<p>I was regional coordinator for several years–let me shed some light on what happens, from an interviewer’s perspective. Every week or so the coordinator gets a batch of applicants for the region, and tries to assign each candidate to an alum in their immediate area (maybe 5, 10 miles–maybe the same state–it all depends on availability). Some alumni are quick to contact their candidates; others are swamped with job, family, and other obligations and aren’t as quick on the draw. Inevitably, a few kids don’t get contacted or are contacted much later than we’d originally hoped they would be.</p>
<p>The assignments are TRULY RANDOM. I tried to at least match interests, e.g. humanities with humanities, science with science. The current coordinator doesn’t seem to care too much: although my concentration was Poli Sci, he keeps giving me PLME candidates. There is no “value” placed on one candidate versus another–if you apply, we try to assign you an interview. In general, yes–the first person who submits an app will get assigned an interview before the last person, but if the candidate is assigned to a particularly busy interviewer then s/he may STILL not get an interview. </p>
<p>The most salient point was made by #2 and #3–It will not make or break a candidate’s acceptance.</p>