Cameras/Camcorders on Interview Day Tours: Weird?

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Nomdeplume

Nomdeplume

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Do you think it would be weird for an applicant to take out a digital camera or FlipCam (very compact camcorder) during the school tour on interview day?

I'm looking for a way to record my experiences on my upcoming interview days, and I think having some images or short video clips (looking around at certain areas or something like that) might help me do that. At the same time, though, I don't want to do anything that will make me stand out or draw negative attention to myself.

Thanks!
 
Morzh said:
Are you Asian? Forgive the stereotype but I recently visited Disneyland and I gotta say... they sure love their pictures.

And yes, it is a very bad idea.
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No, I'm not :laugh:.

I would never bring something like a DSLR. Personally, I'm thinking about bringing my flip-cam, which is about the size of a cellphone but just roughly twice as thick. I only added the part about other sorts of digital cameras to make this helpful to others who find it or see it in future searches.

Thanks for your opinions, guys.
 
When giving a tour if a kid whipped out their camera, I'd think it were weird. Just me. Tour guides don't normally give any feedback on the applicants though, so it'd probably be fine. Just don't have the admissions staff see you do it, or ask for a buddy shot with your interviewer.

PS - what do you really need to capture? A hospital is sort of a hospital. I'd see no problem taking some pictures of the campus outside though.
 
Nomdeplume said:
Do you think it would be weird for an applicant to take out a digital camera or FlipCam (very compact camcorder) during the school tour on interview day?

I'm looking for a way to record my experiences on my upcoming interview days, and I think having some images or short video clips (looking around at certain areas or something like that) might help me do that. At the same time, though, I don't want to do anything that will make me stand out or draw negative attention to myself.

Thanks!
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Isn't the point of the interview to stand out, albeit positively?
 
HumbleMD said:
PS - what do you really need to capture? A hospital is sort of a hospital. I'd see no problem taking some pictures of the campus outside though.
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Hm. If I'm really being honest with myself here, I think I just want an opportunity to use my FlipCam...:laugh:


EsseQuamVideri: I agree, but the key word is "positively"!
 
Nomdeplume said:
Hm. If I'm really being honest with myself here, I think I just want an opportunity to use my FlipCam...:laugh:


EsseQuamVideri: I agree, but the key word is "positively"!
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I understand where you're coming from. I'll also say that there was usually one person in each group that brought a small digital camera and used that.

I really don't think it's that big of a deal. Just don't bring a SLR or a full camcorder and you'll be fine. Your tour guides will understand.
 
HumbleMD said:
When giving a tour if a kid whipped out their camera, I'd think it were weird. Just me. Tour guides don't normally give any feedback on the applicants though, so it'd probably be fine.
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what would you have done? Told the adcom "oh yeah this applicant had the nerve to (gasp) take pictures during the tour"...? What kind of student would give negative feedback about a potential classmate over the use of a camera, really?

I agree with Nicky, just use your camera phone or get a spycam to wear on your tie 🙂
 
I'll probably use the crappy camera on my iPod since I don't have a cell phone (gasp)! This would only be to show pictures to my husband when I talk to him about choosing a school that best fits us.

Wearing my Nikon around my neck would look pretty odd, but I could take some nice photos.
 
jdok said:
what would you have done? Told the adcom "oh yeah this applicant had the nerve to (gasp) take pictures during the tour"...? What kind of student would give negative feedback about a potential classmate over the use of a camera, really?

I agree with Nicky, just use your camera phone or get a spycam to wear on your tie 🙂
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Jeebus, tone down the haterade brah.

That's exactly what I said - tour guides don't give feedback (I remember back in my day of interviewing I was worried they might).

It's simply something out of the ordinary. I used the word "weird." The OP admitted he didn't need it for any particular reason, and med school interviews aren't the time to risk coming off as "the weird kid." Take your chance if you'd like.
 
HumbleMD said:
Jeebus, tone down the haterade brah.

That's exactly what I said - tour guides don't give feedback (I remember back in my day of interviewing I was worried they might).

It's simply something out of the ordinary. I used the word "weird." The OP admitted he didn't need it for any particular reason, and med school interviews aren't the time to risk coming off as "the weird kid." Take your chance if you'd like.
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I'm not sure what your interview experience was, but there were people taking pictures at almost all of my interviews.
 
StudyShy said:
I'll probably use the crappy camera on my iPod since I don't have a cell phone (gasp)! This would only be to show pictures to my husband when I talk to him about choosing a school that best fits us.

Wearing my Nikon around my neck would look pretty odd, but I could take some nice photos.
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👍 to this. Uprooting the one I love is hard enough as it is, why not at least get some pics of the place you'll be away to constantly for the next 2+ years?
But if you're single and pimply, yea, avoid the flip-cam.
 
When I first read the OP post I'm like is this guy serious? Now that I think back.. I took a few pics with my camera phone.. and so did other people.. like of the pool on campus in a school i interviewed at in the south. But like others have said, don't bring an slr with a huge flash and all lol and also don't break out ur phone at awkward times you should have enough social intelligence to know when it would be ok to take a picture and when people might think ur a weirdo which may go back to the adcoms.
 
Be discreet, if it's a small tour maybe give the tour guide a heads up ("hey is there any really cool stuff I should take a picture of to show my husband..."), and don't try this in the anatomy lab
 
HumbleMD said:
Tour guides don't normally give any feedback on the applicants though, so it'd probably be fine.
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While this is generally true, I do want to point out that at my school, the adcom will take unsolicited information into consideration. So while they don't generally grade you, if you stand out in a bad way, it's entirely possible that the tour guides (and student hosts, etc) will send word to the adcom.

Bottom line, be respectful whenever you're dealing with anyone from the school.

That said, taking pictures probably isn't a big deal, but I caution against taking pictures of students. I see no problem with taking a picture of an empty (or almost empty) classroom, but don't walk into a class and start snapping pictures while the students are there. The administration at my school doesn't like it when people take unsolicited pictures.
 
Schools didn't seem to appreciate this when I wanted to snap some photos of the bathrooms and the going ons of neighboring stalls...
 
I wouldn't do it.. but I guess taking a few pictures with a small camera or phone doesn't seem that big of a deal. I didn't see anyone taking pictures on my interviews, but then again I only went to 2 of my interviews.

Just don't be playing around with your phone the whole time, you might seem like you're uninterested...

How about you just take pictures/video before or after? That's what I did. I would get there the day before anyways, so I would walk around campus and take pictures. That way I could just focus on the tour on interview day.
 
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