What are these "short lists" you speak of?

[MidwesternAloha]

I keep seeing posts about being on a school's "short list."

 

Anyone care to elaborate?  Is this different from an interview?

 

Are people commonly rejected after all expenses paid interviews?

 

I'm new here...lol

[Vene]

It basically means that you've made it past some number n rounds of screening and are still somebody they are considering, but they may not be done with the selection process.

 

So, let's say that a program gets 100 applicants and wants 10 new students. They may interview 30 and accept 20. Getting to the interview stage means there's still a chance of rejection, but there is a much smaller chance and the list of students being considered is shorter. Therefore, you're on the short list.