Dinners the night prior?

[cytoborg]

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How many of you have been invited to a dinner the night before the interview, and at what programs? Was this mentioned in the initial email/letter, or in a confirmation letter, or when you spoke with them on the phone? So far none of my programs have mentioned a dinner and I'm starting to wonder because I'm making travel plans. 😕

 

[yaah]

It's actually not that common - the places that I did it at contacted me well in advance. Penn tells you about when you schedule the interview, as does Mayo. Iowa contacts you soon after you schedule the interview (a resident does). Those were the only 3 places that it was offered - so certainly don't worry if they haven't contacted you. Most places will take you out to lunch anyway so two meals is a bit of overkill for them. It's still nice when they do it though!

 

[stormjen]

One of mine mentioned a dinner either the night before or the night of the interview. I don't know how feasible this will be, however, so I may have to skip it (they said they will accomodate my travel arrangements).

 

[Pookies]

The only place that I know that has mentioned a dinner with residents is the University of Kentucky at lexington.

 

[deschutes]

One of mine did too. I believe it was MUSC. (In my deprived state I've actually managed to forget.) Iowa hasn't mentioned anything of the sort, unless there's a package waiting for me when I get home.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

UPenn was the only program to mention such a thing. They said that if I get into Philly before 6 pm they could schedule something. They also requested that I bring a 6-pack of what I thought was one of the world's finest lager (kidding).

 

[EvilNewbie]

I am surprised that nobody mentioned Northwestern offering dinners before the interview. They let you know when they send out invitations to interview. Usually dinner is the sunday before the monday interview. That's the only one where they offered me a dinner before the interview. I didn't know that Mayo offered dinners before interviewing, it would be nice if they mentioned in their invitation. Luckily I choose to interview on Monday giving me the opportunity for a FREE dinner 🙂 I haven't heard from UPenn, guess I am a backup for them as well or maybe a rejection like Duke.

 

[SLUsagar]

I am surprised that nobody mentioned Northwestern offering dinners before the interview. They let you know when they send out invitations to interview. Usually dinner is the sunday before the monday interview. That's the only one where they offered me a dinner before the interview. I didn't know that Mayo offered dinners before interviewing, it would be nice if they mentioned in their invitation. Luckily I choose to interview on Monday giving me the opportunity for a FREE dinner 🙂 I haven't heard from UPenn, guess I am a backup for them as well or maybe a rejection like Duke.

regarding NW's dinner....

anyone know where it's at??? at the PD's or other faculty's home? (seems to be a common theme among pre-interview dinners for other specialties). Or at a nice restaurant? -- hell, it's chicago, just pick any of 'em.

 

[garfield]

I had dinner the night before in MUSC. U of Alabama-Birmingham went over the top... 2 free nights in fairly nice hotel, free dinner the night before, and free breakfast and lunch the day of the interview, and a free T-shirt (believe it or not).

 

[cytoborg]

Wow, a free T-shirt? Do they offer low APR credit cards, too? 😀

I'm glad to see that none of the programs mentioned are programs on my list. In my self-doubting anxiety-ridden paranoia, I was beginning to wonder if the dinners were reserved only for the most choice candidates and that I didn't make the cut.

 

[stormjen]

I just got invited to a dinner by a second program. They waited until the week before the interview - after I've already purchased my plane tickets, thereby ensuring that I won't arrive in time to actually attend said dinner.

 

[scootad.]

Do some programs only invite a select group of their interviewees for dinner and neglect to tell their second class candidates (e.g. courtesy interviewees) of said dinner? just wondering

 

[yaah]

I don't think so - if they are going to invite candidates out to dinner, they will do it for everyone. If they really like a candidate, they will often just tell them that, but usually after the interview when they try to determine if you are a normal individual or not.

 

[cytoborg]

Do some programs only invite a select group of their interviewees for dinner and neglect to tell their second class candidates (e.g. courtesy interviewees) of said dinner? just wondering

Sorry to spread the paranoia! I was just kidding. Well, mostly. 😀

 

[SLUsagar]

regarding NW's dinner....

anyone know where it's at??? at the PD's or other faculty's home? (seems to be a common theme among pre-interview dinners for other specialties). Or at a nice restaurant? -- hell, it's chicago, just pick any of 'em.

i'll answer my own ?...
it's at a restaurant nearby (walking distance apparently) to NW. Several hotels nearby as well, also walking distance.

 

[deschutes]

An Applebees - as far as I can tell from this distance - is not really a breakfast sort of place is it?

 

[b&ierstiefel]

I've only been to Applebees during lunch and dinner...my team on my first month of IM would congregate there for our post-call meals...sort of a tradition. I presume they serve a decent breakfast too.

 

[deschutes]

With such a yummy-sounding name, I expected it to be the sort of place that serves home-made Belgian waffles slathered with whipped cream and topped with fresh berries. And yet I can find nothing of the sort on their website!

However, I welcome any pleasant surprise when I actually walk through their doors 🙂

 

[b&ierstiefel]

I'm sure there won't be any extravagant surprises unless you're expecting samosas or sausage mcmuffins. Applebees is a generic restaurant similar to TGIF, Bennigan's, or Chili's (although I can't see myself having breakfast at the latter 3 places ). Imagine eating chili for breakfast...deadly farts for the rest of the day.

 

[deschutes]

I'm sure there won't be any extravagant surprises unless you're expecting samosas or sausage mcmuffins. Applebees is a generic restaurant similar to TGIF, Bennigan's, or Chili's (although I can't see myself having breakfast at the latter 3 places ).

That was EXACTLY what I thought. I've eaten lots of strange breakfasts in my life, but something like a garden salad would be pushing it.

Sausage McMuffins are goooooood! They are a special sort of craving.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

Sausage McMuffins are goooooood! They are a special sort of craving.

Me and sausage McMuffins have a strange relationship. The only time I think about them is when I got the drunk munchies and I get back home after a night on the town. I think, "McDonald's will be open in 3-4 hours and I can get some rest and then get breakfast" (I don't like to eat and sleep immediately thereafter). But when I wake up, it's not 3-4 hours later and when I'm up, the hunger has dissipated.

 

[deschutes]

I think sausage McMuffins would be a lot less cravable if they were a regular menu item throughout the day.

The mental image of a sausage McMuffin is growing larger all the time. Maybe I will wake up early tomorrow and get myself one 😉

 

[acparsons]

UT Knoxville took me to a really nice seafood restaurant the night before, provided one night's stay at the Raddison, a breakfast with the residents, and lunch was provided. Pretty nice.

 

[grapewrath]

Hello all,

Can anyone tell me how I should dress at the Northwestern pre-interview dinner? That is the only program where I will have such a dinner, and just curious to know what to wear. Is a regular dress shirt, slacks, and nice shoes good enough, or do I also have to wear a sportcoat and tie on top of that? Would really like to know soon, since this dinner is coming up FAST!

 

[EvilNewbie]

I can't tell you how to dress. I would wear a t-shirt and jeans personally because I am a laid back kind of guy. You can't go wrong with slacks and a dress shirt but wouldn't advise on a tie. Also to add, Ohio State University also gives dinner before the interview.

 

[yaah]

No one would fault you from contacting the program coordinator (the secretary who set up your interview) or a resident. It's a legitimate question. I didn't do a pre-interview dinner there (it wasn't offered last year, I had my pre-interview northwestern dinner at a great bar off Michigan ave) but at the other places it was completely casual. Jeans and a t-shirt might be pushing it though. Particularly if this is your t-shirt:

 

[deleted57552]

Hello all,

Can anyone tell me how I should dress at the Northwestern pre-interview dinner? That is the only program where I will have such a dinner, and just curious to know what to wear. Is a regular dress shirt, slacks, and nice shoes good enough, or do I also have to wear a sportcoat and tie on top of that? Would really like to know soon, since this dinner is coming up FAST!

In general, I think the shirts/slacks/nice shoes combo should be sufficient. Wearing a tie and a sportcoat may be warranted but not necessary, IMHO, if the dresscode for the occasion is casual.

Hope your NW interviews go well. I have a friend who is there interviewing with you 🙂.

 

[grapewrath]

Hi,

Thanks you guys for that info. SeenTheLight, I hope you do well on your interviews too (that's if you're applying for path right now like me). Does your friend happen to go to UMich or SLU?

 

[deschutes]

Three pre-interview dinners so far - both residents turned up in jeans at the first (and this was an Italian wood-grill place), one resident turned up in scrubs and took me to her house for the second, and 3 residents in jeans at the third - with 6 of us squished into a booth. 👍 👍 👍

I over-dressed (though not by much) for all.

 

[SLUsagar]

Hello all,

Can anyone tell me how I should dress at the Northwestern pre-interview dinner? That is the only program where I will have such a dinner, and just curious to know what to wear. Is a regular dress shirt, slacks, and nice shoes good enough, or do I also have to wear a sportcoat and tie on top of that? Would really like to know soon, since this dinner is coming up FAST!

did the NW pre-interview dinner last week - i wouldn't worry - ABOUT THE DINNER ... (see below). but yah, i agree that the "shirts/slacks/nice shoes combo should be sufficient" comment was correct. Ties can be worn, but are absolutely unnec., and jeans are rather risky.
worry about NW's new (apparently they do this for undergrad & medschool, 1st time for path residency) PANEL style interviews. You still do have 2 half-hour indiv. interview, but then you have like an hour panel style interview:
yours will prob be something like couple of attendings (1-2), PD, and an upper level resident, with 3-4 candidates, all in same room around a table [unsure if it was square, rectangular, or circular - i can only recall that my hands literally were so sweaty with nerves from the PANEL format that if you get on your knees and take a peek under the table, you'll make out my handprints from wiping off the sweat].
I personally have yet to go on an interview that is PANEL style, and i thought that NW's was absolutely unnec. and rather ridiculous. I felt like afterwards that i should be a good candidate though -- for NW's MBA program....... not their path residency...with the type of rapid-fire questions that were asked ("so, ____, [turning to next interviewer], i want you to describe a situation where thought you might suceed but instead failed, and what you learned from the situation).
yes, i agree: 😱 😱 😱

 

[yaah]

What does it say about me that I would actually enjoy this type of situation...At NW last year there was no panel interview. The other candidate there that day and I did meet with the PD at the end of the day together, but it was mostly about questions we had for him. I would have enjoyed a panel day, hearing the types of answers other people give. I actually enjoy crap like that - the pressure all on me but I can also only hurt myself (as opposed to situations where the pressure is all on you but other people are depending on you for the right answer, like a frozen section).

But I realize I am in the minority here, so I concede that this is a bit irregular. If I was a PD I would want to make interview candidates as comfortable and relaxed as possible during their interview - ask some tough questions, of course, but whether the person can perform under pressure should be addressed in their LORs and transcript.

Did NW switch PDs or something? Because their PD was one of the more laid back people I met on my travels.

 

[deschutes]

with the type of rapid-fire questions that were asked ("so, ____, [turning to next interviewer], i want you to describe a situation where thought you might suceed but instead failed, and what you learned from the situation).

I always wonder what they are expecting with questions like that. Maybe they aren't "expecting" anything. Maybe it doesn't matter what you say, it's how you say it. I wonder what it yields though, or how it proves anything that they really would want know about a candidate.

I don't think the PD changed.

 

[ddx]

hey slusagar- i think i was sittin to your right during that panel! for your own comfort, i think you looked very calm and together. 😉 yeah it was pretty intense. the questions were definitely medschool interview type questions rather than residency type questions. the questions would have been fine if we had more than a few seconds to think up a response. perhaps they were just looking for good communication skills, etc.. who knows.