(From www.ryanportermd.com/interviews)
What to bring: Obviously– Interview attire, extra shirt and tie for men (in case you spill your coffee), toiletries, and battery powered alarm clock.
For the interview, most people carry a black pad-folio and a pen. I jotted down interesting questions, pros and cons about each program, and general notes. In my pad-folio, I had a couple copies of my photo (with my name, school, and match number on the back), a copy of my application, a copy of my dean’s letter, a copy of my personal statement, and information about the program, faculty bios, etc. You do not usually need these extra copies of your application materials, but when an interviewer doesn’t have your “packet” for some reason, you will be glad that you are prepared.
Getting There: There are really no great ways to get inexpensive airline tickets. This is where you just have to bite the bullet. Many times, you do not have a lot of lead-time on your travel schedule. I had good luck with internet vendors (Expedia, Orbitz, etc). This was always cheaper than dealing directly with airlines even with the “residency interview discounts.”
Lodging: Many programs offer you a discounted rate on a hotel nearby. Sometimes this hotel will offer a free shuttle to the interview which will save you taxi or rental car fees. Make sure to put your name on the shuttle list the night before!
I had great success with priceline.com for hotel rentals. I would find out what the discounted rate was for the suggested hotel, and then I would undercut that number on Priceline and only ask for four-star hotels. Sometimes I would stay at a four star hotel for much less that the other applicants paid for their two star hotels. Just make sure you figure in the extra fees for shuttles, taxis, breakfast, etc when calculating hotel prices.
Dinner: Many programs invite the residents to a dinner event the night before or after the interviews. Attendance at these events varies depending on whether it is a busy interview week across the country. If you can make it, these dinners are a great way to meet faculty and residents in a social environment. It is a lot easier to be yourself, and you can make a good impression while learning a lot about the program. If you cannot make it, do not worry; many of the residents I spoke with did not attend the dinners at the programs where they ultimately matched. Try to find out if the event will include dinner (without appearing cheap). Some of these events were full dinners while others were minimal appetizers and drinks. You do not want to starve the night before the big day.
The interview day: Arrive early. There is not much worse than walking in late during the program director/chairperson’s introduction. Breakfast is sometimes served at the interview. At most programs you interview with almost every full-time-faculty member and some residents. Occasionally, research scientists or audiologists from the department will also interview candidates. Sometimes the total group is divided into two smaller groups (one for the tour and one for the interviews). The interviews vary in length. Some interviews were one-on-one and two or three interviewers worked together for some interviews. I never had to be in the same interview room with other applicants.
Lunch: Lunch is usually provided.
Tours: A group of residents usually gives the tour. They also invite questions during the tour. Most say the questions are “off the record.” Use your best judgment here.
End of day: You can often share a cab or pre-arranged ride to the airport with people you meet that day. Just ask around.