Waiting for medical school interview invites can be nerve-wracking. After hitting the submit button on your applications, you suddenly have all this free time. As the weeks and months pass, especially if you hear of friends and colleagues getting invites, it’s easy to get a case of FOMO and start worrying, “When is it too late to get a medical school interview?”
As someone who has survived the ups and downs of the medical school application process, I totally get the stress and uncertainty that comes with waiting to hear back from medical schools. It can feel never-ending.
First, take a deep breath. Each medical school has its own schedule for interviews. To help you stay informed and prepared, I’ll walk you through a timeline that most medical schools tend to follow. Plus, I’ll also share when you should take proactive steps or perhaps consider your alternatives.
This post is all about when is it too late to get a medical school interview.
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Answering: When Is It Too Late to Get a Medical School Interview
When Do Most Medical School Interview Invites Go Out?
The timing for medical school interview invites often varies, but it generally stretches from July through March. Some programs kick off the interview invitations right after they receive secondary applications in July or August, while others prefer to roll them out more slowly throughout the fall and well into the new year.
The peak of interview invites usually falls between September and January. Most of my invites flooded in during September and October, with the last few trickling in throughout November. I received my final interview invite on December 1st. For the medical school I now attend, the University of Colorado, I applied on July 30th and received an interview invite on September 4th.
Each medical school has its own timeline and policies regarding interview invitations. So, check the school’s website for specific details on when they typically send out invites or make final decisions.
However, due to the holidays, things tend to quiet down around mid-December. But the pace often picks up again in January, with some medical schools holding interviews as late as March.
Medical School Interview Invite General Timeline
Here is a timeline of the interview invite schedules most medical schools follow so you can get a sense of the big picture.
- July/August: The earliest round
- September – January: Prime time for the bulk of invites
- Mid-December to early January: Fewer invites due to the holiday season
- February/March: The last chance
July/August
If you applied early, then it’s likely that you may hear back from a medical school rather quickly. So, while you may need a vacation after all the hard work you put in completing your primary application and completing your secondaries, make sure you return from it refreshed and ready to jump back in with interview prep.
September and October
It’s the fall and you haven’t heard back about interviews – try not to panic. The largest wave of interview invites usually goes out during these months, with priority given to students with high stats or those from the school’s alma mater.
Also, stay focused on maintaining or improving your GPA and continue to be active with your clinical, research, or volunteer work. You may need to update your application and premed resume later.
November
If you still haven’t received an interview invite or your dream school is ghosting you, you may want to consider putting together the first draft of a medical school update letter to express your continued interest in the program. However, remain patient and keep preparing for possible interviews by practicing common interview questions to stay sharp.
December/January
If you’re still waiting, now would be a good time to send the update letter you worked on last month. In your update letter, reaffirm your enthusiasm for the school, along with copies of your transcripts showcasing your fall semester grades.
Also, include new volunteer work, awards, jobs, research projects, or other activities since submitting your primary or secondary application. Finish the letter by briefly reiterating your passion for medicine and your specific reasons for wanting to attend that particular medical school.
February
If you still haven’t secured any interviews, unfortunately, it may be time to reassess your application and consider reapplying. While last-minute invites can happen, they become less likely as the cycle progresses.
If this is you right now, go through my blog post Didn’t Get Into Medical School? Take These Steps Before You Reapply! for a step-by-step re-application guide.
Tips for What to Do While You Wait
You don’t have to keep refreshing your email to see if an invite suddenly appeared in the past five minutes since you last checked it. Instead, follow these tips for helpful actions you can take to help you be better prepared and improve your chances of securing an interview.
Continue with Your Interview Prep While You Wait
Don’t wait for an interview invite before starting your interview prep! While it’s tempting to relax after submitting your application, the process isn’t over yet. So, start prepping early and continue to keep your skills sharp throughout the fall and early winter.
Even if you haven’t received a single interview invitation yet, it’s still possible that they may come later in the season. If you’re proactive and continue to prep, you’ll have the advantage of extra time to hone in and double-down your interview skills compared to applicants who receive invites within a few weeks of submitting their applications.
Send an Update or Letter of Interest
Later in the application season, a letter can be beneficial to keep your application fresh in the committee’s minds. An update generally contains modifications to your profile information and application within the school’s guidelines. On the other hand, a letter of interest formally expresses your enthusiasm for the program. This also highlights your strengths and experiences.
When deciding which to submit, consider the school’s specific requirements. Some have specific processes for updates, while others prefer letters of interest or intent. Keep your wording concise and focused on what makes you a strong candidate so you can make an impactful impression.
Consider Sending a Letter of Intent
A letter of intent shows a particular medical school that it is your top choice. Typically, you would send this letter only to one school. This is after you have completed an interview and perhaps find yourself on a waitlist.
However, if you haven’t received any interview invitations by February, sending a letter of intent could be a strategic move. Medical schools aim to fill their classes with students who are genuinely interested in attending. So reaffirming your commitment through a letter of intent might just give you the edge needed to secure an interview invitation.
When Is It Too Late to Get a Medical School Interview Invite?
Some schools have a set date, usually around March, by which they communicate their decisions – whether it’s an invite to interview, a spot on the waitlist, or a rejection. Others may not communicate directly to rejected applicants but have a deadline for sending out interview invitations.
Are You on a Pre-Interview Hold?
If you submitted your application early and have only heard crickets since then, don’t sweat it just yet. Your application might be on a “pre-interview hold,” which means the school didn’t immediately find you a perfect fit for an interview slot but hasn’t ruled you out either. If more interview spots become available, you may still hear back.
Should You Have a Back-Up Plan?
What should you do if you haven’t received any interview invites by February or March? First, check the dates indicated by each medical school you applied. There still may be an outside chance that you could secure that interview and acceptance. However, it’s wise to consider your options for the next application cycle. This is just to be prepared if you need to reapply.
Here are your next steps if you haven’t received an interview invite or fear you won’t get into medical school this round.
- Assess your application and identify any weak points that may hinder your chances of receiving interview invites. Evaluate areas such as clinical experience, shadowing, MCAT scores, and letters of recommendation.
- Address the areas that need improvement, such as gaining more clinical or shadowing experience, retaking the MCAT if necessary, or seeking stronger letters of recommendation.
- Consider a gap year. During this time, focus on activities that enhance your application, such as research, volunteering, or gaining more hands-on experience in the healthcare field.
- Explore post-baccalaureate programs. If your GPA needs a boost, enrolling in a post-bacc program can be a valuable option. These programs allow you to take additional coursework to demonstrate academic improvement and dedication to your medical school goals.
- Create a strategic plan and timeline. Lay out the exact steps you’ll take for the next application cycle. Include deadlines for completing necessary steps, such as retaking exams, obtaining additional experiences, and strengthening your overall application package.
- Seek advice from people you trust and respect. Consider reaching out to pre-med advisors, mentors, or professionals in the field. Seek for their guidance and support as you navigate the process of reapplying to medical school.
- Stay positive and persistent. This advice is the hardest one! I remember how I felt after being waitlisted for one school the first I applied. While it may not be your ideal scenario, setbacks are more common than you may realize for many people (including myself) on their medical school application journey. Remain committed to your goals. A non-traditional path to medical school can and often does lead to success!
If it’s already February or May, the best way to get a head start for re-application in the upcoming cycle is to focus on your personal statement and EC descriptions. Make sure to re-write them and use all the strategies I share in my Ultimate Personal Statement and EC Guide so you can put your best foot forward.
The Importance of Applying Early
After being waitlisted and never hearing back the first time I applied to medical school, my second attempt, after an extended gap period and lots of research, earned me 15 interview invites from applications I submitted to 28 medical schools.
What was the one of the things that helped me secure these early interview opportunities? I stayed on top of the application process. I made sure to submit most of my applications in July, and it really paid off.
It goes to show that being proactive and timely with your application submissions can make a big difference. Early birds tend to snag those coveted invites.
Pro tip: Submit your primary application in the first week of opening. Also, complete secondary applications within a two-week turnaround time.
If you like to learn more tips and strategies to maximize your chances in the next cycle, sign up for my Free Premed Workshop!
Here, I will teach you step-by-step how I improved my own application and earned 10 acceptances despite a low GPA. You will get to learn how to avoid all the common pitfalls and create an application that helps you to truly stand out – authentically and confidently.
Final Thoughts on Medical School Interview Invites
It’s natural to question if it’s too late to secure an interview, especially when the deadlines are looming, and you haven’t heard back from schools yet. Most medical schools typically send out interview invites between September and January. Unfortunately, if you haven’t received an interview invite by the end of January, it may be a sign that you might not get one this cycle.
While it may be disheartening to not receive an interview invite, it doesn’t have to be the end of your medical school dreams. You could use this time to carefully evaluate your application and consider ways to strengthen it for the next cycle. Additionally, it might be worth exploring the idea of taking a gap year to gain more experience and improve your candidacy.
Keep pushing forward and remain resilient in your pursuit of a career in medicine, no matter the timeline of your application.
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