Guts to turn down interviews?

[I Love Cats]

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I can't muster up any.

I already have an acceptance to an M.D. school that I do indeed like, despite it not being my number one choice (number one is out of the question now though); however, this cycle has been more lucrative (for me) in terms of interview opportunities than I would have ever imagined--due to being a re-applicant. I guess I made some very appropriate application changes. Anyway, as a result of being poor and already having been paying cash for everything (with the help of the FAP), I have two interviews that I can't figure out if I should attend or not. Basically, "money" (about another $1,000 dollars if I attend) is what's primarily holding me back from going, even if the end result was just for the positive experience of being on the interview trail at other schools, broadening my experiences, on the opposite side of the country.

Since an acceptance I possess is to somewhere I have a decent personal attraction towards, yet wasn't my first choice, I am having trouble justifying canceling anything else since I have NO idea what the schools might actually be like, what the environments might be like, what the student bodies might be like, etc. I still feel this way despite my bank account hemorrhaging. Everything looks cool, desirable and as a potential future home on the internet. You know? I'm the kind of person that didn't have options growing up, so I just went with the flow. Now that I have potential options, I find myself paralyzed, going back and forth between whether to spend another grand or just walking away with what I have.

How can I know whether or not I should reject something without giving it a chance? How am I supposed to find contentment knowing that I sacrificed these opportunities?

None of these schools are significantly enough ranked differently to even care about that. They're all either private or out of state public as well, so the cost is roughly the same, as I see it now. Who knows what financial offers might appear after potential acceptances though? If any of you could guide me towards thinking appropriately about the situation-- maybe even put things in perspective for me-- that would be most helpful. "Learning" about the school through the school's websites doesn't help me much. I applied to these schools because I had a superficial (for now) internet attraction to them in the first place.

I just don't know.

 

[IncognitoGuy]

Ask in the school-specific threads and see if any current students can give you input on what you're looking for. Also browse the threads from past years as you might find other information there.

 

[Ismet]

Since money is a concern, maybe go to one of them? I wouldn't turn down both, since, as you say, you don't know if you would rule them out or not. I turned down two interviews in my app year, but I was familiar with the schools and knew I wouldn't go there over the acceptances I held. I would have gone on the interviews if I thought I would potentially attend those schools if accepted.

 

[darkjedi]

The cost of interviews is a drop in the bucket for the total cost of a medical education. It is definitely tough to mentally spend that kind of money for an interview, but it is the next 4 years of your life and you will be deciding on an institution that you will be paying upwards of 300k towards. Definitely do more research into the schools to see if they are a school you would potentially go to over the one you have been accepted to. If not, then there is no pressure to go.

The choice is personal, and up to you whether or not you believe you may regret not giving other schools a shot.

 

[compstomper]

I can't muster up any.

I already have an acceptance to an M.D. school that I do indeed like, despite it not being my number one choice (number one is out of the question now though); however, this cycle has been more lucrative (for me) in terms of interview opportunities than I would have ever imagined--due to being a re-applicant. I guess I made some very appropriate application changes. Anyway, as a result of being poor and already having been paying cash for everything (with the help of the FAP), I have two interviews that I can't figure out if I should attend or not. Basically, "money" (about another $1,000 dollars if I attend) is what's primarily holding me back from going, even if the end result was just for the positive experience of being on the interview trail at other schools, broadening my experiences, on the opposite side of the country.

Since an acceptance I possess is to somewhere I have a decent personal attraction towards, yet wasn't my first choice, I am having trouble justifying canceling anything else since I have NO idea what the schools might actually be like, what the environments might be like, what the student bodies might be like, etc. I still feel this way despite my bank account hemorrhaging. Everything looks cool, desirable and as a potential future home on the internet. You know? I'm the kind of person that didn't have options growing up, so I just went with the flow. Now that I have potential options, I find myself paralyzed, going back and forth between whether to spend another grand or just walking away with what I have.

How can I know whether or not I should reject something without giving it a chance? How am I supposed to find contentment knowing that I sacrificed these opportunities?

None of these schools are significantly enough ranked differently to even care about that. They're all either private or out of state public as well, so the cost is roughly the same, as I see it now. Who knows what financial offers might appear after potential acceptances though? If any of you could guide me towards thinking appropriately about the situation-- maybe even put things in perspective for me-- that would be most helpful. "Learning" about the school through the school's websites doesn't help me much. I applied to these schools because I had a superficial (for now) internet attraction to them in the first place.

I just don't know.

I know exactly what you mean. I grew up in similar circumstances to yours, and now that I've gotten into medical school, it feels like a whole new world has opened up to me. Money was definitely an issue for me, so with the little nest egg I've saved up over the years, I managed to attend 11 of the 16 interview invites I received. While I wouldn't presume to tell you what's best for you, I would say that attending all these interviews most definitely helped me in reaching a decision on which school I thought was the best fit for me. My extensive experience on the interview trail allowed me to set a baseline on how to compare and contrast schools.

One way to save that you may already be aware of is that many schools have programs where you can stay with a student host. I did this at almost every school that had this type of program. Not only do you save on hotel costs and often transportation costs, you also get a glimpse into the life of a student at said school that many applicants don't get pre-metriculation. I received candid details on the strengths and weaknesses of the school you might not see during your interview day, as you have to keep in mind that the applicants aren't the only ones putting their best foot forward.

Whatever you decide to do, I wish you the best of luck as a fellow "bootstrapper" 🙂

 

[Plecopotamus]

10 years from now, I guarantee you will not be thinking about how much regret you have over spending $1000 (and I assume it won't even be that much) to go to these 2 interviews. Is it possible in 10 years you'll be regretting not having attended them?

What are the different cities/states even if you don't want to name schools?

 

[DokterMom]

New 10 years from now, I guarantee you will not be thinking about how much regret you have over spending $1000 (and I assume it won't even be that much) to go to these 2 interviews. Is it possible in 10 years you'll be regretting not having attended them?

Good point.

Imagine you have acceptances in hand from both of those two schools and that you're comparing them side by side with the acceptance that you already have. Make yourself a table weighing the options, knowing that the 'soft, touch and feely things' can't be fairly compared yet. If, just based on what you already know, there's a good chance that one or both of these other schools might be better than the acceptance you currently have, then you should go. If they're comparable now, based on the 'non-feely' things, you should go, because those things you can only assess in person are really important to your future happiness, and 'fit' can be the difference between a student who 'survives' and one who thrives.

ONE thousand dollars is a drop in the bucket, and could well be more than covered by a financial aid award from one of these schools now 'competing' for you --

 

[Mad Jack]

If there is even a possibility of you wanting to attend these other schools, go to the interviews. You might find something you really like about them.

The only interviews I turned down were the ones that were backup schools in areas I really didn't want to live in, yet would have cost me a thousand dollars or more to attend. It just would have been wasted money given my desire to stay close to home.

 

[ace12345]

If you do not see yourself attending the school over places you've already garnered an acceptance, then don't go to the interview.

 

[BlackBox]

I was going to decline a few interviews, but ended up going in the end- best decision I could have made. Loved the school!

Go. Put it on a CC.

GL

 

[solitarius]

If you do not see yourself attending the school over places you've already garnered an acceptance, then don't go to the interview.

+1.

My finances do not want to handle more interviews, frankly.

 

[lobo.solo]

If you do not see yourself attending the school over places you've already garnered an acceptance, then don't go to the interview.

This was my logic behind declining interviews...

 

[I Love Cats]

10 years from now, I guarantee you will not be thinking about how much regret you have over spending $1000 (and I assume it won't even be that much) to go to these 2 interviews. Is it possible in 10 years you'll be regretting not having attended them?

What are the different cities/states even if you don't want to name schools?

I'm flying from the complete west coast to east coast. Literally polar opposite side of country. Plane alone costs 900. These schools are in the New England area. I suppose any regret would come from how things turn out depending on my choice; however, any regret would likely be multiplied by not exploring every opportunity.

Are you advocating for going?

 

[HelpPleaseMD]

shopping for tickets on tuesdays or wednesdays + scheduling interviews on tues-thursdays lead to cheaper plane tickets. Cost me about 300 roundtrip cost to cost.

as for canceling interviews it depends on if you think the other program is worth it. i remember canceling a lot of my interviews after I got my acceptance

im not a fan of the o its only a few thousand dollars argument. that is at least a few days work.

 

[I Love Cats]

shopping for tickets on tuesdays or wednesdays + scheduling interviews on tues-thursdays lead to cheaper plane tickets. Cost me about 300 roundtrip cost to cost.

as for canceling interviews it depends on if you think the other program is worth it. i remember canceling a lot of my interviews after I got my acceptance

im not a fan of the o its only a few thousand dollars argument. that is at least a few days work.

I actually have these two interviews already scheduled back-to-back. One is the day after the other, so the $900 includes flights up there between locations as well, it's a multiple-city trip, including both interviews consecutively, not a round trip for each.

Why are you not a fan of that argument? 1 G compared to a physicians salary or a financial award is logical. And a few days of work to decide for where to perform 4 years of work also seems logical.

 

[I Love Cats]

If you do not see yourself attending the school over places you've already garnered an acceptance, then don't go to the interview.

How can I see myself attending or not without fully exploring it personally? I hear this, and yes it makes sense, but it feels impossible to really know. The "touchy feely" aspect of it is a reality that one reply already mentioned, that frankly holds a lot of weight for me personally (maybe more than others). This "touchy feely" is more acquired through a personal first impression/exposure. I'm less about the superficial obvious benefits and more about how happy I would likely be or not be in this process about the schools I'm inquiring about.

 

[HelpPleaseMD]

I actually have these two interviews already scheduled back-to-back. One is the day after the other, so the $900 includes flights up there between locations as well, it's a multiple-city trip, including both interviews consecutively, not a round trip for each.

Why are you not a fan of that argument? 1 G compared to a physicians salary or a financial award is logical. And a few days of work to decide for where to perform 4 years of work also seems logical.

I agree that its perfectly logical to spend 1 G to visit schools that your are considering, but I ended up cancelling 5 interviews after I knew for sure that I would not attend that school over my current acceptance. The experience of interviewing for the sake of it is not worth it for me. I just cancelled 13+ residency interviews over the last month after looking at my bank statement.

 

[ace12345]

How can I see myself attending or not without fully exploring it personally? I hear this, and yes it makes sense, but it feels impossible to really know. The "touchy feely" aspect of it is a reality that one reply already mentioned, that frankly holds a lot of weight for me personally (maybe more than others). This "touchy feely" is more acquired through a personal first impression/exposure. I'm less about the superficial obvious benefits and more about how happy I would likely be or not be in this process about the schools I'm inquiring about.

It sounds like you could possibly see yourself attending these schools. If so, then as I said I think you should check them out. I do think there are scenarios when it isn't worth it - getting invited to 15 interviews and only attending 10 that you think you would attend, for example - but if you want to see the schools then by all means.

 

[Plecopotamus]

I agree that its perfectly logical to spend 1 G to visit schools that your are considering, but I ended up cancelling 5 interviews after I knew for sure that I would not attend that school over my current acceptance. The experience of interviewing for the sake of it is not worth it for me. I just cancelled 13+ residency interviews over the last month after looking at my bank statement.

If the OP were certain that she/he would not like to attend these schools, the OP would not be posting here. I, too, have cancelled something like 15 interviews for residency positions -- but only if I was certain they wouldn't be in the top X of my rank list. I did one more interview than I planned, b/c one program I went to was saw unexpectedly awful that I knew I wouldn't rank it (and wouldn't count it toward my goal rank list of 10). I don't think we're talking about the OP canceling interviews that will very clearly be the 11th+ on her "rank list". I think we're talking about someone who thinks there's a possibility of them being #1 or #2.

OP, I also like the argument upthread that there is a possibility that you can recoup this $900 by different financial aid offers. That is true. And if you're looking at these schools as "equal" now, how would you look at them differently if they ended up being significantly different to attend financially due to financial aid and living expenses?

 

[I Love Cats]

If the OP were certain that she/he would not like to attend these schools, the OP would not be posting here. I, too, have cancelled something like 15 interviews for residency positions -- but only if I was certain they wouldn't be in the top X of my rank list. I did one more interview than I planned, b/c one program I went to was saw unexpectedly awful that I knew I wouldn't rank it (and wouldn't count it toward my goal rank list of 10). I don't think we're talking about the OP canceling interviews that will very clearly be the 11th+ on her "rank list". I think we're talking about someone who thinks there's a possibility of them being #1 or #2.

OP, I also like the argument upthread that there is a possibility that you can recoup this $900 by different financial aid offers. That is true. And if you're looking at these schools as "equal" now, how would you look at them differently if they ended up being significantly different to attend financially due to financial aid and living expenses?

They might even beat my current "favorite" that I have an acceptance to if there was more money involved and my personal feeling about and impression of the school on interview day was extremely positive. Despite the schools being extremely far, I don't have much rooting me to where I am, so distance doesn't hurt me much. I'm destined to move away as my state school probably won't be accepting me. All I want is the best opportunity to change my life and pave my future, but I want to be appropriate and rational at the same time.

 

[terp720]

They might even beat my current "favorite" that I have an acceptance to if there was more money involved and my personal feeling about and impression of the school on interview day was extremely positive. Despite the schools being extremely far, I don't have much rooting me to where I am, so distance doesn't hurt me much. I'm destined to move away as my state school probably won't be accepting me. All I want is the best opportunity to change my life and pave my future, but I want to be appropriate and rational at the same time.

I actually have these two interviews already scheduled back-to-back. One is the day after the other, so the $900 includes flights up there between locations as well, it's a multiple-city trip, including both interviews consecutively, not a round trip for each.

Why are you not a fan of that argument? 1 G compared to a physicians salary or a financial award is logical. And a few days of work to decide for where to perform 4 years of work also seems logical.

You said in your first post that really money was the only thing holding you back and making you think about cancelling, and you would consider going to them over your current acceptance. But your more recent posts show you think that spending the money is logical, so I would go if I was in your position. Seems like you answer your own question!

 

[I Love Cats]

You said in your first post that really money was the only thing holding you back and making you think about cancelling, and you would consider going to them over your current acceptance. But your more recent posts show you think that spending the money is logical, so I would go if I was in your position. Seems like you answer your own question!

In what you quoted from me, the questions I was asking were for elaboration, not being argumentative. I wanted to simply explore their thinking.

Also, I have hinted in my writings recently that there is some logic to be had in this (imparted upon me from many of the previous poster's contributions), but just because I can think it doesn't mean it feels entirely appropriate yet; however, this thread's generous contributors have helped me in advancing my thoughts in the right direction and being more open-minded (i.e. thinking more about the future) and not so narrow-minded (i.e. not thinking too much about the now).

 

[terp720]

In what you quoted from me, the questions I was asking were for elaboration, not being argumentative. I wanted to simply explore their thinking.

Also, I have hinted in my writings recently that there is some logic to be had in this (imparted upon me from many of the previous poster's contributions), but just because I can think it doesn't mean it feels entirely appropriate yet; however, this thread's generous contributors have helped me in advancing my thoughts in the right direction and being more open-minded (i.e. thinking more about the future) and not so narrow-minded (i.e. not thinking too much about the now).

I understand, it just seemed like you were leaning in one direction by that last post since the other schools could overtake your current acceptance and you want the best opportunities. I mean I never feel comfortable spending money when I know I don't absolutely have to do it. But given that you see the logic behind spending the money, it seemed like you might end up regretting it more if you don't pursue it (again, just how I read that last post).

 

[I Love Cats]

I understand, it just seemed like you were leaning in one direction by that last post since the other schools could overtake your current acceptance and you want the best opportunities. I mean I never feel comfortable spending money when I know I don't absolutely have to do it. But given that you see the logic behind spending the money, it seemed like you might end up regretting it more if you don't pursue it (again, just how I read that last post).

You read it correctly. 🙂 I think I have to do it for myself, even if I do just end up attending where I currently have this acceptance I like.