1st Interview: Did Not Ask Any Questions...

[cfx]

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I had my first interview last Friday (east coast private school, FWIW). I had prepared a list of questions I wanted to ask, but my interviewer didn't seem to know much about the school and she conducted the interview in such a way that it seemed impossible to interject with questions, and she abruptly ended it without asking me if I had any questions. As a result, I completely forgot to ask them.

Now I'm concerned that it looks like I'm uninterested and I violated the cardinal "what not to do on interviews" rule. Do you think it still has as much of a negative impact given that there were no opportunities to smoothly interject with questions, and she never asked me if I wanted to know anything?

 

[GlamDoc]

I wouldn't worry that much.

I also had an interviewer who didn't ask me if I had any questions. He actually got up, so I knew the interview was over.

But it wasn't a bad interview. I actually thought it was one of my best.

It's situation-specific. If you were given the chance to ask questions, and you didn't, then yes, it might look bad. But that's not the case everytime.

 

[terbum]

I haven't had a med school interview yet, but judging from other interviews I've had from internships and whatnot, I wouldn't worry. Some interviewers have extremely busy days and want to get interviews done to go on with whatever they were doing or go home. It's nothing on you at all. Some interviewers are just flaky.

 

[Meerkatology]

the interviewer probably didn't know/have time to answer questions lol

i think they had some of the MS3/MS4 at our school interview med school applicants, there are alot of us that doesn't know all that much about the school outside of what pertains to us.

 

[Morzh]

I know this may go against the grain of the general SDN consensus, but I once heard a medical school administrator who was giving "interview advice" to applicants once say the following:

"When your interview is about finished they will often ask you, 'Now we've asked a lot of questions of you, before we finish do you have anything you would like to ask us?' DON'T ASK ANYTHING. There is nothing you can say that will impress them. By this point they have already mentally finished the interview. If you have a really important question that you simply cannot find an answer to anywhere else, then I suppose it's alright. But most of you will not be in this situation, and will likely be thinking to yourself 'Oh I just must come up with a good question or they will think I am uninterested or unintelligent!' By this time they will already know if you are interested and intelligent. Trying to impress them with a superficial question will not change their opinion of you. If you talk to much it may even begin to irritate them. The best thing you can do if you want to impress your interviewer is to politely respond, 'No thank you, I do not have any questions. I read a lot about this school before I even applied and I was able to have any remaining questions answered during the tour today. I know that I would very much like to attend medical school here.' Stand up, shake their hand, thank them again for their time, and then leave."

Just food for thought.

 

[Musclemass]

Did you have any conversation - back and forth - or did you just sit quietly listening?

 

[jm192]

Did you have any conversation - back and forth - or did you just sit quietly listening?

Quietly listening can be good too. Some try to dominate it to see how you handle it. A. Can you avoid being rude and cutting them off. B. Are you smart enough to just sit and learn from someone with more education and life experience than you.

If they give you a chance to speak, speak. But just because they make it impossible to get a word in, doesn't mean you had a bad interivew.

 

[cfx]

Did you have any conversation - back and forth - or did you just sit quietly listening?

Thanks for the reassurance so far, everyone.

Muscleman-It was not a conversation (which I why I couldn't spontaneously ask questions), but I was the one who did all of the talking. She read a question from a list, I spent a minute or two answering while she listened. Once I was done, she moved on to the next question...

 

[Longshanks]

Thanks for the reassurance so far, everyone.

Muscleman-It was not a conversation (which I why I couldn't spontaneously ask questions), but I was the one who did all of the talking. She read a question from a list, I spent a minute or two answering while she listened. Once I was done, she moved on to the next question...

Sounds like she was the disinterested party in this process, not you. Then again, people do get busy. But still, you'd think (or hope) she'd be more proactive or creative.

Don't worry about it to much. She probably interviews everyone like that, and so long as you performed well on your part you should be fine.

 

[cfx]

Sounds like she was the disinterested party in this process, not you. Then again, people do get busy. But still, you'd think (or hope) she'd be more proactive or creative.

Don't worry about it to much. She probably interviews everyone like that, and so long as you performed well on your part you should be fine.

Thanks, I think that's an accurate assessment. She didn't seem particularly into it at any point in time--no follow-up questions, no response, no niceties. It's just a shame since all of the other applicants there that day said their interviewers were incredibly friendly and the entire interview was just a friendly conversation about their accomplishments, interests, etc.

 

[eablackwell]

I had so many questions when I went for my interview, but I was in the 2nd wave of interviews, so I had an information session with the dean right before the interview. When they asked if I had any questions I said that I'd had a lot, but the dean had answered pretty much all of them but the finaid ones. I expected they didn't know much about that, to which they laughed and said no, it wasn't their field at all. I then asked about one of the interviewer's specialties (head of NICU) and we talked about that for a few more minutes before ending the interview.

I wouldn't worry about it, as many people said. I don't think it's that big of a deal as long as you showed your interest in the school during the interview.

 

[ucsfstudents]

Asking questions shows the interviewer that you are interested and prepared. Always have a couple of questions for your interviewer. The questions should not be ones that you can find the answer to online.

 

[NickNaylor]

You dun goofed.

 

[LizzyM]

I know this may go against the grain of the general SDN consensus, but I once heard a medical school administrator who was giving "interview advice" to applicants once say the following:

"When your interview is about finished they will often ask you, 'Now we've asked a lot of questions of you, before we finish do you have anything you would like to ask us?' DON'T ASK ANYTHING.

Go with that & let us know how it works out for you.

 

[catswym]

I had so many questions when I went for my interview, but I was in the 2nd wave of interviews, so I had an information session with the dean right before the interview. When they asked if I had any questions I said that I'd had a lot, but the dean had answered pretty much all of them but the finaid ones. I expected they didn't know much about that, to which they laughed and said no, it wasn't their field at all. I then asked about one of the interviewer's specialties (head of NICU) and we talked about that for a few more minutes before ending the interview.

I wouldn't worry about it, as many people said. I don't think it's that big of a deal as long as you showed your interest in the school during the interview.

same for me. My interviewer asked if I had questions and I said something like, well I had a bunch of questions about x and y but after talking to the students etc I've found out a and b so...

and then just asked about his experience at the school and area and what he liked and didn't. standard stuff.

i wouldn't worry either way. I don't think that will make or break the interview.

 

[MCAT guy]

You dun goofed.

 

[Geekchick921]

Asking questions shows the interviewer that you are interested and prepared. Always have a couple of questions for your interviewer. The questions should not be ones that you can find the answer to online.

I'm going to feel like a grade-A ***** if I ask a question that's on the website after I looked for it and missed it.

 

[MilkmanAl]

Do you really think the interviewers know what the school's online site content is like? I'll be interviewing next year and guarantee you I won't be perusing UAMS's website to try to catch some interviewee asking questions he can find the answers to there.

 

[Musclemass]

The interview gives YOU the chance to show why YOU should be on the "accepted" list. Try to show that you are aware, affable and that a conversation with you is comfortable on both sides, etc.

OP, there was nothing in the ground rules that prevented you from wandering off her script after you'd answered a question. If she was dull, you should have tried to engage her and get her to do something more than read questions. You missed an opportunity by not diverting the conversation a few times to make the points or ask the questions you'd tee'd up in advance.

jm192, I disagree with your comments. Sitting quietly in an interview is a mistake, just like the other extreme of not knowing when to shut up.

 

[cfx]

OP, there was nothing in the ground rules that prevented you from wandering off her script after you'd answered a question. If she was dull, you should have tried to engage her and get her to do something more than read questions. You missed an opportunity by not diverting the conversation a few times to make the points or ask the questions you'd tee'd up in advance.

Much easier said than done, musclemass. Ever try to hold a conversation with someone who is clearly uninterested in talking? Believe me, I made more than one attempt in the beginning to break into a conversation and she wasn't having it. I got short, terse answers, then she immediately began with her question list, which went much like this:

Her: "So...what makes you someone who will add to the diversity of the class?"

Me: "Blah blah blahehkefwhksahf. These are the great things about me that you should find interesting, and this is my research which just so happens to overlap with your research."

*Blank stare...shifts gaze down to paper and starts taking copious notes of what I just said...30 seconds of silence as she reads through her list to find the next question...*

Her: "What is the most significant adversity you have overcome?"

...and repeat.


The interviewer set a pretty clear tone from the start.

 

[Musclemass]

I hear you. Some people are just impossible to talk to, better her than you.

You haven't said whether this was a student or a faculty member. Either way, unless the person is mentally elsewhere or totally devoid of personality (and sadly many are), asking questions that cannot be given a terse answer usually works.

What were the factors you considered in choosing to come here?

Can you tell me about any recent instances when the administration showed concern about or responsiveness to student feedback/suggestions?

 

[addo]

I didnt know asking questions was a cardinal rule. I have interviewed at a few places, and my interviews have usually been after a whole morning of tours, information, presentations, orientations, student panels, lunch with students, etc.... By the time my interviewers get to "Do you have any questions for me?" I usually say "this whole day has been very thorough with everything, and I have gotten all my questions answered, but if anything comes to mind, may I send you an email?" They usually take that very well, and I dont think it makes me seem uninterested, at least I hope not.

There have been several instances where the interviewer drifts on to some personal topics, such as where he has lived, what he practices, and other experiences. This is when I ask the most questions, because most of the time I am genuinely interested in what he/she is talking about. I think this sets the tone of the interview as more of a conversation, but this is not always possible.

 

[CoolWhipp]

the interviewer probably didn't know/have time to answer questions lol

i think they had some of the MS3/MS4 at our school interview med school applicants, there are alot of us that doesn't know all that much about the school outside of what pertains to us.

This reminds me of a funny PhD comic that touches on what a graduate student knows is in his area. At the end of the comic there was a picture two places connected by a trail of footsteps. The two places were his house and the lab.