Is This OK To Do?

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ziziart

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I had a question. If you get an interview in a Neurology Residency somewhere, and are applying to the same program's Internal Medicine Prelim Residency, but haven't heard back from the Medicine program yet, is it ok to send an email to the Medicine program telling them that you have an interview with the Neuro program?

I'm assuming it would not be ok, because that's like asking for an interview when you don't have one, and wouldn't that be presumptive? Or should I contact the Neurology program instead and tell them that I am also interested in the Internal Medicine prelim year? The only problem with this is that I couldn't find anywhere on their website that they'll help you out with arranging this.

The only reason I'm asking is because I would like to do both interviews around the same dates because of plane ticket, price, etc.

Thanks in advance!
 
My advisor had said this was fine when I was applying, so I did this and was offered interviews at several of the prelims. Often if you indicate interest to a prelim program and let them know you are going to be in the area, they know you will show up and won't waste an interview spot. Just make sure to word it more tactfully than "can I have an interview?".
 
I've gotten interviews at some programs where I haven't gotten a prelim interview yet. The interview letters I've gotten all say "let us know if you are waiting to hear from our internal medicine program so we can have them schedule your interview".

Have you let the neuro programs know you are also applying prelim at their hospital?
 
I've gotten interviews at some programs where I haven't gotten a prelim interview yet. The interview letters I've gotten all say "let us know if you are waiting to hear from our internal medicine program so we can have them schedule your interview".

Have you let the neuro programs know you are also applying prelim at their hospital?


No, the interview I got does not mention their Internal Medicine program at all. And their Neurology Residency program emphasizes that they are an advanced program which requires a year of prelim, but does not say anything about their own Internal Med program. It almost seems like they have no relation to each other even though it's the same school.

So should I email the Neurology program first? Or should I email the Internal Medicine program?
 
No, the interview I got does not mention their Internal Medicine program at all. And their Neurology Residency program emphasizes that they are an advanced program which requires a year of prelim, but does not say anything about their own Internal Med program. It almost seems like they have no relation to each other even though it's the same school.

So should I email the Neurology program first? Or should I email the Internal Medicine program?


I don't think it would hurt to be pro-active and ask. The way I would handle it is to e-mail the Internal Medicine program and say something like "I was wondering if there have been any updates to the status of my application, as I will be in the area interviewing at your Neurology program on such-and-such a date, and would be available for interviews at that time".
 
I agree with Phantom Spike, there's no harm in being pro-active. I did this during my applications and actually had a couple of positive responses from it. I think it helps the IM people ration the interviews. For example, give an interview to an applicant with potential ties to the program vs similar applicant without any ties? Just be nice and you'll find that the program coordinators will be nice back.
 
Yeah do the contact- it's pretty easy for an applicant to add a program they are applying to, but interviewing is time consuming and most people don't want to spend months interviewing people who are only paranoid about not matching and applied to 60 programs.
 
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