electing to visit on alternative day

[mmocarr]

Hi All,

 

I applied to 12 clinical psychology programs and am very grateful to have 4 interviews this far. The problem is that the offering interviews days all fall around the same dates. If I am going to go to all 4, I will have to go to one's schools alternate day which they describe as:

 

"If you are unavailable on Friday, 2/15/13, we have an alternative day of Monday, 2/18/2013. Note that not all faculty or students will be available on that Monday given teaching schedules and other responsibilities, so it really will be best to attend on Friday, 2/15 if at all possible"

 

I am worried about hurting my chances at this school, but also think it is unwise to skip an interview altogether i.e., I dont know yet what the programs are really like, what my chances are, how I would rank them ect.

 

I would really appreciate ANY thoughts or feedback.

 

Thank you

[SocraticIrony]

Last year, when I was applying I couldn't make a couple of the official interview weekends and opted to schedule an alternative weekend. The interviews with faculty were the same as were the chances of being admitted (I was accepted to both), but depending on the school, you may have less opportunity to engage and talk with current graduate students and ask candid questions in a more relaxed setting. You also will not meet with other interviewees who will be your cohorts should you attend. I felt less confident in choosing those schools over ones where I got the full interview experience. My suggestion would be to attend the official weekends for your top priority schools and then schedule the alternate weekends for those you are less excited about.

[Amerz]

 My suggestion would be to attend the official weekends for your top priority schools and then schedule the alternate weekends for those you are less excited about.

 

I'm in the same boat as mmocarr. I already accepted an interview at a school, but then my top choice invited me for the same weekend - I assume it's rude to cancel/reschedule with the school that is not my top choice?