winterallsummer Posted September 20, 2011 Share Posted September 20, 2011 Okay, hypothetical situation here... Let's say you are accepted into a good program in a state far, far away. You are very excited to get in and all is well. But then, another school from that state invites you to interview. This means missing more classes and spending another half a grand. On one hand, you don't like missing classes and you'd have to charge the whole trip. On the other hand, you are worried that you could be passing up a better fit. Then again, they may not even accept you... What would YOU do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooltrainer Posted September 20, 2011 Share Posted September 20, 2011 I would depend on where you'd like to go. I would go to the interview if it's somewhere you might possibly be highly interested in. Don't worry about the money spent in holding your spot to your accepted school - if you find a better fit, it'll be worth it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winterallsummer Posted September 20, 2011 Author Share Posted September 20, 2011 I would be happy to go to both schools. There is only so much research I can do from halfway across the country. From what I can tell, both are good programs, the one I could fly to being more established as a large OD school, but I also got a good impression from the other school. If I weren't in school I would go to both for sure but one thing I am stressed about (in addition to money) is missing classes, and if I end up not going to the school or getting in, it would have all been a lot of time and money expended. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooltrainer Posted September 20, 2011 Share Posted September 20, 2011 Hm, it's a good but tough spot. I know what you mean - you can only do so much research. Were you able to see at least two different PA schools during your interview process - or did you get in and interview at one? I am just wondering if you were able to see some differences in two programs and how good your liking of the one you were accepted into is backed by comparison to another (if this makes sense). I understand about missing classes, but in many instances this can be made up - this is your next step and I would take the opportunity to see if this would be something you might like over the other. But in the end a PA-C is a PA-C. I'm sorry I'm not more knowledgeable, I'm interviewing now, and it certainly a stressful process. Congrats on making it in somewhere and In the end, you'll end up where you're supposed to be! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lundkm18 Posted September 20, 2011 Share Posted September 20, 2011 If you weren't sold on the first school you interviewed at/got accepted to then I would go to the next interview. I interviewed at one program and was accepted, and I liked the school so much I withdrew all my other apps. If you think there is a better match out there for you, keep looking/interviewing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawnmclane Posted September 20, 2011 Share Posted September 20, 2011 I would go to the interview. Going to PA school is a huge financial and time commitment. In the long run, the investment you make today in researching your options pales in comparison to the cost of attendance. Make sure you find the best fit, choose your program and kill it in school! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KhoiFish82 Posted September 20, 2011 Share Posted September 20, 2011 I guess just answer one question..if offered would you take it. If the answer is yes, go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator rev ronin Posted September 20, 2011 Administrator Share Posted September 20, 2011 I advocate taking every interview offered, and doing your best at it. Considering the overall cost of going to a bad fit school, the cost of an interview trip is pretty mild. However, if you're already living off credit cards for essential things like interview trips, you're in sub-optimum financial shape anyways... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IdahoPA Posted September 20, 2011 Share Posted September 20, 2011 First, congrats on the acceptance! That has to be a weight off your mind. :) Second, unless the first school is your #1 choice (or you know you'll be clam happy there), I'd go to the interview. It might be a better fir or a waste of resources; either way, you'd know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator rev ronin Posted September 21, 2011 Administrator Share Posted September 21, 2011 Second, unless the first school is your #1 choice (or you know you'll be clam happy there), I'd go to the interview. It might be a better fir or a waste of resources; either way, you'd know. I disagree with this. After 5 interviews, my top five, in order, were, 2, 5, 1, 3, 4 going in to the season. That is, I was radically impressed by two schools at interviews in ways that couldn't be articulated in the web research I'd done. No matter how much due diligence you've done, there's no substitute for actually seeing a place and talking to the faculty and students. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Steve Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 Already having an acceptance letter will allow you to be SO MUCH MORE relaxed at any other interview, which in turn will show as confidence, which could be a very positive thing for you. Flip a coin to decide. Heads you interview, tails you don't. But the trick is realizing it's not what actually turns up on the coin toss, but rather it is your reaction to what turns up. If you're bummed that you didn't get heads, then just go do it. If you are relieved you got tails, then stay home and study for your current classes, spend money on a nice "congrats to me" meal for your acceptance, and be 400 bucks less in debt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IdahoPA Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 I disagree with this. After 5 interviews, my top five, in order, were, 2, 5, 1, 3, 4 going in to the season. That is, I was radically impressed by two schools at interviews in ways that couldn't be articulated in the web research I'd done. No matter how much due diligence you've done, there's no substitute for actually seeing a place and talking to the faculty and students. I don't disagree. I highly advocate going to a place and "getting a feel" for it in person. Buuuut, if my #1 school called me tomorrow and said, "Accepted!" I would cancel the remaining interviews. That's because I know what I want and have been there several times before. However, if my #1 on paper were 3000 miles away in a place I'd never been to, well then, definitely I'd need to go. I went to an interview earlier this year with low expectations and ended up really liking the faculty and students I met. So, really, we're on the same side on this issue. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IdahoPA Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 Already having an acceptance letter will allow you to be SO MUCH MORE relaxed at any other interview, which in turn will show as confidence, which could be a very positive thing for you. Flip a coin to decide. Heads you interview, tails you don't. But the trick is realizing it's not what actually turns up on the coin toss, but rather it is your reaction to what turns up. If you're bummed that you didn't get heads, then just go do it. If you are relieved you got tails, then stay home and study for your current classes, spend money on a nice "congrats to me" meal for your acceptance, and be 400 bucks less in debt. Hahahahaha! I give people that advice and they think I'm nuts. But it works every time. ;p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparkles9708 Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 I would go, one school that I went and interviewed at was last on my list from my initial research and then after interviewing it became my first. I instantly fell in love with the school and those two years are going to be much more of a time and money investment than the cost of the interview. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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