do you call to cancel interviews?

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What is the proper etiquette for cancelling interviews? Do you call the program or can you just e-mail them?

 

[Adcadet]

You just don't show up. Then send a thank you letter a few days later saying that you addressed the card in advance but on the day of the interview decided that their program was way beneath you to bother getting out of bed. Then thank them for their interest and wish them luck in their pursuit of further resident education. Or you send a thank you note addressed to one of the faculty members who you know interviews people and comment on the great interview you had and an email to the program coordinator thanking him/her for his/her help and see if they still rank you.

Seriously.....both call and email. I think the old school recommendation was to call and mail, but I think its safe to substitute an email for snail mail, but make sure you get a reply to confirm that they saw it. Do this all as soon as you know you won't go, apologize, and thank them. If you piss them off you could potentially hurt your classmates for years to come.

 

[gutonc]

I cancelled by email and did so at least 2 weeks in advance. If you're cancelling w/ less notice than that, I think a phone call and email would be good. Our prog. coordinator said that she'd prefer that all communication be via email b/c it's easier to route to the person who needs the information. Otherwise she has to make calls or start new emails to pass that info on if necessary.

 

[Allygator89]

I cancelled by email and did so at least 2 weeks in advance. If you're cancelling w/ less notice than that, I think a phone call and email would be good. Our prog. coordinator said that she'd prefer that all communication be via email b/c it's easier to route to the person who needs the information. Otherwise she has to make calls or start new emails to pass that info on if necessary.

I emailed as well and haven't had a problem thus far. Just remember to put a delivery receipt (shows that it made it to the person's inbox) as well as a return receipt (shows that it was opened) on it. Granted, some email programs dont' automatically send a return receipt, so if you put a delivery receipt on it, at least you know it got there.

Be polite and give as much time as humanly possible to allow other candidates to take the open interview spot. I agree with the above poster. If less than 2 weeks, I would definitely call as well. Otherwise, it is up to you. If you do call though, I would make sure you follow it up with an email for documentation purposes.

 

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Thanks for the input. I ended up calling and e-mailing the program. I gave them a good one month notice so hopefully they will fill my interview spot with another candidate on their waiting list.