4th Year Interviews

[tvelocity514]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hey all,

I was wondering if anyone could shed some light on why there are more interview invites sent than there is space. From word of mouth from a 4th year in the process, apparently this allows the programs to already have a waitlist instead of having to send a second round of interviews after people decline? My friend is doing aways and said it is tough having to scrub out when you hear your email ring during a case on an away rotation because you want to perform well on that rotation and stay focused on the case. He said he responded 20 minutes after one came in and he got the last slot. It seems kind of ridiculous that if you see the email 30 minutes later, you might not get a spot (whether it's due to being in surgery, driving etc).

Does anyone have any information if this new way of sending and accepting interview invites is here to stay for the next few years? Thanks for the help.

 

[Psai]

Probably will stay for the next few years.

 

[NickNaylor]

This isn't "new." This has been happening for some time. I have no idea "why" it's done, but it's a reality. You should do everything in your power to respond to interview invites immediately to prevent issues like this.

 

[Moose A Moose]

Mind=blown.

Seems like a lot if simple tricks and nonsense to me.

 

[sliceofbread136]

Only in medicine... Can't wait to deal with this ridiculous crap next year

 

[linebacker57]

Ideally you shouldn't schedule anything surgical when you know interview invites are coming out. It is going to be looked upon unfavorably to be scrubbing out of a case multiple times. There is always legends of people not getting spots after responding to an invite late, but I've never met a person who respond too late to get ANY spot. They always wound up with unfavorable dates, but they still had a spot.

 

[madchemist89]

The problem with certain dates becoming unavailable is the increased likelihood of having scheduling conflicts.

 

[Donald Juan]

Ideally you shouldn't schedule anything surgical when you know interview invites are coming out. It is going to be looked upon unfavorably to be scrubbing out of a case multiple times. There is always legends of people not getting spots after responding to an invite late, but I've never met a person who respond too late to get ANY spot. They always wound up with unfavorable dates, but they still had a spot.

That's not really an option when you're on a sub-I or away rotation which a lot of students going for subspecialties are doing, depending on their own schools schedule and how many aways they are attempting. Anyways, as someone who was doing such, I never had to scrub out of a case because my phone vibrated...I wouldn't even think of doing such. I was able to check it in between cases and I only had one invite that had to give me a less desirable date (for my own interests).

I don't think every school necessarily overbooks, but sometimes there are particular dates that are more favorable. For example, sometimes schools in close proximity and prestige level have overlapping dates, so the school that sends out invites later will have most of the students all vying for one particular date as they are likely going to the school that sent out invites first.

 

[member1000765]

There are ways of getting around this, even if you are scrubbed, in a VA where there's terrible cellular service, etc. You get your siblings, significant other, parents, whoever to add your email account to their cell phone. If you're going to be away from your phone, you ask them to check your emails while you're occupied and to respond yes to any invites that come in asap. If dates overlap you can always cancel interviews, but interview slots can fill up literally in a matter of minutes, so the quicker the better.

 

[maxxor]

That's not really an option when you're on a sub-I or away rotation which a lot of students going for subspecialties are doing, depending on their own schools schedule and how many aways they are attempting. Anyways, as someone who was doing such, I never had to scrub out of a case because my phone vibrated...I wouldn't even think of doing such. I was able to check it in between cases and I only had one invite that had to give me a less desirable date (for my own interests).

I don't think every school necessarily overbooks, but sometimes there are particular dates that are more favorable. For example, sometimes schools in close proximity and prestige level have overlapping dates, so the school that sends out invites later will have most of the students all vying for one particular date as they are likely going to the school that sent out invites first.

This varies a lot. The rise of interviewbroker and the like means that you have to respond in 10 minutes, or the slots are all taken. I had prelim internships fill up before I could get a spot, literally in the span of a radiology readout.

UCSF radiology filled up within 1 hour.

I tell all my advisees to take the month of October off to respond to interview invites now that you are expected to turn around and reply so rapidly.