Quick question about McMaster selection process

[froston]

The McMaster website states the following regarding their second stage selection formula (post interview):

 

"the second [formula] provides a rank order list for advancement to Collation (full file review)."

 

I've never noticed this before. I'd always thought that the second formula provided a rank order list for acceptance / waitlist offers, not for Collation. I'd thought previously that if you did well in the interview, you were in at Mac.

 

So hypothetically, you could kill the interview, place top ~50 on the rank order list after the second formula, and still not get in after Collation, if you have a weak sketch/CV/refs. And conversely, you could fumble the interview, end up ~300 on the list or whatever, but still get in on the strength of a strong profile (if you make it to file review, i.e. enough people in front of you on the list get cut).

 

Is that right? Maybe someone has specific insight on the process?

[thestar10]

Basically if your letters say your a terrible person you probably wont get in.

[Leon]

Basically if your letters say your a terrible person you probably wont get in.

 

Pretty much.

 

I think it's highly unlikely the "collation" is going to drop you down on your rank list unless your ABS and reference letters are truly horrendous (this is just speculation, not concrete).