Interview Invite Etiquette

[SRK Jerk]

Hey,

I'm sure this has been asked before, but I was wondering what the Rad Onc specific etiquette is given the size of the field. I am pretty geographically restricted in where I want to go for residency (by family constraints), but given how competitive rad onc is, I applied to some awesome institutions that don't meet this geographic bill just to make sure. One of them has offered me an interview. Is it considered rude/a black mark to accept this interview, and then decline it when other interview offers from institutions closer to where I want to be come in? I know in Medicine this is standard practice, but Rad Onc is small enough that I don't want to unnecessarily piss people off (though the argument could be made that I am saving the institution trouble by withdrawing my interview acceptance once I realize there is no chance of ranking that institution).

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[Gfunk6]

Well, I'm guessing there are not many applicants in your vaunted position. Seriously, you you have to ask yourself a basic question. Would you rather match somewhere you'd rather not live or would you rather not match in Rad Onc at all?

Then you'll have your answer.

 

[honger]

If you do end up declining, make sure you call them on top of emailing them. That way you can avoid being thought to be a no show and help make sure some other guy gets a shot. It's easy for email to go overlooked.

 

[SRK Jerk]

honger, thanks for the advice.

GFunk, I'm sorry I likely came off as a total ass. I was just writing really quickly. I didn't mean to say I was in a vaunted position or anything. I just don't want to spend $500 to interview at a place that, if I went, I would end up being away from my kid (believe it or not, found out my wife was pregnant about a week after submitting ERAS, and that's a game changer in terms of whether I can seriously do long distance or not).

 

[deleted4401]

I don't think you sound like a jerk, and I don't think GFunk thinks you do, either. I do think it's a calculated risk - i.e. matching somewhere unpalatable vs. not matching at all. A family man may prefer the latter.

Remember, the program owes you nothing. As long as you cancel at a reasonable time (I think 1 week would be plenty, if it was for another program). You might even thank them for the offer and tell them the honest truth - that a place closer to you invited you last minute, but you appreciate the offer.

-S

 

[Gfunk6]

Tone is difficult to convey over the internet. Sorry if mine came off as condescending.

However, I totally agree with SimulD.

 

[hot sauce]

I think what you are purposing to do is reasonable. If you accept an offer in good faith but then a more appealing offer comes in that conflicts with the first offer I think it is reasonable to then cancel. When I say in good faith I mean you are planning on attending that interview and consider ranking the program. I think most PD understand they may not be your first choice. As was said above call right away if you want to cancel. I don't think anyone will try to black list you but it is just polite and it is a small field.

At this point I would not recommend declining an interview in hopes of better ones. I don't know your application but unless you are a super star things are random enough that you want to be collecting all the interviews you can get.