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Dropping Interviews?


yolk

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I have an upwards of seven interviews and am finishing my senior year. I'm feeling the heat missing so much class, lab, and work. I am considering dropping two interviews that are lowest on my interest list. Out of my top three choices, I have had an interview which I'm sure I will be receiving a notice of admittance within the week and two more interview weekends within the month. I can almost say for certain I would attend one of these schools over the other two that I would be canceling. But who can say for certain until one actually visits and interviews? Of course I would be very polite and give full disclosure to the programs I'd be canceling the interview with. Anyway just looking for advice from PhD students who have gone through this process. Thanks,

Edited by yolk
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Have flights been booked yet for the interviews? I think that would be the biggest factor for me. I wouldn't want to screw over a program that already bought my ticket. If they haven't bought the ticket yet then I think this is less of an issue.

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Have flights been booked yet for the interviews? I think that would be the biggest factor for me. I wouldn't want to screw over a program that already bought my ticket. If they haven't bought the ticket yet then I think this is less of an issue.

 

No travel plans yet for one, the other just booked my flight last Friday. I do feel kind of bad because the coordinator has been so nice and working hard to accommodate me. But consider there is another person out there who would attend the interview weekend in my place? Canceling now would give the program time to let another attend the weekend.

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No travel plans yet for one, the other just booked my flight last Friday. I do feel kind of bad because the coordinator has been so nice and working hard to accommodate me. But consider there is another person out there who would attend the interview weekend in my place? Canceling now would give the program time to let another attend the weekend.

I doubt it works like that. I bet they decided how many people to bring based on budget and if they already bought your ticket then they used their budget on you. My personal opinion is that you committed to this school and should follow through with hat commitment.

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You could just cancel on the one that hasn't bought your ticket yet...I mean, if you're canceling because you don't want to take off so much time from school/work, canceling one of them is better than attending all of them.

 

I wouldn't cancel on anyone who has bought you a ticket, though, unless you're willing to offer reimbursement for the cost of the ticket.

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I'm likely canceling an interview as well, but I would have been driving so they haven't purchased a ticket. I agree that you shouldn't cancel if they have purchased you a ticket if you're able to. Even if it's unlikely you won't be attending the school, these academic communities are small so you don't want to burn any bridges

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No travel plans yet for one, the other just booked my flight last Friday. I do feel kind of bad because the coordinator has been so nice and working hard to accommodate me. But consider there is another person out there who would attend the interview weekend in my place? Canceling now would give the program time to let another attend the weekend.

 

That is not how it works in my program. If 10 interview offers are extended and 8 accept the interview while 2 decline, the interview weekend will have 8 attendees. Those who decline are not replaced. 

 

I agree with others to cancel the interview at the school that hasn't spent money on you yet, but follow through with the other one. Just look at it as a valuable networking experience and an investment in the cause of not pissing anyone off. 

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  • 2 weeks later...

I'm in the same boat...I was so excited by all of the interview offers I accepted all of them.  I am also feeling the heat now and it is a struggle to keep up with all of my classwork.    But everyone I have spoken to has also insisted that not attending would be extremely rude.  And people in the academic community have very good memory...so it could likely come back to bite you.

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If the ticket has not been bought yet, you can usually decline with no repercussions. However, there is the possibility that they have already booked your hotel. Just give the program coordinator a shout and I'm sure they'll work it out. If they have bought your ticket, they may be able to get a refund if you cancer -- once again just talk to the program coordinator.

 

There are usually 2-3 people who cancel every recruitment weekend (for us at least) -- it tends not to be a big deal.

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