Scheduling Interviews...is this insane?

[OrganizedChaos]

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all right, so ive scheduled 5 interviews over a 7 day stretch, which includes 4 different cities spread out over 2 different geographical regions (chicago area and philly/d.c/virginia area). logistically, it works out. but is this plan lunacy? as long as it doesnt affect my interviewing ability, i dont care how hectic the schedule is.

have any of you done similar scheduling or know people that did in the past? it's just so difficult with a restricted interview time period, program date inflexibility, and trying to schedule all the schools in an area around the same time.

 

[DoctorSax]

all right, so ive scheduled 5 interviews over a 7 day stretch, which includes 4 different cities spread out over 2 different geographical regions (chicago area and philly/d.c/virginia area). logistically, it works out. but is this plan lunacy? as long as it doesnt affect my interviewing ability, i dont care how hectic the schedule is.

have any of you done similar scheduling or know people that did in the past? it's just so difficult with a restricted interview time period, program date inflexibility, and trying to schedule all the schools in an area around the same time.

Whoah, I just posted the same question on a new thread at the same time. We must both totally have ESPN.

I concur--anyone have any advice about this issue?

 

[OrganizedChaos]

Whoah, I just posted the same question on a new thread at the same time. We must both totally have ESPN.

I concur--anyone have any advice about this issue?

or maybe we are the same person - dissociative disorder?? hmmm.....

 

[InternalWhizzzz]

Whoah, I just posted the same question on a new thread at the same time. We must both totally have ESPN.

I concur--anyone have any advice about this issue?

Do you mean to say you both have ESP? ESPN is a sports chanel.

 

[DrNick2006]

I think it has to do with how wound up you are and if you get exaused by being stressed or not. Personally I wouldn't think it would be a big deal as long as you have it planned well so that you can still prepare for individual interviews adequately. I wouldn't do it if there is a place you 😍 REALLY 😍 want to go to then I might not risk being fatigued.

 

[Roadrunner]

I think there's a good chance that it will work out. I have a similar schedule over a couple different weeks. The one contigency to remember is weather. I've heard from applicants in year's past that scheduling in different cities or even regions can be risky because a bad snow or ice storm will really screw things up. And while the program may be understanding of your situation, you may be hard pressed to get the interview rescheduled to your liking. Good luck!

 

[megacolon]

I'm praying that global warming will keep it warm when I head up north to interview.

 

[DoctorSax]

It's not really that cold in Cleveland in December, right?

Wanna hear an awesome interview schedule?

Starting from Tejas
December 9th fly to Albuquerque
Interview 10th
Leave 11th from Alb to Cleveland
Interviews 12th and 13th
Drive to Pitt on 14th, interview 15th
Drive back to Cleveland, fly to Baltimore 15th or 16th.
Interview Baltimore/DC 20th,21st.
Fly back to Tejas.

It's like the biggest polygon ever. Thank the lawsy lawd for Southwest Airlines.

DS

 

[fantasty]

That's awesome, Dr. Sax 🙂 Aren't those one-way or "multi-destination" airfares a killer, though? I guess it still probably beats coming back to home base each time.

 

[InternalWhizzzz]

That's awesome, Dr. Sax 🙂 Aren't those one-way or "multi-destination" airfares a killer, though? I guess it still probably beats coming back to home base each time.

is your icon a picasso? 😉

 

[fantasty]

Mine? It's from the "Rejected" cartoon. But, I can see it passing for a Picasso 🙂

 

[sacrament]

all right, so ive scheduled 5 interviews over a 7 day stretch, which includes 4 different cities spread out over 2 different geographical regions (chicago area and philly/d.c/virginia area). logistically, it works out. but is this plan lunacy? as long as it doesnt affect my interviewing ability, i dont care how hectic the schedule is.

have any of you done similar scheduling or know people that did in the past? it's just so difficult with a restricted interview time period, program date inflexibility, and trying to schedule all the schools in an area around the same time.

Well I'm definitely not going for a 5-programs-in-7-days type experience, but I do have several paired interviews and several multi-destination trips lined up and paid for. I worry about airline delays throwing a wrench into things, but I can't do much about it... it's the only way things work out finanically and on the calendar. A few weeks ago I was looking forward to interview season. Now as I look at my schedule, I'm depressed. I'm guessing that the sum total of time I'm going to spend on airplanes is going to add up to nearly a week.

 

[Zolpidem25]

Well I'm definitely not going for a 5-programs-in-7-days type experience, but I do have several paired interviews and several multi-destination trips lined up and paid for. I worry about airline delays throwing a wrench into things, but I can't do much about it... it's the only way things work out finanically and on the calendar. A few weeks ago I was looking forward to interview season. Now as I look at my schedule, I'm depressed. I'm guessing that the sum total of time I'm going to spend on airplanes is going to add up to nearly a week.

i haven't even bought a single plane ticket yet. (12 scheduled interviews). i think i'm in deep s**t. i have to start preparing for them too.... should find my Iserson's first....

 

[DoctorSax]

Mine? It's from the "Rejected" cartoon. But, I can see it passing for a Picasso 🙂

Interesting--I was getting more of a Matisse vibe!

DS

 

[DoctorSax]

That's awesome, Dr. Sax 🙂 Aren't those one-way or "multi-destination" airfares a killer, though? I guess it still probably beats coming back to home base each time.

The one ways suck, but Southwest airlines is my savior...Great one-way fares since they have no official hubs.

DS

 

[orientedtoself]

i haven't even bought a single plane ticket yet. (12 scheduled interviews). i think i'm in deep s**t. i have to start preparing for them too.... should find my Iserson's first....

Don't buy them too early either, especially for interviews you might want to cancel. I bought tickets for my November trips, and then decided to cancel one trip after buying tickets- took a $100 hit for exchanging the ticket. But I figure it's better than flying out there, renting a car, and going to two interviews at places I didn't really want to go anyways. . .

 

[DrNick2006]

if you can fly in and out of makor hubs than airfare does not get much more expensive as the date approaches.

 

[TommyGunn04]

Do you mean to say you both have ESP? ESPN is a sports chanel.

I'm pretty sure that was intentional, and was supposed to be a joke...guess you missed it 😛

 

[ucladukes]

Regarding SWA tix
You can CANCEL them without any penalty and apply to funds to future travel for up toa year

You only take a hit if you make CHANGES to an existing ticket.

That being the case, its probably better to buy when its it cheap and you can cancel anytime and reapply the funds

I've done this a bunch, it works and I have never paid a cent in penalties

 

[orientedtoself]

Am I out of my mind? Cedars-Sinai -> Harbor-UCLA -> USC -> U of Arizona in four days. I figure that the first three are in LA, and Arizona is only a two hour flight away.

 

[DoctorSax]

Am I out of my mind? Cedars-Sinai -> Harbor-UCLA -> USC -> U of Arizona in four days. I figure that the first three are in LA, and Arizona is only a two hour flight away.

I think you should be fine. SWA flies now from both LAX and Ontario (not so far) non-stop to Tucson. LAX - Tucson looks like (depending on when) will only cost you about $50-$60. You might miss the night before social, but that again depends on when you leave LAX. And I'm pretty sure that neither LAX nor Tucson will be snowed in! 😀

DS