traveling and food accommodations

[crazypumpkin]

For those of you who have done the interview weekends at schools before and have dietary restrictions, how well have schools handled your dietary needs? I eat a strict gluten free diet, and the thought of turning over my meals to someone else's control for a weekend makes me quite nervous. I will be traveling with quite a bit of food (home made

Comments

[ginapagott]

I was sponsored to come out for my school's MA program school visit, and we were comped for meals and also taken out to eat at a variety of places. That gave us some choice, and most places you could just get a salad if they didn't have vegetarian/gluten free/vegan options. Not sure about PhD interviews, though. If you're going to Ann Arbor or Denver, I could give you some recommended restaurants that would be likely to carry gluten-free food.

[ksledgemoore]

OT, I live in Ann Arbor and a good friend of mine who might visit is gluten-free. I know Ann Arbor is a great place to buy gluten free food with Trader Joe's and such, but I was wondering if you had good suggesetions for nice restaurants that are accommodating if we decide to go out to eat.

[ravenword]

I have food allergies, so I share your interest in this subject. Let us know what you hear back from your schools!

[crazypumpkin]

Of the three I'm interviewing at, one has said no problem, they can handle me. The woman who arranges this is already aware of what my diet entails, so I have hope. The second program is also aware of what gluten intolerance is, but I have a feeling they aren't as well educated based on the email response I got. And the third... sounds like it might be more challenging. I am at least glad that all three have heard my request and responded in some way. I always fear someone just brushing my diet aside and telling me I can eat something that isn't actually safe for me. Last thing I need is to be doing interviews with stomach issues, heart burn from hell, and a massive migraine. I wouldn't be pleased.

[arthenadent]

I have a bunch of food allergies that sent me into anaphylactic shock during an interview and required the grad student who was hosting me to take me to the hospital, so it's definitely a valid concern :) Can you find enough options at restaurants? I've had the best luck with group interviews that take everyone out to eat together. In my experience, interviews have a combination of buffet-style food, restaurant outings, and meals cooked by the grad student(s) you're staying with. So you won't be relinquishing control, and you should be able to find/work out something for most interview food situations.

Definitely talk to people to make sure you'll have options. Grad students who host interviewees are super nice people who will work with you to make sure you're comfortable. Remember that they want to impress you too, so they have every reason to make your stay as pleasant as possible. And you have a right to be able to eat!

[cardboardboxed]

Oh gosh that is so scary!

[crazypumpkin]

Oh god! Not that it makes your situation any better, but when I hear things like this I'm always glad that mine is "just" and intolerance, and not a full on allergy. This will be my first time traveling like this since I changed my diet, so I'm quite nervous.

[arthenadent]

Ohhhhh, I thought you had celiac! Not that a gluten intolerance is super fun, but I'm glad you don't have a Deathly Worry to add to the usual interview stress! It sounds like your interview places (well, most of them) are being great about it so far.

[brittdreams]

Be upfront with people about your dietary needs from the time that you're confirming your intent to attend.

[crazypumpkin]

I have. All three programs asked me to send a list of who I was interested in interviewing with, so I also sent in that email a question asking who I should speak with about food accommodations. I'd hate to not ask and then not be able to eat much when I got there!

[iluvpokeystix]

Just send am email to the department secretary who is in charge of arranging the interview dates and make sure that you are going to restaurants or having meals that include gluten free options. The secretaries are usually good-hearted people and will make arrangements for you if needed. I have a friend here who went through the same thing and she said that people were willing to oblige her request. She was part of the group of grad students that escorted me as an interviewee to dinner for my phd interview here at Minnesota and we had no problem finding a range of items for her.

[azraeldeadlight]

Big cities, like Minneapolis, are normally pretty easy to deal with. I would worry more about college towns.

[iluvpokeystix]

True, but the schools will probably do what they can to woo you, which is generally what happens during the interview weekend. Demand world class haute cusine with gluten-free flour. And room service :) Or just send them a short email, that would probably work.

[crazypumpkin]

Thankfully most of the places I'm interviewing (and hoping to interview) are larger towns/cities. And I actually did take that at least a smidge into account when I thought about places to apply.