NJMS update:
There was no information session. I was interviewed about 3 weeks ago (through TCNJ) and I was the only student that morning at the med school. The interview was an hour long and was more of a conversation. The tour to the med school right after the interview was about an hour long.
@jumbletumbles Could not have said it better myself.
@faith4ever17820 Because I am speaking on my own behalf, and not as an agent of the program I run, I have chosen to maintain anonymity.
As you can see, I can be quite blunt. Nevertheless, please read and then re-read what was posted by @jumbletumbles, it is precisely the reason you cannot go through the motions. There are far too many well-qualified applicants to become complacent in an interview. Seize your chance when it is before you!
@AdmissionsAdmin Thank you for being candid. I donāt think it benefits any of these students to have truth sugarcoated. In addition, I think tone is easy to misunderstand with text. I think your intention was to help.
I will say from my sonās experience I believe what you say to be the norm. My son couldnāt give specifics about his interviews, of course, but he did say that he felt like the interviewers just wanted a clear picture of who he is without masks. He also felt like they wanted to make sure that he wanted medicine and wasnāt just pushed that direction by someone else. At the end of the day, my guess is that by the time a student gets to the interview stage, they are on a fairly even playing field with other candidates. They all have the stats, letters of recommendation, and essays. I think the interview is vital. My sonās attitude going in was very positive. He is grateful for the acceptances he has received, but he also went in with the attitude that he was going to be himself either way. He knew that he would work hard to get into medical school later if it didnāt work out for early acceptance. I think that positive attitude and the fact that he just was himself lead to his success. I say all of this not to boast; We are in awe of the credentials of some of these young men and women and are very humbled that he has been given such an opportunity. I just wanted to echo what you are saying at least from the perspective my son has gained from this process so hopefully it will resonate with future applicants!
Thanks for your willingness to give insight.
@1Tcollegemom Schools are going toward a model that eliminates all prior rankings once you get to the interview stage. In this model, the interviewers are blind to the credentials of all candidates they talk with and only know they meet the minimum threshold the school has determined is necessary to be a successful student in their program. That means the interview is THE determining factor. The lowest ranked student going in may end up the highest going out; it is all about how you can communicate as an applicant during the face-to-face.
@AdmissionsAdmin - Is this specific to BS/MD programs? Are there any specific schools you are aware of where this has already been implemented and are open about it?
@texaspg No, it is not specific to combined programs, but is something medical schools are increasingly doing for traditional applicant screenings and something we will implement for our combined in the future (at least on a pilot basis). If any students have an MMI-style format (Multiple-Mini Interview) it is supported by blind-to-credentials interviewing. In that paradigm, students may get 7 minutes with 10 different interviewers. I know personally when I interview students I see them more clearly from a cold perspective. Sometimes I donāt even know what state they are from, I only know their name. And, from my experience, very rarely do the students match their rankings coming in and going out.
@AdmissionsAdmin I agree completely. In fact, my son was informed as were all the candidates to not mention scores or other credentials, or it could be detrimental to their acceptance. Clearly they all have the credentials, but there is far more to a career in medicine than those credentials so it is vital to get the full package with future physicians. Everything you have said seems to be in line with my sonās experience. I hope others will take note of your insight. It will prove to be very helpful if so. Iām thankful he just by instinct interviewed the way that he did; It would have been nice to have seen this before he began the process :)! Thanks!
Temple Decision emails out, 10 offered acceptance, 32 interviewed. Email. S got inā¦ Waiting on moreā¦
@WaitingtoKnow Congratulations!
Anyone know when Miami HPME released their decisions last year?
@AdmissionsAdmin Brown PLME program doesnāt require the on-site interview step, do you know if they have a higher attrition rate for their combined program vs others?
@WaitingtoKnow Congrats! Do you mind PM your son stat?
@biomeds
Last year: āOf 2,216 applicants, 90 students were admitted to PLME, a 4.1-percent admission rate.ā
About 60-70 enroll per year. Almost none drop out. No MCATS. Minimal grade requirements (just have to get a B or higher in the first 3 biology classes you take). But it is non-binidng so some students choose other paths if they discover they dont want to be doctors.
@jamini thx for insights. Are you a PLME student (parent)?
@biomeds the info is all readily available with simple search
I am not so sure the none drop out statement is accurate unless there are stats listed somewhere. At one time people were leaving for other programs and Brown changed the rules to state that if someone takes MCAT, they need to reapply or if they apply elsewhere (not sure what triggers the cancellation).
@texaspg If you look at how many PLMEās enter the med school each year, it stays steady at about 60. That is an indicator of attrition. And yes, PLME used to be able to apply to other medical schools without penalty, but very few actually do. Now when they do, the medical school asks them to apply to Brown as an outside applicant like they would to any other school, because they are asking the school to utilize resources for their outside applications and it was felt that it was only fair to do so. Still, very few do. The only reason a PLME would even consider taking the MCAT was if they wanted to attend a different medical school. Almost all stay and do not give up their medical school seat.
@WaitingtoKnow Temple and Which undergrad?
Siena decisions came out today.