"safe" number of interviews

[gatewasani]

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Hey guys, i've began wondering what you guys thing is the safe or magic number of interviews one should shoot for in hopes of landing an acceptance. I know all it takes is one, but i'm extremely nervous that one is not enough and am anxiously waiting more interview invites. In my paranoid opinion, no number is really safe but was wondering what you all thought. I'm really hoping to get like 4.

 

[Sinfest]

I've heard the number 5 thrown around a few times

 

[gatorfann14]

Hey guys, i've began wondering what you guys thing is the safe or magic number of interviews one should shoot for in hopes of landing an acceptance. I know all it takes is one, but i'm extremely nervous that one is not enough and am anxiously waiting more interview invites. In my paranoid opinion, no number is really safe but was wondering what you all thought. I'm really hoping to get like 4.

There is no good number. If you look over the boards a bit there are plenty of people that don't get any acceptances with many interviews. Like you said it only takes one. Don't worry about how many you get but instead how well you do at the one you have. I have 6 interviews so far and I have already gone to one and all I focused on was doing well at that and I got an acceptance. So it didn't matter that I have 5 more in the future. You just need to be personable and be passionate.

 

[DbDan]

The number 3 was being tossed around alot last year. It really depends on your interview skills

 

[iamdo]

Hey guys, i've began wondering what you guys thing is the safe or magic number of interviews one should shoot for in hopes of landing an acceptance. I know all it takes is one, but i'm extremely nervous that one is not enough and am anxiously waiting more interview invites. In my paranoid opinion, no number is really safe but was wondering what you all thought. I'm really hoping to get like 4.

You said it very well: All it takes is one

 

[mommy2three]

ditto to the above....

it only takes one 🙂

 

[cbrons]

I have three right now (CCOM, TOUCOM-NV, VCOM). I would say that my interviewing/interpersonal skills and articulative (if that's even a word) abilities are well above average so I'm not concerned. I am far more concerned about my numbers than I am about my ability to interview.

Right now I am accepting every interview offer that comes my way. I feel strongly that until you get an acceptance you are in no position to turn anybody down.

When I got my CCOM interview invite I was relieved and felt like a thousand pounds were lifted off my shoulders. Now that I've received two more, I'm starting for the first time to really feel like I'm knocking on the door to a dream 23 years in the making.

 

[cabinbuilder]

You said it very well: All it takes is one

I only ever had one interview. I'm sure the school thought I was very unique and interesting - had great stories being from Alaska

One interview = one acceptance.

 

[DrDre2001]

If anyone is good at stats, I'm sure there is a way to calculate this.

On average, if you have an interview at a school, you have about a 35% to get in (each school is different though).

So...35% + 35% + 35 % = x

I think you add percentages adding the percentage of "what is left".

So, for the first interview, you have a 35% chance. There is a 65% you don't get in an interview (this is "what is left"). If you have a second interview, then, out out of that 65%, you will get in 35% of the time to that second school.

So, for two interviews, you have .35 + (.35 * (1.00 - .35) ) = .577

For three interviews: .35 + (.35 * (1.00 - .35) + .35 (1.00 - .577) = .724

For four interviews = .82.
Five = .88
Six = .92
Seven = .95

Someone with more math skills than me correct me if I'm wrong.

These are just numbers though, so be careful. If you are a great interviewer or terrible interview, the numbers won't work for you.

I wish I had more interviews, but to me, getting one from the school I really want to go to is worth more than 4 or 5 from some other schools.

 

[DbDan]

I wish I had more interviews, but to me, getting one from the school I really want to go to is worth more than 4 or 5 from some other schools.

Don't you have 3 right now?

Stats look good. I think. Although stats were never my strong suit.

 

[gatewasani]

so i guess that magic number is 4?

 

[mmikey]

Stop with the whole 'skills thing' and numbers and math... the real number

IS
OVER
NINE
THOUSAND
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[cbrons]

If anyone is good at stats, I'm sure there is a way to calculate this.

On average, if you have an interview at a school, you have about a 35% to get in (each school is different though).

So...35% + 35% + 35 % = x

I think you add percentages adding the percentage of "what is left".

So, for the first interview, you have a 35% chance. There is a 65% you don't get in an interview (this is "what is left"). If you have a second interview, then, out out of that 65%, you will get in 35% of the time to that second school.

So, for two interviews, you have .35 + (.35 * (1.00 - .35) ) = .577

For three interviews: .35 + (.35 * (1.00 - .35) + .35 (1.00 - .577) = .724

For four interviews = .82. Five = .88. Six = .92. Seven = .95

Someone with more math skills than me correct me if I'm wrong.

These are just numbers though, so be careful. If you are a great interviewer or terrible interview, the numbers won't work for you.

I wish I had more interviews, but to me, getting one from the school I really want to go to is worth more than 4 or 5 from some other schools.

Lol... this is an example of how quantitative analysis is over-utilized in every aspect of the admissions process on SDN.

 

[Bacchus]

I have three right now (CCOM, TOUCOM-NV, VCOM). I would say that my interviewing/interpersonal skills and articulative (if that's even a word) abilities are well above average so I'm not concerned. I am far more concerned about my numbers than I am about my ability to interview.

Right now I am accepting every interview offer that comes my way. I feel strongly that until you get an acceptance you are in no position to turn anybody down.

When I got my CCOM interview invite I was relieved and felt like a thousand pounds were lifted off my shoulders. Now that I've received two more, I'm starting for the first time to really feel like I'm knocking on the door to a dream 23 years in the making.

If you received a CCOM interview I doubt numbers are an issue. If you're dead set on any of those schools I'd wait to schedule the other interviews. I had a CCOM and DMU interview waiting for me but the only way I was going to schedule them was if I wasn't accepted to PCOM. Saved some money on airfare.

 

[DrDre2001]

Don't you have 3 right now?

Stats look good. I think. Although stats were never my strong suit.

Yeah I have three, and fortunately they are all near the top of my list of favorite schools.

 

[gatorfann14]

👍

Stop with the whole 'skills thing' and numbers and math... the real number

IS
OVER
NINE
THOUSAND
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[DbDan]

Yeah I have three, and fortunately they are all near the top of my list of favorite schools.

congrats. I wanted a NSU interview. No luck it seems though thus far

 

[g8orlife]

It really depends on your interview skills

.... and connections.

 

[Avoidthetiger]

Right now I am accepting every interview offer that comes my way. I feel strongly that until you get an acceptance you are in no position to turn anybody down.

I feel the same way. Until I get accepted, I'm going to all my interviews... though I did push back AZCOM until November just because airfare would be alittle too much. But the rest of them I am going to before mid-October. I have a lot of traveling to do but it would be nice to be accepted to all of these schools.

and DrDre, I hope your math skills are correct 🙂

 

[CopToEM]

Right now I am accepting every interview offer that comes my way. I feel strongly that until you get an acceptance you are in no position to turn anybody down.

This. Regardless of what the U.S. News reports each year... the best med school in the nation is the one that accepts you.

 

[radhika]

usually, how long does it take after turnng in a secondary to get an interview? I am feel terrible b/c i still need to turn in secondaries i got 2 weeks ago 🙁

 

[judasreznor]

usually, how long does it take after turnng in a secondary to get an interview? I am feel terrible b/c i still need to turn in secondaries i got 2 weeks ago 🙁

Don't hesitate (unless you must) to turn them in. It doesn't usually take a lot of time, though I'm not the best person to ask because I turned in my primary the first day it was open and submitted my secondaries the day I got them. Maybe this post wasn't helpful at all, but I wrote it already, so I'm going to post it! 😀

 

[megathunder]

.... and connections.

...and good looks.

 

[Hyazuma]

👍

This. Regardless of what the U.S. News reports each year... the best med school in the nation is the one that accepts you.

I got an interview from my top choice DO school and that's all it takes to keep me happy 😍. No use trying to over analyze the situation during the application process; the adcoms are doing that for you! You put in the hard work and made it this far; now is your time to shine at your interviews. Be yourself and you should be fine (would you really be happy being someone else? Isn't that dishonest?

-H-