Order at which apps are reviewed

[IlyaR]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Pardon the neurotic post. I'm aware that apps are still being reviewed and that it takes time, but am curious about the chronology of this. I've only heard back from 2 schools despite being complete from 8/1-8/15. I guess no news is good news but it seems like many people complete way after me have gotten rejections/IIs. Are reviews more or less random from a pile stratified by completion dates or just generally random?

 

[NotASerialKiller]

They look at applications based on the hotness rank of your photo. The link in my signature explains the conversion of the traditional 1-10 rating system to the AMCAS hotness scale

 

[studentdocftw]

Objectively...I'm at least an 8. I think 10s and 9s are being reviews atm. :/

OP..I think apps are reviewed chronologically...with a degree of randomness to it. Of course...this is pure speculation and can thus be ignored. Ask an ADCOM.

 

[gyngyn]

Depending on the method used to screen applicants, you may have been placed in a stratum in which you are better than a reject but not yet an II.

 

[Throwaway692015]

I have no idea to be honest:

But a database would make sense to me. Just do a "find" and reject anyone below certain stats and above certain stats.

For example in a database you could do a find for mcat: 30-35 , In state, any race, any gender, gpa greater than 3.3 . And bam, you have a few hundred apps to consider and read/ evaluate. And then you can sort these in priority by either complete date, or mcat score, really any criteria you want. Databases, if built right are very powerful data sorting tools. Who knows if schools use them though

 

[gyngyn]

Databases, if built right are very powerful data sorting tools. Who knows if schools use them though

Of course, we do.

 

[IlyaR]

Depending on the method used to screen applicants, you may have been placed in a stratum in which you are better than a reject but not yet an II.

Is this med school purgatory or can it eventually be bumped up to an II?

Thanks

 

[gyngyn]

Is this med school purgatory or can it eventually be bumped up to an II?

Thanks

Sometimes, it depends on the pool and the school's resources and goals.
Now that I think about it, it is a lot like purgatory...
At least limbo has been abolished.

 

[wasteofspace323]

They look at applications based on the hotness rank of your photo. The link in my signature explains the conversion of the traditional 1-10 rating system to the AMCAS hotness scale

This is a really poor decision because you would be left with nothing but uggos during the last part of the cycle and no one wants that. Adcoms need to learn to pace themselves with the beautiful candidates.

 

[IlyaR]

They look at applications based on the hotness rank of your photo. The link in my signature explains the conversion of the traditional 1-10 rating system to the AMCAS hotness scale

What if I'm a URM (6'3")?

 

[clippers50fan]

What if I'm a URM (6'3")?

Lucky for people like me height is not seen in pictures.

 

[Doug Underhill]

I've noticed that a lot of people who were complete in August, including myself, have a lot of Application Completes, even at schools who send a lot of rejection emails. My interpretation of this is that we haven't been reviewed yet and they're going in chronological order. If we were undesirable, we'd be getting rejected from one of these places.

If you apply to 5 reject-happy schools and get 5 silences, you probably haven't been reviewed yet. The odds of at least one rejecting you are very high once they review your app.

 

[EverStriving]

They look at applications based on the hotness rank of your photo. The link in my signature explains the conversion of the traditional 1-10 rating system to the AMCAS hotness scale

Darn I'm pretty sure I'm only a 7. Do you think my high MCAT could make up for that?

 

[y123]

I've noticed that a lot of people who were complete in August, including myself, have a lot of Application Completes, even at schools who send a lot of rejection emails. My interpretation of this is that we haven't been reviewed yet and they're going in chronological order. If we were undesirable, we'd be getting rejected from one of these places.

I think they reviewed me and just passed me in many schools since many people who completed long after me received interviews already.

 

[NotASerialKiller]

Darn I'm pretty sure I'm only a 7. Do you think my high MCAT could make up for that?

Depends what the medians of the schools you applied to are. There is a high amount of variability

 

[arc5005]

I wonder if interviewers are more likely to give more attractive, but equivalent application-wise a better recommendation/yes. Wasn't there some soft-science research study that more attractive people are better trusted or move up the latter faster?

 

[LuluLovesMe]

They look at applications based on the hotness rank of your photo. The link in my signature explains the conversion of the traditional 1-10 rating system to the AMCAS hotness scale

I was a 5 before my plastic surgery but now I'm a 9. Will they average these like MCAT retakes or will I just be considered as a 9?

 

[EverStriving]

I was a 5 before my plastic surgery but now I'm a 9. Will they average these like MCAT retakes or will I just be considered as a 9?

Med schools can see all plastic surgery records. That 5 will never disappear. That being said, DO schools have a hotness-replacement policy so may want to consider applying to a few of those.