What do you bring to 1 day interviews in different states?

[radioactive15]

Do you bring a backpack or small suitcase with your suit jacket and backup clothes?
If you brought a bag, would there be a place in the medical school interview to leave bags until the day is over?

I want renting a hotel room for a day to be my last resort unless it is highly recommended.

What else do you bring if you have to go to an interview in a different state for a day? Do you recommend staying overnight and making the trip 2 days?

I was originally considering taking a train or plane in the morning for an afternoon interview and leaving back home at a night flight/train if that was my only interview in the area.

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[aesculapian]

You can bring a small suitcase, bag, etc. whatever you need to carry your things in and keep it at the admissions office for the day.
I would personally recommend staying overnight to avoid adding travel stress to your interview day, but if you really don't want to then you could probably swing it with an afternoon interview. Depends on the timing though and you may not want to feel rushed.

 

[FutureD.O]

Do you bring a backpack or small suitcase with your suit jacket and backup clothes?
If you brought a bag, would there be a place in the medical school interview to leave bags until the day is over?

I want renting a hotel room for a day to be my last resort unless it is highly recommended.

What else do you bring if you have to go to an interview in a different state for a day? Do you recommend staying overnight and making the trip 2 days?

I was originally considering taking a train or plane in the morning for an afternoon interview and leaving back home at a night flight/train if that was my only interview in the area.

I would HIGHLY recommend making it a two day trip. Not having to stress about the drive and all of the potential problems that could arise should suffice alone. For me, I'd much rather pay that extra money to have a peaceful mind, especially the morning of the interview!

 

[P0ke]

You don't want to interview after sitting in a car/on a bus for several hours. You want to be well-rested. Make it a two day trip. I'm assuming you'd be taking a bus or taxi, otherwise you could just leave your bag in your car during the interview.

 

[raiderette]

Almost all my interviews offered a student host. I learned about the school and had time to adjust with late flights or car trouble.

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[The Knife & Gun Club]

Yea just get a hotel for the night before the interview. It's so nice to be able to shower, clean up, get ready, etc before the day

 

[Cookiess]

Make it a 2 day trip. Traveling on the morning of your interview may add unnecessary stress if you're delayed or something goes wrong. Plus it'll be better to get a good night's sleep and be fresh for your interview. Most schools allow you to store your bags somewhere in the admissions office or another room.

 

[haaaaaaaaaaveyoumetted]

This may be a stupid question, but how do you travel with suits? Do you put it in a garment bag and just carry it onto a plane?

 

[FutureD.O]

This may be a stupid question, but how do you travel with suits? Do you put it in a garment bag and just carry it onto a plane?

Suit covering/bag!

 

[CowboyNiceguy]

This may be a stupid question, but how do you travel with suits? Do you put it in a garment bag and just carry it onto a plane?

I just folded it in my carry-on and it worked out fine.

 

[restlessdriven]

This may be a stupid question, but how do you travel with suits? Do you put it in a garment bag and just carry it onto a plane?

Garment bag and then, when you get to the hotel, hang up all the pieces in the bathroom, set the shower to hot, let the steam do all the work!

 

[TBV]

My go-to is drive/ fly to the interview the day before, leave your suit hanging in the car for the drive, and pack a suitcase, exactly as you would for any other 2-3 day trip. Definitely travel down the day before to get familiar with the area.

This ^ . I was in the situation where I hated my job but they excused me to go on all interviews in my contract so I took 3 days for every interview and explored the area a bit. Helps you determine how you fit with the area and you get to experience new cities

 

[Mwooster]

A "friend" of mine batted 100% on the interview trail with this travel kit

 

[TBV]

A "friend" of mine batted 100% on the interview trail with this travel kit

Condoms? what is this the 90s? Gotta be RAWWWWWWWWWWWW

 

[KinesiologyNerd]

Do. Not. Fly. In. Same. Day.

 

[mcatst]

Garment bag and then, when you get to the hotel, hang up all the pieces in the bathroom, set the shower to hot, let the steam do all the work!

I always do the same😉

 

[Mwooster]

Condoms? what is this the 90s? Gotta be RAWWWWWWWWWWWW

Health/STDs are no joking matter Don't be a fool. Wrap your tool.

 

[virchow?]

don't forget undies

 

[radioactive15]

What about if you're travelling to another state that is nearby? (ex: PA to NJ or NY)

I will most likely avoid driving due to imminent parking problems, and will be taking a train. Do you still recommend staying 2 days even when the proximity is relatively close?

 

[Eccesignum]

What about if you're travelling to another state that is nearby? (ex: PA to NJ or NY)

I will most likely avoid driving due to imminent parking problems, and will be taking a train. Do you still recommend staying 2 days even when the proximity is relatively close?

I stayed overnight even for an interview that was a 3-hour drive away. You never know what could go wrong in your travel plans, and you don't want to be That Guy who's late and disheveled. Don't tempt fate.

 

[Spector1]

This may be a stupid question, but how do you travel with suits? Do you put it in a garment bag and just carry it onto a plane?

garment bag and fold it in thirds. fits in a small suitcase that way

 

[WedgeDawg]

I had back to back monday-tuesday interviews in different states last year. What I did was have a garment bag for my suit (and threw my formal shoes in there) and had a small backpack with my computer, charger, shorts to sleep in, socks/underwear, and anything else small I needed and made sure both could fit carryon (shouldn't be a problem). I flew to my first interview sunday night, stayed in a hotel overnight, checked out before my morning interview, went to the interview (every interview I went to had a relatively secure place to store luggage in the admissions area - people brought full suitcases, I had definitely packed light compared to some), left immediately to the airport for my second interview, checked into hotel, stayed overnight, checked out before my tuesday morning interview, same deal, same deal, then flew back to school and was in class on wednesday.

I'm not 100% sure if that's what you're asking. If I'm misunderstanding you and you are, for example, living in Pennsylvania but have an interview in California, I would highly recommend going the night before and either staying with a student host (if that's a possibility) or staying in a hotel. You do not want to have to travel long distances right before your interview. The only possible exception is if you are <2 hours away from your interview driving distance, in which case it /might/ be feasible to drive there and back in the same day, though you would have to leave at 5:30 or earlier for an 8 am interview, so you'll possibly be really tired if you're not used to that.

 

[Avicenna]

Your A game

 

[radioactive15]

I
I'm not 100% sure if that's what you're asking. If I'm misunderstanding you and you are, for example, living in Pennsylvania but have an interview in California, I would highly recommend going the night before and either staying with a student host (if that's a possibility) or staying in a hotel. You do not want to have to travel long distances right before your interview. The only possible exception is if you are <2 hours away from your interview driving distance, in which case it /might/ be feasible to drive there and back in the same day, though you would have to leave at 5:30 or earlier for an 8 am interview, so you'll possibly be really tired if you're not used to that.

I'm referring to cases when the state is closeby. Ex: Live in NY but have an interview in NJ or PA. Does this warrant me busting out my wallet for a hotel room?

 

[235009]

I'm referring to cases when the state is closeby. Ex: Live in NY but have an interview in NJ or PA. Does this warrant me busting out my wallet for a hotel room?

Depends on which part of NY you're talking about. If you're in Rochester or buffalo then you should probably head over a day early. Different story if you're in or around nyc. Some people do that commute to work on a daily basis. If you do have an afternoon interview and the travel distance is < 3 hours I think you should be fine. Just give yourself plenty of leeway. No need to pack anything either. Best way is to just wear the suit. Take the jacket off when you're on the bus and fold it in your lap so it doesn't get wrinkled.


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