Post Interview Rejection

[Two Sides]

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If one gets rejected post interview, is it due to grades or interview performance? It was my belief that grades have already been considered, and the decision now depends upon the interview. I'm having second thoughts of this now.

 

[femmegoblue]

I think the general consensus is that once you get to the interview stage, the interview performance is what clinches it for you. From your signature it looks like you've had 2 wait lists and 1 rejection from interviews, so I would think about reevaluating how you are in interviews, because it's likely a performance issue. Have you done interview prep? Recorded yourself? Mock interview with someone who doesn't know you well?

 

[popopopop]

Apparently it's school dependent. At my top choice, the interviewer (and on the website) stated that cognitive values were 50% of the process and the non-cognitive values were the other 50% in landing an acceptance. The interview itself was a percentage of score you can get for your non-cognitive values, but would not win you an acceptance.

 

[Two Sides]

I think the general consensus is that once you get to the interview stage, the interview performance is what clinches it for you. From your signature it looks like you've had 2 wait lists and 1 rejection from interviews, so I would think about reevaluating how you are in interviews, because it's likely a performance issue. Have you done interview prep? Recorded yourself? Mock interview with someone who doesn't know you well?

Thanks. I was offered an interview for a waitlist position for one of the schools. I was nervous for one of the interviews (got waitlisted), but thought I did fairly well at the other (got rejected).

 

[AlteredScale]

Really hard to say if it was entirely on the interview because each school decides differently. However at my school I know that post interview rejects are because of issues during interview day that go beyond an okay interview. Has to be signs of poor communication or disrespecting the admissions team/ambassadors/anyone that notices and decides to put a word in.


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[Goro]

Generally, it takes work to be immediately rejected, so it's due to one's interview performance, or how one behaved on interview day.

For example, tour guides have mentioned to out student Adcom ember that an interviewee was trashing the school while on the tour. OR, people have acted out in various ways, like yelling at staff, or treating staff like servants.

If one gets rejected post interview, is it due to grades or interview performance? It was my belief that grades have already been considered, and the decision now depends upon the interview. I'm having second thoughts of this now.

 

[Two Sides]

Generally, it takes work to be immediately rejected, so it's due to one's interview performance, or how one behaved on interview day.

For example, tour guides have mentioned to out student Adcom ember that an interviewee was trashing the school while on the tour. OR, people have acted out in various ways, like yelling at staff, or treating staff like servants.

I'm incredibly shy. I was nervous during the first interview, but killed the second. This was at Lucom, btw.

 

[Atom612]

Generally, it takes work to be immediately rejected, so it's due to one's interview performance, or how one behaved on interview day.

For example, tour guides have mentioned to out student Adcom ember that an interviewee was trashing the school while on the tour. OR, people have acted out in various ways, like yelling at staff, or treating staff like servants.

I interviewed early at an MD school that only offered 30 acceptances for the first round out of ~130 people that had already interviewed. I got a post-interview rejection. I know you say that people are the worst at evaluating their interviews, but I don't recall doing anything outrageous like people are saying, and I got accepted somewhere else. I also have been offered a job at almost every company I've interviewed at since I was 15. Is it possible I just didn't make the cut or was perceived that I wouldn't be a good fit for their school? Or is it still more than likely I made a gaff along the way that I am unaware of.

 

[Peach Newport]

MOST LIKELY it is due to your interview performance, or something you said in the interview. Although this can be a lot of things. It's entirely possible, maybe even likely, that you mostly interviewed well... but you answered a question in a way that sent up red flags. A big example of this is how you answer questions about red flags, previous grades, misdemeanor charges, and general attitude.

At some schools (LUCOM), you might actually be rejected post-interview for your grades or mcat. I know, right?

Also, keep in mind that your chances of being waitlisted/rejected post-interview increase dramatically when it gets to be later in the cycle.

 

[Goro]

I can't argue with a case in point. I don't believe that any job interview is on a par with a med school interview.

It might not have been you. You might have been fine, but the other people interviewing were better.

I interviewed early at an MD school that only offered 30 acceptances for the first round out of ~130 people that had already interviewed. I got a post-interview rejection. I know you say that people are the worst at evaluating their interviews, but I don't recall doing anything outrageous like people are saying, and I got accepted somewhere else. I also have been offered a job at almost every company I've interviewed at since I was 15. Is it possible I just didn't make the cut or was perceived that I wouldn't be a good fit for their school? Or is it still more than likely I made a gaff along the way that I am unaware of.

At my school, we'll waitlist people when we have concerns about their stats, even those who had downward GPA trends or mucked up a SMP.

You are correct in the observation that the later in the cycle, the more picky Adcoms get. The earlier in the cycle, the more we hear the "if we don't accept them, they'll easily get in somewhere else!" meme from the wily old Admissions dean.

MOST LIKELY it is due to your interview performance, or something you said in the interview. Although this can be a lot of things. It's entirely possible, maybe even likely, that you mostly interviewed well... but you answered a question in a way that sent up red flags. A big example of this is how you answer questions about red flags, previous grades, misdemeanor charges, and general attitude.

At some schools (LUCOM), you might actually be rejected post-interview for your grades or mcat. I know, right?
Also, keep in mind that your chances of being waitlisted/rejected post-interview increase dramatically when it gets to be later in the cycle.

 

[Atom612]

I can't argue with a case in point. I don't believe that any job interview is on a par with a med school interview.

It might not have been you. You might have been fine, but the other people interviewing were better.

I understand. I agree the med school interview is unlike anything I've experienced so far. These threads just have a habit of making me question myself. Thanks!

 

[Two Sides]

So, it was most likely due to my interview. I should have mentioned god more, I guess.

 

[impervious0ne]

What would a candidate's strategy be if interview was the cause for rejection/WL?

Would you just reapply and hope to do better at interview next cycle?

 

[getfat]

What would a candidate's strategy be if interview was the cause for rejection/WL?

Would you just reapply and hope to do better at interview next cycle?

f/u with schools that rejected you. Some will tell you to buzz off but one or two will give you a legit reason (grades, interview, ECs, red flags)

If its solely interview related, you are doing something (a subtle tick, how you speak) that is giving them concern. Everyone is terrible at gauging how well they interview. Speaking from personal experience (i used to say "honestly" or "Ill be frank/honest with you"; Stuff like this can make interviewers nervous about you).

Utilize your local college's job interview prep, fiverr offers services that allow to to use a webcam and do a interview prep. Speak with anybody older than you about it.

 

[GypsyHummus]

On the topic of waitlisting, if an ADCOM member like an applicant, but they have a low MCAT, how often would u say those students are sent to the waitlist?

That's what happened to me. I had a good interview but a horrible MCAT. I was waitlisted at a DO school. Even with an upward grade trend.

I can't argue with a case in point. I don't believe that any job interview is on a par with a med school interview.

It might not have been you. You might have been fine, but the other people interviewing were better.




At my school, we'll waitlist people when we have concerns about their stats, even those who had downward GPA trends or mucked up a SMP.

You are correct in the observation that the later in the cycle, the more picky Adcoms get. The earlier in the cycle, the more we hear the "if we don't accept them, they'll easily get in somewhere else!" meme from the wily old Admissions dean.

 

[Goro]

At my school, almost all the time unless the interviewer can make a really compelling case. People who have DO LORs, who have shadowed DOs and who display more knowledge about the profession than merely parroting Wiki tend to be of this phenotype.

On the topic of waitlisting, if an ADCOM member like an applicant, but they have a low MCAT, how often would u say those students are sent to the waitlist?

That's what happened to me. I had a good interview but a horrible MCAT. I was waitlisted at a DO school. Even with an upward grade trend.

 

[JB50]

meme

I am impressed old sage goro. The use of "meme" had me grinning.

No disrespect.

 

[JB50]

Here's the rules:

(1) If ya got great stats, show you have a personality and the ability to articulate the english language.
(2) If ya got average stats, show you have a likeable personality and a solid understanding of the osteopathic profession. You will get in somewhere. If you only have one interview, you better damn well know that schools mission and what they are looking for as best you can.
(3) If ya got mediocre stats, show that you're some sort of a special snowflake in some way that makes up for your blowy stats.

and last but not least, the golden rule: Don't be an arrogant douche.