How important is the reception

[ophthokid]

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Basically I can either go to the reception and interview at a program I am extremely interested in, or I can go to a second interview at a program I am slightly less interested in. I'd like to go on both, but I hate missing out on an opportunity to meet with the residents in a more informal setting. I also wonder if it reflects poorly on you if you decide not to go to the reception. Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[JMK2005]

the informal get-together is low on the priority scale in my opinion.

 

[paboi101]

i have heard the opposite. in fact, i was advised to cancel the interview at a lower-priority program to attend the social event at my preferred program. ugh.

 

[ophthokid]

My advisor felt that the reception doesn't matter at all and that it shouldn't impact my application. So I've decided to skip the reception at the higher ranked program and will therefore be able to attend the interview at the more mid tier program. Hope it was the right decision. If asked, I guess I'll just say I wanted as broad a perspective as possible on which to base my rank list.

 

[paboi101]

who knows. it certainly felt bad canceling one of my few interviews!

 

[golfman]

Totally depends on the program I would bet. On two of the interviews that I've been on, both programs stressed the social would have no bearing on our ranking. I've yet to hear of a program where they said an OPTIONAL dinner/reception mattered.

 

[VikingFavre]

Totally depends on the program I would bet. On two of the interviews that I've been on, both programs stressed the social would have no bearing on our ranking. I've yet to hear of a program where they said an OPTIONAL dinner/reception mattered.

Politely agree and disagree. It does depend on the program. Although an interview almost always takes precedence over a social event there were at least 3-4 places I interviewed that the social event was extremely important and unofficially mandatory although advertised as optional.

 

[golfman]

Politely agree and disagree. It does depend on the program. Although an interview almost always takes precedence over a social event there were at least 3-4 places I interviewed that the social event was extremely important and unofficially mandatory although advertised as optional.

Good to know. My sample size is quite small, so it's informative to hear that some do matter.

 

[alleyez2011]

At what programs do the "optional" social events really matter?

 

[tm12]

At what programs do the "optional" social events really matter?

It might matter if they said, "[FONT=Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial]...optional but important components of the interview weekend. We strongly encourage your attendance...".

 

[Visionary]

the informal get-together is low on the priority scale in my opinion.

Agreed. Having been on both sides of the issue, I'll tell you that the informal gathering is typically presented more as a courtesy to the applicants that are traveling from out of town than any sort of pre-interview evaluation. Since the interviews start early in the morning, most come in the night before. These gatherings give the applicants something to do and let them get to know the current residents (and some faculty, perhaps). While you likely won't score points during these gatherings, you can definitely make a bad impression. If you come off as odd or a tool, that can ruin your chances. I've seen it happen. My advice is make these gatherings, if you are able, and make a good impression. If you can't make them, don't sweat it.

 

[mudphudstud]

I've bene on 3 interviews and attended the "social" gathering at each and every one. Although every program will tell you that these are "optional", as my esteemed colleagues already reiterated, they are EXTREMELY important to determine whether you actually gel with the residents, and it gives you an opportunity to ask all the nitty gritty details about the resident life that the attending won't know about or will not answer. generally, attending do not frequent these events although they were present at one of the 3 I've been on. The invitation will specifically state whether the attendings will be present. That said, I would not sacrifice an interview for a social unless it was your top 5 place to match or unless your next interview was at a place you would much rather match than the one hosting the social.

 

[tulip08]

I think the social matters if you are on either extremes in terms of personality. If you are the coolest person on earth and everyone loves you, go to the social at your top choice. If, on the other hand, you don't make the greatest of first impressions, then don't go.

I was told that the socials matter in that if a resident says so-and-so was an idiot, then that's pretty much a death sentence. So they do make an impact on the rank list but only if you are that person who stands out.

 

[paboi101]

I should also clarify that the programs for which I've prioritized the social event are places where the selection process places a great deal of emphasis on resident input. I actually asked former residents who sat on the selection committee in the past, so hopefully, the information is reliable.

 

[ehseejay]

I should also clarify that the programs for which I've prioritized the social event are places where the selection process places a great deal of emphasis on resident input. I actually asked former residents who sat on the selection committee in the past, so hopefully, the information is reliable.

And these programs are??

 

[paboi101]

i will be the first to admit my fairly limited knowledge base solely on personal experience so far. the two programs that i was told take resident input as equal in ranking decisions were Pitt and Wills. There may be others or there may not. I suggest that if there is a program that you really want to go to, you find out how much sway the residents have. personally, i take it as a very positive sign, that they give a large say to the the residents as it means that they are trying to foster a positive close-knit group where the residents all feel invested in the collective success.

 

[UAmeddan]

I have run into this situation with my interviews, and I am forced to pass up the social at multiple places, which bums me out. However, I would never give up an interview to go to a social event. If it were extremely important to me that I attend a social but couldn't do it on my interview date, I guess I would consider asking the program coordinator if I could come back in town and attend another date's social. I don't know if they would say yes, but that's a better option than canceling any interview.

 

[Visionary]

Here's the deal, folks. If a program is really going to reject you because you don't attend a social gathering that is advertised as optional, you don't want to go there. All programs should realize there is limited time for you to interview and the dates tend to be stacked upon one another. Make these gatherings (and make a good impression), if you can, but I would not recommend cancelling other interviews just to do so. Attending more interviews will have a greater effect on your ability to match than attending more social gatherings.

 

[RestoreSight]

Here's the deal, folks. If a program is really going to reject you because you don't attend a social gathering that is advertised as optional, you don't want to go there. All programs should realize there is limited time for you to interview and the dates tend to be stacked upon one another. Make these gatherings (and make a good impression), if you can, but I would not recommend cancelling other interviews just to do so. Attending more interviews will have a greater effect on your ability to match than attending more social gatherings.

I think I would agree with this. It seems kinda paranoid to think a program would advertise an optional social event as a courtesy, but secretly have it be a determining factor in their selection process. It can't hurt to attend, but I don't think it would hurt either to NOT attend. To sacrifice a perfectly good interview at another institution to attend an optional social only reduces your rank list by one. I also agree with previous posts on the subject of determining how you "fit" in a particular program with the other residents, which is a highly subjective, but absolutely critical criterion. I have interviewed at 3 places and I was super enthusiastic about one, but after meeting the residents I knew I just didn't fit in. Hopefully you could also determine this during the interview day and not necessarily have to attend a social to find out.

I'm in the same boat. I will miss a few socials to attend additional interviews. I think its the right decision to rank interviews>socials on my priority list.

 

[paboi101]

I'm sure this has been rehashed over and over, and I don't mean to sound neurotic, but I'm becoming neurotic. If the evening social event is "casual," does that mean that sport coat and tie are overboard? I'm not sure how to play it.

 

[TheLesPaul]

No tie, but also no shorts. Anywhere in between is ok.