The Interview Trail.

That’s what everyone calls this section of life I’m about to embark on.  This whilrwind of departures and arrivals, checking-in, wearing a suit, smiling till my cheeks hurt, trying to make a good impression but still be likable me… I hear I will run into many of the same people on the trail and that we might get to know each other pretty well, since people tend to apply to residency programs regionally.

I start my "trail" on November 13th when I fly out to San Francisco for this:

Sunday (11/13): Fly to San Francisco, pick up my rental car, find my hotel, settle in, and prepare for my first interview
Monday (11/14): Interview at UCSF during the day, attend the UCSF "Dessert Night" to socialize with the current residents in the evening
Tuesday (11/15): Interview at Oakland Children’s during the day
Wednesday (11/16): Play tourist… or (hopefully) interview at Lucile Packard Children’s (Stanford’s program) during the day and maybe do a social thing with the Stanford residents in the evening
Thursday (11/17): Interview at Kaiser Permanente-Oakland during the day
Friday (11/18): Fly to Seattle, see my family, process all the San Francisco interview information then set it aside and get ready for the "Big Two" interviews at my top two programs 
Saturday (11/19): No plans  🙂  Just relax and have some fun
Sunday (11/20): No specific plans, but maybe do a social thing with the UW residents in the evening
Monday (11/21): Interview at the UW during the day, drive down to Portland in the evening
Tuesday (11/22): Interview at OHSU during the day, drive back to Seattle in the evening
Wednesday-Sunday (11/23-11/27): No specific plans…. enjoy family time and Thanksgiving and maybe go snowboarding if there’s any snow this year… then fly back to St. Louis on Sunday afternoon.

In addition to that jam-packed trip, I will interview in Denver on Friday December 9th.  I also have a couple of Southern California interviews scheduled at the end of January… but these are currently not my top choice programs, and I may end up cancelling those interviews.  We’ll have to see how these first ones go.

So everyone wish me luck and cross your fingers (especially on the 21st!) and feel free to send me happy text messages and/or e-mails to keep me upbeat and smiling during all this. 🙂