post/pre interview dinner

[wildcard786]

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I have 2 interviews on consecutive days and one has a pre-interview and the other has a post interview dinner, ie the dinner is clashing. Is it worth trying to switch my interviews so I could go to both dinners?

 

[Member111111]

I had a similar question, do any current residents/fellows/attendings know if the interview dinners hold a place in the ranking process. I know the programs say they do not. And it is for applicant benefit. Does whether or not people show up for the dinner count as demonstrating interest?

 

[wakeringer]

First I should qualify myself: I am a current applicant just like yourselves so I do not have any "insider information" to share:

This is going to play out a number of times for me on the trail this fall too. The dinners are great ways to meet residents and other applicants in a low-stress environment. It will demonstrate interest and you can bring it up in interviews but ultimately I have had residents tell me, "Don't forfeit an interview for a dinner, the extra interview will increase your odds of matching (somewhere) over a dinner." I had residents at two separate programs pretty much tell me this verbatim.

All of this being said if a program is your pre-interview trail #1 or #2 I would do everything I could to make the dinner. In other words, if you are REALLY REALLY interested applicant you'd find a way to make the dinner work.

Hope this helps!