When to reply to interview offers?

[WiseGuy1]

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How long should I wait to select an interview date once an interview has been offered? I'd like to bunch all of my interviews in the same location around the same time as one another (if this is possible), but I don't want to leave a program hanging for several weeks until I theoretically hear from another program in the same city.

 

[BIGTIME555]

Spots will only fill up as time goes on, and make it more difficult to arrange plans. You are allowed to change dates and cancel. Just be professional about it.

 

[twright]

Agreed with the previous. Interviews are scheduled on a rolling basis. If you get an invitation and don't reply, it's not like they will take it away from you, but if you wait "several weeks" to reply so that you can bunch your Columbia interview with your MSSM/NYU/etc interviews then by the time you call them to schedule it you will probably find your options somewhat limited. Better to just schedule it for when you think you can make it, and if you need to reschedule, then just reschedule. One reschedule is plenty. Two or more reschedules and you are asking for the program coordinator to get annoyed with you.

 

[gutonc]

How long should I wait to select an interview date once an interview has been offered? I'd like to bunch all of my interviews in the same location around the same time as one another (if this is possible), but I don't want to leave a program hanging for several weeks until I theoretically hear from another program in the same city.

How long does it take to read the email, check your Google Calendar and then switch back to Outlook and hit Ctrl-R? That's about how long you should wait.

Seriously.

Programs are far more likely to make accommodations for you if you're trying to reschedule than if you dicked around for 3 weeks before replying and now they're all full.

 

[Samoa]

How long does it take to read the email, check your Google Calendar and then switch back to Outlook and hit Ctrl-R? That's about how long you should wait.

Seriously.

Programs are far more likely to make accommodations for you if you're trying to reschedule than if you dicked around for 3 weeks before replying and now they're all full.

This. I've seen firsthand where waiting even a day to make an initial scheduling request can lose you the opportunity to interview at all at that program. In general, the longer it takes you to reply, the less likely you are to get the date you want.