TheSenator wrote:
I've been getting e-mails from schools saying they've received my application and actually received an invitation to interview from UVA this morning... do you think they've reviewed my application already or is this pretty standard for Darden to request an interview immediately.
I haven't received emails from any schools about receiving my application (Ross, Haas, Darden, Anderson), but I also received an interview invite from Darden this morning. I think it is a good thing and not a knee jerk invite.
Last year's Darden thread had these stats for some perspective:
Round 1
# of Applicants: 73
Interviews: 44
Admitted: 20
Round 2
# of Applicants: 105
Interviews: 64
Admitted: 30
A quick google search brought up this quote from a student discussing the change to invite only from mandatory interviews in 2008.
"With the new policy applicants only need to visit Charlottesville after the admissions office has determined their credentials and essays meet the requirements for admissions....I checked with Darden’s admissions staff on this point last week and they confirmed that every applicant invited to interview has the potential to be accepted."
As far as the speed of the review, I am guessing there aren't very many of us R1 consortium applicants. When attending diversity events at schools (other than Darden), very few applicants I spoke with planned to apply in R1. Also given the small number of consortium schools that actually look at R1 apps before R2, there is a relatively small benefit for most applicants.
So, given all that, I'm celebrating the invite, and congratulations!