Interview Timing

[joshto]

I know there is an advantage of being complete early at schools which have rolling admissions. However, is there any advantage or disadvantage of having a November interview or, let' say, a January interview?

 

Thanks

[rmitch8]

Sure. Since most schools have rolling acceptances, the seats in the class actually start to fill up in October. Somebody interviewing in November is competing for more open seats than somebody interviewing in January.

 

It doesn't make as much difference at a school like NYU, where acceptances don't start going out until December. Look at each school on a case-by-case basis, but know that almost all of the US schools start sending out acceptances in October, so you usually want to interview as soon as possible to compete for more open seats.

[VTeight7]

Sure. Since most schools have rolling acceptances, the seats in the class actually start to fill up in October. Somebody interviewing in November is competing for more open seats than somebody interviewing in January.

 

I've heard that this doesn't apply to Wayne State because only 1/6 of the class is accepted during each of 6 acceptance dates throughout the year (after which they start turning to the waitlist for random acceptances after people bail out). However, if the waitlist keeps growing throughout the year, wouldn't it make sense that early interviewees are far more competitive, just like every other school?

[token]

Just to clarify: it is advantageous to be complete early at ALL schools, because interview invites are ALWAYS given out on a rolling basis.

 

The rolling/non-rolling thing is only relevant with respect to interview dates. At a non-rolling school it shouldn't matter when you interview, whereas at a rolling school it does (since as rmitch said, they start accepting people in October and throughout the year, and once they're all given out, they're out).

 

Some rolling schools have been attempting to reduce the effect of timing in recent years....after all it's to their advantage to get the best students regardless of when they interview. That's probably what Wayne is trying to do. In theory it shouldn't matter...like I doubt their waitlist will ever fill up...but still early is probably better.