What type of feedback did you get from interviewers?

[EpidMPH]

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[Pacna]

People have stories going both ways. The interview is only a part of your application. There are people who do awfully in interviews and still get in because the rest of their application is fantastic. There are those who do fantastic in their interview and who do not get in because the rest of their application is awful.

That said, an interviewer saying that to you is encouraging!

 

[Catalystik]

One interviewer's positive comment does not constitute committee opinion. Your friend should feel good about what the interviewer said, but has no basis for deciding this school is "in the bag."

 

[EpidMPH]

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[Ace-Co-A]

In my experience, interviewers will often say something nice at the end of the session or they may even say something blunt to end it, but neither positive nor negative comments have been predictive of whether I am ultimately accepted. Small sample size, though...

 

[Goro]

I may say something like this, or commend my interview group for having great numbers, but other than that, we are officially discouraged from providing any sort of feedback to interviewees lest they get their hopes up prematurely. As my schools does group interviews, I don't always get my way on accepting or rejecting interviewees.

Even if the Adcom agrees with my decision, our Dean is the ultimate decider, as I'm sure is the case at other schools.

"Wow, definitely you've got a great application. I don't know why you haven't gotten other interviews."

 

[Catalystik]

we are officially discouraged from providing any sort of feedback to interviewees lest they get their hopes up prematurely.

Ditto.

 

[Elewynne]

Ironically, of all my interviews, the two interviewers who were most effusive with their praise (as in telling me how great my application, I really hope you come here, we'd be so lucky to have a student like you, etc.) were both waitlists. More normal interviews resulted in acceptances. Like mentioned earlier, the interviewer is just one piece of the puzzle, they can think you're the most awesome person ever but they're not the whole committee.

 

[SouthernSurgeon]

One interviewer's positive comment does not constitute committee opinion. Your friend should feel good about what the interviewer said, but has no basis for deciding this school is "in the bag."

Yup.

I still remember one interviewer not only giving me ridiculously positive feedback, but telling me about their generous full scholarships that I'd be competitive for.

Result: waitlist, never accepted.

 

[rfvbnmju]

The is completely YMMV type of deal.

I did get a really good very specific feedback at one of my schools and was ultimately accepted. (n=1) This has to do with the fact that the philosophy I was raised on meshes with their school really well. That and having #s that are above average helps also.

I think most interviewers are just being polite even when the interview didn't go as well. You can tell by their generic "good" feedback and body language..

 

[compstomper]

I share the experience of most candidates here in that you can't accurately gauge your chances based on your own (likely biased) judgement of how you did in the interview nor those of your interviewers. The interview is only one part of your overall applications. The two interviews where I though I'd bombed turned out to be acceptances. One of my best interviews turned out to be a wait list. You just never know.

 

[NuttyEngDude]

As a weak candidate and a pessimist, I was easily able to gauge my chances based on how bad my interviews were. I was mostly right 😉

 

[knv2u]

Yup.

I still remember one interviewer not only giving me ridiculously positive feedback, but telling me about their generous full scholarships that I'd be competitive for.

Result: waitlist, never accepted.

Wow! Was it a blind interview or did the interviewer have access to your entire file?

 

[SouthernSurgeon]

Wow! Was it a blind interview or did the interviewer have access to your entire file?

No idea. This was 9 years ago. I only remember it because it was so ridiculous.

 

[QuantumJ]

"Well you didn't say anything to hurt yourself" Result: Accepted
"I've got a good idea of who you are QuantumJ. It was great talking to you" Result: Still waiting
"Well I certainly think you'll be coming here and I hope you'll email me periodically and keep me updated on how you're doing. We have a research position open and I'd love for you to be here" Result: Still waiting
"Wow we went way over time. I'd love to spend more time and convince you to come here for your medical education." Result: Still waiting.

Point being that interviewers comments don't mean too much one way or the other. My worst interview I got accepted at and my best ones I haven't heard anything (Tx is different). It's still a #'s game and interviewers only carry so much weight. Now if you get an adcomm member as an interviewer their word might carry more weight.