Interview Question

[rexzeppelin]

Question to those currently attending: After receiving invitations is it acceptable to wait to schedule interview weekends to avoid making unnecessary conflicts? 

 

I'd like to wait until at least the first week of January to see where I hear back from, and then to finish scheduling my interview slate. Do programs commonly rescind invitations if they don't hear back within a week or two?

[biotechie]

Question to those currently attending: After receiving invitations is it acceptable to wait to schedule interview weekends to avoid making unnecessary conflicts? 

 

I'd like to wait until at least the first week of January to see where I hear back from, and then to finish scheduling my interview slate. Do programs commonly rescind invitations if they don't hear back within a week or two?

 

Rex, most programs actually set a time limit for setting up the interview when I was invited, and if you don't respond within a couple of business days, they start contacting you again to get it set up. If possible, you should schedule it as quickly as possible. I got an invite on Dec. 20 last year that they wanted to have organized by the 23rd.

[Loric]

Well, you can send them an email asking when roughly they were looking to interview people and when they'd like to hear back.. as you want to schedule your travel to other programs in the same block of time. There's no reason to worry about asking honest questions.

[rexzeppelin]

thanks Loric, I'll get in touch and ask them when they need to hear back, if it's a couple business days like you say biotechie, then I'll go ahead and schedule it, otherwise I'll hold out and use some strateg-ery.

 

Once scheduled, is it ever acceptable to cancel an interview if something comes up? (assuming of course you give plenty of notice)

[biotechie]

thanks Loric, I'll get in touch and ask them when they need to hear back, if it's a couple business days like you say biotechie, then I'll go ahead and schedule it, otherwise I'll hold out and use some strateg-ery.

 

Once scheduled, is it ever acceptable to cancel an interview if something comes up? (assuming of course you give plenty of notice)

 

Rex, I would only cancel an interview once it is scheduled if some major emergency comes up. In your and my fields, these schools may be spending upwards of $1000 or more to fly you out, house you, and feed you for the interviews. It would be highly disrespectful to cancel as they will begin prepping and purchasing you plane tickets, etc as soon as you confirm the interview. Often they cannot get reimbursed for scheduled flights and I don't think it is possible for them to move a paid flight to someone else's name. Most schools have alternate interview weekends or can make arrangements to have you out another time, so if it conflicts with a later interview, you may find a way around it for the later invites.

[rexzeppelin]

Right, yeah that's why I was hesitant to go ahead and book the weekends right now for the reasons you just mentioned.

 

Someone in college confidential had suggested this book-then-cancel tack but I wanted a second opinion. I understand the considerable costs involved with interview weekends and I don't want to seem to be looking a gift horse in the mouth.

 

I guess I'll schedule now and worry about resolving conflicts later, thanks for the advice

[biotechie]

Right, yeah that's why I was hesitant to go ahead and book the weekends right now for the reasons you just mentioned.

 

Someone in college confidential had suggested this book-then-cancel tack but I wanted a second opinion. I understand the considerable costs involved with interview weekends and I don't want to seem to be looking a gift horse in the mouth.

 

I guess I'll schedule now and worry about resolving conflicts later, thanks for the advice

 

You're very welcome. Good luck with your interviews. Feel free to message me if you need to.