How far in advance do you schedule interviews?

[AlbertVOligh]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I am just wondering for people who have already received interviews in the past, how far in advance do you typically schedule your interviews so you can get the appropriate time off from work or other obligations?

 

[NeuralNetwork]

The average for me was 5 weeks +/-1 week. Usually they will only offer you certain times to select from, and in some cases will tell you a date you have been scheduled for, leaving you with little choice.

 

[NickNaylor]

As NN said, most do some kind of scheduling system where you actually get to pick your dates. I would say that in almost all cases you'll be able to schedule your interview in enough time to give employers/professors enough warning. If a school just assigns you a date, though, don't be afraid to email the admissions office and request a later one. I would avoid doing that if possible, but sometimes you can't.

(sent from my phone)

 

[Nymphicus]

Generally try and schedule them as early as reasonably possible.

 

[AlbertVOligh]

I'm gonna shamelessly bump this thread because I had a follow-up question for this same topic:

I have a part-time job that allows me to choose my availability. My MCAT should be processed within the next few weeks and my secondaries are pretty much done. Should I pick a weekday to have off every week so I can tell schools about it and have a "best day" for interviews? This would allow me to reduce the complexity in predicting my upcoming and irregular work schedule if I am pressured to pick a date. Thoughts?

 

[NickNaylor]

I'm gonna shamelessly bump this thread because I had a follow-up question for this same topic:

I have a part-time job that allows me to choose my availability. My MCAT should be processed within the next few weeks and my secondaries are pretty much done. Should I pick a weekday to have off every week so I can tell schools about it and have a "best day" for interviews? This would allow me to reduce the complexity in predicting my upcoming and irregular work schedule if I am pressured to pick a date. Thoughts?

This will likely work, but be aware that not every school interview on every day. You will likely have to miss at least some work depending upon how many interviews you ultimately attend. If you can do that AND make clear that you might need to take off different days if necessary, then that sounds like a good plan.

 

[MedPR]

I am just wondering for people who have already received interviews in the past, how far in advance do you typically schedule your interviews so you can get the appropriate time off from work or other obligations?

I think my first II was mid-July and I scheduled it for 9/17. I got an II last week and scheduled that one for 8/28. Got another one yesterday and scheduled it for 9/28.

I'm basically trying to schedule them as early as possible, but I have school and work to juggle as well.

 

[boshtrich]

I'm gonna shamelessly bump this thread because I had a follow-up question for this same topic:

I have a part-time job that allows me to choose my availability. My MCAT should be processed within the next few weeks and my secondaries are pretty much done. Should I pick a weekday to have off every week so I can tell schools about it and have a "best day" for interviews? This would allow me to reduce the complexity in predicting my upcoming and irregular work schedule if I am pressured to pick a date. Thoughts?

A lot of schools only interview on certain days, and every school is different. If they let you choose, I would go with the the earliest date that works reasonably well with your schedule. Interviewing earlier could slightly help your odds, but more importantly for personal sanity, it could reduce the waiting time for a decision. In general, Friday seems to be fairly common, so I would go probably go with that if you want to set aside one weekday. At least then if all else fails, you could have a three day weekend every week.