When is too late to cancel at interview...?

[BucsFan813]

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Hyphothetically speaking of course...😀

If I have an interview scheduled for Friday, is it too late to cancel 2 days in advance?

 

[myleghurts]

Hyphothetically speaking of course...😀

If I have an interview scheduled for Friday, is it too late to cancel 2 days in advance?

No... save yourself the time and money. It is also a courtesy to them because of the time spent interviewing and reviewing your file.

 

[njbmd]

Hyphothetically speaking of course...😀

If I have an interview scheduled for Friday, is it too late to cancel 2 days in advance?

If you cancel today, they could invite another person (who lives close) to fill your slot. Generally, you need to give enough time for them to schedule another interviewee unless it's an unforseen emergency.

 

[CTtarheel]

2 days is probably ok. Better than taking up a spot and withdrawing directly after, at least you're giving them a slim chance to fill the spot. I wouldn't do it any later than that though. At WFU, the admissions people were talking about a girl who'd cancelled that morning and they found it extremely rude and were very distressed by it.

 

[BucsFan813]

What should I say? When I called the school earlier on in the process to reschedule, they asked me a ton of questions as to why?...

For those who are cancelling interviews at your lower priority schools, what are you saying?

 

[myleghurts]

What should I say? When I called the school earlier on in the process to reschedule, they asked me a ton of questions as to why?...

For those who are cancelling interviews at your lower priority schools, what are you saying?

You don't need a reason for cancelling or withdrawing your application. Just say you decided to attend elsewhere if they inquire. They really don't care.

 

[cubbbie]

What should I say? When I called the school earlier on in the process to reschedule, they asked me a ton of questions as to why?...

For those who are cancelling interviews at your lower priority schools, what are you saying?

I disagree with the above advice. 2 days before is not enough notification, and it will be seen as very rude. Chances are they've already found a faculty person to interview, that person has cleared out his/her busy schedule to meet with you, and in some cases, he or she has already spent a considerable amount of time looking at your application. I would say you should cancel interviews at least 2 weeks in advance.

When you do cancel interviews, you don't need a reason. Just do it in an email and say, "thank you for your consideration. I would like to withdraw my application at this time. Best of luck with your selection process, etc"

 

[BucsFan813]

You don't need a reason for cancelling or withdrawing your application. Just say you decided to attend elsewhere if they inquire. They really don't care.

They really do care. They've been recruiting me since last April. I feel like I'm burning a bridge because I've developed a relationship with the school...

 

[cubbbie]

They really do care. They've been recruiting me since last April. I feel like I'm burning a bridge because I've developed a relationship with the school...

Just go on the interview. If you have specific concerns about the school that make you think you don't want to go there, you can bring them up at the interview. They'll probably see their school isn't a good match for you, and you can both go along your merry way. It think it is extremely poor form to cancel at this point, especially since you've already rescheduled.

 

[Teee]

if you cancel the interview today, they can still find a local person to interview. if you don't want to go to that school, its not being rude to cancel the interview, its being considerate. (whether they care or not...)

 

[myleghurts]

They really do care. They've been recruiting me since last April. I feel like I'm burning a bridge because I've developed a relationship with the school...

Your burning a bridge by attending elsewhere though. Fine... go to the interview and then withdraw as you leave... waste even more of their time. Wait, let them offer you an acceptance and then reject it.

 

[cubbbie]

if you cancel the interview today, they can still find a local person to interview. if you don't want to go to that school, its not being rude to cancel the interview, its being considerate. (whether they care or not...)

I guarantee you they will not find a local person to interview. That slot will just go unfilled, and a lot of time will have been wasted.

 

[myleghurts]

I guarantee you they will not find a local person to interview. That slot will just go unfilled, and a lot of time will have been wasted.

More time will be wasted if you go and they spend the time reviewing the file. I'm sure the interviewers will find something to do besides twiddling their thumbs.

 

[Teee]

I guarantee you they will not find a local person to interview. That slot will just go unfilled, and a lot of time will have been wasted.

actually, they would. at one of the schools i was interviewing at, 2 people were called the day before and they accepted the interview invitation and were very grateful too (i know, they told me 😀 ).

 

[BionicOne]

I'm in the same boat as the OP...actually mine is worse. I will find out if I got into my first choice ONE day before another scheduled interview at a school which I would definitely not attent if I got into my first choice. It seems that its rude to cancel one day in advance but I feel that the interviewers can surely find something else to do during those time slots. Ethically, its even more rude to go to the interview KNOWING that you are not going to attend this school. Even if they can't fill the empty slot, so what? I wouldn't want to spend $400 on an interview for no reason...

 

[LizzyM]

It is never too late. Even if the person who was to interview you has spent time reviewing your file, the time that would have been spent interviewing you can be directed at another task (believe me, every interviewer would love to have 30-60 minutes magically appear as "free" on the schedule no matter how last minute). Furthermore, you save the adcom the time of reviewing and deliberating on your application post-interview.

 

[shblay]

I'm not sure I understand the concern of "burning bridges" here. I'm assuming of course that the OP already has an acceptance somewhere he wants to attend or that this school is one that he has no interest in attending. In that case, who cares what they think of him. Will that affect another's school decision on him for acceptance? and like other people have said, better to not waste anymore of the school's time by faking an interview.

 

[BucsFan813]

So I did it. They seemed appreciative... If nothing else, it helps a future colleague.

 

[MonkeyNuts!]

Good for you mate, way to be a team player.

 

[HumbleMD]

Rude? Improper? You guys are kidding yourselves. After paying a secondary fee, and making plans to fly out and visit a school, I don't think we owe the schools anything. Do they contemplate if it's rude to send us a rejection? I called to cancel an interview the day before - I heard from one of my top choice schools that day, and had the luck of having my flight cancelled. Got a full refund and saved gobs of time. I called to let them know ASAP, but out of respect for other applicants, not for the med school.