Bonebreaker22
OSRR Newbie
Posts: 1
(11/15/01 11:19:13 am)
Reply
Thanks, but no thanks!
Just curious if others are running into the same problems that I am. I applied to 50+ programs, and I
have 13 interview offers at this point. I am starting to run into a few conflicts already. Just yesterday I
had to turn down interviews at UTMB-Galveston, Geisinger, Illinois-Chicago, and Wright St. The problem
is that I still haven't been offered interviews at many programs, including Wash U and Iowa...two
programs that I'd love to go to. How are the rest of you dealing with these scheduling conflicts in order
to maximize your chances of matching without spreading yourselves too thin?
Lates,
Bonebreaker
Submental
OSRR Newbie
Posts: 3
(11/15/01 2:02:57 pm)
Reply
turning down interviews
I just started running into overlap problems too. My basic plan was to schedule the first interviews I got
as early as possible, reasoning that the offers I got later would have later dates. The second thing I did
was to try not to put two interviews from geographically distant programs on back to back days. That
way if I got another interview at a nearby program I'd have that date open. Finally, I've kept a list of
every program's available interview dates and when I got my first conflict, I called the programs to see if I
could switch dates. It's a long shot but worth the phone call. I also looked at how many people each
program interviews. If a program is interviewing 40 people for 4 spots and another is looking at 80
people for the same number of spots, with all else being equal you're odds of matching at the first
program seem much better. Probably the last thing I'm taking into consideration is the reputation of the
program. I don't want to cram my schedule with a lot of high-powered academic centers that are all long
shots for me and risk not matching. I don't know how this strategy is going to work in the long run - I'm
sure fate will laugh heartily at our scheming and planning. Good luck and I hope this helps.
orthohopeful
OSRR Intern
Posts: 25
(11/15/01 2:04:56 pm)
Reply
same boat
Bonebreaker I'm in the same boat. I also applied to over 50 and I've gotten ten interview offers already.
The way I'm handling it is to just schedule interviews as they come in, trying to stay away from known
dates of other places. It is also advisable to always stick with weekdays if given the choice, because so
many programs interview on saturdays. This gives you the least chance of conflicts. Obviously, at some
point you have to start turning people down, but I feel its too early to do that until I get enough offers.
Probably not much help, but my 2 cents.
Good luck and congrats on all the offers.
Spirit Mike
OSRR Intern
Posts: 20
(11/15/01 2:17:22 pm)
Reply
Turning them down . . . when to start?
Hey,
I know how you feel. It's like being a kid in a candy store getting all of these interviews and like you, I
was accepting every one just to make sure that I match and I'm not spending next year bemoaning the
fact that I did not. It certainly made sense earlier on when you had one or two, but I currently have 16
not counting my home school. I have a good mix of reputations in my programs and haven't gotten the
official invite from my home school yet. I believe at this point, its a good idea and I'm going to start
turning places down unless they're someplace I KNOW and I REALLY want to go to. I am however, from
Tx so I will probably accept any more interviews from there since all the ones I applied to there will all be
in driving distance and won't cost so much money. That's the biggest factor for me given that I'm off
December and January so that I can go on all of these.
bonedoc2be
OSRR Junior
Posts: 26
(11/15/01 2:54:27 pm)
Reply
no doubt
I am getting there, I had to call and cancel one b/c i finally got an invite from a place i rotated at (gotta
be stupid to turn that one down). ANy thoughts on the courteous amount of time to cancel (not a few
days before obviously) so they can fill the spot?
