@aynrandfan in case you couldn’t tell from my screen name we are in western PA as well. Maybe there is a problem with lack of interviewers out here. At least we can hope lol
I am from central PA (Hershey area) and was interviewed
@hooverhoo I hope you’re right! & @bruno14, the full story: they sent DD an email with a link to sign up for an interview slot. But when she went to the link to sign up, the slots were all full and she couldn’t. So later someone sent her a personal email asking for a skype interview.
So, yeah, given that not everyone gets contacted for an interview, I’d like to think that they really wanted to interview her, but I thought maybe because she’s applying for plme, altho they don’t conduct plme specific interviews. I can’t imagine them admitting someone to plme program without interviewing him/her.
@caleegalee : Do you mind sharing some of your DD’s EC activities (how long each)?
@caleegalee and all,
FYI- Just to set the right expectations… my sibling was admitted to both undergraduate school via LIkely Letter (February) and PLME/Medical school (March Ivy day) without any interview.
@Volunteerism : Do your sibling have any hook?
@TheOldTimer
The multi year critical buckets were filled and validated via honors and awards …
Coursework rigor
Gpa
Class ranking
Public service
Passion for knowledge
Scientific research
Leadership
Demonstrated interest in medicine
Etc
I can’t be more specific such to retain privacy
***no legacy
@Volunteerism : Sorry if the question is inappropriate. The admissions officers are using the interview to confirm whether the picture they see on interview is consistent with what the candidate is presenting on paper. But for candidates with hooks, AOs treat them outside of normal application process. Likely letter is not likely to go the overqualified candidates in Brown, because school knows they must have other offers. Those overqualified candidates are likely to be wait-listed as can be seen from many examples. By looking at the yield at Brown, it is clear more than 50% of those admits have other offers from HYPSM/other Ivies in RD even after their efforts. (I am excluding those not willing to pay even if they can afford).
@TheOldTimer
NP, however it seems that you are overthinking and oversimplifiing the HOLISTIC process. There are many things that can make a candidate stand out (some may even consider that factor a hook in a true but non traditional definition) in the HOLISTIC process. None of the elite schools are seeking stereotypes.
By the way… PLME is an amazing program that rivals any other in the country. More often than not HYPSM loose candidates to PLME, period!
Just to chime in here with an anecdote, and nothing more: D who is now a junior in college has a friend who was admitted to Brown RD with no interview. Friend was a nice well-rounded (and not very spiky) kid with very high stats and nice ECs and good leadership but nothing outstanding as far as ECs. I’m sure she wrote great essays and had great recommendations but I’m just putting this out there so that those who didn’t get an interview don’t feel like that means no.
ETA: left out a key piece of info: she was not interviewed.
what others have said on here proves that you can certainly get accepted without an interview, so disregard what I said earlier. Although I do stand by that if you do get an ‘emergency’ interview its a good sign.
(Note: no personal experience, I’m just an applicant that’s been reading these and other forums for awhile)
knock knock, do we have a Brown AOs here?
I have been reading this board for about six years and I’ve never seen anyone identify him or herself as a Brown admissions officer.
Certainly a well qualified applicant can be admitted without an interview, and it is logical that reports from the untrained alum interviewers should be considered with least weight, however, what debated here is around a PLME applicant. While all other BSMD programs require on-site interview, I would be shocked if PLME admits someone without at least having an idea about his/her personality and maturity, it’s a 8 years commitment after all.
@ciervo I know, I was just making fun of our wild guessing here, :))
AOs, my DD has all of these and much more, and most importantly, she had a wonderful interview couple weeks ago, So action now! :))
@TheOldTimer sure, multiple orchestras including a top regional & all state (9 years, concertmaster, soloist), 4 volunteer organizations (4, 4, 2, 2 years), founder/president of clubs, shadowing experience at a local general hospital, community award, lots of music awards, school leadership. submitted supplemental recording.
I used to think her EC was pretty solid, but I find that there are way too many kids (especially applying to brown) who have similar or better.
Yes my sibling also gained interviews with other tier-1 BSMD programs such as CWRU PPSP and UR REMS (the only other two applications submitted thus clearly all 3 programs recognized the potential) , however, the error here for some is the thought that interview is the only way to assess applicant personality, maturity, etc, etc
Also the type of interviews at other BSMD programs were very different (both one on one, committee and or group) than the informational one on one interviews done for elite undergraduate schools.
I feel like I am beating a dead horse so I will finish simply saying that None of this is new to Brown. They know what they are doing when selecting candidates for PLME.
You might want to take at look at this article “The Three Biggest Lies in College Admission” (https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevecohen/2012/09/29/the-three-biggest-lies-in-college-admission/amp/).
Sharing the article does not mean I agree with the contents. Maybe item number 4 “interview” can be considered. 
I do want to quote the following paragraph which I totally agree …
“A last truism: it is often said that there is a college for everyone. That is certainly true. What is more elusive – but equally true – is that there is a right-fit college for everyone. But most kids and their parents never find that school because they are too caught-up in trying to get into the “best” school rather than the right school.”
No, I agree. I’ve reviewed some kid’s essays & applications, and I can totally tell what kind of people they are.