<p>I searched around a bit but couldnt find out what they mean on MDapplicants.com by post-secondary, rejected post-secondary, pre secondary etc. </p>
<p>Also this admissions process is somewhat strange (competitive candidates, numbers-wise dont even get in anywhere!) Is it true that once you get an interview offer your previous stats dont matter.</p>
<p>Sorry for the disorganized post. I am just really freaking out now when I see the statistics of ppl who didnt get into med schools.</p>
<p>Primary app - the AMCAS electronic application - has general biographical info - GPA, MCAT, Post Secondary Experiences list and personal statement. This is the first application you send to a school. Basically signifies you’re interest. They’ll look it over and if they like you will send you a secondary application</p>
<p>Secondary app - asks more school specific questions - this is where your essays come in. Secondaries vary from school to school - some have 0 essay questions, some have optional essays and some have 8 or 9 required essays. Send this in, and you’ll get invited for an interview.</p>
<p>Interview - go to the school, check it out, and answers questions about yourself. Again formats vary, but this is your chance to shine, explain why all the things you’ve done are important, and handle any problems your application might have. </p>
<p>You can be rejected at any point along the path. Maybe you apply to school A and they don’t send you a secondary, that’s be rejected pre-secondary. Maybe you complete the secondary for School B, but don’t get an interview. That’s post-secondary. </p>
<p>As far as your second question - depends on the school. Some schools invite every applicant to interview. Some, interview a very select group of candidates and so getting an interview is big deal. I wouldn’t say everything doesn’t matter, but a good interview can make up for a significant portion. Likewise a poor one can really damage your chances.</p>
<p>Generally otherwise-qualified candidates are making several very severe mistakes. Catastrophic interviews, from what I’ve seen, are pretty rare.</p>
<p>Much more frequently, these kids don’t know how to pick schools to apply to, and they apply very late in the process, or they don’t have any research and are applying to research-heavy schools. Mistakes from mdapplicants are actually usually pretty obvious, right there on the webpage.</p>
<p>A few common mistakes.</p>
<p>1.) It is always a mistake to apply to fewer than ten schools.
2.) A significant portion of the pool (I would say two-thirds) must be schools where you are significantly above their means.
3.) If a school cares about research, you should have done research. Otherwise don’t bother.
4.) You should apply to every single school in your state, public or private, as well as any schools in the state where you did undergrad.
5.) If your primary is sent off after September, you’d better be **supremely **qualified for every single school you apply to – perhaps four MCAT points above their mean.</p>
<hr>
<p>How schools handle interviews varies. Some schools explicitly say that all that matters is the interview – that your previous application really doesn’t matter anymore. In other words, once a 36 and a 40 both get interviews, the four-point difference on the MCAT doesn’t matter. Even slight differences in the interview trump significant changes in, say, GPA.</p>
<p>Some schools take the opposite approach. As long as your interview is not a complete disaster, it doesn’t matter. So long as you don’t manifest any obvious sociopathic tendencies, small changes in MCAT and GPA are still very important. A mediocre interview is just as good as a spectacular one.</p>
<p>Most schools are in between. A 40 is still at an advantage of a 36, and a great interview is better than a good one.</p>
<hr>
<p>BRM’s excellent answer is very thorough. Here’s the Cliff’s Notes:</p>
<p>Applications move in three stages
a.) Primary (MCAT, GPA, Essay.)
b.) Secondary (Essays.)
c.) Interview</p>
<p>You can be rejected between steps A and B (“presecondary”), or between steps B and C (“Postsecondary.”) You can also be rejected after Step C.</p>
<p>Wow thanks a bunch both Big Red and Blue Devil for taking the time to reply. </p>
<p>I made a sort of timeline for myself (Im a freshman now)</p>
<p>Freshman/Soph year: finish prereqs, get good grades, do some EC’s (i took a look at blue devils very thorough post and that gave me some ideas). </p>
<p>Soph Summer: study for MCAT</p>
<p>Beg. Jr Year: Take MCAT</p>
<p>Afterward: more research/EC’s…get good grades</p>
<p>So now when exactly should I be applying for medical school assuming I want to go right after my senior year. or when should i start worrying about applying! </p>
<p>Just to note: Right now im not thinking too far ahead, and am just focusing on grades but I just want to have some idea about the future.</p>
<p>Thanks VERY much.</p>
<p>In the summer after your Junior year you should send in your AMCAS application - the earlier the better. You should aim for mid June, but it’s not the end of the world if you get it in before August 15th.</p>
<p>Also at some point soon, you should schedule a meeting with your school’s pre-med advisor to make sure you understand the process, and how your school deals with med school applications.</p>