what to bring to interview!

[phatty925]

sorry if these questions are stupid, but for those of you who have already gone on interviews, i have a couple of questions (i have my first one this week and am a bit nervous!):

-do i need to bring some sort of notepad or folder to take notes while speaking to the interviewer?
-for all of you women out there- what kind of bag did you carry? a purse or a briefcase-like messenger bag? if a purse, should i carry a nice one or will they think that i am snotty and too into brand names?

any advice appreciated! thanks.

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[personal jesus]

bring a pen. thats all you need. they will give you a packet of info.

 

[jlee9531]

just bring your personality and a pen. (but some places give you their own school pen so sometimes those arent needed either, but its still easy to bring so go ahead.)
nothing else is needed. they give you a info packet with everything you need. no need to take notes since they will be referring to some form they handed out that day for you to look at.

you dont want to be taking notes during an interview for sure so dont worry about that.

as for a purse. if you need something to put your wallet in or something. then something small and simple.

 

[efex101]

I think that a nice sleek looking purse (not LV, Gucci) that will fit a folder is very nice and understated (ebags has some nice ones). They do give you a folder and carrying it around would be a pain IMHO, I carried a purse/briefcase that was very slim and I could put all my stuff in it and not have to carry it around the whole place.

Be happy to be there, I saw so many folks with long faces at these interviews! Treat each school as if is your top choice because you never know were and who will accept you. Be engaged in your interview and with the other folks in the office.

Have some questions at least one for the person interviewing you. I had the same question for all my interviewers regardless of were I went. This kept it simple and I knew what I would ask. This is not something that I could find out from their web site or their info packet and made for good honest conversation.

Dress appropriately do not try to be trendy or sexy, this is not the time to strut your stuff. Be consevative but with *flair* you do not have to be boring. Do not wear skirts that are too tight, it was so funny watching these ladies with tight skirts going up the steps geez.

Wear comfy shoes but you can wear heels just be prepared to walk some, but it will not be a 12 mile road march...

Do something with your hair that will be comfortable and will look professional, avoid hair all over the place.

No, you do not have to feel obligated to send thank you notes they will not help but if you feel that is a nice touch then do it. Just be aware that these folks are extremely busy and your card may just get put in your folder w/o anyone reading it.

Do not be too pushy and loud at your interview. I only encountered this at one but this guy was a pain! Nobody wanted to be around him and he was just awful.

 

[ForensicPath]

Make sure you are well hydrated. I had a terrible case of cottonmouth at my first interview. It could have just been a result of my nervousness, but it definitely made talking more difficult. Since then I've made sure that I have a bottle of water to drink right before my interview.

 

[Tezzie]

Oh no

The bag that i used for most of my interviews was Gucci

 

[exmike]

Bring a good attitude and a portfolio to hold your pen and the packet of info that each school will inevitably give you. Half the schools will give you a free pen (or a free sports bottle and satchel at OSU. COOL!). You dont want to be fumbling with your pen and folder all day.

A bottle of water and/or gum for the cotton mouth as the previous poster said.

Pop a vivarin or drink a caffeinated beverage if you're not sensitive because after two or so interviews you realize that they all say pretty much the same thing, and you'll want to doze off. (How many different ways can a school tell you to fill out a FAFSA)

Have some questions prepared for those awkward moments when they ask for questions and noone answers.

Try to check your baggage with the bell hop at the hotel so you dont have to lug it around all day or worry about it.

 

[BerkeleyPremed]

If you don't bring the following items..you will NOT be prepared for the interview and the adcom will just be disgusted with you and then tear up your file in front of your face:

-laptop (pen and paper is really "passe"...you really should take down EVERYTHING your interviewer says...VERBATIM..this includes any jokes...if your interviewer sneezes or coughs..note the time at which the sneez/cough occurred...if an interviewer has to use the bathroom...note the time when the bowel movement occurred)

-Armani Suit...nothing less will be accepted (maybe a Versace...but the interviewers will definitely look down on you if you're wearing Gucci, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, or any other lesser brands)

-Some mints (tic tacs)...no one wants a med student with skanky breath.

-An alumni tie from your undergrad school (or a fashionable alumni panties for the ladies)..it should have your school's logo on it..and if the interviewers have not heard of your undergrad school..you're finished

-The men should have designer leather wallets...but women should have nothing less than a Kate Spade purse

**sarcasm mode off**

 

[twinklz]

I always recommend an extra pair of pantyhose, at least for the women. But that's b/c I'm somewhat of a klutz and go through pantyhose really quickly.

 

[docmemi]

Can you bring anything with you to the interview...like pictures or some other papers??

thanx

 

[Megalofyia]

You could bring what ever you want to the interview but there is a 99% chance you won't be using anything more than a pen.

 

[Outer Space]

Originally posted by phatty925
sorry if these questions are stupid, but for those of you who have already gone on interviews, i have a couple of questions (i have my first one this week and am a bit nervous!):

-do i need to bring some sort of notepad or folder to take notes while speaking to the interviewer?
-for all of you women out there- what kind of bag did you carry? a purse or a briefcase-like messenger bag? if a purse, should i carry a nice one or will they think that i am snotty and too into brand names?

any advice appreciated! thanks.

At my first interview i carried both a purse and a portfolio, but quickly realized portfolio was useless. So on all the other interviews I just had my purse (small, sleek, and only for things like comb, wallet, altoids, pen & small notepad, etc). I also brought this plain bag with my portfolio inside (just in case) which i left in the admissions office. whenever they gave us any folders or papers, i just stuck them in there. I seemed to work for me.

Other girls had those large flat shoulder bags that looked nice and were very functional in terms of keeping papers and folders. I thought of getting one like that, but to me they looked like old ladies bags in the store so I didn't.


ps. I dont think brand names (or lack of) matter. Most people who interview probably wouldn't recognize it if you pointed it out.

 

[exmike]

I agree that a portfolio might be useless for a girl, but its useful for guys so we dont have to fold the materials and stuff them in our pants pockets.

Originally posted by Outer Space
At my first interview i carried both a purse and a portfolio, but quickly realized portfolio was useless. So on all the other interviews I just had my purse (small, sleek, and only for things like comb, wallet, altoids, pen & small notepad, etc). I also brought this plain bag with my portfolio inside (just in case) which i left in the admissions office. whenever they gave us any folders or papers, i just stuck them in there. I seemed to work for me.

Other girls had those large flat shoulder bags that looked nice and were very functional in terms of keeping papers and folders. I thought of getting one like that, but to me they looked like old ladies bags in the store so I didn't.


ps. I dont think brand names (or lack of) matter. Most people who interview probably wouldn't recognize it if you pointed it out.

 

[ForensicPath]

If you bring a portfolio you could also bring a porno magazine for reading during down time without arousing suspicion.


btw, using the word "arousing" was an intended pun