Why was I given an Interview..?

[med2345]

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[Goro]

URM?
Veteran?
Compelling life story?
Killer ECs?

 

[medic86]

If you yourself thought your app wasn't worthy of an interview, why did you bother applying this cycle?

Take your blessings and kill the interview - that way, you won't have to reapply.

Good luck!

 

[steelersfan1243]

URM?
Veteran?
Compelling life story?
Killer ECs?

75 seats? Sounds like its none of the above Goro, most likely California Northstate...

 

[med2345]

URM?
Veteran?
Compelling life story?
Killer ECs?

I am a URM… Not black but "African". I did have a life story rooting from sports and that's my reason for entering medicine. Im young (21). Id say my best EC is personal training for many hours which ties into my life story I think they may have really liked that. I really don't know.

 

[med2345]

If you yourself thought your app wasn't worthy of an interview, why did you bother applying this cycle?

Take your blessings and kill the interview - that way, you won't have to reapply.

Good luck!

I definitely do believe I can be a great physician. Things just haven't exactly added up the way I thought they would is all. And trust me I won't screw it up for sure!

 

[BluMist]

1. As far as I know, white "African" is not URM
2. Without more details, we can only guess why you received the interview. Possibly due to legacy (your brother)? your own school (undergrad)? Maybe it is just a courtesy interview.

I am a URM… Not black but "African". I did have a life story rooting from sports and that's my reason for entering medicine. Im young (21). Id say my best EC is personal training for many hours which ties into my life story I think they may have really liked that. I really don't know.

 

[med2345]

1. As far as I know, white "African" is not URM
2. Without more details, we can only guess why you received the interview. Possibly due to legacy (your brother)? your own school (undergrad)? Maybe it is just a courtesy interview.

My parents were both born in Africa. I was born in America. As far as I know it makes me african american and under "other" on my amcas.

I know other people who have applied and haven't gotten interviews and with 175 I don't think there is time or space for a "courtesy" interview.

 

[Dral]

My parents were both born in Africa. I was born in America. As far as I know it makes me african american and under "other" on my amcas.

I know other people who have applied and haven't gotten interviews and with 175 I don't think there is time or space for a "courtesy" interview.

If you are Caucasian? Hmm, that's such a technicality.

For example, if two white parents were born in South Africa and moved here and had a child, I wouldn't tend to classify that child as any more of a URM than if two white people born in Australia moved here and had a child (not really URM at all)

But that's just an example. Maybe you are not white at all.

Regardless, GL on the interview!

 

[med2345]

If you are Caucasian? Hmm, that's such a technicality.

For example, if two white parents were born in South Africa and moved here and had a child, I wouldn't tend to classify that child as any more of a URM than if two white people born in Australia moved here and had a child (not really URM at all)

But that's just an example. Maybe you are not white at all.

Regardless, GL on the interview!

I'm not South American... I am darker complected but regardless it's the only way I can accurately describe myself on my amcas. Most people assume I'm mixed. And thank you I'll need it.

 

[samac]

May I ask what state you're in?
I wish you luck and hope you get in. You shined somewhere on your app.

 

[Spinach Dip]

IDGI

 

[whatever5]

I mean, you could just be making stuff up.

 

[Lawpy]

75 seats? Sounds like its none of the above Goro, most likely California Northstate...

I would not be surprised given the info presented

 

[LizzyM]

There is a large population of immigrants from the Indian subcontinent in Africa, are they racially "Africans"?

I could trot out the US Census definition but suffice to say it is having one's heritage in the people of sub-Sahara Africa (those from the northern part of the continent of Africa are classified as White for the purposes of the US Census where "White" is a classification, not a color).

Now that we have that out of the way, I do suspect that there are three reasons to grant you an interview:
Your father is a surgeon in the area
Your brother is an alumnus of the medical school
You are an alumnus of the undergraduate institution

You are a high risk applicant given your undergraduate academic performance and your MCAT. You may be getting a courtesy interview which sometimes result in an offer of admission but will more often result in a "waitlist" that will leave you waiting until the clock runs out. The school might then counsel you to take some additional coursework (SMP or to repeat undergrad courses) and retake the MCAT. If you can show that you have the right stuff on a do-over, you might get in on a second cycle. I wouldn't see any likelihood that the first interview cycle would be a detriment given that no one would ask, "why didn't this applicant get in the first time" as it is clearly obvious why and if those reasons have been remediated you might be an attractive applicant the second time around.

 

[Catalystik]

I don't mean to make the title sound bad, Im absolutely ecstatic about my interview opportunity… I applied to medical school this year out of whim really. I applied to my University I went to for undergrad and one other state school. Non out of state because of my chances. Got an interview here but rejected from the other. My school interviews about 175 and accepts for 75 seats… So chances are good if you do get an interview… relatively speaking.

My stats are not good. I have a 3.0 sgp and 3.6 nsgpa. I have some D's and some C's. I only have a 492 on my MCAT (121 on the last section due to a major migraine I got by the end of the test). I have decent shadowing and worked as a personal trainer among other things so my people skills are very good and Im very sociable. I know I can do very well at an interview. I wrote a good secondary I'd say and personal statement. I know there are many more students out there that are more deserving of an interview. I had a brother that went to this medical school and did well and my dad is somewhat known around the area as a surgeon but nothing major.

Am i missing something? I know i can do well if Im not working 50 hours a week Im just a little humbled because I knew I screwed my MCAT up and was reluctant not to void it completely. Thoughts?

Some med schools are mission-oriented rather than stats-driven, so don't feel that your stats give you no possible chance.

But strategically speaking, with the thought in mind that you may need to reapply, I strongly suggest that you continue to improve your application now. Additional pertinent ECs and stats improvement may also be useful during this cycle if this institution accepts update letters. You didn't mention active clinical experience where you directly interact with current patients in a helpful way. Leadership and Nonmedical Community Service are also well regarded.

Do you have a plan to retake the MCAT within a certain timeframe if you haven't gotten an acceptance during this cycle? Are your low grades already redeemed by retakes or upper-level coursework? Do you have an upward grade trend over the last two school terms? Can you be ready to reapply with an improved application by next June if necessary (rather than later in the cycle)?

 

[Law2Doc]

Treat the interview as real and do your best. Don't worry how you got there. Worst case scenario is you get some good practice interviewing. Best case scenario is there's something they liked about your app other than the numbers.

 

[Psai]

Don't question yourself. Why did you apply if you weren't expecting any interviews? Go in there and crush it

 

[tenblackalps]

URM?
Veteran?
Compelling life story?
Killer ECs?

Seven figure donation check?

 

[Goro]

Forgot about that one!!

Seven figure donation check?

 

[med2345]

Seven figure donation check?

not that Im aware of lol

 

[Dohnut]

Don't question yourself. Why did you apply if you weren't expecting any interviews? Go in there and crush it

He says he's doing it on a whim so with some probing at the interview.... Just make sure the stories are consistent and know them cold under any circumstances

 

[mrspecialist]

Don't get too excited though, an interview is not an acceptance so make sure you do your best interview day 🙂

 

[Mad Jack]

My parents were both born in Africa. I was born in America. As far as I know it makes me african american and under "other" on my amcas.

I know other people who have applied and haven't gotten interviews and with 175 I don't think there is time or space for a "courtesy" interview.

If your parents are North African or white South African, you are not considered a URM, you're considered Caucasian/white. And North Africans are actually ORM. This could be why you got interviews but ended up with that rejection- they were expecting a black/AA candidate, and realized they'd gotten someone that checked the URM box that was not, in fact, a URM.

 

[med2345]

If your parents are North African or white South African, you are not considered a URM, you're considered Caucasian/white. And North Africans are actually ORM. This could be why you got interviews but ended up with that rejection- they were expecting a black/AA candidate, and realized they'd gotten someone that checked the URM box that was not, in fact, a URM.

You did not read what I wrote clearly. This is my first interview.

My brother registered as the same. And under African American you can select other and type what you actually are. So they are aware. There is no "URM" box. What application have you been filling out?

 

[learner01]

I don't mean to make the title sound bad, Im absolutely ecstatic about my interview opportunity… I applied to medical school this year out of whim really. I applied to my University I went to for undergrad and one other state school. Non out of state because of my chances. Got an interview here but rejected from the other. My school interviews about 175 and accepts for 75 seats… So chances are good if you do get an interview… relatively speaking.

My stats are not good. I have a 3.0 sgp and 3.6 nsgpa. I have some D's and some C's. I only have a 492 on my MCAT (121 on the last section due to a major migraine I got by the end of the test). I have decent shadowing and worked as a personal trainer among other things so my people skills are very good and Im very sociable. I know I can do very well at an interview. I wrote a good secondary I'd say and personal statement. I know there are many more students out there that are more deserving of an interview. I had a brother that went to this medical school and did well and my dad is somewhat known around the area as a surgeon but nothing major.

Am i missing something? I know i can do well if Im not working 50 hours a week Im just a little humbled because I knew I screwed my MCAT up and was reluctant not to void it completely. Thoughts?

what state if you dont mind?