What exactly is closed file?

[angel5]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Does it mean the interviewer doesn't look at your file until you meet with them, or they will not look at it at all while interviewing you?

Thanks!

Angel

 

[jebus]

Option number A. And even then they don't look.

 

[Em1]

It varies. Some interviewers never see your file. Others only ever see your personal statement. The interview feedback section is pretty good about letting you know what it will be for specific schools.

 

[risnwb]

i think that for some closed file interviews the interviewer neve sees any of your file, and for others they might just not see your numbers (mcat/gpa) but they will have everything else.... although i'm not sure if i'd consider that closed anymore

 

[LizzyM]

Ask what it means at any given school. At one school it means that the interviewer sees only your name, age, undergrad institution and your major (plus any post-bach or graduate program).

 

[thinknofu3]

My experience is it can mean different things at different schools. Usually it means they don't have your "vitals" - namely GPA and MCAT score, since those are the most likely to pre-bias an interviewer's opinion. At UIC closed-file meant that the interviewers had only my essays, but didn't know where I went to school, my major, MCAT score or GPA. But a lot of them asked me anyway, and I was happy to tell them (where I went to school and major that is, nobody asked me my MCAT score). Usually though, closed file doesn't know anything about your activities or accomplishments, and so it's more conversational - they want to see how you come across and how you communicate on the spot rather than what you've put down on an application. It's challening, but more interesting in my opinion - it seems more like a "getting to know you" session than a rundown of your college career.