Canceling an Interview a Couple Days Away due to Very Recent Acceptance

[Nomtastic]

Hi SDN friends,

I just received an acceptance to a top choice of mine, School A, this weekend. School A is a well-known school that many people apply to. This is my second acceptance (*small happy dance*). From my understanding, School A does not provide a lot of scholarship funding, so cost-wise it may be a little difficult for me. However, I really loved the school and had a great interview experience.

My conundrum--I now have an interview at School B the end of this upcoming week. School B is a newer school but seems to have a great emphasis on work-life balance and collaboration, which are very important to me. However, School B actually has the most expensive tuition (not accounting for any scholarship funding). My questions is--should I cancel my interview at School B? I feel bad for canceling literally a couple days before my interview and don't want to step on any toes. Although I already bought my plane ticket, it would definitely save me from hotel, travel, shuttle, etc. funds if I cancel. Honestly, I may pick School B over School A or my other acceptance if (1) I fall in love with the school during my interview and/or (2) School B offers a really good scholarship package (i.e. full ride). How likely would the latter be? Is this too late notice? Would a couple days be enough for them to extend that interview spot to another interviewee should I cancel? What would you do?

Any and all insight/advice would be very much appreciated. Thanks, SDN!

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[samac]

I doubt you'd be offered a full ride interviewing this late in the game. If you think there's a chance you might fall in love with the school then go to the interview. If you're set of school A cancel it and don't waste your or their time. It's not going to matter cancelling it now a couple days before.

 

[Nomtastic]

I doubt you'd be offered a full ride interviewing this late in the game. If you think there's a chance you might fall in love with the school then go to the interview. If you're set of school A cancel it and don't waste your or their time. It's not going to matter cancelling it now a couple days before.

Ok, thanks for the input!

 

[mw18]

If you say what the schools are then people with experience with the financial aid and who considered going to those schools can give more insight. I learned 10x more about a school at an interview then I knew beforehand.

 

[deleted785918]

The way you should consider it is this: If School B offered you a full ride, would you still turn it down to go to School A, paying full tuition? If the answer is yes, cancel the interview. If not, then go. It's not too late in the game for scholarships.

To me, it sounds like you are still considering school B. The minor costs for hotel, transport, etc. might end up being worth it if you end up loving the school and they offer you money to attend? If I were you, I would interview at school B.

 

[RogueUnicorn]

A) It'd be dumb to cancel
B) It'd be rude to cancel this late

 

[holycrap]

I'd just go if I were you since you already bought the ticket

 

[Nietzsche's Barber]

OP, last year I cancelled an interview less than 24 hours before it started. Long story short: I arrived to an OOS school, excited to interview...but was absolutely mortified by the surroundings and feel of the town.

I didn't want to waste my time or the interviewers, so I cancelled. I would have felt worse withdrawing post-interview. Was it rude? Absolutely! But lots of things about this process are impolite. There was no way I was going to get all dolled up, fake enthusiasm, and lie just to seem polite.

If you don't want to go, don't go. You have control over your own life. Use the money you'll save for some beverages.

 

[Nietzsche's Barber]

Wow can I ask where this was? Sounds scary...

Haha I like scary! It was in a "just driving through" town near someplace popular, a town where people live because they can't afford a place near where they work.

There was just nothing to do and I would have went crazy in less than a month. Plus, the campus was just...depressing. It was "hate at first sight".

 

[dguirg95]

If you're interested in the school at all then go to the interview. There is nothing wrong with cancelling but make sure you have decided where you want to go to school before you do that


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[TheBiologist]

just go unless it would be a huge burden. why not?

 

[Nomtastic]

Thanks all for the advice. I appreciate it!

 

[CaliforniaDreamer]

I disagree that it would be rude to cancel if you want to save the money that it would take to go to the interview, and who cares what some random admin at a school you don't go to thinks anyways. Whether you should cancel for your other reasons I am not commenting on, just the point you made about feeling rude for canceling.

 

[SwordOfTheMorning]

OP, last year I cancelled an interview less than 24 hours before it started. Long story short: I arrived to an OOS school, excited to interview...but was absolutely mortified by the surroundings and feel of the town.

I didn't want to waste my time or the interviewers, so I cancelled. I would have felt worse withdrawing post-interview. Was it rude? Absolutely! But lots of things about this process are impolite. There was no way I was going to get all dolled up, fake enthusiasm, and lie just to seem polite.

If you don't want to go, don't go. You have control over your own life. Use the money you'll save for some beverages.

Wow can I ask where this was? Sounds scary...

Mortified? You sound like one of those people that hardly leaves the suburbs and freaks out when he drives to the city and sees a homeless person.

 

[ciestar]

The snowpocalypse in Philly last January cancelled my one interview 24 hours before it happened because Amtrak was shut down so I wasnt getting there. I took it as a sign and never rescheduled (5+ hour trip) and withdrew my app.

 

[ciestar]

Mortified? You sound like one of those people that hardly leaves the suburbs and freaks out when he drives to the city and sees a homeless person.

It's funny, because it makes me think of the Philly schools. Penn is in a high crime area, as are Drexel (not so much East Falls, but Germantown is a block over) and Temple. Jefferson is in Center City and PCOM is off the beaten path in probably the "nicest" location. But there you go, Penn lol

 

[LizzyM]

From where I sit, interviewing applicants, if there is a cancellation at the last minute, my calendar is freed up and I can do something else with that time.
No hurt feelings on my part if you cancel at the last minute.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Mortified? You sound like one of those people that hardly leaves the suburbs and freaks out when he drives to the city and sees a homeless person.

If you read the reply, the barber explains that it was a drive through town with nothing going on. Try not to jump to baseless conclusions.

 

[Nietzsche's Barber]

Mortified? You sound like one of those people that hardly leaves the suburbs and freaks out when he drives to the city and sees a homeless person.

Read my second response: I like scary. I grew up in one of the current top 5 dangerous cities in America. You must play that game from Office Space, ya know, "Jump to Conclusions".

I chose to go to school in a city that has hoards of homeless people. Relax.

 

[KinesiologyNerd]

If you read the reply, the barber explains that it was a drive through town with nothing going on. Try not to jump to baseless conclusions.

I live in the land of drive through cities. The scariest homeless people live in drive through cities.

 

[QuentinT88]

You already bought the plane ticket though, which is the most expensive part.

If your worried about cost, book an airbnb and use it as a mini vacation to a new city while checking out the school. You have nothing to lose by going

 

[gallons]

Go with your gut. It is never wrong.

 

[Skittsie13]

I did this with two days notice after being accepted to one of my top choices. I sent a polite email cancelling my interview and I didn't sense any negative feelings from that school.

I knew without a doubt I would choose my acceptance over this school, even if it was free. If you have any second thoughts I would go on the interview.

 

[Ignatius413]

Ditto to above. If you want to go to school A and already got accepted, save yourself the time and money and just send a polite email. I honestly think most adcoms have more important things to do than get butt hurt about someone who doesn't want to go to their school anyway.