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From all the information I have gathered on SDN and talking to med students this is what I think happens in general. I beleive medical schools use a 3 round system when determining who gets an interview.
Round One- Screeners look at all applications check to see if the GPA and MCAT fall within a certain minimum. The certain minimum depends on the other factors of the applicant, like whether the applicant is in-state or out of state, and the race of the applicant. I believe the minimum is set lower for instate applicants and applicants of certain minority group. For instance and instate applicant minimum for this one perticlular school could be a 3.3 and 28 while out of state would need 3.4 and 30. Both minimums ( instate and out of state) would decrease if the applicant was of a certain minority group that is deemed under represented in medicine. All application that do not reach the minimum are tossed ( rejected). This assumes that this school doesn't send auto secondary ( some schools do)
Round 2- Secondaries are sent out at this point. Also a second group of screeners comes in to review the Personal statement of remaining application . If reasonable intelligence and the desire to practice medicine comes off in the PS then the application is put in a diffrent batch of application. If those 2 traits are not shown those application are tossed before secondaries even arrive. Once secondary arrive the good batch of applicant secondaries are reviewed. The reason I theorize some secondaries are not even reviewed is because of the large amount of secondaries and schools need a way to cut down, and the pre reading of PS's is a good way. If the secondary are of quility the application is passed on to the next round.
Round 3 - Schools at this point will toss out a few applications who's number are at the bottom end (unless the applicant is a URM) and a few students who numbers are to high ( high meaning way above the matriculate average of the last years class). Also students with a dramatic downward trend in GPA are also cut out. Then EC are reviewed. Students who are seriously lacking in this department, applications will be cut. School might organize cutting by using a point system. The more points the higher quality the EC's. All reamining students receive an interview.
Wild Card- I believe In round 1 there are a small number of screeners who read a small number application PS's with low GPAs and or MCAT( GPA and MCAT that fall under the 10th percentile) . Medical school is not a reward for students with the highest MCAT and GPA. If these application PS's have a unique or amazing story, I think they are immediately flagged for third round review or even an interview.
Don't forget about letter of recomindation these are more than likely reviewed in round 3 but you could make a good argument that they are reviewed in round 2.
Round One- Screeners look at all applications check to see if the GPA and MCAT fall within a certain minimum. The certain minimum depends on the other factors of the applicant, like whether the applicant is in-state or out of state, and the race of the applicant. I believe the minimum is set lower for instate applicants and applicants of certain minority group. For instance and instate applicant minimum for this one perticlular school could be a 3.3 and 28 while out of state would need 3.4 and 30. Both minimums ( instate and out of state) would decrease if the applicant was of a certain minority group that is deemed under represented in medicine. All application that do not reach the minimum are tossed ( rejected). This assumes that this school doesn't send auto secondary ( some schools do)
Round 2- Secondaries are sent out at this point. Also a second group of screeners comes in to review the Personal statement of remaining application . If reasonable intelligence and the desire to practice medicine comes off in the PS then the application is put in a diffrent batch of application. If those 2 traits are not shown those application are tossed before secondaries even arrive. Once secondary arrive the good batch of applicant secondaries are reviewed. The reason I theorize some secondaries are not even reviewed is because of the large amount of secondaries and schools need a way to cut down, and the pre reading of PS's is a good way. If the secondary are of quility the application is passed on to the next round.
Round 3 - Schools at this point will toss out a few applications who's number are at the bottom end (unless the applicant is a URM) and a few students who numbers are to high ( high meaning way above the matriculate average of the last years class). Also students with a dramatic downward trend in GPA are also cut out. Then EC are reviewed. Students who are seriously lacking in this department, applications will be cut. School might organize cutting by using a point system. The more points the higher quality the EC's. All reamining students receive an interview.
Wild Card- I believe In round 1 there are a small number of screeners who read a small number application PS's with low GPAs and or MCAT( GPA and MCAT that fall under the 10th percentile) . Medical school is not a reward for students with the highest MCAT and GPA. If these application PS's have a unique or amazing story, I think they are immediately flagged for third round review or even an interview.
Don't forget about letter of recomindation these are more than likely reviewed in round 3 but you could make a good argument that they are reviewed in round 2.
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