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The 2026-2027 DO School Specific Threads are now available in the School Specific Discussions forum. The 2025-2026 discussions are now available in the prior year discussions forum.
Yes, but it's extremely rare. Only heard of this happening at LUCOM.
Yes, it does happen. The point of the II is to see if you're worth gambling on.
Would I be correct in saying though that if an II is granted most likely the decision has been made to take a chance (stat wise) as long as the person isn't like an idiot or interviews poorly?
Correct, but I have to add I've seen plenty of situations where the Adcom reviews a marginal candidate, and an interviewer says "Nice guy/gal, but I'm worried about that MCAT score". Normally this leads to a wait list position, and so getting an outright rejection might mean that the candidate really had a bad interview, and it's more polite to say "Your MCAT is an issue". There are also times where the rejection is made to give someone the message that "it's time for Plan B".
So what you're saying is a marginal candidate might be interviewed, but may not sparkle enough for their flaws to be overcome
Not to go off topic but why would an admissions committee be concerned with post-interview "politeness?" It seems like those sorts of coy messages might lead a lot of well-intentioned people astray. How common is this?
So what you're saying is a marginal candidate might be interviewed, but may not sparkle enough for their flaws to be overcome
Yes, exactly.
Not to go off topic but why would an admissions committee be concerned with post-interview "politeness?" It seems like those sorts of coy messages might lead a lot of well-intentioned people astray. How common is this?
Do you really want us to come out and tell someone "your interview sucked and I wouldn't let you touch my dog, much less another human being????"
It also prevents the lawyers from getting involved. I'm sure the wise @gyngyn has some lawyer stories from disgruntled candidates.
Yes, exactly.
Not to go off topic but why would an admissions committee be concerned with post-interview "politeness?" It seems like those sorts of coy messages might lead a lot of well-intentioned people astray. How common is this?
Do you really want us to come out and tell someone "your interview sucked and I wouldn't let you touch my dog, much less another human being????"
It also prevents the lawyers from getting involved. I'm sure the wise @gyngyn has some lawyer stories from disgruntled candidates.
Maybe 25 a year should just be rejected outright. I wish we could be more transparent, but often the interview itself was a "courtesy."
You'd be surprised how many suits are filed by disgruntled parents.
Even without a suit, the endless threats and phone calls are so unpleasant.
I'm surprised more people DON'T want this. As someone who had 3 interviews and 2 waitlists last year... I'd certainly want to know if it's something I could change like a bad PS or stumbling over an interview question, or something I'd need to put in years of work to fix like 5 year old prerequisites.
Is there any way to read between the lines to determine if a school is saying "We don't want you ever" or "Shadow some more doctors, make eye contact, and try again?" Without going into specifics?
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Happened to me.
Would a strong SMP at a medical school (3.8+ GPA) overcome a low MCAT score (490-495), or would the applicant have to take it again? I would imagine at that particular school it would, but what about from outside ADCOM?
Would a strong SMP at a medical school (3.8+ GPA) overcome a low MCAT score (490-495), or would the applicant have to take it again? I would imagine at that particular school it would, but what about from outside ADCOM?
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Lol what grounds could parents possibly have for suing you? Their little pumpkin didn't get in so they want their $100 secondary fee back...?
That's basically what it amounts to ...plus "damages."
It seems to be nearly impossible to do so, but one can always ask the Admissions dean after rejection for feedback (NOT advice or counseling).
With confidentiality being what it is for LORs, no one will ever be told that they had a bad LOR. It's incumbent for applicants to have good relationships with thier LOR writers and to choose those people wisely in the first place.
I can see this only happening at the parent school that hosts the SMP. Our program has admitted our superstars from the SMP, despite low MCAT scores. We don't do it for people from other schools though. Why not? Well, we've seen those people in action, handling our own material We know that they can make it. We can't say that about someone else from outside our program.
I would love to see these people go before a judge and be asked "How have you been damaged?'"
And when they give their lame "hurt feelings/emotional distress" answer, the judge should lean over his bench and smack them on their heads with his/her gavel!
Given the current political correct climate, the applicant would probably win that court case.
And PCOM GA. Especially, if you're a masters student with a 3.0, you get an automatic II, but if your MCAT is too low, they can reject you.
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Goro and gyngyn, we all know that majority of schools send secondary to rip people $50-$100 off even though they know that the candidate is not eligible/borderline to get in. Its all money making business for schools.
$50*5000=$250,000
$100*$5000=$500,000
This is how schools make money just from secondary.
Is it ethical?
Kindly show me the gun that was put to your head that made you apply to medical school.
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A secondary =/= II.
As I point out frequently, secondaries are often a tax on the hopelessly naïve, if not pathologically optimistic.
Here's the thing about lawsuits. Since most suits are settled before ever reaching the point of actually standing before a judge or jury, lawyers know that even a threat to sue (even if the case was without merit) will probably cause defendants to offer to settle for a variety of reasons e.g. bad press, cost of litigation, etc.
And there are times when lawyers know that the suit is without merit, but either out of fear of losing a client or other factors, the lawyer will make a half hearted attempt to appease the client by agreeing to bring the threat of a suit just to shut them up.
It is what it is.
This fee is the only thing thing that prevents every applicant from applying everywhere.
The medical school may not ever see a cent of it.
We would happily charge zero for secondaries if the number of schools to which one could apply were limited.
These kinds of word does not suit adcom, not very professional at all.
SDNers are advised to remember that they chose this path, whatever the financials.
Stop getting offended so easily.
It's a fair point. I've received formal warnings from moderators for a lot less. They're a bunch of hypocrites. And when you question why they don't treat others like they treat you, it's "focus on yourself not others." The go-to excuse of someone who knows they're a hypocrite.
If I'm correct this is a uniquely american thing (pretty sure you don't have to do this in Europe for example) and somehow other countries function just fine.
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OK, what does this all have to do with the OP?
You justified secondary fees saying there were necessary.
Virtually no one else charges fees and manages to avoid chaos breaking loose.
Ergo, your justification is not supported by data.
Where does it go?!
I know a couple of individuals who were told this when interviewing at different schools where their MCAT was in the ~ <25%ile, both ended up being accepted at other places though.
To be fair there's no guarantee your app is going to be vetted as much as you like if your "stats" don't match the school, a large number send "courtesy" secondaries to applicants who have no chance...
It goes to the university where it is used as discretionary funds.
For all I know, it goes to support the badminton team!
Please point out where I wrote that.
In addition, European medical education is different than in the US, in terms of timing and curricula format.
My bad, that was another user not you.
