What's the deal for those of us with few or no interview invites at this point?

[kidthor]

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So, for those of us who’ve been sitting on a bunch of schools with not much tangible response, what is our likely fate? Do non-August MCAT folks commonly get some interview invites in Nov/Oct (and so on), or are we way more likely to have already received them by now? I realize this topic has been hashed and rehashed already, but new thoughts are always great!

 

[bubabugster]

You'll be fine. I have 5 interviews so far, but all of my secondaries were done by July. Since most of your secondaries were submitted in September you will probably hear something in November. You have a strong application and should not have any problems. 😉 Also, I still have not heard from over half of the schools even though I submitted early.

 

[Schaden Freud]

My worries exactly! I'm thinking that the schools who have reviewed my file have either decided to reject me but haven't told me yet or put me off for review later in the season. Either way, not too hot.

So, for those of us who’ve been sitting on a bunch of schools with not much tangible response, what is our likely fate? Do non-August MCAT folks commonly get some interview invites in Nov/Oct (and so on), or are we way more likely to have already received them by now? I realize this topic has been hashed and rehashed already, but new thoughts are always great!

 

[LizzyM]

Typically, a school will manage to review about 1,000-2,000 applications per month. (in 6 weeks I've cleared about 25% of the files that I'll read this season) Consider, too, that about 25% of all the AMCAS applications arrive at the med school in the first batch that AMCAS sends out (they are sent electronically). Look at the MSAR and figure out that most schools are going to take weeks, if not months, to get through the backlog. Many schools are still interviewing in January & February and those invitations are not going out until December at the earliest so don't give up hope yet.

 

[swim2md]

I've been complete at all of my schools since July, except one the first week of August. I know I've already been reviewed at least once because people who were complete after me have gotten interviews at all of the schools I applied to.

So how often do people get overlooked the first few times around and then actually get interviewed? People keep trying to encourage me and say they didn't get interviews until December or January or March, but those are generally people who didn't submit or weren't complete until September or October. Do any people who are complete in July ever get the late interview spots?

 

[cubbbie]

I've been complete at all of my schools since July, except one the first week of August. I know I've already been reviewed at least once because people who were complete after me have gotten interviews at all of the schools I applied to.

So how often do people get overlooked the first few times around and then actually get interviewed? People keep trying to encourage me and say they didn't get interviews until December or January or March, but those are generally people who didn't submit or weren't complete until September or October. Do any people who are complete in July ever get the late interview spots?

I think the way it goes is they'll rank the candidates, and then start inviting for interviews from the top and work their way down. I think the fact that you haven't gotten any interviews probably is an indication that you're not quite as desirable, but that doesn't mean you won't get any. As long as you're not rejected, you're still in the game. Plus, I think a lot of schools have yet to send out any real interview invites.

 

[MiesVanDerMom]

I've been complete at all of my schools since July, except one the first week of August. I know I've already been reviewed at least once because people who were complete after me have gotten interviews at all of the schools I applied to.

So how often do people get overlooked the first few times around and then actually get interviewed? People keep trying to encourage me and say they didn't get interviews until December or January or March, but those are generally people who didn't submit or weren't complete until September or October. Do any people who are complete in July ever get the late interview spots?

i'm in the same situation. i'm a borderline candidate though, so I guess it's to be expected. it's up to luck at this point. hopefully it blows my way...

 

[Stolenspatulas]

if you are applying to a lot of competitive schools, especially those that are non-rolling, it may take forever to get an interview invite (indepedent of their desire to really want to interview you)... many are backed up and cannot trudge through the piles of applications fast enough.... ive recieved three invites so far, all about a month ago within a 3 day period

 

[swim2md]

i'm in the same situation. i'm a borderline candidate though, so I guess it's to be expected. it's up to luck at this point. hopefully it blows my way...

MVDM- I don't think you're a borderline candidate at all!!! I think you are a stellar applicant and many schools will think so too. After all, if you're borderline, then I'm definitely at the way bottom of the pile.

Good luck to us both, though!

 

[monwilli]

So, I was complete at all of my schools around Sept 11. I keep checking my status everyday. How long does it take for adcoms to review Sept applicants? Do I have to wait until Nov to hear anything? I sure hope not. I think waiting to here from adcoms is worse than waiting for your MCAT score.

 

[ahhh123]

So, I was complete at all of my schools around Sept 11. I keep checking my status everyday. How long does it take for adcoms to review Sept applicants? Do I have to wait until Nov to hear anything? I sure hope not. I think waiting to here from adcoms is worse than waiting for your MCAT score.

i 2nd that!!!!!!!!!! ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh

 

[TPROrgoTutor]

Ive been fortunate so far, but I understand the complete hell that is waiting to hear from adcoms. Dont worry guys, whenever I speak with a friend who is not directly in the process but does have friends who have gone through it, they always ask why it is so early that everything is happening this year because of the times that Im hearing back. So dont worry, its not late, its early.

 

[Analyzethis]

I did not get my first interview invites until december when I went through this-and ended up interviewiewing until march-and still got 2 acceptances from both invites-you dont need a lot of them-you just need to do well at the ones you get-dont worry!

 

[riceman04]

So, for those of us who’ve been sitting on a bunch of schools with not much tangible response, what is our likely fate? Do non-August MCAT folks commonly get some interview invites in Nov/Oct (and so on), or are we way more likely to have already received them by now? I realize this topic has been hashed and rehashed already, but new thoughts are always great!

Hey is that redondo beach marina in some of those pictures?

 

[kidthor]

Hey is that redondo beach marina in some of those pictures?

It sure is!

 

[trying]

at least air fare will be a little cheaper in january, feb and march.\

 

[LizzyM]

So, I was complete at all of my schools around Sept 11. I keep checking my status everyday. How long does it take for adcoms to review Sept applicants? Do I have to wait until Nov to hear anything? I sure hope not. I think waiting to here from adcoms is worse than waiting for your MCAT score.

Right now I'm reading applications that were complete in early August through mid Sept and I'm expected to finish those mid-September submissions within the next two weeks. Then there is another layer of review before the interview invitation goes out. I'm reading 50/wk (and so are several other people-- all volunteers) and the admissions office is getting several hundreds of these reviewed files funnelled to them each week with the need to select about 35-40 applicants who will be invited to interview each week. The quality is usually exceedingly high in the early weeks and one expects a drop off in quality as time goes on. Last year I didn't see that drop off in quality which makes it very hard to select the 10-20% of applicants who can be scheduled for an interivew.

 

[runindownadream]

Is it rare for someone to be accepted if they only recieve one interview in the entire process, or in the process thus far?

 

[MonkeyNuts!]

Is it rare for someone to be accepted if they only recieve one interview in the entire process, or in the process thus far?

Whether a school accepts you has nothing to do with how many other interviews you have had. You can have 100% interviews and 0% acceptances, or 1 interview and be accepted.

 

[morriske]

The majority of my applications were complete between 8/25 and 9/11. I have one interview at AECOM and a hold at Pritzker. Is it weird that I haven't heard from other schools yet?

 

[MonkeyNuts!]

Most of mine were complete around that time, I have 4, but 3 are Texas, so I'm in the same boat, and FOR GOD SAKES PEOPLE ITS NOT WEIRD...

If you are all having the same problems in April, by all means repost/bump.

 

[morriske]

Most of mine were complete around that time, I have 4, but 3 are Texas, so I'm in the same boat, and FOR GOD SAKES PEOPLE ITS NOT WEIRD...

If you are all having the same problems in April, by all means repost/bump.

What's the deal with TX schools? I'm just worried because a few schools have been giving out invites to people that were complete around the same time as me (namely, RFU).

I'm not expecting invites at my reach schools but its somewhat alarming when you don't get interviews at schools where you are well qualified. It makes me wonder if there is something very wrong with my application.

And yes, I am a

 

[MonkeyNuts!]

Texas primaries get released in May and secondaries can be submitted anytime online. So we get ours earlier. Just calm yourself, waiting sucks, just be patient, they're swamped right now (its the busy season)

 

[stoppushingit]

Right now I'm reading applications that were complete in early August through mid Sept and I'm expected to finish those mid-September submissions within the next two weeks. Then there is another layer of review before the interview invitation goes out. I'm reading 50/wk (and so are several other people-- all volunteers) and the admissions office is getting several hundreds of these reviewed files funnelled to them each week with the need to select about 35-40 applicants who will be invited to interview each week. The quality is usually exceedingly high in the early weeks and one expects a drop off in quality as time goes on. Last year I didn't see that drop off in quality which makes it very hard to select the 10-20% of applicants who can be scheduled for an interivew.

thank you for sharing such valuable info w/ us LizzyM!
and thanks for reading our apps, whichever school you're at!

 

[runindownadream]

thank you for sharing such valuable info w/ us LizzyM!
and thanks for reading our apps, whichever school you're at!

Yes, thank you for your advice and info. It's worrisome when you're complete at places early on and you know you've been reviewed, but you get put in the "no action" or "hold" pile. It seems that those are piles that are hard to climb out of once you are placed there. Does it make any sense to send letters of interest? Or is that just an added headache at this point, since adcomms are already being flooded with everyone else's applications?

 

[Robizzle]

Yes, thank you for your advice and info. It's worrisome when you're complete at places early on and you know you've been reviewed, but you get put in the "no action" or "hold" pile. It seems that those are piles that are hard to climb out of once you are placed there. Does it make any sense to send letters of interest? Or is that just an added headache at this point, since adcomms are already being flooded with everyone else's applications?

i think the general consesus is that LOI's should go post interview, and if you're on a waitlist but u may want a second opinion

 

[alwaysaangel]

Yes, thank you for your advice and info. It's worrisome when you're complete at places early on and you know you've been reviewed, but you get put in the "no action" or "hold" pile. It seems that those are piles that are hard to climb out of once you are placed there. Does it make any sense to send letters of interest? Or is that just an added headache at this point, since adcomms are already being flooded with everyone else's applications?

I wrote my premed advisor about this. She said a single well-written letter is ok, especially if you have anything to add to your application. But the rumors that go around about sending monthly updates is just a REALLY bad idea because it will annoy adcomms.

 

[runindownadream]

I wrote my premed advisor about this. She said a single well-written letter is ok, especially if you have anything to add to your application. But the rumors that go around about sending monthly updates is just a REALLY bad idea because it will annoy adcomms.

That definitely makes sense. Has there been any word in the past of students sending general short letters or emails of interest after interviews in addition to the thank you note? If yes, does that tend to reflect well or poorly on the applicant? Also what if the letter doesn't really say anything new, but is more of quick note to remind the school that s/he is still really interested in the school. I'm such a worrier today! I think I need a break from sdn for about a week.