Attending to interviews while still taking courses

[ceng2doc]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I'd like to learn how did you guys manage to take remaining courses + labs, etc. although you were attending to your interviews.

How were you able to re-schedule / figure out your exams/labs which coincided with your incoming interviews?

Were you able to re-schedule (or, "dare" to re-schedule) an interview since you were to attend to an exam or lab at that day?

Need to learn how is it gonna be like being in the gliding year although still taking the remaining courses.

Any solid experiences are welcome,

 

[Ilovewater]

I scheduled all of my interviews around exam dates. For me, it was easier to reschedule interviews than test. Most schools are really flexible and try to work with your schedule as much as they can.

 

[Bernoull]

I'd like to learn how did you guys manage to take remaining courses + labs, etc. although you were attending to your interviews.

How were you able to re-schedule / figure out your exams/labs which coincided with your incoming interviews?

Were you able to re-schedule (or, "dare" to re-schedule) an interview since you were to attend to an exam or lab at that day?

Need to learn how is it gonna be like being in the gliding year although still taking the remaining courses.

Any solid experiences are welcome,

U have a choice of interview dates or u make sure it doesn't conflict with anything critical. When my interview was midweek, I tried to limit my missed classes to 1 day, so I'll fly out late the day b4 and come early the day after the interview. I swapped presentation dates with a classmate once too. Profs are very understanding if u let them know.

 

[metallica81788]

Most of my interviews were dates given to me, so I usually didn't have much choice initially. For the dates I could pick, I used my school schedule to determine it.

I also set up my fall schedule where I only had 1 class on both Mondays and Fridays, which allowed me to miss minimal class and use Sundays for travel - it worked out pretty well.

 

[The Poet Sings]

i ended up getting 3 interviews in one week, and fortunately nothing was due that week. the next week would've been brutal, since i had a test every day that week. one school gave me an interview a day i had 2 tests, and they said they would not reschedule so don't even ask. so i had to get my boyfriend to run around and talk to my teacher that wasn't answering their email (i was going to my 3 interviews that week) to get stuff switched. they said i could make it up for partial credit. i ended up getting into a school i liked much more and canceled that interview. so now i can still get full credit on that test, which would be nice. i still feel horrible that my bf had to run around in vain, but oh well. i'd do the same for him.

 

[VisionaryTics]

It's actually pretty easy to do so. Just make sure you have a really mediocre application, and then you won't get any interviews. Impossible to have conflicts if there's nothing to conflict with.

Working like a charm for me (aside from the crippling depression).

 

[jm192]

I had a 2 part interview the Friday AND Saturday before Finals week. And then another the Tuesday of Finals week.

My grades were not hurt at all. I'm hardly the smartest guy on the planet, so I'm sure you can do it.

Just figure out what day the interview is for sure. Look at what classes you have that day/anything due or an exam or quiz that day. E-mail the professor regardless, it's just courtesy to tell them you won't be there. Offer to forward the e-mail invitation, or bring them a copy of the snail-mail invitation. This way, they have a valid excuse for your absence in case attendance matters for the course or even just that day. Finally, BE ON TOP OF YOUR COURSE WORK LIKE O-M-G! If you DO miss a quiz or test, when you come back, you're taking it. Or you may have to take it sooner. Be ready. DO NOT plan on coming home from an interview and studying as far as last minute exam prep. You may not think it, but you'll be worn out. Early beginning to the morning, obvious stressors, could be there for quite some time, and then the drive alone wore me out. (Sleep well the night before)

I would by no means reschedule an interview. You're taking these courses so you can go to med school. If you put the courses before med school...why are you actually taking them?

Any professor should understand their course only matters as far as helping better your future. If you can't go to an interview because of it...what a waste.

 

[ceng2doc]

It's actually pretty easy to do so. Just make sure you have a really mediocre application, and then you won't get any interviews. Impossible to have conflicts if there's nothing to conflict with.

Working like a charm for me (aside from the crippling depression).

Good for you, then.

 

[ceng2doc]

I would by no means reschedule an interview. You're taking these courses so you can go to med school. If you put the courses before med school...why are you actually taking them?

Any professor should understand their course only matters as far as helping better your future. If you can't go to an interview because of it...what a waste.

I hear you. So, it'd be better to try to bend the course/lab/exam schedule a little that coincides, but not that of the interview, right?

I hope I'll have sympathetic enough profs in next year.

 

[jm192]

I hear you. So, it'd be better to try to bend the course/lab/exam schedule a little that coincides, but not that of the interview, right?

I hope I'll have sympathetic enough profs in next year.

I wasn't sure if you were interviewing here soon, or for next cycle. Keep in mind, the earlier you interview, the better. Rescheduling the interview is just not ideal, you maybe lost part of that early application/early interview advantage so to speak.

But, I don't know if I specified it, I actually HAD 2 finals scheduled the Tuesday I interviewed, and got them both moved. I'm sure your professors will be understanding.

 

[bravofleet4]

i don't think it's as easy as some people make it out to be. i mean i was going on interviews during my year off and I still found it very stressful. Some of us were not meant to fly back and forth with an interrupted sleeping schedule and time difference and still wake up fresh as daisies.

 

[jm192]

i don't think it's as easy as some people make it out to be. i mean i was going on interviews during my year off and I still found it very stressful. Some of us were not meant to fly back and forth with an interrupted sleeping schedule and time difference and still wake up fresh as daisies.

LOL

It didn't quite go like that, I was a zombie that whole week, but I came out just fine.

It's not per se "easy," but it's doable.

OP, consider, a large chunk of those that are going to medical school are going through the same thing, and they're finding a way.

 

[Batzmarucy831]

I had my interviews spaced out, like once a month from October to February/March, except 2 in January. Some were just given to me, others were free to schedule. The first semester, I had my interviews on Wednesdays, where I didn't have class, but I did have 2 classes to teach. It was crazy trying to get substitutes and lose pay for each class, but I think the trips were worth it. Plus, there were Thursday ones, but I'd have full day of classes T/TH, so that's why I avoided those days.

Second semester was better, where some were on Fridays, during a winter break, or a Monday, where I have not many classes. I guess I got lucky with the weeks, since I'd not have exams or I was just free. Most schools allow you to change dates so you can be accommodated, and you must let them know ASAP so you don't throw them in a loop.

 

[brooklynblunder]

this question will get asked like a billion times,

1. apply early and broadly. if you are one of those that need to go to lecture and can't stand taking a 0 on a quiz, you want to get into a school as soon as possible. go for the earliest interview dates and your cycle could be done as early as Oct-15thish. This allows you to take control over the rest of the year.

2. some schools will allow you to pick a date up to 3 months in advance - you should have no problems with those. others select one for you that might only offer a weeks notice. I would try to a stick to a date barring emergency. most of the interviews will not be a problem to your schedule. I flew in after 8 PM the night before the interview (sometimes I would arrive at 1 or 2 AM) and flew out immediately after the interview (split a cab with interviewees). I live on the east coast where schools are pretty densely positioned so maybe it isn't a big deal for me as for those going cross-country but it can't be that big of a problem for you.

3. Let the professors know asap. Take an exam early and then bounce immediate if an interview coincides with an exam. You are not the only one applying to professional or graduate schools and since most of your classmates will be seniors, they are going to be doing interviews as well. I would say almost all profs would understand, there are a couple of douchebags but those people are usually douchebags on multiple dimensions so maybe avoid their classes (word of mouth).

In the end, you could get a lot of interviews and get into great schools on the week of October the 15th and this process will be nothing to you and your courses would look more harder/stressful. But for many people, interviews will be rare and attention will be placed on med schools apps. Schools could interview 5-25+% of the people that apply and accept 10-20% of those people. Those 3-15% of the people that get the first batch of acceptances are usually the same people again and again. It is easier to do this process right the first time then to spend another year repeating it, so I would suggest placing a greater emphasis on your med school apps over your school work. You will learn to adapt to the stress and gain skills in time management.

The best part of the process for me was learning to work 80+ hour weeks, work 3 jobs, volunteer, shadow and still find a way to enjoy my free time/interviews. Once I got that acceptance, I totally took control over the process as well as the rest of my life and relaxed a little. I understand that people like to worry, whether it is about missing class or not getting any interview invites at all early in the process, but this is a little too early. The best thing you can do is to apply early and broadly (again) and really work your ass off until you are accepted. I think all the effort you put in will show at your interviews and make life easy for you later on. You can absolutely manage all that and still enjoy the last year of your college.

 

[Hifey]

I actually had to schedule most of my interviews before I even knew my exam schedule but I already knew my class schedule so I scheduled interviews away from lab days and in the earlier part of the quarter, avoiding the weeks that I knew usually had midterms. I also scheduled two during orientation week at my school and two the first week of winter break. So technically I only had two that were in the middle of the school season. Most professors will be very understanding..assuming you're taking upper div classes, because they're used to students having to leave for interviews. If you have stuff due, just turn it in early and they won't care.

I also got the impression that everytime I told a prof I had to be absent from a class I can see them relax thinking "thats one less letter of rec I'll have to write" lol. Its a pretty small major though and most people go into PhD programs not medical school.

As far as travel, all my interviews were cross country. If you are going to be in that situation, try to group them together as much as possible. I also flew in the day before the interview and left almost immediately after. Saves on a hotel stay, and you can be back to school the day after the interview so you only technically miss one day of school.

 

[boaz]

Try to avoid taking labs. They're very hard to make up. Otherwise it's manageable.