I am having a hard time deciding on if and how many interviews I should go to. I did the summer internship at Temple and interviewed there so I will hear back around October 9th, but I have received interviews from Barry, Kent, Western, and Midwestern. I plan on going to Kent because I can drive there and Barry because it's the closer one of the others and I've been looking at it a while, but don't know about Western and Midwestern. I really don't have my heart set on any school and don't know which one I would want to attend, which makes me think I should go to at least 3 of the 4 interviews, if not all, but it is hard because flights are expensive and hard to miss class. I don't mean to sound like I'm complaining, I'm just curious what your guys opinions are on interviewing since I know we are all in the same boat.
Too lazy to find post so here goes:
1) Pick the place where you'll be happiest and do the best during high stress environment. If it depends on weather, facilities, faculty, vibe of the students there then so be it. No criteria is too "nitpicky" or irrelevant. I picked strictly off of warm vs cold weather as primary. I do not regret my decision.
2) Interview at your top 2. Add 1 more as a safety. I had weak stats/medium-strong resume 2.9sgpa 496 mcat. I still got invites to all 9 but applied very early and was done with interviews by mid-end October.
3) Professors at your current institution will understand you have interviews. Apply. Write down all confirmed interview dates. Compare syllabus+ interview schedule and email blast those profs will all interview dates. They will work with you as long as you are not being unreasonable. Same applies to work schedules.
4) Use Airbnb for lodgings unless the price of Uber + Airbnb > discount Hotel + free shuttle provided at certain campuses (Kent comes to mind). Make an account with 1 airline and rack up points. Make the account sign up with your email do whatever it is. It will save you alot of money in the long run and will gain you a lot of miles. I regret not doing that.
I had loans saved up for travel expenses/lodging. Even then I crashed on couches or people I knew. If finances are tight, apply to your top 5. Confirm interviews with top 3 while scheduling your top picks first. I advise going to all 3. Your top picks may end up being your worse and the darkhorse may end up being your favorite.
Last but not least go with your gut. No matter how shiny a campus is, how nice the students are, how great the weather is, if you have a gut feeling that says you may not be successful there, listen to it. Go with your gut.
