What are the odds of getting interviews and acceptances after December?

[deleted413795]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I have already been accepted to a few schools, but have a friend that is still very optimistic about getting it, but has not even gotten any interviews yet. He has a very average MCAT (30ish) and GPA (~3.75), and I keep trying to gently try to talk to him about things to do to get ready for next cycle. However, he thinks that he will for sure get in and is not at all worried about it.

Anyway, I was just wondering what the general likelihood is of getting an interview at this point, and ultimately accepted? I seem to remember threads like this in the past, but I cannot find them. I do know the numbers are not very reassuring. I am not sure if this belongs here or in the "What are my chances?" area.

Thank you for the help!

 

[gmcguitar4]

From what I have heard, if you have not received an interview by February THEN you should start to worry. No interview by now is not abnormal. But he should definitely start preparing for next application cycle because I have heard of people with better stats that got 4-5 interviews and no acceptances. The only thing you can do is ensure that your application is better for the next time around. This process is full of surprises and shortfalls.

 

[deleted413795]

Definitely, and he has a very average app. He was complete in early Spetember. So, not super early, but not really late. He could have been complete earlier, but wanted to wait for his MCAT retake, for better or for worse.

 

[deleted413795]

Just curious - what do you consider an average app to be? Stats and EC-wise?

As I said the app in question, 30 MCAT, roughly 3.7-3.8 GPA. Bio major. A small amount of research experience. Some volunteering in the hospital. No significant patient contact experience though. ECs in the arts (mainly music), and summer work. So, I would say this is a decent app, but not a particularly competitive one; nor is it a poor one. There is nothing particularly interesting about it though, in my opinion.

 

[DrOhan]

are you trying to put your friend down or something?

 

[Stumpyman]

As I said the app in question, 30 MCAT, roughly 3.7-3.8 GPA. Bio major. A small amount of research experience. Some volunteering in the hospital. No significant patient contact experience though. ECs in the arts (mainly music), and summer work. So, I would say this is a decent app, but not a particularly competitive one; nor is it a poor one. There is nothing particularly interesting about it though, in my opinion.

If his school list was out of reach, then he should probably start prepping for the next cycle. You never know though...

 

[deleted413795]

are you trying to put your friend down or something?

Not at all, I actually care about him and want to help him. Might he still get interviews and acceptances? Certainly. Do I want him to? Yes. However, it is somewhate late in the season, and it is worth lining up a masters program, a CNA certification, MCAT retake, etc. to buff up your app for the next cycle. My friend tends to be overconfident, and does not think he needs to worry about this. For this same reason he did not apply DO, which to me seemed rather shortsighted. (I will send you a PM DrOhan.)

My reasons for this thread were twofold. First was out of my own interest. Second was to maybe find some information to motivate my friend to start looking at things to do if he does not get in that will help him as a reapplicant. While it is not certain, it seems to me that at this point it does need to be realistically considered as a possibility. 🙁

 

[chiapet874]

Did he apply to his state school?

 

[deleted413795]

Did he apply to his state school?

Yes, rejected from one, and nothing post-secondary from the other so far.

 

[chiapet874]

Yes, rejected from one, and nothing post-secondary from the other so far.

It's not looking too good for him than. One has the highest chance of entering an in-state public school, and if your friend is unsuccessful thus far, the chances are slimming down drastically. I would highly recommend planning for the next cycle.

 

[Cambino]

As I said the app in question, 30 MCAT, roughly 3.7-3.8 GPA. Bio major. A small amount of research experience. Some volunteering in the hospital. No significant patient contact experience though. ECs in the arts (mainly music), and summer work. So, I would say this is a decent app, but not a particularly competitive one; nor is it a poor one. There is nothing particularly interesting about it though, in my opinion.

Average app is not 3.75/30, it's ~3.5/28.
Average matriculant is ~3.65/31.

His biggest detriment is the bold section.

 

[deleted413795]

I appreciate the input. I was intending average to mean more of that there is nothing about the application that truly stands out. I could see it being very easy to pass over this app unless the essay and/or letters are remarkable. I would guess that is not the case since there have been no IIs yet.

I would actually like input regarding the likelihood of acceptance after December overall and with this type of application. I definitely know what areas are lacking. My main goal is to get some good info to make him realize that it would behoove him to have a solid plan for the worst case scenario and start working on it, because it is much later in the game than he wants to admit. Or at least I think so. A lot of folks are saying February, and I am sure there is merit there as well.

Regardless I would think any school that was really interested in an applicant would have interviewed them by now.

 

[Cambino]

I appreciate the input. I was intending average to mean more of that there is nothing about the application that truly stands out. I could see it being very easy to pass over this app unless the essay and/or letters are remarkable. I would guess that is not the case since there have been no IIs yet.

I would actually like input regarding the likelihood of acceptance after December overall and with this type of application. I definitely know what areas are lacking. My main goal is to get some good info to make him realize that it would behoove him to have a solid plan for the worst case scenario and start working on it, because it is much later in the game than he wants to admit. Or at least I think so. A lot of folks are saying February, and I am sure there is merit there as well.

Regardless I would think any school that was really interested in an applicant would have interviewed them by now.

Probably.
Hopefully is naïveté serves him a lesson.

 

[alerk323]

I'm in a similar boat. A little better stats (33 mcat, 3.75 gpa), and I did already have two interviews (state and tufts). Regardless, more interviews would be nice, although I have a couple plans for next year. I'm also not really sure how to buff up my application next time around other than applying in June and adding some less competitive schools (although my list wasn't ridiculous I think). I work full time now and it wouldn't make sense to retake the mcat or take extra classes.

Anyway, I'm curious about general input about this as well.

 

[deleted413795]

Probably.
Hopefully is naïveté serves him a lesson.

Yeah, unfortunately this same quality has hurt him in the past. Perhaps this time around he will learn. It is just tough to see someone making the same mistake over and over again. Although I suppose we all go through denial about something in our lives at some point or another.

 

[NickNaylor]

If he was complete early on in the cycle and applies to predominantly rolling admissions schools, I'd say his chances are pretty poor. But you never know.

 

[NYCMS2]

What is state of residence? This is the key.

September is pretty damn late, especially for a so-called average applicant.

At this date, superstar applicants who are still in the app queue at the non-rolling schools still have fair chances. Not so OK for more average applicants.

Finally, limited patient exposure is a huge red flag. Your friend should be getting that kind of experience right now, in anticipation of applying next cycle.

Oh, and your friend should apply earlier next cycle, and be complete at schools ASAP - it makes a huge difference at rolling schools.

 

[deleted413795]

Illinois for residence. I definitely agree with both Nick and NYMS2 whole heartedly.