Weekend Interviews?

[Chelbell32]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Hi, everyone!

Does anybody know if medical schools offer weekend interviews? This fall I will start my fourth year working as an inner city schoolteacher. After a lot of self-reflection, I decided to change careers and applied to medical school this summer. Unfortunately, teachers don't get self-scheduled vacation days, and I can't take more than a few "sick" days each year. (Plus, the majority of my students have special needs, so consistency... i.e. being absent rarely or never... is key.) Do you think medical schools will take this into consideration and/or make an exception for my situation?

Thanks for your help!

 

[vc7777]

Unfortunately, I personally have never heard of weekend interviews.

Sounds like you plan on applying to more than your have "sick days" for (more than 3). Really, you are in a tough position, depending on how many interviews you get. The days of interviewing, without any time for travel, could be difficult.

I am not sure you can do much at this point. You will have to play this by ear.

Best of luck!

 

[Chelbell32]

OK, thanks for your input! I read through a few forums and school websites, and it does look like the majority of schools (if not all) select certain weekdays as interview days. I was just wondering if anyone had heard of (or been on) weekend interviews... or even if they could be/have been an option.

Are there any other teachers out there who were/are in a similar situation?

 

[mauberley]

Unfortunately, I personally have never heard of weekend interviews.

This was my experience as well. OP, good luck.

 

[Helen Wheels]

When I was applying in the 2009 cycle Drexel actually offered some Saturday interviews. There may be a few schools with this but Saturday interviews are really, really rare. Since adcom members are not paid for their adcom duties it would probably be really hard to get faculty to come in for Saturday interviews.

I hope you can find a way to work it out.

 

[pkwraith]

I definitely looked at schools for weekend interviews and couldn't find any.

 

[ejw5075]

Drexel University in Philadelphia does Saturday interviews

 

[sindadel]

You can always ask. If they get a few such requests, they may be able to put together a couple of weekend spots over the season. I think you have a great reason and it certainly differentiates you from applicants without as emotionally tugging commitments.

 

[yankswin2011]

Unfortunately, the medical school has leverage in this relationship so you will just have to bite the bullet and take off from work to go to the interviews. Since you are planning to leave this job for medical school, the worst case scenario is that they fire you, but I hear that firing teachers is not a easy thing to do or common (as opposed to other jobs where firing is almost a norm to lite a fire up the other employees' butts!). So consider yourself lucky that your job is not in an industry where hiring and firing is common and where your schedule is fairly predictable. 🙂