What to do with multiple interviews?

[Rachael07]

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I am starting to get interview invites to schools, but they all require me to take a plane to get there--so here is my dilemma:
I don't want to start spending ridiculous amounts of money on flights, on top of missing classes--so how do I decide what to do?
I want to go to all of them, but I realize that maybe that isn't the best option--can anyone help?😕

 

[DrBowtie]

Go to all until you get an acceptance.

 

[doc G]

Go to all until you get an acceptance.

good advice....acceptance to where you want to go

 

[Tanner82]

yeah its so hit and miss.... you should go to as many as you can, don't worry about missing class, at this point its not that important since they won't be looking at these grades. The cost of plane tickets is really a drop in the bucket compared to how much you are going to be paying in tuition the next 4 years.

 

[Boner]

Most professors are cool with you missing class for interviews if you inform them ahead of time. As for travel, play around with some of the travel websites. Personally, I've found priceline to be the best. Play around with departure and arrival dates, airport locations (some are cheaper to fly out of or into than others). Don't count out driving either. It tends to be cheaper than flying to most places and if you can find a carpool buddy for longer drives you can split gas, making it cheaper (I think I'll be driving to Des Moines and Kirksville ro save money 😱 ). It's an expensive process any way you slice it.

 

[Rachael07]

Okay guys, thanks for the info. I plan on attending all of them, and maybe use my frequent flier miles. Hopefully my teachers will be understanding, fridays(which are the days that most itnerviews are on), I have biochem, so I hope he will understand.

 

[scpod]

at this point its not that important since they won't be looking at these grades.

Grades are always important and they will be looking at those grades at some point. Sometimes, a school will ask to look at your fall grades before they give you an acceptance. This is often done when your GPA is marginal to begin with, but it is not always the case. Further, you will have to send in final transcripts before matriculation. Keep in mind that every acceptance is conditional. They can withdraw your acceptance if you screw around and perform poorly in the last two semesters. That said, most professors are pretty good about letting you out of class for interviews.

 

[jillibean]

I am starting to get interview invites to schools, but they all require me to take a plane to get there--so here is my dilemma:
I don't want to start spending ridiculous amounts of money on flights, on top of missing classes--so how do I decide what to do?
I want to go to all of them, but I realize that maybe that isn't the best option--can anyone help?😕

I know what you mean... the cost is really starting to add up and I am thinking about cancelling one or two, but who know which schools might be just right for you until you visit. I am working this year which has its advantages (at least I am making money now) but disadvantages too (harder to miss a couple of days of work than it was to blow off a class).

good luck!

 

[jillibean]

I have same problem, but I think I have way to solve it at least for some schools. I live in colorado and have invites to Iowas and Kansas, so I will try to reschedule Kansas interview to be very close to Iowa's, so I can drive to both on same car trip.

Lucky you can drive there.... none of mine so far are within driving distance 🙁

 

[medschoolsoon]

I have same problem, but I think I have way to solve it at least for some schools. I live in colorado and have invites to Iowas and Kansas, so I will try to reschedule Kansas interview to be very close to Iowa's, so I can drive to both on same car trip.

Trabada, where in the CO are you? I'm in Lakewood/Golden.

 

[medmom]

Trabada, where in the CO are you? I'm in Lakewood/Golden.

I am in Grand Junction 🙂

 

[medschoolsoon]

I am in Grand Junction 🙂

A little farther than Trebada, but nice to see some people from CO. Doesn't seem to be too many of us around here. 🙂

 

[Orthodoc40]

I find it hard to believe there isn't an osteopathic school IN Colorado, honestly! 😕

 

[medmom]

I find it hard to believe there isn't an osteopathic school IN Colorado, honestly! 😕

They are getting one. It is called the Rocky Vista School. They are planning to open in 2008. Last I heard they were trying to get a definate on where to put it Denver, Colorado Springs or Pueblo.

 

[Orthodoc40]

They are getting one. It is called the Rocky Vista School. They are planning to open in 2008. Last I heard they were trying to get a definate on where to put it Denver, Colorado Springs or Pueblo.

Wow I wish they were opening in 07. I'll be too old to wait another year - LOL!!!
But it's about time - what took so long??
What school is it an extension of, or is it?

 

[albaniandoc]

I am in the same boat as many of you. I have 5 interviews right now and I have to fly to tree of them. It is certainly putting a hole in my pocket, but I figured it will be nothing compared to the big ass loans I will have to take out for med school.
Good luck to all of you.

 

[miasapearl]

I'm in the same boat. The saddest case is that all of my classes are on the same day. So if I go miss a day to go to an interview I'll be missing all of my classes, including biochemistry. I go to school in Maine, so the only school that I don't have to fly to is UNE. *Watching my savings dropping down to zero* My plan is to continue to go to interviews until I get accepted to one. After that I would go interview at schools that I really like.

 

[Depakote]

Go to as many interviews as possible...

Use frequent flyer miles, bum frequent flyer miles from family, borrow money if you have to, the interview is the last step before acceptance, make sure you're going to as many as possible so you wind up at a school that really fits.

 

[Twitch]

After much thought, I've decided to decline my interview & withdraw from KCUMB (see my mdapps link for specific reasons). Risky move I know since I don't have any acceptance in hand.

We need a wall for declining/withdrawing since we already have fame/lame/shame. Any suggestions?

Wall of ...?

 

[Rachael07]

Thanks for the suggestions--I will be going to all of them. I have TONS of frequent flier miles, or my family does, so I'll use those. Misapearl--I'm with you--I'm on a T, Th schedule, with my biochem on MWF, so either way, I'll be missing lots of classes.

Oh well, this is all I've been working for the past 5 or so years, so this is the final step!

 

[ShyRem]

After much thought, I've decided to decline my interview & withdraw from KCUMB (see my mdapps link for specific reasons). Risky move I know since I don't have any acceptance in hand.

We need a wall for declining/withdrawing since we already have fame/lame/shame. Any suggestions?

Wall of ...?

Wall of Opportunity

as in opportunity for someone else to get an interview spot, opportunity for you to save some money.

Or...

Wall of I Hope I Don't Regret This Later
or..
Wall of Second Thoughts
or..
Wall of What Was I Thinking?

 

[DrBowtie]

Thanks for the suggestions--I will be going to all of them. I have TONS of frequent flier miles, or my family does, so I'll use those. Misapearl--I'm with you--I'm on a T, Th schedule, with my biochem on MWF, so either way, I'll be missing lots of classes.

Oh well, this is all I've been working for the past 5 or so years, so this is the final step!

Good thing you can learn Biochem from the book. It's those english discussion classes you can't miss.

 

[medmom]

Wow I wish they were opening in 07. I'll be too old to wait another year - LOL!!!
But it's about time - what took so long??
What school is it an extension of, or is it?

It is not an extension actually. Many are turning their noses I guess though, because it is going to be a "for profit" medical school?????? I wouldn't care and i I don't get in theis year I would be thrilled to apply there.

 

[Krazykritter]

On a positive note...Gas prices have fallen back down to a still somewhat ridiculous, but much better price of 2.43 a gallon here in Des Moines. So...come on down for an interview & get some gas while your here.

About the Rocky Vista thing...I've mentioned it in other threads, but these new schools (especially ones not associated as branch campuses) are a little risky. To become an accredited school a new school must graduate its first class. Now, if you happen to be in this first class & they get their accreditation, great.

However, if for some reason they do not become accredited you are screwed b/c nearly all residency programs require applicants to be graduates from an ACGME or whatever the Osteopathic abbreviation is, medical school. If for some reason the administration is screwy, no residency for you...sorry, but thanks for paying for tuition just to sit around until they are accredited 👎 .

 

[kylecare]

Racheal,
I would look into combining your flights. Schedule your interviews close enough together so you can fly from home to and interview then to another interview and then home again. The price will be cheaper (usually) than two return flights. (also if the schools are close)

 

[erleichda]

Racheal,
I would look into combining your flights. Schedule your interviews close enough together so you can fly from home to and interview then to another interview and then home again. The price will be cheaper (usually) than two return flights. (also if the schools are close)

good advice, but sometimes purchasing 2 round trips is cheaper than individual flights. look into jet blue which charges by individual flight, this will definitely be cheaper if jet blue flies to the cities that you are going to...

 

[KeyLime]

you might also want to look at kayak.com The website shows you all the cheapest flights and where to book them. I've found that flights are cheapest directly through the airline's websites.