Graduate Entry Medicine: Why have you sent me an e-mail to say that I am “very likely” to be called for interview?
The shortlisting process involves two stages: one conducted by the Medical School and one by the individual colleges. The Medical School forms a list of recommendations for shortlisting, and passes the list on to colleges. Although the colleges almost always accept the recommendations of the Medical School, the final decision on the shortlist rests with the colleges, and the colleges will send the final formal interview invitation to you. We usually e-mail candidates as a courtesy when we have completed our list of recommendations, because colleges are very busy at this time of year, and some admissions secretaries are under great pressure of work from the undergraduate admissions process; it can take up to two weeks for a college to send out the formal letter of invitation to interview, and we think candidates might find it helpful to have a little more notice so that they can make their plans to come to Oxford.