good etiquette when rejecting an interview invite

[jonnylingo]

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So...you've got to reject an offer because of scheduling conflicts, OR you've got to cancel one for which you already have a date scheduled.

What is proper etiquette? A letter via snail mail? An email? A call? How much time should you allow? (say the interview is 2 weeks away. Is it bad form to bail?)

Best of luck with all your scheduling conflicts and interviews!!

 

[deleted113029]

Think about how you want to be rejected. Then write an email with a similar theme.

Short and sweet. No one cares about excuses. No one wants to risk a paper cut opening a rejection letter.

 

[cchoukal]

If the interview is already scheduled, you should call or email to cancel it. The secretaries have been through this before and know that people cancel for a variety of reasons and likely will not ask you any tough questions about why you're cancelling. If they've extended an interview and you've yet to accept/schedule one, you're under no obligation to contact them.

 

[rirriri]

here's what you should say:

GET OFF MY BACK, BIANTCHES!! I HOPE YOUSE ALL GET PROBATIONIZED!

😀

 

[AnesCoord]

Why you're canceling is really of no concern to me. I know you folks get a lot of invites and basically accept everything up front, then go back and decide what you really can afford to do. The two most important things: If you're going to cancel do it as far in advance as possible, so I can offer your slot to someone else. And don't be a NO-SHOW! It's rude and inconsiderate because I still have to pay for your hotel room (our program puts you up for your interview), and if you ever come back to me because maybe you're looking for a transfer, I will pull your old file and see that you stiffed me once already!

And e-mail if my preference because I'm hard to catch on the phone sometimes.

 

[mlw03]

So...you've got to reject an offer because of scheduling conflicts, OR you've got to cancel one for which you already have a date scheduled.

What is proper etiquette? A letter via snail mail? An email? A call? How much time should you allow? (say the interview is 2 weeks away. Is it bad form to bail?)

Best of luck with all your scheduling conflicts and interviews!!

regardless of how close the interview you don't want is, i'd think it's better to call/email and cancel, and certainly don't no-show for the reasons AnesCoord stated. even if you cancel 3 days before a program may be able to find someone from their home school that'll take the interview, or someone in close enough geographic proximity that it's doable for them. regardless, just do it in a polite and respectful manner and i can't imagine any reasonable PD being offended.

 

[dancelover]

I usually tried to reach the coordinator by phone if i was cancelling an already scheduled interview. If that wasn't successful, I sent an email. Like other posters have said, just try to do it as early as possible so that they can fill the spot, and DON'T be a no show. I was on an interview where two candidates simply didn't show up. Since it was one of the few places that paid for the hotel the night before, the program was understandably ticked.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Like other posters have said, just try to do it as early as possible so that they can fill the spot, and DON'T be a no show. I was on an interview where two candidates simply didn't show up. Since it was one of the few places that paid for the hotel the night before, the program was understandably ticked.

Yes, please don't be a no-show. Not only does it deprive another candidate of your interview slot but it means a lot of work rescheduling things for the program.

And if that doesn't impress you, then remember please don't lie about why you didn't show. We have ways of finding out what really happened and you look like an idiot.

 

[Varmit22]

Thank you for your time and consideration regarding my residency application. Unfortunately, I have to cancel my interview with your program. Thanks again and take care,

 

[Faebinder]

👍

Thank you for your time and consideration regarding my residency application. Unfortunately, I have to cancel my interview with your program. Thanks again and take care,