Interpreting a late interview request

Question

Greetings all and thanks for any input you can provide.

Recently I got two late/last round interview requests and they both came within 2-3 days of the application submittal. Pretty quick even if its late.

I'm not the world's greatest applicant, but solid and have an interesting health/life story as well as a demonstrated focus on my post-mba career.

So what do I make of these late interview invites? Is that a fairly decent "buying" signal?

As I both wait and ponder my next steps I was curious if that was a good sign. Kelley and Wisconsin were the two schools and at Kelley, for example, they only interview ~60% of applicants anyway.

Thanks for the interpretation. Do appreciate it,
Jeff

novanative · Answer

As a general rule, your interview coming early or late isn't going to be a barometer of your chances, even if your interview is on the same week as the decision day.

My guess is that they already know what decision they are likely to give you if you had an average interview or a great interview, and as long as you "don't totally wreck it", that decision will likely stay the same.

jturritt · Answer

Thanks for the feedback, Nova.

Outside of the math (% that get an interview, period) I am going to as humbly as possible take the interview as a good sign, then. I made sure to get my visits in promptly, too. I kind of get that sense from Kelley that generally odds fairly strong if you do get an interview. Mine was with head of admissions, Jim. Uffda.

Translated - this late in the game I am hoping you are right and that the interview is more of an opportunity to confirm you are excited about their program, than a prove to them you are even worthy. I hope.

Admissionado · Answer

I agree with Nova here. It probably has more to do with the fact that some applicants turned down spaces at those schools and new ones have opened up than anything else. And now they have to choose between you and a few others they are thinking of filling that space with (not to put the pressure on

)

jturritt · Answer

Jon, thanks for taking the time to reply.

I don't think I was clear. My apologies.

I applied late to Madison/Kelley, but got interview invites in 2-3 days turn from my submittal. Which leads to my question - I applied late, but was fortunate enough to get an interview, and a very quick request at that, should I take that as a good sign?

Obviously its a good sign to get an invite, but the fact that the turntime was so fast and we're late in the game seems to show me a buying signal moreso than a normal interview invite. Perhaps?

novanative · Answer

I've noticed other schools do this as well. Perhaps they are scanning through your GMAT and GPA and giving an interview offer after seeing that. It's a good sign either way that your app is fast-tracked to this phase. Or, maybe one of the adcom members read your app and thought it was worthy. These guys probably don't spend hours upon hours looking at your application to see if you should be in, so that is also a possibility. It's also likely the last round at your school, and the application and decision deadlines aren't that far apart either.

Admissionado · Answer

Ahhhh! So that's it!

I would say you could take it as a good sign. Don't count your chickens, but do keep those fingers crossed

Interpreting a late interview request

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