Does it Make any difference when you interview?

[John Deere Gree]

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I know with medical school admissions (rolling admissions) it makes a difference.

However, with residency they rank all who interview and submit. So I assume that should I get an interview to XYZ program, that it wouldn't matter if I pick to interview in November compared to January, right?

 

[Winged Scapula]

Right.

There are some who say its better to interview late so you willl be more easily remembered when it comes time to make the final rank list, but these machinations probably don't make any significant difference.

 

[dragonfly99]

I don't think it matters much, particularly for less competitive specialties.
If you are interviewing for something competitive, it might be better to leave your favorite place(s) toward the end, so that you'll have had some practice interviewing.

 

[Ludicolo]

Good tip.

Even in the less competitive specialties, may want to "warm up" on one of the less desirable programs, so you're more polished when it comes time to interview at the other programs.

I didn't want to leave my favorite programs at the end, for fear of burnout. Plus, what I thought was my favorite program going into interviews was not my favorite coming out.

 

[gutonc]

I didn't want to leave my favorite programs at the end, for fear of burnout. Plus, what I thought was my favorite program going into interviews was not my favorite coming out.

Very important point here. You never know going in what programs will be on the top of your list at the end. I ended up interviewing where I ranked #1 and Matched b/c it was near home and it was an excuse to visit the family during the holidays. It wasn't even initially on my radar. The two programs I thought were going to be in a death match for #1 ended up #4 and #8.

 

[Micro115]

Granted this is just ONE person who said this, but a surgeon whom I have worked with closely said that he actually becomes a lot more critical of candidates later down the line b/c by then, he would've been seeing some of the same thing over and over again (so you would really have to interview well to stick out in the crowd). Thus, contrary to popular notion, he actually recommended interviewing EARLY.

 

[Law2Doc]

Granted this is just ONE person who said this, but a surgeon whom I have worked with closely said that he actually becomes a lot more critical of candidates later down the line b/c by then, he would've been seeing some of the same thing over and over again (so you would really have to interview well to stick out in the crowd). Thus, contrary to popular notion, he actually recommended interviewing EARLY.

I actually think this is simply human nature. You have to wow them more if you are vying for one of the last remaining spots in the meat of their rank order. I also have heard that some places give out interview slots more freely toward the beginning of their cycle than the end.