Interview on last day

[LoveMedicine100]

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Is it bad to interview on the last day of interviews for a particular program?

Do you think programs have already made up their minds as to who they want?

has anyone matched into a place where they interviewed on the last day of interview??

 

[Psychotic]

Is it bad to interview on the last day of interviews for a particular program?

Do you think programs have already made up their minds as to who they want?

has anyone matched into a place where they interviewed on the last day of interview??

I really think it doesn't matter at all, based on what PDs have said, and also based on a few anecdotes I recall from applicants who matched under those very circumstances.

 

[mass1]

I personally matched at my number 1 choice, and i interviewed there on the last day.

 

[shan564]

If the programs had already made up their minds, then that last interview day wouldn't need to exist. It takes a lot of effort for them to coordinate an interview day... they wouldn't waste their own time and your time if they thought that it was unlikely that they'll take you.

 

[OldPsychDoc]

If the programs had already made up their minds, then that last interview day wouldn't need to exist. It takes a lot of effort for them to coordinate an interview day... they wouldn't waste their own time and your time if they thought that it was unlikely that they'll take you.

That, and it doesn't matter if WE'VE made up our minds--if you don't rank US, then we're screwed. For most of you, it is still a buyer's market from your end. We're the ones hoping you pick us!

 

[rkaz]

That, and it doesn't matter if WE'VE made up our minds--if you don't rank US, then we're screwed. For most of you, it is still a buyer's market from your end. We're the ones hoping you pick us!

That's really sweet, OPD. I wish someone at my last interview had given me this impression of hoping that I'd pick them. It was actually at my top choice place, and the PD/PC were very nice to me, but never gave me the vibe of "we hope you pick us". The interview went very well in my opinion, and I know I was friendly and fluent and I enjoyed all my interviews. But when we talked about places I had applied, the PD had mentioned "Go check out those places and try to get a good feel of places that would suit your interests and be the best fit for you". 😳 There was never any mention of "We hope you'll decide to come here and be a part of our program."

It was a good day with friendly people, but I didn't feel courted by them or that they specifically wanted me. (Though I do have to say that the chief resident was awesome, and super nice and sweet to me.) I had even mentioned at my interview to the PD that they were at the top of my list, and the PD just smiled. When I emailed the PC and PD afterwards to say thank you, the PC wrote a polite reply, but the PD didn't respond. I don't know if that's a bad sign or not. I wonder if the same PCs/PDs would be more expressive of "we want you!" to candidates that they plan to rank highly. I know the PD at this program is an awesome person though as the residents have had nothing but amazing comments to say about him.

Well, this was 1 of my 14 interviews (thus far), so I think I will get better at interviewing (even though I think I did a very decent job with the last one - don't think there was anything specific I could have improved on). Although the place I mentioned is still my top choice, I know I'll probably get swayed to rank other places high on my list if other places court me more extensively. It's really nice to feel wanted by the programs. Even the places that go out of their way and pay for hotels,... that really means a lot and is special. I don't know how much it should weigh when deciding who to rank, but it definitely makes us feel catered towards and valued as potential future residents.

 

[OldPsychDoc]

That's really sweet, OPD. I wish someone at my last interview had given me this impression of hoping that I'd pick them. It was actually at my top choice place, and the PD/PC were very nice to me, but never gave me the vibe of "we hope you pick us". The interview went very well in my opinion, and I know I was friendly and fluent and I enjoyed all my interviews. But when we talked about places I had applied, the PD had mentioned "Go check them out those places and try to get a good feel of places that would suit your interests and be the best fit for you". 😳 There was never any mention of "We hope you'll decide to come here and be a part of our program."

It was a good day with friendly people, but I didn't feel courted by them or that they specifically wanted me. (Though I do have to say that the chief resident was awesome, and super nice and sweet to me.) I had even mentioned at my interview to the PD that they were at the top of my list, and the PD just smiled. When I emailed the PC and PD afterwards to say thank you, the PC wrote a polite reply, but the PD didn't respond. I don't know if that's a bad sign or not. I wonder if the same PC/PD would be more expressive of "we want you!" to candidates that they plan to rank highly.

Well, this was 1 of my 14 interviews (thus far), so I think I will get better at interviewing (even though I think I did a very decent job with the last one - don't think there was anything specific I could have improved on). Although the place I mentioned is still my top choice, I know I'll probably get swayed to rank other places high on my list if other places court me more extensively. It's really nice to feel wanted by the programs. Even the places that go out of their way and pay for hotels,... that really means a lot and is special. I don't know how much it should weigh when deciding who to rank, but it definitely makes us feel catered towards and valued as potential future residents.

We're in the first mile of a marathon...we know that there are dozens more "friendly and fluent" candidates coming through our doors in the next three months. We know that most of them will tell us that we are at the top of their list, or at least being ranked highly. So we smile and nod, and hope you're telling the truth... And some of us are by nature just not that expressive to begin with.

I tell all our interviewees that we wouldn't have invited them if we didn't think we'd want them. Got an interview? You're already in our top 10%. And we've probably had to pass on another 100 candidates that would have been perfectly acceptable because we just can't interview any more than we do!

 

[Nasrudin]

We're in the first mile of a marathon...we know that there are dozens more "friendly and fluent" candidates coming through our doors in the next three months. We know that most of them will tell us that we are at the top of their list, or at least being ranked highly. So we smile and nod, and hope you're telling the truth... And some of us are by nature just not that expressive to begin with.

I tell all our interviewees that we wouldn't have invited them if we didn't think we'd want them. Got an interview? You're already in our top 10%. And we've probably had to pass on another 100 candidates that would have been perfectly acceptable because we just can't interview any more than we do!

Sounds exhausting to maintain all of this and your normal clinical functions. You guys are probably more relieved than we are when it's over.

 

[OldPsychDoc]

Sounds exhausting to maintain all of this and your normal clinical functions. You guys are probably more relieved than we are when it's over.

Just keep the rock moving...

 

[Nasrudin]

Just keep the rock moving...

Nice link. Saved the PDF to read in a couple of days after CK. Thanks.

 

[Soggun]

Just another anecdote... I interviewed on the last day at my current program (actually had the last interview of that day with the PD). Try not to read into it too much. As was said before, it's a buyer's market.