How long can one wait before scheduling the interview

[USMELL]

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how long after receiving an offer to interview can one wait to schedule the interview. The reason is I would like to wait to schedule those in the same areas around the same time.

or can one reschedule after initially confirming a date.

thanks

 

[hippiedoc13]

IMHO, professionalism and politeness demands that you respond to interview offers within 1-2 working days at most. Practically speaking, reply ASAP to schedule the interview. There are plenty of stories on these boards about applicants being offered interviews, and then by the time they reply to the program, all the interview slots are already filled.

Once your interview is scheduled, you can always call the program later and ask if you can reschedule, if that's absolutely necessary.

 

[blabbyblab]

Is that really true? I would think that a certain amount of lag would be expected for the same reasons given by the OP. It would be an extreme waste to have to fly back to a certain area.

 

[hippiedoc13]

When those later interview offers come in you could always ask to schedule those interviews to coincide with the ones you've already scheduled in the same area. Or you can call a program you scheduled with earlier and ask to re-schedule.

Note that I also didn't say "you must have a final interview date nailed down within 24-48 hrs and never deviate from it." I said that one should respond promptly to interview offers, in some form. After all, you want to demonstrate professional behavior as well as interest in the program.

 

[Samoa]

Is that really true? I would think that a certain amount of lag would be expected for the same reasons given by the OP. It would be an extreme waste to have to fly back to a certain area.

Unfortunately, that is not how it works. If you're applying in a field smaller than medicine or peds, the interview spots can fill up quickly. And the more desirable the program, the faster the spots fill.

I try to get back to a program within about 4 hours. Later than that, and you may not get the date you want. And I wouldn't count on being able to reschedule.

It helps to plan ahead: block off a period of time to interview in each region you're considering, and then when the interviews start rolling in, choose the date that works best with your plan. You may find that you're able to save substantial money that way by driving within the region instead of flying.

Or, alternatively, book all your interviews, and then, when it looks like you're mostly set, book your flights as a multi-leg trip. It really does save money to do that, instead of flying home after each interview. It's also cheaper to rearrange your itinerary from the airport to include an extra stop, than to book a whole new trip.

 

[Law2Doc]

Unfortunately, that is not how it works. If you're applying in a field smaller than medicine or peds, the interview spots can fill up quickly. And the more desirable the program, the faster the spots fill.

I try to get back to a program within about 4 hours. Later than that, and you may not get the date you want. And I wouldn't count on being able to reschedule.

It helps to plan ahead: block off a period of time to interview in each region you're considering, and then when the interviews start rolling in, choose the date that works best with your plan. You may find that you're able to save substantial money that way by driving within the region instead of flying.

Or, alternatively, book all your interviews, and then, when it looks like you're mostly set, book your flights as a multi-leg trip. It really does save money to do that, instead of flying home after each interview. It's also cheaper to rearrange your itinerary from the airport to include an extra stop, than to book a whole new trip.

4 hours is a bit extreme the other way. Giving them a call on the next business day is probably the norm and, in my experience, has been totally fine. Waiting much longer than that and you can potentially have difficulty finding an open slot. Bear in mind that not all invites come by email (some use snail mail) so the expectation of an immediate response is not always there, but you should always make an effort to not leave the programs hanging.

 

[Samoa]

It's been my experience that waiting even a day can be too long.

 

[Law2Doc]

It's been my experience that waiting even a day can be too long.

Well, given that a lot of us are not on email 24/7 and often don't have opportunity to check until the end of the day (at which point it's too late to call), the next business day will have to do. I've not ever heard of the next day being a problem for any of my peers, and it certainly is the norm, but your experience and warning is duly noted. Thanks.

 

[peerie]

I also go with an immediate reply. Professionalism does dictate this, and I make a point of checking my email many times throughout the day. I respond quickly and politely as soon as I read the email.

Samoa (and others) are right, and in my experience a very prompt and honest reply seems to work well.

So far, I try and schedule two a week and a day or so between them and it has worked out ok. Expedia has some good prices and that has been really helpful. I would like to be able to decompress between trips and really give each interview my full attention, in order to make the best decisions as I go along.

 

[Samoa]

Well, given that a lot of us are not on email 24/7 and often don't have opportunity to check until the end of the day (at which point it's too late to call), the next business day will have to do. I've not ever heard of the next day being a problem for any of my peers, and it certainly is the norm, but your experience and warning is duly noted. Thanks.

It's still really early, so if I were you, I wouldn't make a sweeping generalization based on your (and your friends') experiences so far.

Very few programs have sent out invitations for even half the interview spots they have available. So of course you're not going to lose a spot by waiting right now. But a few weeks from now it'll be a different story altogether, particularly at the more competitive programs within your field.

And it's not necessary to be on email 24/7 to keep a 4 hour reply window. Invitations are generally sent in the mornings, and these days it's rare to get one solely by snail mail. So if you check mail at 11am-noon, keep a calendar in your pocket, and commit yourself to replying at the time you get the invitation, it works just fine.

Afternoon invites are generally sent between 3pm eastern time to 6pm or so pacific time. So you can check again when you get home that evening, and reply via email when you get the invitation, rather than waiting till the morning to call. Most places schedule first-come, first-served, so your email will get scheduled before the phone callers.

Obviously, if you're not applying to a competitive field, or to the more competitive programs within your field, you can wait however long you wish, and very likely there will still be interview spots. But most places send out more invitations than they can accept, and if most people are accepting, you can find yourself shut out of an interview, or having to schedule it at a crappy time for you, if you don't jump on the invitation.

 

[USMELL]

thanks for all the replies

 

[masterofmonkeys]

i got an invite one late afternoon, emailed them early early morning (6am) next day. Top choice was already filled.

then again, others I waited up to a week and was fine.