Asking for an interview by E_MAIL

[Salma123]

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I am very interested in a certain Internal Medicine Prelim position which is right where my parents and boyfriend live, I have not heard anything yet knowing that they have given IV invites, how do I go about writing a nice professional e-mail about requesting an interview. and is it annoying or appropriate?

 

[sella turcica]

I wouldn't send the program an email until at least November/December, because it's still early. A fair number of programs haven't said a word to me (even ones that I consider to be "lower" ones). Do your parents or BF work at the hospital/med school/etc? Maybe they can drop in at someone important's office, maybe spread the word that you're applying there. If they have no connections to medical stuff there, just wait another month or two and write them. I'm giving you the advice that I plan to follow, if one of my top programs doesn't respond by December I will write to them. Anybody think this is sound advice?

 

[snowbank]

I dont know for sure, but I would think that perhaps it would be alright to write now too. For example, from speaking with friends at programs, they said that they received x # of applications, out of which only a fraction were downloaded. For example (and this is just for example, though I have heard from at least 2 progs saying their apps numbered in the thousands) - prog gets 2000 apps. they only download say the first 400. then they decided say 100 ppl to be interviewed from those. so there is a chance your application may not even have been downloaded. saying ur interested and have ties makes u a desirable candidate, and they can pull ur file.

Thats what I think....

 

[jackieMD2007]

I don't think so--you should wait until they can at least review your file. Depending on your specialty, programs are just starting to begin to send out invites now, and then after Dean's Letters are sent around early November.

You don't want to jump the gun and seem impatient with the program. You get to do what all of us are doing which is SITTING TIGHT.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

For example, from speaking with friends at programs, they said that they received x # of applications, out of which only a fraction were downloaded. For example (and this is just for example, though I have heard from at least 2 progs saying their apps numbered in the thousands) - prog gets 2000 apps. they only download say the first 400.

Not sure which friends you are referring to, but they are mistaken. If I have 1000 applications in the post office, I end up downloading all 1000. I can't just download a few. And, it doesn't take all that long to download them, and I can set my computer to download them at night when no one is working anyway. So, this really doesn't happen.

However, I could download 2000 applications and start reviewing them, and after the first 1000 have found enough people to interview. I could simply ignore the other 1000 applications. Most PD's would not do this, because there could be someone better in the 1000 not yet reviewed.

 

[flabs]

Not sure which friends you are referring to, but they are mistaken. If I have 1000 applications in the post office, I end up downloading all 1000. I can't just download a few. And, it doesn't take all that long to download them, and I can set my computer to download them at night when no one is working anyway. So, this really doesn't happen.

However, I could download 2000 applications and start reviewing them, and after the first 1000 have found enough people to interview. I could simply ignore the other 1000 applications. Most PD's would not do this, because there could be someone better in the 1000 not yet reviewed.

To get back to the original post...
On a similar note, I have an interview for a program in a city in early december, is it frowned upon to email other programs in that city to let them know that I'll be there? If so, what's a good way to say "I'll be around and would like to interview with you all" without being presumptuos? Any ideas or suggestions?

 

[sella turcica]

To get back to the original post...
On a similar note, I have an interview for a program in a city in early december, is it frowned upon to email other programs in that city to let them know that I'll be there? If so, what's a good way to say "I'll be around and would like to interview with you all" without being presumptuos? Any ideas or suggestions?

I wouldn't do it at all, unless they already invited you. Go to the city, check it out, and when you get to your interview there you can tell them it's your "second look" and you're impressed/etc. I guess the only time I'd break this rule is if it's late November/Dec and you haven't heard from them, at which point "hey it's worth a shot" since they probably weren't going to invite you.