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LizzyM said:
Backgrounds don't much matter but do not sit with your back to a window! If possible, sit facing a window.
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I will emphasize this. It's just like taking a picture, if you have light coming from behind you it will wash you out and make it difficult for you to be seen.
 
I have a blank white wall behind me so I'm hoping that works well enough!
 
wiswal said:
I have a blank white wall behind me so I'm hoping that works well enough!
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Perfect! The more stuff you have behind you, the more one's attention might wander to figuring out what's back there. For me, books are distracting. I agree that removing the sights and sounds of pets (or farm animals) is also a good idea.
 
Tenk said:
How do you feel about cats though...?
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Bring on the cats ... love them ... they do not distract me!
cat meow.gif
 
How about a campus poster of interviewing school? Would they still be distracted?
 
I think ZOOM has an option were you could select a blank screen. Then the interviewer would only see you.
 
YoungDrummer said:
I think ZOOM has an option were you could select a blank screen. Then the interviewer would only see you.
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Does that have the same visual tearing effect that artificial backgrounds also have though?
 
wiswal said:
Does that have the same visual tearing effect that artificial backgrounds also have though?
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I have never tried it. But, I have been told that this was one option. Maybe you can talk with someone over ZOOM to be sure.
 
erenyeager said:
The only place I can interview is in my small room. If I place the laptop on my desk, my bed and printer will be in the backgrounds. Assuming everything is tidy, will the background matter? My other option would be moving my desk so that my door/wall is the background.
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If bed and printer are tidy, it will be fine. If you can move the desk, it will be better provided, as others have said, light is coming from in front of you and not from behind you.

Try and have everyone else, out of the house/apartment so it's quiet.

Good luck!
 
Would it be okay to set up a "tidy living room" Zoom virtual background? I have a bunk bed behind me that looks pretty hideous haha...
 
erenyeager said:
The only place I can interview is in my small room. If I place the laptop on my desk, my bed and printer will be in the backgrounds. Assuming everything is tidy, will the background matter? My other option would be moving my desk so that my door/wall is the background.
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Put a sheet or some barrier / room divider behind you. The lighting is just as important in my opinion. As for the other faculty interviewers, they don't really care as long as the internet works and they know to unmute themselves when appropriate (/kidding).
 
wiswal said:
I have a blank white wall behind me so I'm hoping that works well enough!
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Blank white wall is golden.

Your background doesn't necessarily need to be perfect, the point is just make sure it's not distracting.

David D MD - USMLE and MCAT Tutor
Med School Tutors
 
MedSchoolTutors said:
Blank white wall is golden.

Your background doesn't necessarily need to be perfect, the point is just make sure it's not distracting.

David D MD - USMLE and MCAT Tutor
Med School Tutors
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Should we also maintain eye contact with the webcam for the entire time so it doesn't look like we're looking at notes or disinterested?
 
wiswal said:
Should we also maintain eye contact with the webcam for the entire time so it doesn't look like we're looking at notes or disinterested?
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As naturally as possible. Certainly don't look down for any extended period of time as you mention, it would look like you're looking at notes or your phone. But at the same time, please do blink and move your eyes around a tad lest you wanna look awkward and stiff.

David D MD - USMLE and MCAT Tutor
Med School Tutors
 
wiswal said:
Should we also maintain eye contact with the webcam for the entire time so it doesn't look like we're looking at notes or disinterested?
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Just act like you’re talking to the person in real life and be natural. It might benefit to do a couple practice zoom calls with a friend so the weirdness of the camera isn’t as present during the real thing. Once you get used to it, it’s pretty easy to have a natural convo.
 
Doctor-S said:
Our cats graduated from me-ow-i-cal school with paw-sitive cattitudes ... and they're happy to hear you're feline good in meow-ical school!
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Trying to give @gonnif, the Prince of Punnery, some competition? You'll have to claw your way up to the top on this one. I'll think that he'll be purring with contentment (it would be like catnip to him), but I'm worried that you may have a hissy fit if you don't land on your feet. So show your true stripes, be like a lion, and let the fur fly!

And if the moderators need me to, I'll sit here and tabby-ulate the puns, otherwise it may turn cat-astrophic.

But please don't think that I'm being catty! I imagine that your cats all went in for In-purr-nal Medicine? Or Purr-matology?

No Response? Cat got your tongue???
 
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Doctor-S said:
Our cats graduated from me-ow-i-cal school with paw-sitive cattitudes ... and they're happy to hear you're feline good in meow-ical school!
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Goro said:
I imagine that your cats all went in for In-purr-nal Medicine? Or Purr-matology?
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For me, Knead-iatrics, the whole kitten-kaboodle.
 
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