Lost Luggage RIP

Started by Hi_I'mPaul
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Get help with your application

Use all the free resources available to you from SDN: articles, guides, expert advising, forums discussions, and school research.

Browse articles Compare schools My application plan Read Interview Feedback
Practice for interviews Ask an Advisor
Hi_I'mPaul

Hi_I'mPaul

Full Member
7+ Year Member
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
I'll keep this short.

I taught classes Tuesday and Wednesday in a different state and flew to my interview today [so I had to pack a bunch of clothes and check my bag in on my flights]. Just got in to the interviewing state a little bit ago [interview at 730 AM tomorrow] and found out my luggage is MIA. Lost in connection flights. I have my suit jacket, nice jeans, nice shirt, and sneakers... they said it's possible that it could be on the next flight which would arrive around 1 AM and be delivered to me.

Advice? I'm prepared to go to the interview in what I was wearing, apologize, but have a good attitude about it and do the best I can. Hopefully, the luggage will come. This is mostly a rant for me... but any good ideas would be nice.
 
Hi_I'mPaul said:
I'll keep this short.

I taught classes Tuesday and Wednesday in a different state and flew to my interview today [so I had to pack a bunch of clothes and check my bag in on my flights]. Just got in to the interviewing state a little bit ago [interview at 730 AM tomorrow] and found out my luggage is MIA. Lost in connection flights. I have my suit jacket, nice jeans, nice shirt, and sneakers... they said it's possible that it could be on the next flight which would arrive around 1 AM and be delivered to me.

Advice? I'm prepared to go to the interview in what I was wearing, apologize, but have a good attitude about it and do the best I can. Hopefully, the luggage will come. This is mostly a rant for me... but any good ideas would be nice.
Click to expand...
Buy a nice polo and something that’s not jeans and be honest with them
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
cj_cregg said:
There's not like a 24 hour Walmart or Target or something nearby? Get a pair of dress pants in the same color as your suit jacket, a button down, a tie, and some shoes. Doesn't have to be fancy and it'll be better than what you've got. Won't look super put together but just mention you lost your luggage with a good sense of humor and you'll be fine.
Click to expand...
Yeah, but is it worth $40 worth of cab rides plus the cost of clothes? Honest opinion, is that expected of me to do?
 
Hi_I'mPaul said:
Yeah, but is it worth $40 worth of cab rides plus the cost of clothes? Honest opinion, is that expected of me to do?
Click to expand...
I would say no. Not worth it. Apologize for the outfit, explain, laugh it off, move on. Stool happens. Don’t worry about it.
Take home lesson- Don’t check a bag and/or travel wearing more professional clothes.
 
I agree with both @IlDestriero and @gonnif.

They can see on your application that you came from far away. It’s not implausible that what just happened to you would actually happen.

It’s likely going to be uncomfortable because everyone and their mother is going to be taking more than a few hard looks at you. But it shouldn’t have an impact on your admissions decision.

Even if you did run off to a Walmart, there’s no guarantee that they’ll have anything in your size.
 
IlDestriero said:
I would say no. Not worth it. Apologize for the outfit, explain, laugh it off, move on. Stool happens. Don’t worry about it.
Take home lesson- Don’t check a bag and/or travel wearing more professional clothes.
Click to expand...
I was in airports from 9AM until 7PM so I went with semiprofessional clothing for comfort purposes. Had to check bags because I was packing for 5 days out of state. Thanks for your opinion, appreciate it! Will keep this in mind for next time though! I'll wear my suit no matter what!
 
gonnif said:
BTW, Here is a true story that a physician relayed to me. Sitting in a large office waiting area along with the 20-30 other nicely dressed applicants for medical school interviews, suddenly two guys in dirty tee shirts, grimy shorts, and disheveled appearance walk in. Room falls silent. Turns out they had flown in the day before, dropped off their luggage in the hotel to enjoy New York, came back late and EVERYTHING was gone. Entire suitcases just stolen. Interviewed looking like down on their luck beach bums. One of them got in.
Click to expand...
This gives me hope lol 😀
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
Hi_I'mPaul said:
Had to check bags because I was packing for 5 days out of state.
Click to expand...

I’m a woman, and regularly travel for week-long conferences with multiple outfits, makeup bag, and multiple pairs of shoes, not to mention sneakers and gym gear. I haven’t checked a bag in ten years. It’s possible. Just be very specific about what you pack, make heavy use of hotel amenities, and you shouldn’t have issues with luggage again.
 
OrthoTraumaMD said:
I’m a woman, and regularly travel for week-long conferences with multiple outfits, makeup bag, and multiple pairs of shoes, not to mention sneakers and gym gear. I haven’t checked a bag in ten years. It’s possible. Just be very specific about what you pack, make heavy use of hotel amenities, and you shouldn’t have issues with luggage again.
Click to expand...
This is slightly harder to do when you are a tall, large man who wears size 12/13 shoes, but I agree in principle.
 
OrthoTraumaMD said:
I’m a woman, and regularly travel for week-long conferences with multiple outfits, makeup bag, and multiple pairs of shoes, not to mention sneakers and gym gear. I haven’t checked a bag in ten years. It’s possible. Just be very specific about what you pack, make heavy use of hotel amenities, and you shouldn’t have issues with luggage again.
Click to expand...
Honestly impressed! I did have to pack for 60-degree weather and then 10-degree weather, was very minimalistic, and my bag was full. Mostly dress stuff to teach and the essentials. Plus, I've been flying for the past 8 weeks straight and this was the only time I've had luggage issues (of course before my interview lol)
 
OchemOficionado said:
I agree with the advice to just be honest about what happened and don’t let it distract you.

Also, carry your suit in a garment bag people! Most planes have a closet up front that you can hang it in as well and the flight attendants will have it out for you when you arrive.
Click to expand...
No fun to carry this around 3 different airports plus layovers, and I wore my suit jacket so I was at least somewhat stylish. I understand your point, though!
 
Hi_I'mPaul said:
No fun to carry this around 3 different airports plus layovers, and I wore my suit jacket so I was at least somewhat stylish. I understand your point, though!
Click to expand...

Same, been there. Not fun, but the most secure. More fun than showing up to an interview not feeling like you're dressed your best. That's what I was most afriad of on my interview trail.
 
Do you know about the pratfall effect? This is such a brilliant example. If you did a reasonably good job in your interviews, losing your luggage is likely going to be a net positive.

"In social psychology, the pratfall effect is the tendency for interpersonal appeal to increase or decrease after an individual makes a mistake, depending on the individual's perceived ability to perform well in a general sense. An individual perceived to be highly competent would be considered, on average, more likable after committing a blunder, while the opposite would occur if a person perceived as average made a mistake."

Pratfall effect - Wikipedia
 
Definitely have to agree with riverrunner - keep in mind this is from the perspective of a residency interviewer - we have had this happen with candidates before and we never mark them down for it. I personally (and I think we all) have a subconscious bias to root for the underdog, and in a sense this candidate becomes the underdog by not being dressed like all their peers if they don't let it affect their demeanor.

For people reading this for advice in the future (as OP's interview is done) - give it a quick sentence to each interviewer you meet and then move on and don't circle back to it. If you keep bringing it up then suddenly you lost the most important part of not letting it affect your demeanor. If you fixate on small issues like this, it can reflect poorly on your perceived ability to cope with stressful situations as a medical student, resident and physician.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.