Last updated: 9/29/2026 · Written by the MatchPal Advising Team · Reviewed by Daniel Veyg, DO
Quick answer: Programs get access to ERAS applications at 9:00 AM ET on September 23, 2026, and many send their first interview invitations within days. Reply within a few hours when you can, book the best available date first, and confirm the time zone in writing. If you’re waitlisted, reply that you’re interested and flexible on dates. If two invites land on the same date, book one and ask the other for an alternate before you decline anything. If you have to cancel, give at least two weeks’ notice. Word-for-word scripts for each situation are below.
It’s mid-September, which means you’ve hit submit and you’re refreshing an inbox that hasn’t done anything yet.
That changes on September 23.
Here’s what nobody tells you: interview season rewards speed and organization almost as much as it rewards your application. Two applicants with nearly identical files can end up with very different interview calendars based on how they handle the first 72 hours after invites start moving.
This is the playbook we give every applicant we advise. Let’s jump right in!
Programs can begin reviewing applications at 9:00 AM ET on September 23, 2026 (AAMC ERAS timeline). Some programs send invitations within 48 to 72 hours of that date. Others wait until they’ve reviewed a larger share of their applicant pool and send invites in waves through October, November, and into December.
A few specialties coordinate a shared release date so every program sends invites on the same day. Check your specialty society’s site and each program’s website so you know which pattern to expect. Our complete ERAS 2027 timeline has every key date for the cycle in one place.
Silence in the first week is normal. It is not a verdict.
Do this once, this week, and you’ll never miss an invite:
- Build a VIP list. Add the email domain of every program you applied to, plus notifications from scheduling platforms like Thalamus and Interview Broker if your programs use them.
- Turn on push notifications for that list only. You want your phone to buzz for invites, not for newsletters.
- Check your spam folder every day for the first few weeks. Automated scheduling emails are the ones most likely to get filtered, and many programs use them.
- Start a tracker. Program, date invited, dates offered, date booked, waitlist status, and anything you emailed. By November you’ll be glad you did.
- Know your flexible weeks. Look at your rotation schedule now and mark the weeks you can realistically interview, so you can book in seconds instead of minutes.
Within a few hours if you can.
Most programs book interview dates first come, first served, and some invite more applicants than they have slots on a given day. The most convenient dates go first, and the last applicants to respond get what’s left.
Fast doesn’t mean sloppy. Before you click, check the date against your rotation schedule and the program’s time zone. Then book.
Book first, optimize later. You can almost always ask to move a date. You can’t get back a date that filled.
Keep it short, warm, and specific. Reply in the same email thread and keep the coordinator’s subject line so your message lands where they expect it.
“Dear [Coordinator name], thank you so much for the invitation to interview with [Program]. I would be glad to interview on [date]. Please let me know if you need anything else from me before then. Best regards, [Full name], AAMC ID [number]”
If the invite came through a scheduling platform, book the slot there first. Send a separate email only if the program asked for one.
Say yes, and say it quickly. Waitlist spots open more often than applicants expect, especially later in the season as other applicants cancel.
“Thank you for letting me know. I’m very interested in [Program] and flexible on dates. Please keep me in mind if a spot opens.”
Then leave it alone. One polite update later in the season is fine if you have something new to share, like a new score, a new letter, or a publication. Weekly check-ins are not.
If a waitlisted program is one of your top choices, a short letter of interest later in the season can help. Our letter of intent template shows how to write one that sounds like you.
Book the date that works for the program you’re more excited about. Then, within a day, email the other program:
“Thank you so much for the invitation. I have a conflict on [date]. Is there an alternate date available? I’m very interested in interviewing with [Program].”
Decline only after you have an answer. Coordinators are busy and juggle hundreds of applicants, but most will help if you ask early and politely.
Give at least two weeks’ notice whenever you can, and reply in the same thread you used to schedule.
“Thank you again for the invitation to interview on [date]. After careful thought, I need to withdraw from the interview. I hope the slot can go to another applicant, and I’m grateful for your consideration.”
A late cancellation helps no one. An early one frees a slot for someone on the waitlist, and coordinators remember the applicants who handled it well.
Never no-show a scheduled residency interview. Programs talk, and it follows you.
If you’re a DO or IMG applicant, residency interview invites may arrive later and in smaller batches, especially from programs that screen heavily by board scores. That’s not a sign you’ve been passed over.
Keep your tracker current, respond quickly when invites do arrive, and send a short update email to programs if you have a new score or letter to share. If you signaled a program, that signal is already working for you in the background. Our program signals framework explains how programs read them.
Booking the date is the easy part. But what should you do next?
- Research the program the week before, not the night before. Know two specific things you’d be excited to do there.
- Prepare your answer to “tell me about yourself.” It’s the first question at nearly every interview, and a clear 60-second answer sets the tone for everything after it. See our blog on answering common residency interview questions for more assistance with that part.
- Run your tech check for virtual interviews: camera at eye level, a neutral background, and a wired connection if you can.
Our ultimate residency interview checklist walks through the full day.
Interview season is where a strong application turns into a match. The applicants who do best have a plan for the invites, a plan for the interview itself, and someone in their corner who went through it last year.
That’s what MatchPal is: 80+ resident physicians across every specialty, many of whom sit on their own programs’ selection committees, helping applicants through every step from ERAS to the rank list.
Start with our free Comprehensive Interview Preparation Guide. When you want one-on-one mock interviews with a resident in your specialty, see residency interview preparation or book a free 15-minute strategy call.
Built by residents. For the students who are next.
How long do you have to respond to a residency interview invitation?
There’s rarely a formal deadline, but most programs book interview dates first come, first served, so popular dates can fill within hours. Reply the same day, ideally within a few hours of the email arriving.
Is it rude to ask a residency program to change my interview date?
No. Asking once, politely and early, is normal. Book an available date first, then ask the coordinator whether an alternate date is possible.
Should I accept every residency interview invitation?
Accept the interviews at programs you would realistically rank. Early in the season it’s reasonable to accept broadly, then cancel with at least two weeks’ notice once you know a program won’t make your list.
What does it mean if I haven't gotten any interview invites by October?
Not much on its own. Many programs send invitations through October and November, and DO and IMG applicants often hear later. If you have very few invites by early November, that’s the time to review your program list and next steps with an advisor.
Should I send a thank-you email after scheduling a residency interview?
Only if the program asks for an email confirmation. If you booked through a scheduling platform, the booking itself is your confirmation. Save thank-you notes for after the interview.