Interview invite timing

[vtucci]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hi all.

I know many of us have limited time (not to mention funds) to do interviews and that many programs offer interviews on the same days. Also, with the cost of flights being what they are, booking less than a month in advance can really impact the pocketbook. Is anyone else running into problems with this? Personally, I had to withdraw my application from at least one good program because I had interviews already scheduled during their available dates elsewhere whether or not I would have been granted an interview. I am also interested in a few of these "later" interview offer programs.

I was just curious for the 4th year med students out there, is the timing with interview invitations impacting your decisions at all with respect to programs (i.e., you may be unable to arrange to visit the programs that offer interviews later in the season even if they have incredible programs).

 

[RRPiper]

My issue is that I have an interview at a program, but it's not necessarily in my top 10. Right now, however, I only have 8 interview offers...So my dilemna is whether to book a flight for this program I'm not sure I want to end up, or wait to see if I get other offers.

Rowdy is confused

 

[GoBuckeyes913]

Hi all.

I know many of us have limited time (not to mention funds) to do interviews and that many programs offer interviews on the same days. Also, with the cost of flights being what they are, booking less than a month in advance can really impact the pocketbook. Is anyone else running into problems with this? Personally, I had to withdraw my application from at least one good program because I had interviews already scheduled during their available dates elsewhere whether or not I would have been granted an interview. I am also interested in a few of these "later" interview offer programs.

I was just curious for the 4th year med students out there, is the timing with interview invitations impacting your decisions at all with respect to programs (i.e., you may be unable to arrange to visit the programs that offer interviews later in the season even if they have incredible programs).

Yea, I'm starting to run into the same problem... but for different reasons. My school doesn't give us a timeblock off for interviews, we have to do it on our own time. This is good and bad. Good: I can spread out my invites over 3 months. Bad: I am only allowed 4 missed days/month. That means if I get any extra invites and I am maxed out on days allowed to miss... I have to choose and potentially turn down a good program I would be interested in. I could attempt to sneak, but because my school is ridiculously strict it's not worth them throwing the hammer at me or risk them putting me off-schedule (which they are known to do). So, if I am maxed out during one month and another interview offer comes in that I want to go to I have to make a decision. I hate it, but that's just the way it is.

 

[quideam]

Yea, I'm starting to run into the same problem... but for different reasons. My school doesn't give us a timeblock off for interviews, we have to do it on our own time. This is good and bad. Good: I can spread out my invites over 3 months. Bad: I am only allowed 4 missed days/month. That means if I get any extra invites and I am maxed out on days allowed to miss... I have to choose and potentially turn down a good program I would be interested in. I could attempt to sneak, but because my school is ridiculously strict it's not worth them throwing the hammer at me or risk them putting me off-schedule (which they are known to do). So, if I am maxed out during one month and another interview offer comes in that I want to go to I have to make a decision. I hate it, but that's just the way it is.

Oh my god, that's ridiculous!! Where do you go to school?? That's the craziest policy i've ever heard of - can't you just take a "light" elective or something (or even leave a month unscheduled) to do your interviews?

 

[domer621]

(i.e., you may be unable to arrange to visit the programs that offer interviews later in the season even if they have incredible programs).

Just my 2 cents: I would go to the program you're most interested in and cancel the one you already scheduled that would cause a scheduling conflict. I think it would be worth it. I'm fortunate to have a bunch of time off for interviewing, but that is what I would do if I were in that predicament.

 

[GoBuckeyes913]

Oh my god, that's ridiculous!! Where do you go to school?? That's the craziest policy i've ever heard of - can't you just take a "light" elective or something (or even leave a month unscheduled) to do your interviews?

None of the above. I've gotten around this so far.... finishing up on my EM rotations and just scheduling interviews on my days off. But when I do ICU from mid dec to mid Jan, and Rural/underserved in Jan to feb, **** is going to hit the fan. They really have us by the . . . well, you know.

To make things worse (and crazier, I know)... our elective months are already set in stone, we can't schedule them whenever we want. Most of us only get 2 "audition" rotations before interview season. I have an elective my very last month of med school... what good is that going to do me? Suffer through Derm? Ugh, I'm nautious thinking about it. (I know I know, it will be beneficial, but oh so painful for me).


Just for extra pity.... we don't stop rotating until the end of May.

 

[quideam]

If i were you, I would at least go onto the pre-allopathic forum and post all of this about your school (even if you have to set up a new account to do it more anonymously). Prospective students deserve to know how insane their policies are... good luck, I'm sure this will all work out!