"No-show" to interview after cancellation email

[ElJo44]

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Hey all.
Just had a quick question about etiquette. I cancelled an interview at a program by emailing one of the administrators I had been in touch with over a week before the interview. I never got a response (in hindsight, a red flag) but didn't think anything of it. The program called me the morning of to ask where I was. I apologized profusely and explained I had emailed [name of person] to cancel.

Question is: should I send another email to the program director and program coordinator to apologize? It's a great program and I wouldn't want to hurt my chances for fellowship there or give my medical school a bad rep.

Thanks!

 

[FutureInternist]

I would but after the interview season is over since right now the PDs will be busy
May consider not mentioning the person's name, just say that you did email one of the admins & leave it at that

 

[vamd]

Hey all.
Just had a quick question about etiquette. I cancelled an interview at a program by emailing one of the administrators I had been in touch with over a week before the interview. I never got a response (in hindsight, a red flag) but didn't think anything of it. The program called me the morning of to ask where I was. I apologized profusely and explained I had emailed [name of person] to cancel.

Question is: should I send another email to the program director and program coordinator to apologize? It's a great program and I wouldn't want to hurt my chances for fellowship there or give my medical school a bad rep.

Thanks!

What did they say in response when you told them you emailed said person? I would've just forwarded that email to the PD and PC (and bcc: your deans) the same day apologizing again for the confusion and for you not following up on the email, as well as thanking them for the opportunity to interview. That way, they can see that you didn't just skip out on the interview without you having to sound defensive. Depending on what their response was to what you told them over the phone, I'm not sure you sending an email this many weeks later would serve any purpose. It might be better for one of your deans or your home PD to call over just to make sure everything is smoothed out.

And they wonder why we med students are neurotic about triple-checking and confirming everything...haha

 

[ElJo44]

What did they say in response when you told them you emailed said person? I would've just forwarded that email to the PD and PC (and bcc: your deans) the same day apologizing again for the confusion and for you not following up on the email, as well as thanking them for the opportunity to interview. That way, they can see that you didn't just skip out on the interview without you having to sound defensive. Depending on what their response was to what you told them over the phone, I'm not sure you sending an email this many weeks later would serve any purpose. It might be better for one of your deans or your home PD to call over just to make sure everything is smoothed out.

And they wonder why we med students are neurotic about triple-checking and confirming everything...haha

The admin I called essentially just said, "Oh, ok" and wished me luck. She didn't say anything specific when I mentioned who I had emailed. I'm meeting with a dean next week so I can ask for his opinion too. Thanks to you both for the advice!

And yeah, the neurosis is strong. The no-show phone call woke me up (different time zones) and I was so nervous I couldn't get back to sleep at all!

 

[chessknt]

I seriously doubt it was such an affront that they will hold a vendetta for 3 years, but if they do there are plenty of fellowships in the sea. Definitely not worth the amount of panic you are awarding it with meetings, emails, internet threads etc.

 

[jesok]

I seriously doubt it was such an affront that they will hold a vendetta for 3 years, but if they do there are plenty of fellowships in the sea. Definitely not worth the amount of panic you are awarding it with meetings, emails, internet threads etc.

Personally, I would call it a day, move to Panama and start a new life. You had a good run man.

 

[235009]

It is very reasonable to mention this incident to your dean just in case. For the record it sounded like OP already had a meeting with the dean, not that he set one up specifically to talk about this.


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[ElJo44]

I seriously doubt it was such an affront that they will hold a vendetta for 3 years, but if they do there are plenty of fellowships in the sea. Definitely not worth the amount of panic you are awarding it with meetings, emails, internet threads etc.

True true. And I mostly cancelled my interview because of location reasons, which will probably still be true when I apply to fellowship.

Personally, I would call it a day, move to Panama and start a new life. You had a good run man.

Buying my ticket now. But really, a long/semi-permanent vacation doesn't sound so bad?

It is very reasonable to mention this incident to your dean just in case. For the record it sounded like OP already had a meeting with the dean, not that he set one up specifically to talk about this.

Yes I have a meeting to discuss my rank list-- will just mention this to him to see if he thinks I should do anything in particular (fly there and apologize in person/ send large fruit basket/ send singing valentine of Justin Beiber's "Sorry"??)

 

[NotAProgDirector]

This is a non issue. You have already lost too much sleep about it.

 

[ElJo44]

This is a non issue. You have already lost too much sleep about it.

Thank you for the reassurance!