second visit

[resident12]

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Hello,

I was thinking back to a program that I have already interviewed at for a second visit. When is the best time to go?

Thank you!

 

[shan564]

Some programs have certain preferred dates. You should probably ask the PC.

 

[happyoolongtea]

Some programs have certain preferred dates. You should probably ask the PC.

I agree -- the PC, or chief resident if you have his/her contact info. I've schedule a second look for a program I already knew going in would be a top choice, around late January. I would suggest scheduling it before the first week of February or so, when PDs start to organize rank lists (and we consider our own lists)

 

[splik]

As an aside, do strongly consider why you are going on a second look and what you want out of it. They are a pain for programs because people have to go out their way to make time to see you on an occasion scheduled just for you and whilst most places will be happy to do so, rarely is it going to be helpful in actually informing your decision of where you want to go. Possible reasons for going on a second look are to meet with a faculty member who you are interested in working with and who was not available before, to meet with residents if you did not get an opportunity to when interviewing (which is a red flag in itself), to visit a site where you will do much of your training that you did not get to visit.

You should not go on a second look to show how interested you are in a program, or because you think that it will help how highly you are ranked, because it won't. The other caveat is the whole interview trail is a dog-and-pony show, everyone is doing their best to be enthusiastic and by the end you will be burnt out. The more contact you have with the program the more likely something negative will happen that may cast you in a bad light!

 

[Bartelby]

I have to agree with splik here. Generally second looks don't seem worth the extra time and money you have to invest (although I say this not having gone to any). That said, if a second look would be useful enough to overcome the time/money issues I don't think programs would hold coming for a second look against you, get in touch with the interview coordinator and they should be able to work out the details. Just don't feel like you *have* to do it to let a program know you are interested!

And to answer your original question, I would probably go late in the season. That way if you find through other interviews that you are not as interested in the program you haven't wasted a trip out!

 

[psychattending]

I would agree with the two previous posters. Second interviews should only be used for instances when an applicant needs additional information that cannot be obtained via another method. It for sure does not increase your likelihood of a program improving your ranking. If anything, it is seen as a negative, especially if the program perceives it as you attempting to impress them. If you decide to do a second interview you should do it later in the cycle and then clearly communicate to the program what additional information you are trying to obtain.

 

[happyoolongtea]

Hm. I'm doing mine more for what splik had suggested, if you didn't see certain training sites or wanted to meet with faculty of interest that weren't around on interview day. Less for brownie points. It helps to be very close by to the program. I doubt I would do it for one that was much farther away.