Getting an interview invite from your lower tiered schools...opinions needed!

[ocwaveoc]

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I just got an interview invite from one of my least desired DO school on my list of 12 schools (LMU). I'm concerned about spending money to travel and having to put deposit down (by the way, how much is it at LMU?) only to find out that I'll be attending elsewhere. Does it look bad to state that I'd prefer to interview at a later date when/if invites arrive from close by schools in order to schedule the interviews on consecutive days since I have to travel from Hawaii to interview? The near by schools are VCOM and U of Louisville (MD).
How do I handle this situation without making a bad impression?

 

[TexasTriathlete]

Why did you apply there if you wouldn't go there?

 

[ocwaveoc]

Why did you apply there if you wouldn't go there?

I'm not saying I won't go there. I'm sure you'd understand that we all have schools we'd prefer to attend. LMU isn't one of my top choices. I'd go if there were no other choices. I'd have preferred to have gotten an interview invite from them next year or so when I know where I've been rejected from and accepted from.

 

[Gnugs2130]

I would say that it is best to go to the interviews as soon as possible. It is my understanding (and I could be way off) that with rolling admissions you will be judged against a smaller number of applicants the earlier you go, giving you a better chance of being accepted. You may have to spend some extra money now but look around the forums, there are a lot of people that are waiting for an invite and some that may not get any; you never know who else is going to invite you. If you don't want to go to the school then don't go to the interview but TT is right, why did you apply then? It seems like a lot of people are withdrawing and counting on the fact that they "know" another invite is coming. I would take what you can get. The worst thing that happens is you spend some money, get your first interview (if it is your first) under your belt and take any lessons learned to other interviews.

 

[ShyRem]

You might fall in love with the place. But it's ultimately your choice. If you have on other acceptances at this point you should go on every interview until you got one. Then you could have the luxury of picking and choosing your interviews. However, if you decline the interview and don't get accepted anywhere, then you'll spend a whole lot more money reapplying next year. Early interviews are generally viewed as better in terms of odds of acceptance (but I have absolutely nothing concrete to base that on other than rumor).

But it's your choice. If you don't want to go, don't. If it were me, I'd go.

 

[Jpc984]

Just say you can't make the interview date designated and reschedule.

 

[JaggerPlate]

I just got an interview invite from one of my least desired DO school on my list of 12 schools (LMU). I'm concerned about spending money to travel and having to put deposit down (by the way, how much is it at LMU?) only to find out that I'll be attending elsewhere. Does it look bad to state that I'd prefer to interview at a later date when/if invites arrive from close by schools in order to schedule the interviews on consecutive days since I have to travel from Hawaii to interview? The near by schools are VCOM and U of Louisville (MD).
How do I handle this situation without making a bad impression?

I've actually heard great things about LMU-DCOM. Maybe you should check it out, or at least reschedule at a better time.

 

[jltuttle]

You might fall in love with the place. But it's ultimately your choice. If you have on other acceptances at this point you should go on every interview until you got one. Then you could have the luxury of picking and choosing your interviews. However, if you decline the interview and don't get accepted anywhere, then you'll spend a whole lot more money reapplying next year. Early interviews are generally viewed as better in terms of odds of acceptance (but I have absolutely nothing concrete to base that on other than rumor).

But it's your choice. If you don't want to go, don't. If it were me, I'd go.

I definitely second that. My attitude toward several schools I applied to completely changed (for the better) after I interviewed there.

 

[Old_Mil]

...you'll have a much better idea of where you will be happy as a student if you interview at every school that invites you than if you merely rank schools based on statistics or lists.

Yes, it does seem like a lot now. But consider - when you graduate from medical school you'll be almost $200,000 in debt. What's an extra $400 or so?

 

[ocwaveoc]

OK! I'm going! The entire trip will cost me $1000. I'm flying in from Hawaii. I fly out on Sunday for the Tuesday interview (there was no other way.....all the flights into TN from HI lands early morning the next day) and leave TN on Wednesday. So, for an interview, I'll have to commit 3 1/2 days. I make about $280/day. So, in the end, I'll be spending $1900 for this trip.😱 I hope it's worth it.