To interview or not to interview

[kramberry]

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So here's the story. I applied to medical schools (8 total) very late in the application cycle (October) using AMCAS waiver, but for lack of faith in my resume, never followed through on the secondaries when they came in in November. I was planning on re-applying to medical schools in June of this year. However, a wrench was thrown into the mix when Indiana University e-mailed me asking to confirm an interview couple weeks from now. Now I am wondering if I should spend the money for air fair and hotel fees (>$500-600 total) and whether I'm going to have a realistic shot at getting in.

Here are my qualifications:

UC Berkeley graduate with Molecular & Cell Biology (GPA:3.7, Science: 3.4)
MCAT: 38 O
Volunteered at a hospital for over 300 hours
Interned for Infection Control Department of the same Hospital
Shadowed a Hepato-biliary/Vascular/General Surgeon for a year

I don't have any club activities to speak of. Long story short, if it were you, would you go for the interview? (IU is not one of my dream school BTW. Those would be in the state of California, where I reside).

 

[aSagacious]

I would definitely attend the interview.

 

[kpcrew]

I would attend the interview, otherwise you'll be throwing away the amcas fee and the application fee. Also, you'll receive nothing to recompense you for all the wasted time filling out the application and the stress of waiting. $500-600 is not that much, especially when you compare it to how much medical school will costs. From what I've seen, it seems that a 3.4 science gpa won't impress any California school but you never know. I wouldn't throw away a year of my life for a "dream school".

 

[kramberry]

I would attend the interview, otherwise you'll be throwing away the amcas fee and the application fee. Also, you'll receive nothing to recompense you for all the wasted time filling out the application...

Have you heard of cases where applicants are invited for interview even though he/she hadn't completed their supplementary materials? Because that's where I stand. I asked the e-mailer about this and she said my interview is still on.

 

[StoicJosher]

I would attend the interview, otherwise you'll be throwing away the amcas fee and the application fee. Also, you'll receive nothing to recompense you for all the wasted time filling out the application and the stress of waiting. $500-600 is not that much, especially when you compare it to how much medical school will costs. From what I've seen, it seems that a 3.4 science gpa won't impress any California school but you never know. I wouldn't throw away a year of my life for a "dream school".

Doesn't the waiver mean OP didnt pay for anything?

OP,

Definitely attend the interview. I don't know what gave you the idea that you are not competitive enough - many people would kill for your stats.

 

[tantacles]

Have you heard of cases where applicants are invited for interview even though he/she hadn't completed their supplementary materials? Because that's where I stand. I asked the e-mailer about this and she said my interview is still on.

Dude, go. GO TO THE INTERVIEW. If you get in, you don't have to bother applying next year and you can start being a physician a year earlier. Go! GO TO THE INTERVIEW! And then write them a million letters about how much you want to go to the school!

They must want you really badly if they didn't even need a secondary, so you should definitely take advantage of the opportunity.

 

[LondonBridge]

Dude, go. GO TO THE INTERVIEW. If you get in, you don't have to bother applying next year and you can start being a physician a year earlier. Go! GO TO THE INTERVIEW! And then write them a million letters about how much you want to go to the school!

They must want you really badly if they didn't even need a secondary, so you should definitely take advantage of the opportunity.

I don't know why I found this post hilarious, but I agree with Jake.

"Go. GO TO THE INTERVIEW!!"

 

[octupus]

even if you must collect soda cans for the next 6 months, get the money and attend that interview!

 

[tantacles]

I don't know why I found this post hilarious, but I agree with Jake.

"Go. GO TO THE INTERVIEW!!"

I majored in yelling loudly. Glad I can help out.

 

[kramberry]

Thanks a lot, guys! I'll book the flight and attend the interview. Wish me luck!

 

[tantacles]

thanks a lot, guys! I'll book the flight and attend the interview. Wish me luck!

OMG GUYS WE HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT!!!!!!11

Yay.

 

[kpcrew]

Doesn't the waiver mean OP didnt pay for anything?

OP,

Definitely attend the interview. I don't know what gave you the idea that you are not competitive enough - many people would kill for your stats.

I forgot about that by the time I finished reading his post, but you're right.

 

[blizzah]

You have a 38 mcat and you aren't confident?

You have a strong shot. Good luck!

 

[LizzyM]

One out of 7 OOS applicants who interview at that school end up matriculating there. I'd take a guess that between 2 and 3 of every 7 who interview get an offer. Good odds? Better than a sharp stick in the eye. Also, if you can get in this year, you will avoid the taint that goes with being a reapplicant (all that schools will see the second time around is your mcat and gpa (not how many applications or how late) and that will make them wonder why you are a reapplicant)

 

[ManlyMan246]

Go!

 

[soundnin]

They must want you really badly if they didn't even need a secondary, so you should definitely take advantage of the opportunity.

IU has applicants fill out the secondary after they receive an interview invite.

 

[nuance]

So here's the story. I applied to medical schools (8 total) very late in the application cycle (October) using AMCAS waiver, but for lack of faith in my resume, never followed through on the secondaries when they came in in November. I was planning on re-applying to medical schools in June of this year. However, a wrench was thrown into the mix when Indiana University e-mailed me asking to confirm an interview couple weeks from now. Now I am wondering if I should spend the money for air fair and hotel fees (>$500-600 total) and whether I'm going to have a realistic shot at getting in.

Here are my qualifications:

UC Berkeley graduate with Molecular & Cell Biology (GPA:3.7, Science: 3.4)
MCAT: 38 O
Volunteered at a hospital for over 300 hours
Interned for Infection Control Department of the same Hospital
Shadowed a Hepato-biliary/Vascular/General Surgeon for a year

I don't have any club activities to speak of. Long story short, if it were you, would you go for the interview? (IU is not one of my dream school BTW. Those would be in the state of California, where I reside).

This is a little off topic, but you and I have almost the exact same stats (I graduated from Berkeley too... same major.. same mcat.. almost same gpa... Are you me? 😛).

I think you should attend the interview, but I know that you can probably get into USC (and some UCs) with your stats (because mine are the same and I got into usc & was offered an interview at davis).

See how you feel about IU after the interview. Taking a year off is pretty annoying, but it would be more annoying to be stuck at IU for 4 years when you don't want to be there.