Does it make a difference to interview earlier or later

[ffpickle]

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If you're given a range of possible interview dates (over a few months) to choose from, do you think it makes a difference (in terms of gewtting into the school) which date you choose?

 

[ngynththo]

If you're given a range of possible interview dates (over a few months) to choose from, do you think it makes a difference (in terms of gewtting into the school) which date you choose?

I think the earlier the better, assuming that you have well prepared to be interviewed.

 

[fenixtnlfan]

I am copying this from Hels2007. It was written in regards to residency interviews, but applies just as well to pharm school.
"On one hand, if you interview later, there is greater likelihood they will remember how good you were (unfortunately, it is very hard to keep track of everything everyone told you when you are interviewing a bunch of people!). On the other hand, if there are some really great candidates who interview early on, the program may already make up their mind about certainly including certain people and then you may just get a half-hearted interview and lower ranking proportional to what you deserve just because the top spots are already occupied by someone else. Also, people who interview early get away a little easier, since the program is not yet sure what to expect of this year's crop of candidates. They will use early ones as benchmark and then the later ones will get somewhat harder questions."

Additionally, it's better to interview early if it's a rolling admissions school because obviously they have more spots to fill early on.

 

[FutureRPh]

I would agree interviewing earlier is the best choice if you are prepared. I know that programs with rolling admissions tend to take more early interviewers and the faculty isn't exactly sure how the entire interviewing crop will be so there isn't many other people to compare you with at that point. I would say go as early as you can if you are ready.