Canceling/choosing interviews

[Musiction]

Hey all!

So I had a question about canceling interviews...I definitely over applied (I got pretty overwhelmed with programs and just submitted to too many) and now I'm looking at several interview invites.

My first interview is at my #1 choice, so that's great. I have an interview the weekend after that in a third choice, so that's also okay. Then, the weekend after that, I have another interview scheduled, but I can't decide what to do.

I definitely feel sucked into scheduling the interview by the people I spoke with, they booked everything in one conversation. The thing is, there is pretty much zero chance that I will attend this school. Its far away, and I have interviews for my top three choices (and its not as competitive as those few).

So my question is, what do I do from here? The interview is scheduled for a month from now, so I have a little time. Is it appropriate to cancel if I have no intent on going there, even though they've already booked the flight and hotel (and paid for the flight)? I certainly don't want to make a bad impression but I've also heard its bad to waste their time and money if you're really not going to go there.

Any advice would be appreciated!

[MathCat]

If you got rejected from every other program, would you still not attend that school? I would just caution you that an interview is not an acceptance, and things are uncertain.

[shadowclaw]

You might also be wasting their money if you cancel. Flights are cheaper if you choose the nonrefundable route, and I know that flights for 6 programs (I believe they were all neuroscience) that another member of the forum has booked are all nonrefundable. So even if you have no intention to attend, I think it will look much worse if you cancel. Plus MathCat has a point. You may have interviews at your top 3 schools, but that doesn't mean you'll be accepted. Besides, you might find that you really like this school once you visit!

[peachypie]

Would you still cancel if you found out that they ask you to pay for the costs that your accepting of the interview has incurred to them?  It definitely isn't out of the question.  i had at least one school said that if you choose to cancel your invite you will be responsible for the airfare/lodging that they cannot get refunded. 

Is it competing with other programs or is it just that you don't want to go?

If it doesn't compete I'd strongly recommend you attend for a few reasons, 1) that you aren't guaranteed acceptance at any of your other programs, 2) it allows you to visit another institution which is great for comparing and contrasting 3) look at is a possibility maybe for collaborations, or post docs or to check out a place you may be interested in later.  

I've said it before and I'll say it again.  Cancelling on an interview you already accepted an invite to is just bad form.  

[TakeruK]

I agree that you should still visit this school. After all, you still liked it enough to spend the time and money applying there. I found that visiting can really change your opinion about a school, in either direction. So, if you feel that you can spare the time to do the visit, then you should visit with an open mind.

 

However, if you are 100% (like actually 100%) sure that you will turn them down, then you should do so. They should not ask you to pay the non-refundable costs if they did not tell you in advance. After all, that's their problem, not yours.

 

Note however that "non-refundable" does not mean "you lose all the money". For example, for most airlines, if you book a $600 roundtrip flight that is "non-refundable", what it really means is that if you choose not to fly with them, you pay a "cancellation fee" ($250 let's say) and you keep the remaining credit for a different flight ($350 in this case). So the school is only out $250. 

 

But, the decision on whether or not you should visit should be made based on how it affects you, not how it affects the school. They can take care of themselves.

[shadowclaw]

Note however that "non-refundable" does not mean "you lose all the money". For example, for most airlines, if you book a $600 roundtrip flight that is "non-refundable", what it really means is that if you choose not to fly with them, you pay a "cancellation fee" ($250 let's say) and you keep the remaining credit for a different flight ($350 in this case). So the school is only out $250. 

This is not really accurate. While I haven't flown on too many airlines, for the ones I have flown, nonrefundable means nonrefundable (unless there is a death in the family or serious illness). American Airlines, for example, will refund some taxes and fees, but will not refund any of the ticket price. However, they will allow you to put the cost of your unused ticket towards a new one within a year (with restrictions that aren't listed on their website). I'm not sure if it's transferable to another person, though. Air Canada (which I highly recommend for international travel) has a similar policy, and they also state that the future flight must be booked in the original passenger's name.

I think what you are thinking of, TakeruK, is a partially-refundable ticket. However, being that I've only flown on a few airlines, what you are describing could be true for some. However, it doesn't make sense to make a cheap nonrefundable ticket partially refundable, especially if an airline offers a partially refundable type of ticket.

[TakeruK]

This is not really accurate. While I haven't flown on too many airlines, for the ones I have flown, nonrefundable means nonrefundable (unless there is a death in the family or serious illness). American Airlines, for example, will refund some taxes and fees, but will not refund any of the ticket price. However, they will allow you to put the cost of your unused ticket towards a new one within a year (with restrictions that aren't listed on their website). I'm not sure if it's transferable to another person, though. Air Canada (which I highly recommend for international travel) has a similar policy, and they also state that the future flight must be booked in the original passenger's name.

I think what you are thinking of, TakeruK, is a partially-refundable ticket. However, being that I've only flown on a few airlines, what you are describing could be true for some. However, it doesn't make sense to make a cheap nonrefundable ticket partially refundable, especially if an airline offers a partially refundable type of ticket.

 

(Emphasis added). This is what I meant. Non refundable means you can never get that money back from the airline, but it might be able to be used towards other costs (after the cancellation fee). But that's a good point about name...I forgot about that complication. For a research trip, I had to cancel at the last minute and I did this with United to pay for the new flight (but yeah, that was still in my name). Thanks for the clarification.

[shadowclaw]

(Emphasis added). This is what I meant. Non refundable means you can never get that money back from the airline, but it might be able to be used towards other costs (after the cancellation fee). But that's a good point about name...I forgot about that complication. For a research trip, I had to cancel at the last minute and I did this with United to pay for the new flight (but yeah, that was still in my name). Thanks for the clarification.

Oops. I actually skipped over the part of your post that said "credit towards another fight" and just read it as keeping the remaining money after the cancellation fee. My bad. At least we know that booking a new flight might still need to be in your name, though.