how many interviews are 'enough'?

[HiddenValley]

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suppose i got interviews at my top five choices; would that be enough to assure a match (assuming i didn't screw up my interviews)? what's a 'safe' number of interviews?

 

[AZDOC]

I have been told that 8 to 10 is the magic number. However, I have no data or sources to back this information up. It is just word of mouth from those that have gone before me.

 

[iwakuni_doc]

Depends on multiple factors such as how competative the program is you're applying to, how good of a candidate you are, and what your comfort level is with potentially not matching.

I've had friends that interviewed at >15 FP programs because they didn't want to take a chance with not matching, and then I had a friend who only applied to 5 radiology programs & decided to only interview at 3 - both did fine & matched without problems.

I'd recommend going ahead & setting-up all the interviews you're offered but with your lowest choice programs at the very end - that way if you have several very good interviews with your top choices, you could always cancel out of your later interviews.

 

[Hop Toad]

I have a strong application and my Dean said to apply to 15 and interview approx. 10. Seems a lot to me. These are mostly top programs. He also suggested that I see how the interviews "feel" and judge accordingly. Still not much of a guideline.

 

[Foxxy Cleopatra]

I'd rather interview and rank too many than be left to scramble. Of course, in specialties with more spots (FP, IM) you are more likely to match, where things like ortho or ENT would be a different story. I know several people who were decent candidates who had to go down to #7 or 8 on their rank lists, and I also know a few who ranked only 3 programs for things like general surgery who did not match.

Long story short, though you very well may get your #1, I'd be safe and interview at 10-15, rank 8-10 at least. And don't listen to PD's and chairs who say they will "rank you highly"- even if you are #10 on their rank list, if it is a program with 4 spots and they match people in their top 8, guess what? It's worth your time and money to overdo it and avoid the scramble.

 

[bartholomew]

Hey,

I was under the impression that once you recieved your invitations, you could for the most part gauge how many interviews you needed to go to based on the results of previous graduates from your school. Unless, of course, you're going into a really competitive field like ortho and such. Isn't the recommended 8-10 interviews a number suggested so that you get a good feel for what's out there?

Bartholomew the Cat

 

[woundvac]

i'm thinking interview at 10-15, rank at least 10, but some of the programs i'm interviewing at only have like 2-3 spots per year.
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