their 150 class. About 60 students are getting shafted, whether intentional or not.

I see what you're getting at, but I don't believe they would retract an acceptance from a student based on the number of seats available. As acl3623 said, most of those students probably end up deciding on other schools anyway, and if there is a glaring problem by the time the students matriculate, most likely some of them will be deferred to the next year. Getting deferred is not so bad though. I wouldn't mind it at all, honestly. It would be nice to know that a) you have an acceptance already, and b) you'll have an entire year to simply do all the things you've never had time for, whether it be traveling around the world or even taking some classes that you've always been interested in.

 

[Assembler]

Great job! You really got over the major hurdle!!! Congrats! Here is a post I made on another thread that might help you out in case you don't see that thread.

Thank you! And congrats on getting into TUCOM-NV (as well as DMU!). Your interview experience didn't sound too delightful, lol. I am kind of nervous about it myself because I didn't realize it would be a panel interview until I fully got over the fact that the e-mail was still there even after I clicked "inbox" again. I'm sure it'll go well, but I just hope it doesn't end up in a situation where I say something to one of the interviewers, and then another one refutes it indirectly or questions me further about it, and so on, and so forth. I heard most schools don't really conduct stress interviews nowadays though, so I hope I'll have a good feeling after I come out of it. You got accepted though, so they must've liked your answers 🙂 Just goes to show you everyone has a different perspective on things 🙂

 

[robo77]

Here is my situation with DMU, please advice:
Initially about a month ago I was put on HOLD list for interview at DMU. I sent them a letter stating that DMU was one of my top choices, I think that it a very very good school. Yesterday they invited me for an interview. Is it possible that they are just feeling sorry for me and that I basically begged this interview out of them. On the other hand, I do not see why they would invite me just to be nice, I mean if that is the case they would probably invite all 3,000 applicants to me nice, nothing special about me here.

 

[Assembler]

Here is my situation with DMU, please advice...

Robo, I PM'ed ya...

 

[Docgeorge]

It is not a stress interview. When I say tough, what I mean that some questions might delve deeper into some of your anwsers to previous questions just to see how you came up with an anwser.

 

[Docgeorge]

Robo
If they dont think you have a chance of getting in, they woul'nt invite you for an interview. Read my above post. Good Luck!