Deciding Whether to Attend Interviews

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microcanoe371

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Hey guys,

So, first of all, just to prevent any chaos that I've seen from threads like this in the past....I'd like to say that I am by no means complaining about my situation or making this thread to show off.

With that said, I've been fortunate enough to receive interview invites from WashU and Columbia. However, I'm having trouble deciding whether or not I want to attend them.

I already have acceptances from Baylor and Vanderbilt (leaning towards Baylor right now, because of price and I was a lot more impressed with it than Vandy)

I made the mistake of applying to way too many schools, and I've already attended 17 interviews, so needless to say, I'm thoroughly exhausted of traveling and interviewing. Also, from what I've heard about WashU and Columbia, they seem to have reputations of being on the more intense side of the spectrum. I feel like the only reason I'd be interested in attending them is because of their names/prestige.

So, because of all that and because I'm happy with Baylor...I'm finding it hard to muster up the energy to go to these two interviews. But on the other hand, I feel like it would be *****ic to turn down interviews from two top 10 schools.

Should I just suck it up and go? Or is it time to call it quits?
 
If you are set with Baylor then there's no point attending those interviews. However, that's only if you know that you are 100% sure about Baylor. Who knows, maybe after you attend the interviews for WashU and Columbia you may want to go to school at either one of those if you are accepted into the schools. It's really your call if you want to attend those interviews. It's not like your other acceptances would be in jeopardy if you didn't attend.
 
It isn't *****ic honestly, I was in a similar situation with the interview invite situation and decided against just going for the sake of going/prestige and declined. It does get exhausting traveling all the time, especially after the tenth one in a row. In the end if they are schools that you most probably wouldn't attend over Baylor, getting acceptances to those places won't do much for you anyways.
Your opinions of whether the atmosphere is as intense or not as you have heard might change after visiting though. If that would totally change your mind, I would consider going...but that's probably it.
 
Wash U is known as a generous place when it comes to financial aid...would the possibility of receiving a merit scholarship change your mind about Baylor?
 
17 interviews? It's up to you, but realize that if you do not attend these interviews, it opens up an interview slot for another candidate.
 
Well there is always a chance you could get sick financial aid or end up liking one of the schools even better than Baylor. You rly have to weigh if it is worth it to go for that chance. I don't think sdn can help too much.

If you do choose Baylor, you can have me as a classmate!
 
If you're completely happy with Baylor, withdraw from the other schools. I can't imagine doing 17 interviews, I stopped after 8. But what premedgrad said about WashU is right, they are quite generous with scholarships, and if you happen to get a scholarship to Baylor or Vandy, WashU might even match it or increase it.

Also, just because they're top 10 doesn't mean they're intense. My friend at Columbia is having a great time, and I know someone at WashU and he loves it. If you can't see yourself attending those schools, then withdrawing is completely understandable. You also really can't use interview day as a judgment of the atmosphere of the school. I enjoyed one of my interview days, but then I went back for Second Look and that turned me off from the school. Just things to think about...
 
I would go to WashU for potential scholarship and finan. aid. Columbia is expensive as hel
 
My advice is usually to go to the interview as long as you have the means to do so. You never know what you will like, and you never know what kind of financial aid you may get.

But if you really are happy with Baylor, there really is nothing wrong with turning down these interviews. Baylor is a great school and is on the cheaper side compared to most other schools. Are you from Texas? Would you be happy there as opposed to in St. Louis or New York? Location is a big factor too.
 
Geebeejay said:
17 interviews? It's up to you, but realize that if you do not attend these interviews, it opens up an interview slot for another candidate.
Click to expand...

This. If you know you would not attend it over Baylor, I think it would be the gentleman (or woman) thing to do. It would give another hopeful applicant a chance to interview at what might very well be there dream school.
 
jcaptian said:
This. If you know you would not attend it over Baylor, I think it would be the gentleman (or woman) thing to do. It would give another hopeful applicant a chance to interview at what might very well be there dream school.
Click to expand...

The point is.. OP won't really know if it is better than Baylor or not without visiting... well that is without using preconceived notions and relying on the opinion of others.
 
Thanks everyone for all the responses, I really appreciate it.

Venom5 said:
OP stats?

GPA / MCAT?
Click to expand...

Some more info about myself:
3.7+ cGPA/3.8+sGPA
34+ MCAT
California Resident

Yeah, I feel like I won't be 100% sure about Baylor until after second-look and it's not fair to rule out WashU and Columbia based on stereotypes, so I'll most likely end up attending just so I won't have any regrets.

Thanks again for all the help.
 
microcanoe371 said:
Thanks everyone for all the responses, I really appreciate it.



Some more info about myself:
3.7+ cGPA/3.8+sGPA
34+ MCAT
California Resident

Yeah, I feel like I won't be 100% sure about Baylor until after second-look and it's not fair to rule out WashU and Columbia based on stereotypes, so I'll most likely end up attending just so I won't have any regrets.

Thanks again for all the help.
Click to expand...

I think that's a good idea, you'll 100% know you made the right decision.
 
I say, if you are happy with the schools you are already accepted to, save your money and time and give someone else a chance at those schools.
 
I say go. If you already attended 17 others, presumably you went to some lower tier schools, and considered it to be worth it. The benefit you get from attending these interviews could be much much more than from those, so go for it!
 
Jas1360 said:
I say, if you are happy with the schools you are already accepted to, save your money and time and give someone else a chance at those schools.
Click to expand...

Moot point because even if OP gets in, he/she would still give that spot to another student if he/she withdraws (and same with Baylor too). Anyway you don't enter this process with the benefit of others in mind. At least WashU has been shown to most likely be worth attending the interview.
 
microcanoe371 said:
Hey guys,

So, first of all, just to prevent any chaos that I've seen from threads like this in the past....I'd like to say that I am by no means complaining about my situation or making this thread to show off.

With that said, I've been fortunate enough to receive interview invites from WashU and Columbia. However, I'm having trouble deciding whether or not I want to attend them.

I already have acceptances from Baylor and Vanderbilt (leaning towards Baylor right now, because of price and I was a lot more impressed with it than Vandy)

I made the mistake of applying to way too many schools, and I've already attended 17 interviews, so needless to say, I'm thoroughly exhausted of traveling and interviewing. Also, from what I've heard about WashU and Columbia, they seem to have reputations of being on the more intense side of the spectrum. I feel like the only reason I'd be interested in attending them is because of their names/prestige.

So, because of all that and because I'm happy with Baylor...I'm finding it hard to muster up the energy to go to these two interviews. But on the other hand, I feel like it would be *****ic to turn down interviews from two top 10 schools.

Should I just suck it up and go? Or is it time to call it quits?
Click to expand...

I didn't read all of your post but my advice is to imagine being in a much worse position like having a GPA below 3.0 and an mcat below 24 and getting an interview, you'd take the opportunity. And from what I know you have to attend the interview before being accepted, I may be wrong but anyways, I'd go to the interview.
 
sieg5 said:
I didn't read all of your post but my advice is to imagine being in a much worse position like having a GPA below 3.0 and an mcat below 24 and getting an interview, you'd take the opportunity. And from what I know you have to attend the interview before being accepted, I may be wrong but anyways, I'd go to the interview.
Click to expand...

There's a big difference between taking the opportunity to go to your first interview (you would be insane not to) and going to an interview when you have already attended 17 and been accepted to 2 schools. OP's dilemma is very understandable. I think in his position, I would go to the WashU interview, but probably leave out Columbia.
 
TheFool said:
Moot point because even if OP gets in, he/she would still give that spot to another student if he/she withdraws (and same with Baylor too). Anyway you don't enter this process with the benefit of others in mind. At least WashU has been shown to most likely be worth attending the interview.
Click to expand...

I believe Jas1360's point was referring to the opportunity to interview. If OP was to attend the interviews it would be taking away a chance from other well qualified applicants. We all know there are a very limited amount of interview slots. Of course it is well within OP's rights to attend his interview. He has earned it. However, if OP does decides to withdraw, which seems unlikely, he can rest assured that he is giving some other well qualified hopeful a chance. Obviously this application process isn't about charity, but after 17 interviews, you would think OP has an found the right medical school for him. The grass isn't always greener on the other side, but greener where you water it. If you have fallen in love with a school (Baylor), why keep playing the game?

In the end, it's up to you OP. Do what you feel is best for your career interests.
 
jcaptian said:
If you have fallen in love with a school (Baylor), why keep playing the game?
Click to expand...
Sometimes you don't know if it's love or if you just think it's the best out of the bunch. You might fall in love with another school that might offer better facilities, location, scholarships, etc. I suggest to the OP that if travelling costs aren't an issue that he should attend those two interviews. I don't think you should have the desires of those you don't even know in mind in the interview process.
 
I wonder what the acceptance rate is for people that were offered an interview only after someone else declined an interview. Everyone mentions the opening of a spot from not attending an interview for someone else, but I do kind of wonder how often one is excepted in this situation when the only reason they got an interview is because someone else declined one?
 
I got this advice from the chair of an elite residency program when I interviewed there a couple weeks ago:

Never cancel your last couple interviews. You will always have the urge because the interview trail gets exhausting, but lots of people fall in love with the last program at which they interview.

The obvious caveat is that finances play a greater role for you as your immediate financial outlook is bleak over the next 4 years, lol.
 
jcaptian said:
If you have fallen in love with a school (Baylor), why keep playing the game?
Click to expand...

It's easy to fall in love with a school when you're only there for a few hours, seeing only the best parts of it and talking to a few medical students who like the school enough to take time out of the day to talk/give tours. It's just as easy to fall out of love when you see another school, attend second look, or even as late as matriculation. The only reasons to decline other interviews is if you can't afford the travel or if you know for sure you wouldn't attend the schools over the one(s) you are already accepted to.
 
Ismet said:
It's easy to fall in love with a school when you're only there for a few hours, seeing only the best parts of it and talking to a few medical students who like the school enough to take time out of the day to talk/give tours.
Click to expand...

This is true. My question is after 17 interviews what is OP looking for at this point?

Ismet said:
It's just as easy to fall out of love when you see another school, attend second look, or even as late as matriculation. The only reasons to decline other interviews is if you can't afford the travel or if you know for sure you wouldn't attend the schools over the one(s) you are already accepted to.
Click to expand...

This was my point. If you love a program and wouldn't attend it another, then why not save your hard earned money?
 
Sephiroth said:
I wonder what the acceptance rate is for people that were offered an interview only after someone else declined an interview. Everyone mentions the opening of a spot from not attending an interview for someone else, but I do kind of wonder how often one is excepted in this situation when the only reason they got an interview is because someone else declined one?
Click to expand...

This would be interesting to find out. I doubt we'd be privy to such information though.
 
jcaptian said:
This would be interesting to find out. I doubt we'd be privy to such information though.
Click to expand...

well, there is a certain ask me anything thread going on right now. I may have to hit that up fairly soon.
 
jcaptian said:
This is true. My question is after 17 interviews what is OP looking for at this point?



This was my point. If you love a program and wouldn't attend it another, then why not save your hard earned money?
Click to expand...

Because in the case of OP... hasn't even visited said schools....
 
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