When interviewed you aren't competing for a spot?

[On_The_Way_Up]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I've seen people here say when you go to interview you aren't competing with the other applicants being interviewed. If they like both of you then they will accept you both. Then why is it that only 25-33% of those interviewed at each school get accepted? I saw this in the MSAR. Sometimes it was lower than that.

 

[WedgeDawg]

You are competing in the sense that obviously not everyone interviewed can be accepted. Because the number of interviewees is necessarily larger than the number of acceptance spots, competition exists by default. What that phrase is intended to mean can be 1) you are not necessarily competing directly against students on your interview day; there's not a quote for a single interview day so if all 8 people that day have great interviews, all 8 can be accepted 2) applicants aren't compared head to head; they're not like okay here's Applicant Bob and Applicant Sally, we like Sally better let's take her and not Bob - that's just not how it works and 3) if you're a good fit for the school, you'll probably be accepted; if not, you won't - it has nothing to do with the other applicants in that sense

 

[Goro]

The only person you're competing with is yourself

 

[libertyyne]

I've seen people here say when you go to interview you aren't competing with the other applicants being interviewed. If they like both of you then they will accept you both. Then why is it that only 25-33% of those interviewed at each school get accepted? I saw this in the MSAR. Sometimes it was lower than that.

Your numbers are school dependant. A good number of schools run in the 50%+ acceptance rate post interview range. The number of acceptances sent out are not displayed in MSAR. so lets say school A has 100 seats and interviews 250 people. School A may be sending out 200 acceptances to fill that class considering they know that 100 people will go elsewhere.

 

[meddesire]

I guess as late as Feb or March in the app cycle, you're really competing for a spot because schools become more picky at this time.

 

[LizzyM]

No more than you are competing with the guy sitting next to you when you are taking the MCAT. Not everyone is going to have a stellar score but both you and the person sitting next to you can score well. Likewise, you and the other people in your interview group can be selected for admission.

Being cut throat in the interview is considered very unseemly and is a huge turn-off for interviewers and adcoms.

 

[aldol16]

Your numbers are school dependant. A good number of schools run in the 50%+ acceptance rate post interview range. The number of acceptances sent out are not displayed in MSAR. so lets say school A has 100 seats and interviews 250 people. School A may be sending out 200 acceptances to fill that class considering they know that 100 people will go elsewhere.

What do you mean by "a good number"? I can only think of a couple schools off the top of my head who accept anywhere close to 50% of interviewees. Most run in the 30% or lower range. The tippity-top schools also only over-accept two-fold. Lower-ranked schools accept more than that.

 

[efle]

You are competing

Med school admissions in theory is a zero sum game, both for the spot at that school (they'll stop pulling from waitlist after a certain number is reached) and for a spot anywhere (getting off a waitlist and switching where you attend will trickle down to someone getting off your original destination's waitlist, etc).

It's weird to think about but yeah, in a sense, you're competing to write the best essays, interview the best, and so on. It doesn't stop at the more tangible competition for grades/scores

 

[cloudstrife2054]

When you're applying, you're competing, not with yourself, with others. You get interviews because you're competitive and show promise based on your scores, activities, personal statement, and letters.

You also need to realize something, not everyone who gets an acceptances attends that school. For the admissions committee, sending out an acceptance is a gamble because there is no guarantee the student will even attend their school. Plus, prospective applicants that were interviewed are often interviewed at other schools as well. This means many schools will often overlap on the students they interview. They often interview 5 times the number of slots they have because there is a good chance many of the applicants they accept will choose another school. The average matriculation rate for MD is about 40%. I say maybe the top 50-60% get interviewed, so your odds are 2/3 just don't blow it. Also, if you can get interviewed with at least 3 schools, you're probably in. Plus, in rare cases, some defer admissions as well.

Keep in mind they would not interview you if they did not see potential in you. Just be yourself and assuming you are not lying on any of your application material, you're probably in.

 

[Shreman]

What do you mean by "a good number"? I can only think of a couple schools off the top of my head who accept anywhere close to 50% of interviewees. Most run in the 30% or lower range. The tippity-top schools also only over-accept two-fold. Lower-ranked schools accept more than that.

Check the US News Compass (behind the paywall) for that info. 45% is about the average of the schools listed.

The heavy hitters are U Illinois, Northwestern, U Michigan, and UVA, which all have a >70% post-interview acceptance rate

 

[aldol16]

Check the US News Compass (behind the paywall) for that info. 45% is about the average of the schools listed.

Ah, I never saw the point behind paying for anything like that. But since the overall accepted/applied rate for med school applicants as a whole is around that number, I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

 

[caffeinemia]

I was in a group interview with 3 other people at the school where I ultimately matriculated. 3/4 got in and we all became classmates. We were all pleasant to one another and shared questions/group tasks equally and it turned out just fine. Keep in mind that in these interviews, people are watching how you behave towards other applicants -- they are going to be your classmates and colleagues someday...