Do embassies dictate the timing of in-person visa interviews or do applicants get to choose?

From recent experiences shared by users, embassies generally dictate the timing for in-person interviews regarding visa applications. Applicants typically receive an appointment date and time directly from the embassy, often with short notice, confirming their attendance is required. Some users mentioned that an interview might be called for via email, but it usually depends on the documents submitted with the application.