-
Scholarship Access: Becoming a Student Doctor course
Free access to comprehensive medical school prep. Eligible students include AAMC FAP recipients and HS graduates from underserved areas. Apply today. -
If you are asked...
- Thread starter homersimp
- Start date
Answers that will Guarantee a Good Interview:homersimp said:
1. If shot through the ankle by an arrow, my foes will conquer me.
2. I hate people. A lot.
3. Biceps.
4. I have a really weak stomach and I vomit when i see sick people.
5. I'm a Republican.
6. If given the choice between put put golf and blowing up mail boxes, I'll usually take both.
7. If you attack me straight on then I will shrink you, but if you jump up and hit me on the head, I will be smashed.
8. I can't say no.
9. I am the victim of being the son of a really powerful man who will destroy you and your children and your children's children if you don't let me into this school.
10. I have no weaknesses.
Shredder said:
tell them youre not a flaming liberal. and then your interview will be politely terminated. or rudely terminated. definitely terminated though.
excellent pic-up shredder. You've done it again.
....that I am currently obsessed with working on my Halloween props so as to rival my neighbors and keep little kids coming to my front door in tears for the 5th year running (evil laugh)....
No but really, as others have said before, don't give some overused/ made-up/rehearsed answer that adcoms will just roll their eyes at. I'm pretty sure they've heard it all and are prolly looking for some thought and/or sincerity. So try and give a weakness that can also be seen in a positive light...like my "competitiveness" with Halloween. Although it could be seen as being a little too meticulous, it's something that I really enjoy thinking out and creating, ultimately leading to a product of greater quality and something that the kids really enjoy 🙂
No but really, as others have said before, don't give some overused/ made-up/rehearsed answer that adcoms will just roll their eyes at. I'm pretty sure they've heard it all and are prolly looking for some thought and/or sincerity. So try and give a weakness that can also be seen in a positive light...like my "competitiveness" with Halloween. Although it could be seen as being a little too meticulous, it's something that I really enjoy thinking out and creating, ultimately leading to a product of greater quality and something that the kids really enjoy 🙂
- Joined
- Sep 20, 2005
- Messages
- 63
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
- Pre-Medical
you can't expect to WOW addcoms with every answer... every once in a while you have to hit them with the generic SDN brand.... like "my love for stuffed animals," "wity remarks." "sarcastic remarks," or my favorite "over-analyzing interviewing questions." 😉
- Joined
- Dec 20, 2004
- Messages
- 30,872
- Reaction score
- 10,063
- Points
- 6,731
- Attending Physician
ddmoore54 said:
In case you are not joking, I would suggest that since 99% of people use this answer, it is the one that gives you the least benefit. You definitely want to try and spin a negative to a positive here, but saying you are a perfectionist, work too hard, are too diligent, need to know everything, or other variations on this theme are simply going to be dismissed as wrong and bad answers.
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2005
- Messages
- 2,697
- Reaction score
- 12
- Points
- 4,621
- Location
- In a world all my own.
- Pre-Health (Field Undecided)
"I just work too hard!"
Law2Doc said:
But is anyone really going to ever say anything bad about themselves?
Every interview book I've read always says to mention something like being a perfectionist or paying too much attention to detail.
I would hope no one is ever asked this question anymore at an interview. It's so over used, especially in business and everyone has a pat answer for it.
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2004
- Messages
- 2,028
- Reaction score
- 2
- Points
- 4,551
- Location
- Sucking long and hard in New York
IMO, it's a really weak and stupid question. First off, they hint that you should be honest but then if you are honest, they penalize you for it. My weaknesses: I am a chronic procrastinator, I always start off with bumps, I don't deal with changes very well, sometimes I have tough time dealing with people and I want to take a gun to my head. Those would be my most honest and truthful responses. But in order to get accepted, I can't say all that. I'd have to play hard-work and perfectionist charactertists into a negative or weakness. So much for being yourself and honesty 🙄 .
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2004
- Messages
- 1,525
- Reaction score
- 4
- Points
- 4,571
- Location
- a stone's throw away from reality
- Website
- www.google.com
- Attending Physician
homersimp said:
i said peanut butter. it was a pretty good ice breaker.
ddmoore54 said:
You'll definitely sound like an idiot if you use the perfectionist angle.
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2004
- Messages
- 1,525
- Reaction score
- 4
- Points
- 4,571
- Location
- a stone's throw away from reality
- Website
- www.google.com
- Attending Physician
Think about it this way: deep down what about your personality do you wish you could change?
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2002
- Messages
- 1,875
- Reaction score
- 6
- Points
- 4,551
OCD
I was talking with my advisor about how much it frustrated me that it seemed like you could never find matching pairs when sorting your socks after doing laundry and she started cracking up "-my name-, you'd think the socks didn't match if there was a thread pulled out of one or there was a little blue spot on one of the toes"
I'm not sure I agree with this assessment, but the fact that she thinks that may say something...
I was talking with my advisor about how much it frustrated me that it seemed like you could never find matching pairs when sorting your socks after doing laundry and she started cracking up "-my name-, you'd think the socks didn't match if there was a thread pulled out of one or there was a little blue spot on one of the toes"
I'm not sure I agree with this assessment, but the fact that she thinks that may say something...
- Joined
- May 31, 2005
- Messages
- 421
- Reaction score
- 1
- Points
- 4,551
- Age
- 47
I said clumsiness, since I had already spilled water all over the table and chair 😛
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2005
- Messages
- 997
- Reaction score
- 41
- Points
- 4,646
- Age
- 42
- Location
- Gilroy, CA
- Attending Physician
Ha ha, you guys are so right about how frustrating it is that they ask this question, but in reality you're not allowed to say your "real" weaknesses because they'd sound too negative and screw you. I'm gonna take this opportunity to say my real weaknesses and vent (hopefully no ad com employees here 🙂 )
I am lazy, capital L. I will do the work I'm assigned on time, and just good enough to get an A, but I never go "above and beyond the call of duty". That's why I had so few extracurricular activities. If it were up to me, I'd just take the minimum amount of classes and no research, leadership, volunteer, or anything. The ECs I did force myself to do were only for the purpose of getting into med school. I'd rather be sleeping.
I'm really messy, poor attention to detail, and am prone to making careless mistakes. Bad memory. I can never remember peoples' names.
I'm socially inept and function poorly in a large group setting. I can be very introverted and shy, and when I try to work up the courage to talk to a stranger it often comes out awkward and stupid.
These all look really terrible, and of course I'd never say any of them in an interview. However, out of context they also paint un unrealistically negative picture of how I'd do as a doctor. Ah, now I feel better, getting these "secrets" off my chest.
I am lazy, capital L. I will do the work I'm assigned on time, and just good enough to get an A, but I never go "above and beyond the call of duty". That's why I had so few extracurricular activities. If it were up to me, I'd just take the minimum amount of classes and no research, leadership, volunteer, or anything. The ECs I did force myself to do were only for the purpose of getting into med school. I'd rather be sleeping.
I'm really messy, poor attention to detail, and am prone to making careless mistakes. Bad memory. I can never remember peoples' names.
I'm socially inept and function poorly in a large group setting. I can be very introverted and shy, and when I try to work up the courage to talk to a stranger it often comes out awkward and stupid.
These all look really terrible, and of course I'd never say any of them in an interview. However, out of context they also paint un unrealistically negative picture of how I'd do as a doctor. Ah, now I feel better, getting these "secrets" off my chest.
- Joined
- Sep 21, 2005
- Messages
- 36
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
- Pre-Medical
chicagomel said:
I haven't gotten to MS yet, but in one interview that I've been in (as an interviewee), I said, "Ice cream." And, yes, like peanut butter, it was an ice breaker. It took away from the seriousness of the interview and both the interviewer and I could relax.
In my past role as an interviewer (I ran a community free clinic for many years), most people would say the stereotypical answers such as "work too hard," "perfectionist," "care about people too much," "don't care about myself too much," etc. I'm sure that at least some of them were being honest, but not all. Perhaps the most creative answer in recent memory was "the Internet," reflecting the habit of staying online too much on myspace.com perhaps?
My real answer would be procrastination. I get my **** done, but it's frequently 11th hour, after a fifteen hour work binge. Oh well - even Superman can be brought down by kryptonite, I guess I can have a true weakness 😀
Perfection.
- Joined
- Jun 17, 2004
- Messages
- 9,801
- Reaction score
- 138
- Points
- 5,141
- Location
- Where I hang my hat.
- Attending Physician
I am intolerant and non-understanding of those who refuse to learn in order to better themselves.
4
45408
I already heard it asked this year, but it wasn't directed at me. I was asked what my strengths are though.PineappleGirl said:
I think the "peanut butter" and "ice cream" comments are good, because really, we all know this question is a set up.
Procrastination isn't a bad thing to say though, as long as you still have good grades and such. It's obviously not hurting you.
4
45408
that toodabigv13 said:
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
ddmoore54 said:
i've given interviews before, and this answer for me is cheesy and not-well thought out. it gives the impression that a glass wall just went up between myself and the interviewee. i've also heard this answer as a good idea since i was in grade school. it doesn't seem very creative.
on the other hand, i suppose instead of saying the word "perfect" in the "i'm a perfectionist" speech, i'd give an example of how being this way is your weakness.
- Joined
- Jun 17, 2004
- Messages
- 9,801
- Reaction score
- 138
- Points
- 5,141
- Location
- Where I hang my hat.
- Attending Physician
I actually was asked this question at two interviews this year. Be prepared for it.
- Joined
- Sep 26, 2005
- Messages
- 4
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
What about saying something like, "I have a fear of public speaking, but I've taken classes to get better at it". I think that's what I would say, because it's honest but it also shows that I've tried to work on my weaknesses. I enjoyed the peanut butter comment above- I'm right there with you. 🙂
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2005
- Messages
- 70
- Reaction score
- 1
- Points
- 4,571
- Age
- 42
- Location
- Macon, GA.
- Pre-Medical
i was asked that question and i said my being sheltered/protected. i went on to say that i've had limited experiences due to going to a small univ and living in the more affluent part of town part of town. the interviewer actually turned it around into a positive by saying that it's allowed me focus on academics and such, as well as being able to enjoy my youth without any major stress or trauma.
Similar threads
