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[drPLUM]

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I'm going to be doing multiple interviews in the same city which will require travel on my part. How hard is it to do back to back interview days (or potentially back to back to back)? If there are three in a city should I just plan on going for the week and doing M-W-F?

Also, I've been told to do interviews late but not too late. One of my top choices is during the week of Jan 23-27. Is that too late? Will programs quit caring by then (as I have read in other posts)? I scheduled it there due to travel convienence. That leads me to another question, if you already have a date set is it inapropriate to ask to move the date as your schedule starts to take shape (I have received some interviews that I didn't expect)?

Thanks to everyone for the help...and for putting up with another OCD stressed out applicant. 😉

 

[beary]

Hi,

I think I would feel ok doing back to back interviews in the same city. I actually have one day with a four hour drive between back to back interviews (yikes!) It is just up to you and how you feel about how tired you will get, etc. You could use the extra days you were there checking out the city, but those are days away from home (which matters to a homebody like me who hates traveling).

I don't think it really matters when your interviews are. I have one of my top choices in late January as well, again for travel convenience.

 

[yaah]

I did Dartmouth/UVM back to back as well as Chicago/Northwestern. No problems.

 

[Pingu]

One of my top choices is during the week of Jan 23-27. Is that too late? Will programs quit caring by then (as I have read in other posts)?

There is also the concern that by the end of january you will not care as much. The interview season is long and weary and by my last interview they would have had to trot out a troop of synchronized monkeys riding unicorns to get me to blink. You're going to see a lot of programs and what may be your top choice now might fall down the list as you interview. You may run out of cash and need to cancel, as I saw people do. But in the end, if it is meant to be, it will be.

 

[vetiver]

I did eight interviews back-to-back in two weeks in mid-January last year, since I was flying across the country and had limited time and money. I did four in CT/NY and four in Boston the week after, and it really wasn't that bad. People told me it was insane to schedule that many in a row, but once you've gotten a few interviews under your belt, it gets very easy. You know what people are going to ask and have generated most of your stock answers by then, so even in the long days of interviewing it's not too tiring. (However, I do remember feeling like passing out after my twelve-interview day at BWH.)

Another key was bringing walking shoes to get to/from interviews to avoid pain/blisters--the two-inch heels were fabulous for the interviews, but not practical for snowy/icy city walking to and from sites. You can stash them with your coat in the closets before interviews begin.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

(However, I do remember feeling like passing out after my twelve-interview day at BWH.)

Holy crappoles! You had 12?!?!? Wow, I think I only had like 7 or 8 that day. I was done by 3:30.

But anyways, doing back to back interviews can be grueling but if you're used to the routine, you can easily get through it. Just try not to get places confused when you reflect on these interviews during February when you have to come up with your rank list.

 

[cytoborg]

Yeah I did 5 interviews in 5 days in Southern Cal. They were my last 5 interviews and they were gruelling. By the last one I am fairly sure I made a pretty lame impression. M-W-F would be more do-able. But if you don't have a choice, you don't have a choice.

Jan 23 is getting a bit late, but I guess if they are still interviewing at that time, it means they haven't made their ROL yet so that's all that matters!

 

[miko2005]

Another key was bringing walking shoes to get to/from interviews to avoid pain/blisters--the two-inch heels were fabulous for the interviews, but not practical for snowy/icy city walking to and from sites. You can stash them with your coat in the closets before interviews begin.

I can totally understand the high heel shoes pain. I was recently interviewing at a place where they apparently thought it was a good idea for me to attend a gross conference which involved an hour of standing. While I normally wouldn't mind at all, the brand new 2+ inch heel shoes
were killing my feet. Needless to say I wasn't happy.

 

[beary]

I can totally understand the high heel shoes pain.

My feet always hurt so bad anyway that I am just going to wear flats. I know that heels look better on women but I figure I will look better in flats than hobbling and limping around in heels. 😳

 

[Pingu]

My feet always hurt so bad anyway that I am just going to wear flats.

What? OMG! *Weeps uncontrollably and smears her mascara* 🙁

 

[beary]

What? OMG! *Weeps uncontrollably and smears her mascara* 🙁

Sorry Pingu. I cannot compete with the Imedla Marcos of Path. 🙂

 

[Pingu]

I'm not asking for 4 inch stilettos, but at least a 1-2 inch heel! Flats look like crap with a suit!

Yes, your feet will hurt but your feet will hurt no matter what following an interview. You do SO much unnecessary walking it is not funny, then you will leave from the interview to the airport where you will do even MORE walking, then you will sit on the plane in a cramped position just long enough for your muscles cramp, more walking again, and so on....

Always bring clothes to change into after the interview. I immediately took off my shoes when i got to the car and put on flip flops. I would cut the feet of my panty hose to get them on and then find the nearest gas station to change at. 😱

 

[deschutes]

Oooh, did the "fashion-savvy advice" infiltrate this thread? 😉

Y'know, even a 1 to 2 inch heel is killer if one has short feet. 🙁 I probably would have to swallow Tylenol #3 prophylactically.

I hate pain, so spank me.

Heels are for special occasions. Like weekend lunches and evenings out etc. And dressy events of course. If I wear heels to meet you, you must be really special 😛

 

[miko2005]

My feet always hurt so bad anyway that I am just going to wear flats. I know that heels look better on women but I figure I will look better in flats than hobbling and limping around in heels. 😳

I know what you mean but I am just so short (only 5'3") and at least the high heels raise me up a bit. I wore an old pair of high heel shoes (back from med school interview days) for the interview at my home school and I had the biggest blisters and I was literally limping. My feet hurt for days after the interview 🙁 . After the interview, I tossed them in the trash and invested in nicer and more comfortable ones. Even though they are still high heels, they feel a lot better. 🙂

 

[beary]

This is a dumb question. Did you folks try to get your suit cleaned between interviews? I know it will get wrinkled in the suitcase, but I should be able to iron it in the hotel.

 

[deschutes]

I didn't bother. I just hung it out to air the soonest I could.

 

[yaah]

This is a dumb question. Did you folks try to get your suit cleaned between interviews? I know it will get wrinkled in the suitcase, but I should be able to iron it in the hotel.

Duh, new suit for every interview! What kind of first class existence is this cleaning and ironing suits business?

 

[deschutes]

Duh, new suit for every interview! What kind of first class existence is this cleaning and ironing suits business?

Did you fly Jeeves along with you? 😉