Hey y'all! I saw some questions that I felt like I could give some sense of an answer to, and here they are. I hope this helps!
The amount of times I check this thread and my Drexel portal is ungodly
Please be kind to yourself. If you know this is a trigger for anxiety, please try an activity that gives you a piece of mind.
Thank You!!!!! You’re the best! 77% matriculation is great news. Do you know approximately when we’ll hear back for those of us who interviewed in April?
The first round of decisions will be coming out by the end of this week. At latest, it will be the beginning of next week. The second round of decisions will happen at the latest by mid-June so that everyone has at least 2 weeks before the start of the summer to get things in order. There will only be 2 rounds of acceptances.
Also wondering about this! During my interview day in April we were told middle of May. I assume with the pandemic things might have changed since then. Are they now waiting to release any acceptances until all interviews are done (even if they are adding more dates. How many more dates are they adding past the 20th?)
Also congratulations to the current DPMS students!! 77% is amazing and shows how great of an opportunity this is
They will accept half the class by the end of this week and the other half by mid-June.
I don't know how many more dates they are adding, but I do know that since we are at the halfway point, I'm sure that they will go onto near the end of May. My own personal interview was May 22 the year I had mine, and I know there were more dates after my interview. I think things will follow the same pattern.
What about those of us still waiting to hear if we’ll even get an interview...?
I know they said they’re extending interviews but dang this is a disservice to say the least..
Please be as patient as possible. I know it's hard. They are still reviewing applications. Remember no news is good news because that means you're still in the running.
I know that may not do much to subdue your feelings. I can honestly understand how you feel. It can totally feel like a disservice, and please try to think of it this way. The admission committee wants to take its time to review each applicant fairly and thoroughly to see how they will fit in with a cohort that would do well in the hardest year of academic life as well as add great things for the next year's entering medical class. If they rushed through everything, then they might make a mistake that could be financially disastrous and dream ending for some. This is in your and everyone's best interest. Also, honestly, this is almost like a right of passage of all individuals that go to med school having to wait and wait and wait and wait..... You get my drift. So please do something that will make yourself feel better.
Thanks for the update! I heard that they said they'll be releasing the first batch of acceptances in mid-may and the second batch in end of may/june. I'm kind of surprised they're only done with 1/2 of the interviews since i assumed this week would be the last round? Unless they've added more dates then are they accepting more than the average 175-200 interviewees and possibly accepting more students (i hope so!)? Also can you maybe touch on how we'll be evaluated holistically? Can the interview make or break getting an acceptance? Sorry for asking so many questions. Thanks again : )
They will be interviewing ~300 individuals, which means that this year's applicant pool is full of amazing people. Y'all should be really proud of yourselves!
As for being evaluated holistically, the admission committee will review all of your applications fully and vote on to add you to the upcoming class, put you on the waitlist, or reject you. I don't know the full process since I am not part of the admissions committee. I have talked to the members of admissions committee of other school before, and they told me that a process that does happen is that points are awarded to all parts of the application including the interview and decide a number that signifies acceptance and waitlist cutoffs. I don't know if that is true with Drexel or not.
As for the interview, it can break your chances of acceptance. Getting an interview means that on paper, you look like you are academically capable of success in the program. The interview can persuade them to give you the shot at DPMS, or it can just confirm that maybe you aren't the right fit or even ready for the program. It can go so many ways with an interview, and that is why I have advocated in preparing answers to frequently asked med school interview questions, getting your suit ready, practicing with someone, recording yourself, etc so that you can present your best self at the interview.
I know bc I talked to the school that they’re adding more interview dates so the 2nd batch of acceptances won’t come till at least the end of June...
This isn't correct. The 2nd round of acceptances will happen in mid-June at the latest to give applicants enough time to get their affairs in order. I was a person accepted during the 2nd round, and I had exactly 15 days/2 weeks to get ready to come to Philly. I know it's a short time frame, but it is the nature of this experience.
The odds do not seem to be in our favor post interview this year. Getting very nervous now. I hope they start releasing decisions soon.
Good luck to all those that interviewed and to those still waiting for an interview, hang in there I’m sure good things are coming your way!
I can understand you being nervous. It's only natural when you hear arbitrary numbers and facts.
I would say that anyone's odds are about the same actually. Remember that you are unique and are the only person capable of adding your essence and flavor to this experience. The admissions committee may have an idea of what kind of group they want this next DPMS class to be, and if you fit into that vision, you are a shoe-in. Now what that idea may be is only knowledge that the admission committee has, but please focus on the small victories you've had. You interviewing is an awesome and amazing achievement. It's something to be very proud of.
Also, for others who have interviewed to read, this may sound a little idealistic, but it is truth. Interviewing and not getting a position does not mean in any way or form that you are not worthy or capable of getting into med school or a program like DPMS. This truly has no merit on determining your value or if you're capable of doing something like this. You are the perfect person for your opportunity at the right time it's given. It is a hard set-back definitely. It may hurt and feel awful at first. What you do after that is what truly shows others that it's your time to do what you want. If you are determined to make this dream a reality, then it will happen. Reflect on the experience, see what you can improve upon (including soft skills, mental health and outlook, etc), and do exactly those things.
So let's say they accept 80 and all 80 say yes ... lol
What would happen then? Because like you mentioned and also when I interviewed, she said that she keeps the class size to 45 students exactly.
They would not accept more than the class size they are aiming for just in case everyone does say yes. They will add anyone above that number to the waitlist. Dr. Núñez did say this verbatim to us this past Tuesday. If the arbitrary number were to be 80, it would be 45 acceptances and 35 waitlisted. Again, this all is dependent on the decisions of the admissions committee.
