What if the program director does not interview you?

[longlost.s]

1. 1. Hey guys, so I have an interview at this place, where according to the itinerary, the PD and/or the chair are not taking my interview. Is that normal? Does it matter? The PD will be welcoming, and is taking some interviews that day, but not mine.
   
   2. In this case, is there any way I can meet the PD separately as I am very interested in this program?
   
   3. They asked if I am interested in meeting any particular sub specialist for my interview, and I told them I would love to talk to a vascular neurology person, they replied they would accommodate my request, but today when i saw my finalized itinerary, I do not see any vascular. In fact, I am applying for adult neurology, and 2 of my interviewers are pediatric neurology -_- Should I reply to the PC and request for a vascular again?

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[mvenus929]

Coordinating interviews is hard. There may only be one (or two) faculty member who does vascular, and they may be on service or in clinic or on vacation. Programs try their best to accommodate requests, but it is challenging.

And depending on the structure of the day, it may be that you’re not meeting with the PD cause not everyone does.

 

[longlost.s]

So does it matter? Wouldn't it affect ranking if the PD does not get to know you?

 

[Redpancreas]

So does it matter? Wouldn't it affect ranking if the PD does not get to know you?

Don’t worry about it. There are various reasons PDs choose to interview candidates. Some request it because they have doubts about the program, some are international students that the PD wants to interview for themselves or sometimes wants to recruit. Sometimes it has nothing to do with the PD title but the fact that the PD works in the same area of interest as the interviewer. Don’t waste time worrying about this. It’s not worth it. Even if those who are interviewing with the PD are more highly recruited, requesting a PD interview won’t put you in that group.

 

[GoSpursGo]

As others have said, there are any number of reasons that you didn't get paired with the PD. They would not be interviewing you at all if they were not seriously willing to consider you.

I would not contact them and try to change your interviewers--if you didn't get vascular, then there probably wasn't anyone available to interview you on that day. Sometimes just luck of the draw.

 

[babybrains]

1. 1. Hey guys, so I have an interview at this place, where according to the itinerary, the PD and/or the chair are not taking my interview. Is that normal? Does it matter? The PD will be welcoming, and is taking some interviews that day, but not mine.
   
   2. In this case, is there any way I can meet the PD separately as I am very interested in this program?
   
   3. They asked if I am interested in meeting any particular sub specialist for my interview, and I told them I would love to talk to a vascular neurology person, they replied they would accommodate my request, but today when i saw my finalized itinerary, I do not see any vascular. In fact, I am applying for adult neurology, and 2 of my interviewers are pediatric neurology -_- Should I reply to the PC and request for a vascular again?

1&2) I've had interviews that were with PDs, and ones that were not. This seems more limited to the fact that there are more applicants than there are interview slots, so the PD can't interview everyone. I wouldn't worry about it.

3) At many programs, peds neuro is part of the neuro department and some peds neurologists at these programs hold leadership positions in the neurology dept. So it's not particularly surprising that you might be interviewed by a peds neurologist or two. I agree with the above that, most likely, no neurovasc people were available on your interview day (assuming neither peds person is peds neurovasc), and emailing in with a request would change nothing. I would wait to see if the coordinator/PD offers to put you in contact with anyone you haven't met - this isn't uncommon at my interviews.