Dinner the night before: not going, does it count against you?

[p54]

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just wondering, i have gone to every single one. I have one last interview coming up and i just really am tired of the process and don't feel like going to it. If you don't go does it seem to count against you? If the residents you eat with are on the committe and never got the chance to get to know you and like you than they cann't lobby on your behalf. Also, seems like alot of times the interviewer want to know if you went to it or not.

 

[EctopicFetus]

I dont think so. i started arriving late cause I have other stuff going on. IMO if you think this place will be #1 or high on your list and you miss it then go back on your 2nd look and as to do the resident dinner.

 

[sacrament]

I very seriously doubt it. They understand that we're on tight schedules, that planes come in late, that we're on the move, etc. It's an event for you to get to know the program better, not another way for them to rank you.

Sometimes I get paranoid about what programs do and don't take note of. And then I figure, hell, if this program is super-concerned about whether or not I went to the dinner, or whether or not my thank-you note was on nice paper, or whether or not my tie was on perfectly straight... then they can f-off, I don't want to go somewhere that's bonkers.

 

[8744]

I have to "red-eye" almost every interview I go on, and then I usually get back late at night and have be on the wards the next morning.

Interviewing as an intern is wearing me out.

I have had a lot of problems getting time off to interview because I have had three intense in-patient rotations during the interview season.

Folks, match the first time.

 

[Finally M3]

It's not held against you if you don't show up.

However, if you have to cancel or make a change of plans, let someone know. We had a dinner that had one applicant and 4 residents because of last minute schedule changes

 

[rugtrousers]

On almost all my interviews, I was asked if I attended the resident dinner the night before. I got the feeling that it would have been okay if I didn't go, but I would have needed to offer a reason (e.g. my flight got in too late). I think going to the dinner shows that you are interested in resident life and are trying to figure out whether you would fit in at that program. Also, some dinners are attended by chiefs that are on the selection committee, so getting to know them can help you.

 

[TheThroat]

Of course it doesn't count against you, but you can learn alot about the residents in the program from talking to them at the dinner. If you don't have a reason to miss the dinner go and you don't go, you're a dork.

 

[inositide]

look, if the PD puts any weight into whether or not you were able to make it to the pre-interview dinner when deciding your place on their rank list, then it is probably not the program that you want to go to.

You have 4 years of medical school history, national medical licensing exam board scores, letters of recommendation from clinical faculty that you worked with, an objective dean's letter describing your essence as medical student, your CV describing your life experiences, and your actual interviews on interview day. If after seeing all of these, the PD wants to factor in your dinner attendance, then I say forget you man.

 

[deleted87716]

if the PD puts any weight into whether or not you were able to make it to the pre-interview dinner when deciding your place on their rank list, then it is probably not the program that you want to go to.

Read my signature. 😉

 

[deleted87716]

On almost all my interviews, I was asked if I attended the resident dinner the night before. I got the feeling that it would have been okay if I didn't go, but I would have needed to offer a reason (e.g. my flight got in too late). I think going to the dinner shows that you are interested in resident life and are trying to figure out whether you would fit in at that program. Also, some dinners are attended by chiefs that are on the selection committee, so getting to know them can help you.

Well put. 🙂

 

[NinerNiner999]

look, if the PD puts any weight into whether or not you were able to make it to the pre-interview dinner when deciding your place on their rank list, then it is probably not the program that you want to go to.

You have 4 years of medical school history, national medical licensing exam board scores, letters of recommendation from clinical faculty that you worked with, an objective dean's letter describing your essence as medical student, your CV describing your life experiences, and your actual interviews on interview day. If after seeing all of these, the PD wants to factor in your dinner attendance, then I say forget you man.

Very short-sighted summary. Often times, our PD asks us who made it out to the dinner. It is never held against the applicant if they didn't make it, but it has, at times, improved an applicant's standing if the interview was less than optimal. To the above poster - every piece of the application material is standardized and tailored to make you look your best. ERAS tells us nothing about what kind of a person you are. It is amazing how many people come out to these dinners and, when put in a social situation, cannot talk their way out of a paper bag. Likewise, often times just showing up shows more interest than any visit or thank you letter will. Keep in mind that residents take their personal time away from their already busy schedules to meet you at these dinners.

 

[CameronFrye]

My question is, why would anyone not try their hardest to make it to these dinners? They give you a chance to get a good feel for the personality of the department and whether or not you will be able to fit in. I'm applying to a field (pathology) which doesn't have these dinners and it is much harder to see if you have chemistry with the department. In the end, didactics, call schedules, benefits, etc don't mean crap if you are unhappy with your environment/coworkers. Med school would've been god awful if I didn't have a great group of friends to go through the experience.

 

[sacrament]

My question is, why would anyone not try their hardest to make it to these dinners?

Two reasons. One is that a lot of us rarely fly in early enough. My schedule is such that I often don't have the luxury of coming in a day early and hanging out, or showing up early in afternoon. (The interview season is so hectic, for me at least, that I really don't understand how so many people are able to make the dinners.) I bought the plane tickets that fit into my schedule and which I could afford, which most of the time puts me into my hotel room in the later part of the evening. It's ridiculous to judge an applicant because they weren't able to move heaven and earth to get to the corner pub in time. The second reason is that at this point I've gone on 12 interviews and spoken with, I don't know, maybe 100 residents. I have yet to hear a resident say something negative about their program. I have yet to hear a resident say anything other than "it's hard but everywhere is hard... we work hard and we play hard... yeah we definitely socialize... yes I like the program director... yes we have sufficient autonomy... yes I would choose it again..." I honestly can't recall a single resident I've spoken to on the trail that deviated substantially from this general line of response. As far as different residency programs having different "personalities", well, maybe I just can't detect it. Every program I've been to has presented an extremely similar personality to me. Maybe that is because I applied only to higher-end, large academic programs which tend to attract a certain type. But at this point, the thought of going to a dinner that is going to be totally interchangable with every other dinner... I just don't want to.

 

[penguins]

I have had residents say that they wouldn't choose the program again and then said why. When asked what they like least about the program or what they would change...about half the time they did say something negative about the program. Of course, they were nice about it but their point was obvious and seemed candid. It would be poor form to openly rag on a program but I have heard "constructive criticisim"
Maybe you aren't asking the right types of questions or in the best way.(?)

I have gotten definite vibes from programs. Some are generic and hard to read, yes. However, most I come away with an impression about who the residents are, etc.