UN-invited from an interview?!

[sanktank7]

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I recently had a very bad experience with an interview invite that I hope others could comment on:

I was invited to intervew, at a school that will remain unnamed, for their MSTP on November 16th and 17th. This school notified me of the interview 20 days prior to the date they wanted me to attend, which I believe is short notice regardless. However, I have to attend and present at a conference from Nov 17th - 22nd. I am paid to attend. I have to be at this conference for my job.

So I replied, "There is a conflict, I dont think I can make this date, could you please let me know what other dates are available?"

I got a reply saying, "I have given your interview spot to another candidate and will let you know about other dates later."

Um, okayy...

I get a call a day later saying the only other date to interview is Nov 19th - 20th. Obviously, still a conflict. So I say, well my presentation is on the 19th, so definitely cant take that. I talk to my PI and he says, I suppose you can miss the first day of conference and still make the presentation if you take the original date offered (Nov 16th and 17th). So I ask for the original date, less than 24hrs later, and am told its already been given to another candidate...

Now the program has placed me back into the general pool of secondaries to fight for the last remaining interviews (12 spots) in December. So I've essentially been uninvited because of a scheduling conflict, even though there are other dates "available."

I dont think that is fair at all on the part of the program administrator. Am I crazy for thinking this? Should I contact the director??

 

[Neuronix]

I would contact the director. I think that's absolutely wrong how you were treated.

If it doesn't work out I hope you will come back and let us know which school is so unfriendly to its applicants.

 

[sanktank7]

I agree, but...

to make matters worse, this program administrator is also a faculty member and appears to be on the admissions commitee. If I go over this persons head you can bet they will hear about it from the director, in which case I would have pissed off a member of admissions before even attending an interview, assuming that going to the director will even help me get my interview back. Doing so may also jeopardize me being selected from the pool for the december interview slots.

FML

I will indeed provide the name of said school once I clear this up and feel safe in doing so.

 

[SBR249]

can I hazard a guess and say it's a school in the lone star state?

 

[rprasan1985]

Contact the director, and inform him of the situation. Try not to sound accusatory, and just present the facts. These are reasonable people, and will act responsibly. It could simply be a case of misunderstanding or miscommunication. Make sure to be nice, and work with the situation to change it.

 

[sanktank7]

Actually, it isnt a texas school...


So, I contacted the director via email, I was very calm and nice about it as suggested. Explained the circumstances in detail. The director does not feel there was any wrongdoing here.

Basically I got a generic email saying "We have xxx number of applicants, and only xx spots for interviews. Since you hesitated to accept the interview date we offered, we are unable to offer another interview at this time. We will try our best to get you into our december interview slots"

Do you think a director that doesnt stand up for an applicant is one that would stand up for a student in his program? 👎


...contemplating withdrawal

 

[sanktank7]

Its funny that you mentioned Texas though, the director totally looks like JR from Dallas...you remember Dallas right? Okay, thats my only clue

 

[Neuronix]

Do you think a director that doesnt stand up for an applicant is one that would stand up for a student in his program? 👎

It's really pathetic, especially given your professional scientific reason for not being able to attend those dates. What you do with all this is up to you. I'd be very hesitant to attend that school, let alone interview.

FYI, calling these people out on SDN has in the past gotten bad interview processes changed at schools. But I don't blame you if you want to wait a few months to name names.

 

[Doctor&Geek]

Though I think you have a legitimate beef, that program still has the option to offer you another interview spot in December. Nothing's set in stone until all the interview spots have been offered. You always have the option of declining their interview offer or acceptance later based on their treatment of you.

Science is a small world. Don't burn your bridges this early.

 

[sanktank7]

Thats good advice, it would be overly impulsive to make a decision like that now. Im waiting it out for now and leaving my options open, but it has def changed my impression of the program.

 

[sanktank7]

The school was University of Pittsburgh...I still attended the interview and my impression of the school changed a lot. Its very well run but their interview system is quirky. I told them how I felt about it AFTER getting an acceptance packet, they seemed somewhat receptive. Hopefully they are more accommodating with students in the future.