Interview days are more than just interviews. It’s usually a full day of stuff. (Like a facilities tour, a welcome speech from the Dean, a luncheon, presentations about financial aid, etc)
Most interview days last until 4 or 5 pm.
If she hasn’t already she should get an agenda for the day listing approximate times for the days events.
I have seen a schedule for all of D’s interviews in terms of what the general time commitment and schedule is during the day (start and end times). Only thing left out is the who…
I see it is a requirement since people who are making a trip from another town, flying in or driving long distances, need to plan their trips.
Son had interview yesterday. It was from 8 am to 4 pm. He was told ahead of time to schedule flight after 6 pm. Tomorrow his interview is from 10 am to 3 pm. And next week it’s from 11 to 2. So it’s all different. But they usually tell them in the email what to expect.
This process is so stressful and unpredictable. Son got 5 interviews within 2 weeks after completion. And then dead silence since then. All but 2 of his schools started offering interviews. He’s blissfully unaware of this since he doesn’t go on SDN. None of the NYC schools offered him interview. From the 5 he got it was one top 20, one state, and 3 low tier(according to SDN). I’m not complaining believe me. There are some that don’t have any. I have to stop checking SDN. Too stressful.
I think many colleges process based on when they received the app because they have to review each app and determine which pile (II, hold, future review, silent reject etc).
@momworried I have a D that doesn’t look at SDN either. Thank God for small blessings 
She has 2 IIs and 2 Rejects. Interestingly the two IIs are from schools that are higher rated (US News) than the two Rejects. There is pin drop silence from the rest. All the Secondaries were turned in within a week of getting them in early July. I am really not sure how this whole process works. There are about 6 schools that have not yet started their IIs. I keep looking at SDN to see when the first IIs come at these.
So just curious. How much weight can be given when the interviewer says that he absolutely loves the applicant and he belongs in their school and that he will give his highest recommendation to the committee? Do they all say that? Do they say that to everyone?
Zero weight. Interviewers are trained/instructed to be polite and encouraging no matter what. So the interviewer could have just been being nice, or the interviewer could have been sincere. No way to really know unless you’re sitting on the admissions committee and get to read the report the interviewer wrote.
Some interviewers are more effusive than others. Some will highly recommend nearly everyone they interview; others may recommend a candidate only rarely. You don’t know. But the members of the adcomm will and will act on the recommendation accordingly.
I would take the remark as an encouraging sign, but no more than that.
I agree with WOWM- zero weight. My S said he had a great interview at one school where the interviewer was praising him and they had a great conversation about many things. Everything clicked perfectly. He ended up on the waitlist. In the interview that my S said was his worst, the interviewer seemed disinterested, the conversations did not flow, and there was no chemistry. All the vibes were negative. But he ended up with an acceptance to this school. So you never know.
No Interviews, No rejections…just silence…this wait is killing me.
^^Adult beverages–PRN.
GCmom: I can feel your pain. As it’s only August, however, I agree with the recommendation of adult beverages as needed for time being. Nov/Dec is when the IVs come out. Good luck.
@Jugulator20 Wait, What? We have to wait until November to be hooked up? Geez.
As is it an inhumane process, I agree, no need to wait
same here @GCmom415 no II’s, 1 rejection… 19 silent secondaries.
I think we are fortunate to be in Texas where the process moves very rapidly. Except for one school outside of Texas which issued a II almost right away (ahead of Texas schools), it has been application completed status at most other schools and silence.
There are a couple of famous midwestern schools which are keeping the app at incomplete status.
@moonpie nice not to feel alone…son has 25 completed…waiting on 2 secondaries…no rejections…no II’s …Im a SDN addict…its not healthy…lol…he never even checks SDN…waiting for a second MCAT score…crazy crazy…good luck!!!
All 26 schools son applied to started sending IIs. He got a II from one of our state schools yesterday. Very happy about that. Don’t know if he will get any more. Not expecting any at this point. But I think 23% rate of IIs is not bad at all. 6 out of 26.
Question about interviewing during school. He will be missing some classes and particularly some labs. Since it’s an upper level chem lab there’s only one section a week so no chance to make it up at different time. What do the kids usually do in this case. Are the professors understanding?
It depends. He needs to ask the professor.
Many profs are pretty understanding and will allow him to make up the missed lab up at some future time.
OTOH, some profs are pretty unforgiving about missing a lab for any reason that doesn’t involve a documented illness. If that’s the case and it’s not possible to reschedule his med school interview, he takes the F on the lab assignment.