Cancel interviews at less highly ranked schools?

[rofl]

---

Members do not see this ad.

if I got into a highly ranked school that has a great program, great fit blah blah blah...

no scholarship, just acceptance.

is it worth it to fly to other schools you wouldn't ideally go to, but go there for an interview strictly in the hopes of getting scholarship money to make it cheaper than the more highly ranked school?

 

[gmcguitar4]

why go through the stress

 

[Morzh]

You're going to have to answer that question yourself since it would be different for each person. Is there a (real) possibility that you would attend the lower "ranked" school if they accepted you and offered you a scholarship? Or would you still choose the higher ranked school? What if the lower ranked school accepts you, doesn't offer any scholarship, but you fall in love with their curriculum/atmosphere even more than you already have with the higher ranked school?

The real question is how important are rankings to you. It's OK if they are highly important, but that will vary greatly depending on your goals (are you definitely wanting to go into academics and do big time research?).

 

[StoicJosher]

Depends on your priorities.

Less debt when you graduate vs "prestige" from big name university.

 

[DrUKDO]

It's really a personal decision. If you have the time, money, and resources to make the other interviews without too much headache it might be worth it. If you know that you don't want to attend those schools anyway then it would be good to save yourself and them the headache.

 

[SBR249]

Look at your chances of getting a substantial scholarship from those lower ranked schools given your stats. Then ask yourself how likely are you to get them and if you have a good chance and end up getting it, how likely you are to go.

If the answer to either of those questions is unlikely, then I think it would be nice if you canceled (preferably as far in advance as possible) so as to free up a spot for someone else who may really want to go.

 

[typicalindian]

I wish I can say some day that I got so many interviews that I actually canceled some of them >_>

 

[kduck]

I've continued to attend my scheduled interviews even though I've been accepted into schools I really like. Every time I attend an interview, I feel like I learn a little bit more about what I value in a school, and get a better basis for comparing schools. I would keep going if you can afford it, but that's just my opinion. Good luck! 🙂

 

[SoonerFromTexas]

You're going to have to answer that question yourself since it would be different for each person. Is there a (real) possibility that you would attend the lower "ranked" school if they accepted you and offered you a scholarship? Or would you still choose the higher ranked school? What if the lower ranked school accepts you, doesn't offer any scholarship, but you fall in love with their curriculum/atmosphere even more than you already have with the higher ranked school?

The real question is how important are rankings to you. It's OK if they are highly important, but that will vary greatly depending on your goals (are you definitely wanting to go into academics and do big time research?).

Awesome answer. Listen (read) to this and the other persons point about taking an interview away from another applicant and then make YOUR decision. Good luck

 

[rofl]

hmm i guess i am gonna have to do some soul searching!

 

[NickNaylor]

Unless you've made a definitive decision, my opinion is that you should attend all of your interviews. You really don't get a feel for a school until you go to the interview day; if you never go to an interview, how do you know that you definitely wouldn't attend?

Obviously if you don't have the time or money, then maybe skip out on a few interviews. But I wouldn't be skipping any just because your school is "highly ranked."

 

[blife]

I think it depends - if you can afford it, aren't burnt out and are genuinely interested in the remaining schools then go to the rest of the interviews. Or, maybe just go to the one most interested in and cancel the others. I cancelled my remaining interviews after I got into one of my top choices because I was spending a lot of money and taking a lot of vacation days from work. It all depends on your situation. . .