Postpone interview to post-Dec 1?

[BobLoblawDDS]

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Hi guys,

I've got until this coming Friday (the 11th) to notify a school of my preferred interview date (the latest date they gave me was in a couple weeks). However, I'm not too excited about interviewing at this school as I've heard some things about its curriculum that I'm not a fan of. I'm also a bit wary of the exorbitant cost.

How should I go about asking the school if I could postpone my interview selection to a later date, or choose a post-Dec 1 date now? Would they allow me to do that so far in advance? I only have a few other interviews and one of them is not pre-Dec 1, but rather on Dec 1, so I'm not sure what I should do.

I suppose I do want to go to the interview but to be honest, even if I don't get accepted anywhere, I find myself hard-pressed to want to go to this school at all. It was a bottom of the barrel safety school for me.

But I don't want to toss it aside seeing as I've only had one interview so far, so it's hard to gauge my chances.

Any advice appreciated!

 

[mc719]

It looks like you have really good stats. Interviewing is expensive and time-consuming. If I were you I would only interview at places where I would want to go. I'd bet that you will have your choice of places to go to dental school. But if you want to be extra careful, I would try to schedule it post-dec. 1. Also, being an international student do you have to pay for the school by yourself? If I had to pay for a school by myself I would probably give myself a couple of application cycles, if necessary, to get into the cheapest school. Especially if the cost differences are above 100k, because after taxes, that'll probably be as much as you would make your first year out, assuming you get a good job right out of d school. So waiting an extra year to get into a cheaper dental school might actually be financially smarter, depending on the price differences of the schools and the funding options you have available to you.

 

[BobLoblawDDS]

Oh I have no doubt that I want to reschedule the interview; my real question was how should I go about doing it? Should I be honest (Your school is not a priority for me, can I reschedule) or should I come up with some fake reason (I have private family matters to deal with between now and December)?

Sorry if I didn't make my intentions for the thread clear.

And I get what you're saying; those are all reasons I'd rather reschedule--I have other schools I'm leaning more towards, interviewing takes up my time and money, etc. etc.

As for the holding out a year for a cheaper school, since I'm international there is little difference between schools for me (except for the extremely high cost ones like NYU and USC which is mostly due to their locations) so if I were to wait an extra year it would be for a Canadian school (where I can get my education for just a little over $100k; a relative bargain).

 

[wantveneers]

I honestly think that they won't ask you the reason that you're scheduling it for the date you prefer. I bet they'll be cool and just put you in for whatever option you do!

 

[MrAvicii]

Oh I have no doubt that I want to reschedule the interview; my real question was how should I go about doing it? Should I be honest (Your school is not a priority for me, can I reschedule) or should I come up with some fake reason (I have private family matters to deal with between now and December)?

Sorry if I didn't make my intentions for the thread clear.

And I get what you're saying; those are all reasons I'd rather reschedule--I have other schools I'm leaning more towards, interviewing takes up my time and money, etc. etc.

As for the holding out a year for a cheaper school, since I'm international there is little difference between schools for me (except for the extremely high cost ones like NYU and USC which is mostly due to their locations) so if I were to wait an extra year it would be for a Canadian school (where I can get my education for just a little over $100k; a relative bargain).

if you wanna reschedule then call the schools and let them know you are very busy with your current coursework (i.e. upcoming midterms in November) and would love to attend an interview past Dec 1st. See if they are flexible and willing to work with you (most schools are.)

I would also look at it based on the stats, if you have a very high chance of getting an acceptance post interview like in Minnesota (last year 76% of OOS applicants for an acceptance post interview) then I would go pre-dec 1.

 

[mc719]

I agree with mravicii.

 

[HoustonDAT]

I would not reschedule the interview. You should take the pre Dec 1 interview and assess which schools you want to attend after your acceptances not before your interviews. Since you are an international applicant, regardless of your stats, you should put yourself in the best position to gain admission anywhere.

 

[doc toothache]

I suppose I do want to go to the interview but to be honest, even if I don't get accepted anywhere, I find myself hard-pressed to want to go to this school at all. It was a bottom of the barrel safety school for me.But I don't want to toss it aside seeing as I've only had one interview so far, so it's hard to gauge my chances.

Could one claim poetic justice if you ended up a graduate of the "bottom of the barrel" ds?

 

[amalgamgrillz]

But I don't want to toss it aside seeing as I've only had one interview so far, so it's hard to gauge my chances.

Any advice appreciated!

If you've only had one interview so far, I wouldn't toss it aside. If you can post-pone it, great. But if not, then definitely go to it! Cost of the interview is a drop in the bucket in the grand scheme of things.

 

[YoHomey]

Here's a strategy. Schedule the latest date possible and then days before the interview just say you have a death in the family and the funeral coincides with the interview date. At this point all the pre Dec interview dates will be filled and they'll have no choice but to schedule you for a desired post Dec date. They won't blame you but will sympathize with you and will surely accomodate you. I know it's a bit manipulative/dishonest on your part, but hey, these schools manipulate us applicants with their dishonest "still under review" status when they intend to give a ding notice in April. It works both ways.

 

[amalgamgrillz]

Here's a strategy. Schedule the latest date possible and then days before the interview just say you have a death in the family and the funeral coincides with the interview date. At this point all the pre Dec interview dates will be filled and they'll have no choice but to schedule you for a desired post Dec date. They won't blame you but will sympathize with you and will surely accomodate you. I know it's a bit manipulative/dishonest on your part, but hey, these schools manipulate us applicants with their dishonest "still under review" status when they intend to give a ding notice in April. It works both ways.

I think it's a little different in this case: this particular school hasn't been dishonest with him. Fool-proof plan, though.

 

[BobLoblawDDS]

I think I'll just call them and tell them that I am too busy from now until January or something, that I wish I had applied earlier, and if they could please postpone my interview. I don't feel like telling such a bold-faced lie as "My grandmother just died," and I feel like "I'm just too busy" is not such a stretch of the truth. Hopefully they'll be understanding, and if not, I suppose I only lost a school that I wasn't likely to attend in the first place.

Thanks for all the responses!

 

[MrAvicii]

I think I'll just call them and tell them that I am too busy from now until January or something, that I wish I had applied earlier, and if they could please postpone my interview. I don't feel like telling such a bold-faced lie as "My grandmother just died," and I feel like "I'm just too busy" is not such a stretch of the truth. Hopefully they'll be understanding, and if not, I suppose I only lost a school that I wasn't likely to attend in the first place.

Thanks for all the responses!

im with you on that. faking funerals is a slightly below my moral compass lol. if a school doesnt want to postpone or is rude, then ask yourself if you really want to attend such a university. I did have one school that I called that gave me a VERY VERY hard time (I wont name them) but after speaking with them, I am less interested in going there.

 

[YoHomey]

Or you can say that due to your financial budget, airfares are too expensive before Dec. 1 and thus you can't afford the travel expenses. However, your search for Dec/Jan flights are reasonable. This is more moral than your grandma dying lol.

 

[chippy]

You don't have to make up any stories. You really don't HAVE to give them any reason at all. I had to postpone one of my interviews and all I said when I asked was that I had a significant conflict on that day and would it be possible to move the interview to a later date? It was no problem at all. I wouldn't tell them they are not a priority school for you and I wouldn't lie either...