Is it worthwhile to go to an interview after being waitlisted?

I just got an interview invite to a fairly competitive program (competitive in the specialty, with most of the residents from top 10 medschools , some with MD PhD, etc). I do love the neighborhood near the program and I am thinking of going to the interview.
I actually went to interview at an equally competitive program in the same city earlier in the season but I just never received any love from this program until today.
For me, I will be happy if I end up in the program I interviewed at but you never know if I would fall in love with this other program.


I think this is a legit question.
Is it worthwhile going to interviews off waitlist?

There must be a reason that one is waitlisted and that could be the very same reason for that person to be ranked low on the ROL as well.

What do you guys think?

I know more than one person who has matched at a program they were waitlisted at. If you like the program, go to the interview. You can't match there if you don't interview. Don't be left with any "what if's" come March.

Agree with the above advice. Who knows how a given program works. Maybe it matters that you were waitlisted, maybe not. If you have the money and interest in the program, go.

Ace the interview and show them the error of their ways in having waitlisted you.

Thanks for the encouragement, guys. Ya, for a sec, I thought to myself, "I ain't from a top 10 school and I don't have a PhD" but you are right.. they must have a good reason to give me an interview.


Just booked my flight.

Would definitely interview there if you like the program that much. Can guarantee you won't match there if you don't interview!

spinnerette said:

Thanks for the encouragement, guys. Ya, for a sec, I thought to myself, "I ain't from a top 10 school and I don't have a PhD" but you are right.. they must have a good reason to give me an interview.


Just booked my flight.

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Good! 2 anecdotal, second-hand, n=1 stories to allay some of your fears:
My good friend, now a fellow in Heme/Onc, was waitlisted at a top 5 program, then matched.
I'm from a "top 10 school" and have an advanced degrees (only MS), but I certainly felt the cold sting of rejections and waitlists.

Good luck!