How many interviews are given in January or early February?

[Smashingdude]

Hey everyone,

Just a quick question and I know it is really dependent on the applicant and the program. Nevertheless, I want to know the chances of receiving interviews in January or early February before the Rank Order List is uploaded.

The reason is that I have be somewhere from January on wards (job-related contract and restriction), and can't afford to travel again to US to give interviews; or to take a leave since I already have taken that for the next 2 months.

How often programs sent out invitation in January? Do you get a decent number or just a few programs here and there?

Thanks for your opinions.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[SouthernSurgeon]

Hey everyone,

Just a quick question and I know it is really dependent on the applicant and the program. Nevertheless, I want to know the chances of receiving interviews in January or early February before the Rank Order List is uploaded.

The reason is that I have be somewhere from January on wards (job-related contract and restriction), and can't afford to travel again to US to give interviews; or to take a leave since I already have taken that for the next 2 months.

How often programs sent out invitation in January? Do you get a decent number or just a few programs here and there?

Thanks for your opinions.

January: Lots
February: Essentially none

What field are you talking about as the flexibility of interview scheduling will vary widely (ex - medicine programs often interview multiple times per week for months, plastic surgery programs often interview only 1 or 2 times all year)

 

[Winged Scapula]

Agree that January is a busy month for interviews especially given the December holidays making many faculty unavailable during that time. I've seen interviews the first week of February (and someone I'm sure will pipe up and state they had an interview mid February) but they are not nearly as frequent then.

 

[SouthernSurgeon]

Agree that January is a busy month for interviews especially given the December holidays making many faculty unavailable during that time. I've seen interviews the first week of February (and someone I'm sure will pipe up and state they had an interview mid February) but they are not nearly as frequent then.

I would also say that even in just the past few years it seems like things are shifting earlier, at least in our field. November is now an extremely busy month, and used to be a virtual deadzone. I wonder if this is due to the earlier release of the MSPE.

 

[Winged Scapula]

I would also say that even in just the past few years it seems like things are shifting earlier, at least in our field. November is now an extremely busy month, and used to be a virtual deadzone. I wonder if this is due to the earlier release of the MSPE.

I think so, as that's when we changed.

When I was a resident, no one even offered interviews before the Deans letter was released on November 1.

 

[calvnandhobbs68]

I think so, as that's when we changed.

When I was a resident, no one even offered interviews before the Deans letter was released on November 1.

Haha and now Dean's letters get released Oct 1st...pretty soon we'll have to turn in our applications in July like med school.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Haha and now Dean's letters get released Oct 1st...pretty soon we'll have to turn in our applications in July like med school.

Sounds like a great idea to extend the neuroticism of most med students an extra month.

 

[Smashingdude]

January: Lots
February: Essentially none

What field are you talking about as the flexibility of interview scheduling will vary widely (ex - medicine programs often interview multiple times per week for months, plastic surgery programs often interview only 1 or 2 times all year)

Thank you all for the reply. I really appreciate all the input.

I was talking about IM specifically.

 

[Snoopy2006]

How many programs actually send out invitations in January? Very few. January is a very busy month for interviews, but you'll generally get the invites far in advance. As long as you respond fairly quickly to invites and slots are available, you could theoretically front load your interview schedule and knock off 15 interviews in November and December. The general interview timeframe I've seen is mid/late October to the first week of February.

Respond to invites as soon as they come in. Make sure your phone, at the very least, is set to vibrate whenever you get an email.

 

[Dral]

Haha and now Dean's letters get released Oct 1st...pretty soon we'll have to turn in our applications in July like med school.

Moving all Interviews up a bit is better. The feel of missing an interview (and not getting it rescheduled) because of snow...

 

[SouthernSurgeon]

Thank you all for the reply. I really appreciate all the input.

I was talking about IM specifically.

For medicine I think you'll be fine. Most programs interview multiple times per week for months. Just be proactive about front-loading your schedule as said above

 

[Raryn]

Yeah. For IM, no big deal. When I interviewed most programs had 20+ dates to choose from.