Cancelling an interview

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juddson

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I've recently scheduled an interview but have since determined that I'll be unable to rank the school. It seems to me that cancelling early is best, as it opens the spot up to another applicant that might be able to make use of it. Is cancelling these interviews frowned upon (ie., likely to blacklist you in perpetuity) or no big deal?

Thanks
Judd
 
I wonder the same thing, except I've already cancelled one and I'm on the verge of cancelling a few more. I simply applied to too many places.
 
Think about it this way. if it's a reasonable place they will appreciate you not wasting their time and being considerate by cancelling early, it may well be you simply reveal your own anxiety in having applied to too many places. If they're unreasonable and blacklist you forever you wouldn't want to work there anyway. I would suggest if you have a good reason stating it, i.e. "Thank you for offering me an interview, unfortuantely my family situation has changes and I would be unable to accept a place in your institution. Therefore, I thought it only considerate to cancel my interview with you as soon as possible and allow another canditiate to potentially have 'my' slot. Thanks again, Dr bloggs'
 
I appreciate that you might have been anxious and applied to lots of programs- there's nothing really wrong with that. It's nice that you got a lot of interview offers. Please call and cancel as early as possible, rather than wait until the last minute, or even worse, just not show up. I only blacklist people who don't show and never called to let me know.
 
I recently had to cancel an interview as well and was somewhat concerned as to what direction to take.

Mine ended up sounding something like "I thank you for your gracious invitation to interview; however, I will not be able to interview with your program this year. Thanks again, and have a nice day"

The reason I kept it so short and simple is because I always end up shooting myself in the foot by saying too much. I mean, programs must be used to applicants cancelling their interviews all the time.

What I've heard from our department is that most programs don't mind if you cancel early at all. The key word there is EARLY. I think if you were to cancel the night before that would be a great way to tick a program off. But to cancel months in advance must be something that multiple applicants do.
 
Being part of the admissions process at my own program, I wouldn't care if someone cancelled early. We're all human, and sometimes things happen beyond our control.

If it were very close to the interview date, well it could cause some logistical problems on the program's end, but I don't think anyone would hold it against a candidate.

However this is just me talking. Programs vary. Some programs wont' care because they're so disorganized they won't remember you, some programs will care because they may be narcisstic. I think though that most programs will be understanding &/or not hold it against you, especially since its usually not the attendings, but the secretaries that deal with this matter, and they usually have no to little say in the admissions process.
 
I am not sure why people make such a big fuss of canceling interviews. It's really simple... Email coordinator:

Dear XXX,

Thank you for inviting me for an interview at your program. Unfortunately, due to uncontrolled circumstances, I will be unable to accept (or attend if you already accepted) your invitation. Best of luck on your resident recruitment this year.

Sincerely,

Faebinder.
 
people cancel interviews all the time. its no big deal. why would they want to waste time and money on someone who has no intention of ranking them?
 
You're not so much canceling early for the program (your interviewers will find something else to do that hour) but for some other applicant who would like to take your place.

By the way, if you aren't going there, why would you care if they "blacklist" you? Unless you are rude enough not to show up at all, a cancellation just doesn't register on their problem meter, and, further, there is no global psychiatric blacklist.
 
there is no global psychiatric blacklist.
Click to expand...

When I was a medstudent, I was overly paranoid with this because as we go up in our education--the world becomes smaller & smaller. I thought residencies--especially ones in the same city-would be too small of a world. E.g. the multiple programs in NYC or Philadelphia. The stress interview I had at one program (mentioned in a few other threads) I considered walking out of--literally during the middle of the interview, but I kept thinking to myself that this guy might blacklist me to all the NYC programs.

As I've gone through the education process I do think the world is too big for a medstudent to worry about this, however I'm thinking maybe it is small enough for a fellowship candidate to worry. Pretty much all the programs I've applied to know the other program directors and meet with them once a year.

Actually one fellowship I applied to, during the interview, after they asked me where else I got an interview--with each one I mentioned, I could see the interviewer's face get just a little more frustrated. Several of the programs told me they expected candidates to apply to just the ones in the immediate geographic area. I've also noticed that letters of rec, and knowing attendings from programs tend to open doors for fellowship much more than residency.
 
Are you trying to tell me there is no secret Telephathic Psychiatry Network? Damn!! It would have been cool though. 😀
 
My program so far has 634 applicants for 6 spots.

If you cancel an interview, don't worry. They'll probably not even remember your name by next year. With that many applicants, it won't matter.

(Fellowship on the other hand---sometimes less than 10 applicants for 1-4 spots......)
 
whopper said:
My program so far has 634 applicants for 6 spots.

If you cancel an interview, don't worry. They'll probably not even remember your name by next year. With that many applicants, it won't matter.

(Fellowship on the other hand---sometimes less than 10 applicants for 1-4 spots......)
Click to expand...

What's the absolute minimum amount of time I could give notice? I know it's shmucky, but i have an interview next Friday I'm thinking of canceling, since I've already done 9 interviews and this place wouldn't be in my top anyway. With the holiday weekend, they probably wouldn't get my cancelation till monday, which is all of 4 days notice. I'd hate to do more traveling and sit through an interview I don't want, but is canceling this late a no no? Think they could get another candidate in for an interview between Monday and Friday?
Someone assuage my conscience please...
 
Thanks everybody.

Woe . . .people. This whole "blacklist" thing took on a mind of its own. Obviously there is no global blacklist (nor even a local one, or any list for that matter). I used the word VERY loosely to describe just general "ill will", should it arise. I think my use of the words "in perpetuity" would have given up the hyperbole. Anyway, if you're not an dingus about it (or cancel with less than reasonable notice), I don't think cancelling an interview is a big deal (as opposed to an acting internship, for instance . . .which is very much frowned upon, at least around here.

Justin
 
In my case I need to reschedule because something is out of control ?
 
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