Reasons for not inviting for interview

[bowlofmushypeas]

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Other than not having high enough scores, clinical performance, etc etc, are there other common reasons programs may not invite an applicant to interview?

For instance, I've heard that places may not offer invites to applicants if they don't understand why the applicant would want to be at there program geographically (e.g. live in the Midwest but applied to a program on the East coast or something) or that they feel like the applicant is "too" competitive and will end up ranking them low.

I don't have any specific examples in mind, but have been hearing these theories lately and was curious what others, and PDs in particular, think.

 

[organdonor]

Anything. Nothing. Don't beat yourself up thinking about stuff you can't change!


Scores, perceived "fit," didn't like your PS, too many other qualified applicants, interview dates are full, PD on vacation, EC's are lacking, biases conscious or unconscious against your gender/height/weight/eye color/nationality/school of origin/athletic conference et cetera ad infinitum...

 

[organdonor]

Oh and poor/lackluster letters of recommendation.

 

[foodle]

I think you need to look at this from the opposite viewpoint: why DO programs offer someone an interview?

In that case, the two things you mention (willingness to move to a location and and perceived competitiveness) are definite issues. Why would a PD from a low-tier school in an undesirable location offer an interview slot to an AOA, step1=250, Hopkins/Harvard/Stanford/etc. grad, who grew up in California? That candidate will surely match someplace better (location, ranking, etc.) and the PD will have burned up an interview slot.

So it's not that these issues are factors against you, so much as they are factors FOR someone else. In the end, it's sort of the same thing in that you might not get an invitation, because the PDs have limited interview slots and they have to make the most of the ones they have. They have to pick the candidates that have the highest likelihood of coming to their program and doing well. That does not mean that they will necessarily always pick the academically best candidate over a pretty good candidate with ties to their location.

 

[bowlofmushypeas]

Very helpful, thanks.

I think this is something that many of us applicants do not realize since people seem to be rarely open about this.

I think you need to look at this from the opposite viewpoint: why DO programs offer someone an interview?

In that case, the two things you mention (willingness to move to a location and and perceived competitiveness) are definite issues. Why would a PD from a low-tier school in an undesirable location offer an interview slot to an AOA, step1=250, Hopkins/Harvard/Stanford/etc. grad, who grew up in California? That candidate will surely match someplace better (location, ranking, etc.) and the PD will have burned up an interview slot.

So it's not that these issues are factors against you, so much as they are factors FOR someone else. In the end, it's sort of the same thing in that you might not get an invitation, because the PDs have limited interview slots and they have to make the most of the ones they have. They have to pick the candidates that have the highest likelihood of coming to their program and doing well. That does not mean that they will necessarily always pick the academically best candidate over a pretty good candidate with ties to their location.