Faculty phone call

[Superfrost]

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From reading past posts, it seems like most people have faculty make a phone call after the interview to get a "bump up" on the rank list. However I was wondering if anyone has ever had faculty make phone calls pre-interview to help ensure the candidate gets an interview.

 

[CastroViejo]

hey guys, I second this question. anyone have thoughts?

 

[JMK2005]

hey guys, I second this question. anyone have thoughts?

I'm guessing you can only really use that phone call once. So, if you feel like your chances for an interview is low, then go for it. It still early in the interview season though, I wouldn't pull out the big guns yet.

 

[iguy]

i asked my mentor about this and he said that if i find out a place i want to go to has already extended interviews and i didn't get one, then let him know and he'll see what he can do. he said that often people call him after reading the letter prior to interviews. however, for the reasons JMK stated, he said he prefers calling people post-interviews.

 

[Visionary]

I wouldn't waste a faculty call to try and get an interview, if one has not been offered. Yes, it may get you in the door, but courtesy interviews are rarely fruitful. Save the call for a place at which you have interviewed--or WILL interview. Keep in mind that, if the program only interviews one day or you are there the last day, the deal's likely been done and the call wasted. Most programs finalize their rank lists on the last interview day, shortly after the applicants leave.