Selecting Interviews

[stlblues]

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Hi all,

Don't mean to be obnoxious, but I applied to way too many programs and now am finding that I will likely end up declining several interviews. So is getting the interview the big step? In other words, do I still need to interview at some probable/safety schools or should I only interview at the top 6-7 schools which all have offered me interviews?

Thanks!

 

[ketafol]

Im wondering the same thing. But out of my insane nervousness, I will probably end up interviewing at my top 15.

 

[aredoubleyou]

Im wondering the same thing. But out of my insane nervousness, I will probably end up interviewing at my top 15.

Thats a great way to waste money.

Unless your counting prelims too.

Otherwise add it all up:
15+ interviews, probably at good places. Unless your a total jackass youre gunna match easily, probably in 3, unquestionably in 8.

I wouldnt go to more than 8 or 9 interviews at places u need to pay money for (plane/hotel)

 

[jennyboo]

keep in mind that you will interview at a few places and find them too depressing to even put on your rank list. You won't like all of the places you interview at, so I would try to interview at enough so that you can actually have a rank list of 8 programs that you would be okay with actually going to.

I think I interviewed at 11 and ranked 8... would've been unhappy at my #8 and not thrilled with my #7. But it never came to actually going to #7 or #8.

 

[ketafol]

Thats a great way to waste money.

Unless your counting prelims too.

Otherwise add it all up:
15+ interviews, probably at good places. Unless your a total jackass youre gunna match easily, probably in 3, unquestionably in 8.

I wouldnt go to more than 8 or 9 interviews at places u need to pay money for (plane/hotel)

Well the beauty is, for those 15, they are all driveable, and all pay for the hotel except for 1, which I can stay at my parents house just down the road. I just get nervous because you hear about the programs that go about 20 deep in their ranklist for 10 or 12 positions, yet they interview over 100. Plus I am a DO student and while defintely not an dingus, I am not the smoothest talker either under pressure. Is it good to have a few safeties in there?

 

[nutmegs]

almost all of mine involve flights or long drives. cancelled 2 today. weeeeeeeeee!

 

[MD Dreams]

Those of us who are still waiting to hear from programs appreciate those of you who do cancel -- no pressure of course 😉

 

[TrustMe]

Thats a great way to waste money.


Otherwise add it all up:
15+ interviews, probably at good places. Unless your a total jackass youre gunna match easily, probably in 3, unquestionably in 8.

I wouldnt go to more than 8 or 9 interviews at places u need to pay money for (plane/hotel)

Can an "average joe" match in his/her top 3? I feel that my application is pretty average. I have received interviews from a few "top teir" programs that I felt were a stretch for me personally and have several at "mid-teir" programs and several at "safety schools". I am still scared about not matching. I am not a total jackass (or jackass at all for that matter), am easy to get along with, and "play well with others". Any "average" people out there that matched at programs they felt were out of their reach? (without doing an away at that program) Thanks.

TM

 

[ketafol]

After talking around, I really do think around 15 is a fairly safe number for moderate to competitive DO applicants. Do they use the interviews for ranking assuming that you are not an ass and can speak english? In other words, are they there to weed the bad apples out that got an interview, or do they really also influence the programs ranking of you?

 

[me454555]

If you got an interview its an even playing field. No reason to think you can't match your top choice. If it was truely out of your league they wouldn't offer you an interview

15 interviews is more than enough to be safe. Just from looking @ the numbers from last years match I'd say that 8 is the safe number and I wouldn't interview at more for insurance reasons. Only way I'd interview @ more than 8 is if those extra interviews are programs that could potentially crack my top 5 not more safety schools

 

[TrustMe]

What is a good number of "safety schools? If an average applicant ranks 10 programs is 2 enough for "safety programs" (i.e. 4 "top teir" programs, 4 "mid teir" programs, and 2 "safety" progams) or would it be better to rank more "safety" programs?

Sorry for these types of questions, I'm just becoming more nervous as things get ever closer.

TM

 

[me454555]

Safety schools? you dont need no stinkin saftey schools. Safety schools are there before you get interviews. Once you start getting interviews you don't need to worry about not matching. If you manage to get interviews @ the top 10 programs in the country you are competitive and will match at one of them. Ranking a program like east bumblefck U b/c your worried about matching when you interview @ mgh, bid, jhu, etc is just silly. Interview @ your top 10 programs and you'll have no problem matching @ 1. They wouldn't offer you an interview if you weren't a strong candidate

 

[ketafol]

Safety schools? you dont need no stinkin saftey schools. Safety schools are there before you get interviews. Once you start getting interviews you don't need to worry about not matching. If you manage to get interviews @ the top 10 programs in the country you are competitive and will match at one of them. Ranking a program like east bumblefck U b/c your worried about matching when you interview @ mgh, bid, jhu, etc is just silly. Interview @ your top 10 programs and you'll have no problem matching @ 1. They wouldn't offer you an interview if you weren't a strong candidate

What if you are not a good interviewer, even if it is just a problem of self confidence? I am by no means an ass, actually a really nice guy, but sometimes I just dont think I interview well under pressure.

 

[me454555]

What if you are not a good interviewer, even if it is just a problem of self confidence? I am by no means an ass, actually a really nice guy, but sometimes I just dont think I interview well under pressure.

If you're not a good interviewer make yourself into one. Interviews are pretty standard and so are the questions they ask. If you sit down for 5 mins and write down a list of questions you think you'll be asked you'll prolly guess ~90% of em. Practice answering those questions and then repeat your answers in front of a mirror untill you come of looking cool and confident.

If you're really worried about your interviewing skills rank 10 programs instead of 8 but don't lower your standards. As long as your not an a$$ you'll come off good enought at the interview so that the rest of your app still shines. Remember, they want to interview you for a reason, you've got some bargaining power.

 

[Gern Blansten]

I would suggest "mock" interviews with someone who is not going to be interviewing you at a later date. Could even be done by your spouse. Get the Kenneth Iserson book and give the interviewer a bunch of questions to choose from and go from there. Keep doing it until you are able to speak clearly, coherently, and appear professional. It really does work. You can practice getting all of the "uhhhhs" out of your system(or whatever your particular weak area is). Also consider asking yourself the questions and then tape record your answers. Ask yourself if you would hire that person on the tape. Keep going until your answer is a resounding "Yes!" It sounds silly and requires quite a commitment on your part not to mention the awkwardness of the first few times you do it. But, as with the oral boards, wouldn't you rather look silly in front of people who know and like you than to have to waste a year of your life or worse, settle for a career that you do not enjoy.