Interview Response Etiquette

[Extralong]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

So recently I began having a huge influx of invites, and was wondering if it is rude to not respond to the interview invitation?

I have 3 interview invites so far that I have not responded to because I might want to interview with those residency programs[later], but they are not my priority.

So whats the etiquette? Do I email them telling them that I cannot schedule an interview yet? Do I do nothing, and hope later on I can contact them to schedule an interview?

Lastly, do the directors/ secretaries from other programs talk to each other (like you know how there are some programs that are geographically next to each other, or have affiliates of the same university)? Am I just being paranoid?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Chimed]

I don't think you have to respond if you're not planning on interviewing with the program if they don't ask. If you plan on interviewing with them later, but can't figure out a time, I would let them know that you're still interested and trying to work out your schedule. If you later decide you won't interview there it would be helpful to let the coordinators know so they can open up more interviews spots to other applicants. You can never go wrong with being conscientiousness!

 

[flash]

I would respond and lock in date, generally speaking. You can always reschedule or cancel if something 'better' comes along...but you're locked in if not. If program is not a serious contender, book interview LATE if they have an available date (Jan). It seemed like Oct, Nov, Dec had most dates from my experience last year. Also depends on your availability to interview. Or, if program is low on your list and they have an opening next Tuesday, e.g., jump on it and get it under your belt. Lots of variables, but at this stage of the game , and if you only have 3, lock date(s) in and reschedule/cancel/tradeup as new invites roll in. Sitting on them too long seems like the wrong thing to do, imho.

 

[billypilgrim37]

Nothing is worse for these folks than not having a response at all. Your best response would be swift and to the point and honest that you can't schedule right now. They will probably tell you that slots are filling up, etc., but you can explain that you understand that your delaying may jeopardize your getting to interview there, but you are still working on your interview schedule, and hope to get back with them when you can.

That said, I cancelled at least one interview because the interview coordinator was rude to me in a scenario like this, and I was pretty much looking for an excuse to cut programs anyway.

 

[Extralong]

I would respond and lock in date, generally speaking. You can always reschedule or cancel if something 'better' comes along...but you're locked in if not. If program is not a serious contender, book interview LATE if they have an available date (Jan). It seemed like Oct, Nov, Dec had most dates from my experience last year. Also depends on your availability to interview. Or, if program is low on your list and they have an opening next Tuesday, e.g., jump on it and get it under your belt. Lots of variables, but at this stage of the game , and if you only have 3, lock date(s) in and reschedule/cancel/tradeup as new invites roll in. Sitting on them too long seems like the wrong thing to do, imho.

I have 13 already locked in, its just I have 3 that I haven't responded to because they are my back ups..

 

[Extralong]

Nothing is worse for these folks than not having a response at all. Your best response would be swift and to the point and honest that you can't schedule right now. They will probably tell you that slots are filling up, etc., but you can explain that you understand that your delaying may jeopardize your getting to interview there, but you are still working on your interview schedule, and hope to get back with them when you can.

That said, I cancelled at least one interview because the interview coordinator was rude to me in a scenario like this, and I was pretty much looking for an excuse to cut programs anyway.

Good Point, thanx

 

[digitlnoize]

I have 13 already locked in, its just I have 3 that I haven't responded to because they are my back ups..

I would definitely respond. It's the polite thing to do.

If you're on the fence, try and get off of it, if you can. Research the program and the area for an evening and see if you can find a reason to bail. Otherwise, schedule it for later in the season, so you can cancel it if needed.

Finally, think of your fellow applicants. You have plenty of interviews. One of those places that's very low on your list might mean the world to someone else who only has 3 interviews, but that program is in their hometown. So, if you're not serious about the program, let the program know for the good of your fellow applicants.

I got a number of invites that I declined. Most were places I was serious about at one point, but once I reached a certain number of interviews, I was comfortable dropping some far away programs. I usually say something like:

"Thank you very much for your invitation to interview at your program. Unfortunately, I will have to decline your invitation at this time. I will withdraw myself on ERAS also. Thank you for your time." Or something like that...

 

[psychattending]

So recently I began having a huge influx of invites, and was wondering if it is rude to not respond to the interview invitation?

I have 3 interview invites so far that I have not responded to because I might want to interview with those residency programs[later], but they are not my priority.

So whats the etiquette? Do I email them telling them that I cannot schedule an interview yet? Do I do nothing, and hope later on I can contact them to schedule an interview?

Lastly, do the directors/ secretaries from other programs talk to each other (like you know how there are some programs that are geographically next to each other, or have affiliates of the same university)? Am I just being paranoid?

Thanks in advance!

You should respond. It is the polite and professional thing to do. Also realize that as a PD I am always concerned about whether an applicant received his/her invitation. Knowing that the person received the invitation, addresses that concern. If you can't decide yet on whether you want to interview there, just tell them that you received the invitation and still can't commit yet to an interview. They will probably tell you that they will keep you on their list but that the available slots are quickly vanishing. For most people 13 is a large number of interviews; so if you are an average applicant, then you will probably end up not needing so many interviews. Canceling those that are lower down on your list will allow another student who prefers that program to get an interview there.

 

[OldPsychDoc]

...Lastly, do the directors/ secretaries from other programs talk to each other (like you know how there are some programs that are geographically next to each other, or have affiliates of the same university)? Am I just being paranoid?
Thanks in advance!

No--but you are possibly being a bit narcissistic. 😉

Seriously--our PDs and PCs are sifting through literally hundreds of applications, trying to find the 60 or so we'll interview (who also want to come visit us), and still dealing with our current residents and other administrative stuff--like RRC site visits. Do you really think we've got time to call across town and complain about you, specifically?
Believe me, unless you do something spectacularly bad that makes us shiver with PTSD when we hear your name, we won't even remember who you are at this stage in the process!

Just take the advice of these others--be polite, be honest, be nice.
On behalf of my PD and PC (who are also personal friends), Thank you!

 

[Extralong]

Thank you all for the advice.

No--but you are possibly being a bit narcissistic. 😉

Seriously--our PDs and PCs are sifting through literally hundreds of applications, trying to find the 60 or so we'll interview (who also want to come visit us), and still dealing with our current residents and other administrative stuff--like RRC site visits. Do you really think we've got time to call across town and complain about you, specifically?
Believe me, unless you do something spectacularly bad that makes us shiver with PTSD when we hear your name, we won't even remember who you are at this stage in the process!

As for you, well, since you have so many badges next to your name, I guess I should listen to you. 😀


But seriously, thank you for letting me know, and I will definitely act accordingly...P.S. u're type of humor is what I hope to find within a residency program.

 

[MiddleRoad]

I recently got an interview at a program and didn't respond that day. The next day they sent another ERAS message repeating the invitation again.

 

[whopper]

Seriously--our PDs and PCs are sifting through literally hundreds of applications, trying to find the 60 or so we'll interview (who also want to come visit us), and still dealing with our current residents and other administrative stuff--like RRC site visits. Do you really think we've got time to call across town and complain about you, specifically?

Agree, but at the same time, repeated good experiences with the program coordinator can yield some brownie points.

The bottom line is that the only real way to find out about a candidate is to work with them for several weeks. Applications, LORs, USMLE scores only scrape the surface. Several of the best residents I've seen had lousy USMLE scores, several terrible residents had very good applications, USMLE scores, and LORs.

I've seen situations where the program coordinator asked the PD if they could dump a person because that person annoying called the coordinator several times in an intrusive and bothersome manner. The paradigm being that if this person is this annoying now, they'll likely be a nightmare resident. Perhaps true, perhaps not, but when there's hundreds of applications to go through in a limited amount of time, almost all applicants are fodder.

In several businesses, the key to opening the door is actually the secretary, not the boss. Several bosses completely rely on their secretaries. Don't have the attitude that the coordinators don't matter. Several people in medicine think only the doctors matter. That is not true.

If an applicant consistently showed curt, respectful, and good behavior to the coordinator, this could open a few doors or elevate the applicant. Could responding back aid in this? Yes, but it'd only be one of several needed steps, but one possible step nonetheless.

 

[OldPsychDoc]

Agree, but at the same time, repeated good experiences with the program coordinator can yield some brownie points.

...I've seen situations where the program coordinator asked the PD if they could dump a person because that person annoying called the coordinator several times in an intrusive and bothersome manner. The paradigm being that if this person is this annoying now, they'll likely be a nightmare resident. Perhaps true, perhaps not, but when there's hundreds of applications to go through in a limited amount of time, almost all applicants are fodder.
...

I wasn't advocating that anyone be demanding or rude to the Program Coordinator because we don't care.
I agree, being excessively nice to the PC is a very good strategy! If you're really good at it, after you match, she might share her chocolate cache with you!

I was attempting to disabuse the OP of the notion that they will get blacklisted to other programs because they might be attempting to manage their own itineraries in a proactive manner.

 

[whopper]

I wasn't advocating that anyone be demanding or rude to the Program Coordinator because we don't care.

Certainly. I knew that wasn't your intent. All hail OPD! (No sarcasm meant. You're certainly a cornerstone in this forums).

Just that I've seen several medstudents and doctors have an attitude that the non-doctors don't matter. That is very far from the truth, especially if the coordinator is actually the real person running the admissions process as I've seen in some programs. Besides, anyone applying into a program thinking they're above others in a narcissistic manner is someone I wouldn't want to see in a program I were in.

 

[psychphan]

I have generally been very timely with responding to interviews, both with accepting and rejectingg, however, I was really on the fence with one program that i couldnt decide if I wanted to take the interview or not. I was also coincidentally very busy at the time and put the decision to the side. When I finally decided to accept it, which was two weeks later, I was told they no longer had slots available and that i would be put on a waitlist. I then recieved an email effectively rescinding my invitation to interview and saying my application was now on hold. I have since withdrew from this program, and I'm not torn up about the whole thing, but I do think that the morale of the story is if you are even coblnsidering interviewing at a place its best to set up a date as soon as you can. You can always cancel ( and remember it is polite to cancel as soon as you know you're no longer interested to thus allow someone to fill your spot), and cancelling is much easier than trying to squeeze into a limited number of dates after the majority of spots have filled.