Cancel/Not going on interviews?

[neuroride]

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If you get an invite for an interview and don't think that you are actually going to interview, do you need to cancel/email that program or do you just let your invite sit?

I applied wide and have gotten more invites than I thought I would.

 

[nykka3]

If you get an invite for an interview and don't think that you are actually going to interview, do you need to cancel/email that program or do you just let your invite sit?

I applied wide and have gotten more invites than I thought I would.

uh hmm. you are supposed to cancel as soon as you can so others on the waiting list for an interview will get an invite sooner hopefully. it is also considered rude to not email or call to cancel ahead of time vs. not showing up. just put yourself in the shoes of the prgm or the waitlisted applicant. it is also wise to accept/decline an invitation promptly since slots tend to fill fast and you could miss out on getting an interview. congrats on your many interviews though!

 

[mmag]

It's proper to email programs to decline interview invitations so they can invite additional applicants.
Don't forget to also go back on ERAS and check the withdraw application box on the document selection section of each program. That way programs won't keep downloading your application updates.

 

[buckley]

just send an email of an im-sorry-i-wont-be-able-to-attend...thank-you-very-much....you dont even have to explain yourself. it would be very rude not to give adequate notice if you are not going to show up. what comes around goes around...especially if you are applying to a rather tight specialty

 

[mlw03]

definately send at least an email (with a return receipt if you know how to use that feature in outlook) or make a phone call. remember you're representing your med school, so if you no show to an interview, it's easy to imagine the program director saying, "what kind of jerks do they have at university of X. i'll think twice about inviting an applicant from there in the future." of course that's somewhat silly because what one person does doesn't necesarilly reflect upon how others will act, but it's still professional to give notice.

 

[Hard24Get]

If you get an invite for an interview and don't think that you are actually going to interview, do you need to cancel/email that program or do you just let your invite sit?

I applied wide and have gotten more invites than I thought I would.

I am in a similar boat but there are a number of programs that I would like to go to that don't offer interviews until after the Dean's Letter. If I don't get them, I will need/want the other interviews, so I am thinking I should sit on them until a week early Nov - this would give 3 weeks notice. I feel bad but it seems the only practical thing to do, the schedule is already looking crazy.

 

[mackaikai]

I am in a similar boat but there are a number of programs that I would like to go to that don't offer interviews until after the Dean's Letter. If I don't get them, I will need/want the other interviews, so I am thinking I should sit on them until a week early Nov - this would give 3 weeks notice. I feel bad but it seems the only practical thing to do, the schedule is already looking crazy.

doing the exact same thing here =o

 

[howelljolly]

"Ive got 30 invitations, and Ive scheduled them all. Ive gone on 15 already and I've had enough. I'm just not going to show up for the rest"

Ive heard this from quite a few people on the interview trail. Some people seem to think that all invitations have been given out already, so if they cancel, or no-show, the slot is wasted already. So they didn't bother to cancel.

This is not true.

Those of us that have not recieved an interview nor a rejection from a program may be on a wait list.

I just received an invitation from a program that told me outright that I had been on a wait list, and someone had just canceled - so I was up next.

Please cancel the interviews you don't want to go on.

Thanks

 

[mcl]

There is a difference between declining and canceling an interview.

If you have received an invitation from a program but don't intend to schedule the interview, an email is courteous and appreciated, but the program will eventually realize that you aren't going to respond. For applicants holding onto invitations, please don't think the programs are holding a space open on each of their dates just in case you decide to contact them. You might have to settle on being wait listed if you take too long to let them know you are interested.

If you are scheduled for an interview and decide not to go it is a VERY big deal to no show. There are lots of applicants on wait lists, hoping for a spot and programs make a lot of preparations for your visit. If an applicant no shows he/she has wasted the time and resources of the program in general and the interviewing faculty specifically (not to mention the coordinator). It is considered the height of nonprofessionalism and many programs (including mine) will call the student's dean's office (after determining that the applicant is actually OK, of course. We really do worry about you all and all the traveling you have to do).

 

[belle54321]

I just received a few invites from less than desirable programs (didn't think they were coming), after getting some highly desirable ones in September. I already have 13 interviews. However, I am still waiting for a few more programs. Is it rude to schedule interviews with the less desirable programs now, and then canceling them later?

 

[RenshawCell]

I just received a few invites from less than desirable programs (didn't think they were coming), after getting some highly desirable ones in September. I already have 13 interviews. However, I am still waiting for a few more programs. Is it rude to schedule interviews with the less desirable programs now, and then canceling them later?

As long as you know that you'll have at least 2 weeks to cancel and allow them to invite someone else.

Don't schedule them now, and then cancel 5-7 days before. That's just messed-up.

 

[mlw03]

As long as you know that you'll have at least 2 weeks to cancel and allow them to invite someone else.

Don't schedule them now, and then cancel 5-7 days before. That's just messed-up.

Agree with this advice. Remember you may be looking at some of those places in the future for fellowships. Just act professionally and you'll be fine. People cancel interviews all the time for various reasons. As long as proper notice is given, you've done what you ought to.

 

[gutonc]

I just received a few invites from less than desirable programs (didn't think they were coming), after getting some highly desirable ones in September. I already have 13 interviews. However, I am still waiting for a few more programs. Is it rude to schedule interviews with the less desirable programs now, and then canceling them later?

If you are certain that you're not going to interview there, no matter what, then just decline the interview offer. If you may go there if you don't score the other interviews you want then go ahead and schedule now (for late in the season if possible) and cancel as soon as you know you want to. 2 weeks is a bare minimum unless your reason for cancelling is a medical emergency.

 

[belle54321]

Thanks for the advice.