Wow, I wasn't expecting all these tips. Thanks for all the suggestions!
You might also take a 'mental health/sick" day as it would cause you severe undue mental distress to skip an interview, but they don't need the details.
LOL. I like your thinking!
But do know that for most schools, especially early on in the cycle, you're likely to get quite a broad range of dates that you can choose.
This really helps me not to worry so much. Thanks. A major worry is having to have a short span for which I have to plan. PTO days get "reserved" pretty quickly, so my choices can get tight if it is short notice. Scheduling a date for my MCAT was pretty tough. I had to "finagle" my way around that explanation to my boss. Apparently it threw up red flags asking for several random dates at once (because MCAT is only administered on certain days). Saying I have to schedule an "appointment" seems to work out pretty well.
Could you maybe switch to a part-time schedule so that you can try to arrange your interviews on a day off (that's not the weekend)?
I'm actually considering doing this now that you suggested it. The work hours are steady, but days can extend longer depending on product demand, time of year, covering for other worker PTO days, etc.
Try to schedule interviews for Mondays, in particular. You can use Sat/Sun to get there.
A few of you said Monday scheduling. I think this will be my main plan. Most PTO days are scheduled for Friday (with some people taking off exclusively Fridays of months on end). Monday would be a great idea, since it is less common.
When I applied, I went on a few interview junkets, where I'd knock out two or three of them in a row, traveling from city to city without going back home first.
I may have to do that. In all honesty, if I get into a medical college in Alaska, Minnesota, or North Dakota, I don't care. The medical school I want is the one that accepts me. I'll be happy for whatever I get, wherever I get it.
You might get to the point that your boss gets suspicious of you missing work, or that you get fired, but if you're getting that many interviews anyway, hopefully you'll have an acceptance or two in the bag!
I sure hope I get a few. I have been told I'm too old or people look at me like I'm dreaming when I say I'm trying to get into a school. If I do get fired, I have a few useful skills that will allow me to get a job elsewhere. Thanks for the well-wishes!
Just don't want to deal with the repercussions/negativity from those who think I'm incapable and I just want to leave peacefully, no need to tell them that it's a career change
I try to avoid talking about education at all when at work. It ends up feeling like a competition, even though you may be pretty humble about whatever you're talking about. Some people get angry or even spiteful. You could say I try to keep most of my personal business to myself.
