2014 Nontrad Applicants' Progress Thread

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What do you guys who have gone on interviews think is the most important thing to prepare for? My first one is soon and I'm starting to worry I haven't prepped enough.

I know I need to refine my 'why medicine' answer more for sure.
 
SN12357 said:
What do you guys who have gone on interviews think is the most important thing to prepare for? My first one is soon and I'm starting to worry I haven't prepped enough.

I know I need to refine my 'why medicine' answer more for sure.
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1. Why medicine? - you will have to explain this in one form or another, be prepared.
2. Research each school and know why you want to go to each school (very important!); they may not ask this as a direct question, but you should express your interests that go along the school's mission etc. during your interview anyway.
3. Read your primary and secondary, think of any details you can add to your activities; if you did research, brush up on your research projects (for research-heavy schools).
4. Check out school-specific Interview Feedback: http://studentdoctor.net/schools/
5. Brush up on major current issues in medicine (ethical issues, health care reform) - you don't have to be an expert in these topics, but it helps to be reasonably aware of them and be able form an intelligent opinion about them.
6. Be confident, professional, positive and enthusiastic. Most importantly, be yourself.
Good luck! :luck:
 
Oh, yeah, if you can arrange that, have some mock interviews covering main questions from Interview Feedback.
 
Amygdarya said:
1. Why medicine? - you will have to explain this in one form or another, be prepared.
2. Research each school and know why you want to go to each school (very important!); they may not ask this as a direct question, but you should express your interests that go along the school's mission etc. during your interview anyway.
3. Read your primary and secondary, think of any details you can add to your activities; if you did research, brush up on your research projects (for research-heavy schools).
4. Check out school-specific Interview Feedback: http://studentdoctor.net/schools/
5. Brush up on major current issues in medicine (ethical issues, health care reform) - you don't have to be an expert in these topics, but it helps to be reasonably aware of them and be able form an intelligent opinion about them.
6. Be confident, professional, positive and enthusiastic. Most importantly, be yourself.
Good luck! :luck:
Click to expand...

Good advice. At least I'm covered on #5. Benefits of being a social science-trained news junkie.

nice! how about any mmi tips?
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Is it weird if I'm least worried about my MMI interview, compared to the traditional ones? I'm just a lot more confident in my ability to bang out answers to specific questions and scenarios than in building rapport for 30-60 mins with a random interviewer.
 
SN12357 said:
Is it weird if I'm least worried about my MMI interview, compared to the traditional ones? I'm just a lot more confident in my ability to bang out answers to specific questions and scenarios than in building rapport for 30-60 mins with a random interviewer.
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No, not weird at all. I think the majority agree with you. I'm the opposite, I prefer traditional interviews, but that is because of my past.
 
NuttyEngDude said:
nice! how about any mmi tips?
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No idea, sorry 🙂 As far as I understand, ethical topics often come up at MMIs, so brush up in these. WashU medical ethics web site has been recommended by many people; I can't post the link from my phone, but I'll post it later tonight if someone else doesn't.
 
I think the most important aspect for interviewing is to be yourself and honest. I was of course nervous for my first interview but it was a mixture of nervous excitement. I can say now that I have done one I'm purely excited about the rest of them. It's nothing like a job interview; they really want to show you what their school has to offer and what you are like as a person that the paper can't show. If you've gotten this far then you're reasons for why medicine, what makes you a good candidate, etc should be fairly well formed. I also think it's important to be honest when a topic comes up that you're unsure about. It's better to explain what you know and finish with a "but I'm not too knowledgeable on this topic and I would rather became better informed then speculate" then to ramble on for a minute and try to fill time. I was prepared to give 5minute spiels but was pleasantly surprised to find that shorter, concise answers were preferred. Be sure to look at each school's mission and talk about how your goals mesh with the school's and what you can offer the school. As far a left field curve ball, no-right-answer ethical questions, simply give a moments though and come up with an answer you can defend.

I think everyone will be pleasantly surprised how easy going and enjoyable the interview days can be. You can finally see how close you are to your goal. Exciting!
 
Amygdarya said:
1. Why medicine? - you will have to explain this in one form or another, be prepared.
2. Research each school and know why you want to go to each school (very important!); they may not ask this as a direct question, but you should express your interests that go along the school's mission etc. during your interview anyway.
3. Read your primary and secondary, think of any details you can add to your activities; if you did research, brush up on your research projects (for research-heavy schools).
4. Check out school-specific Interview Feedback: http://studentdoctor.net/schools/
5. Brush up on major current issues in medicine (ethical issues, health care reform) - you don't have to be an expert in these topics, but it helps to be reasonably aware of them and be able form an intelligent opinion about them.
6. Be confident, professional, positive and enthusiastic. Most importantly, be yourself.
Good luck! :luck:
Click to expand...

I'd also read up other essays you wrote for other schools that you really think represent who you are and what you bring to the table. You've submitted a primary. And a secondary. The interview is your chance to give them a tertiary, something else that they can look at. Don't pass up the opportunity, especially if they didn't ask that diversity question, or greatest challenge question that you wrote an awesome essay for but couldn't give to that particular school.
 
My interview went really well yesterday! Was much, much more relaxed than I ever expected. I think there was something about seeing other nervous interviewees that eased my own nerves. My first interviewer was nice, but a researcher and I have no research experience. It was still a nice conversation. My second interviewer and I got along very well, and had plenty to talk about. Thinking this interview has made me much more confident for my next few.
 
Pose said:
My interview went really well yesterday! Was much, much more relaxed than I ever expected. I think there was something about seeing other nervous interviewees that eased my own nerves. My first interviewer was nice, but a researcher and I have no research experience. It was still a nice conversation. My second interviewer and I got along very well, and had plenty to talk about. Thinking this interview has made me much more confident for my next few.
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Well done! Let's hope this interview results in acceptance!
My first interview experience also gave me more confidence. Though it's sobering to read MDapps and see that even some of the seemingly successful interviews end up in rejection 🙁 I'm not saying this to bring you down, but to keep myself realistic.
NuttyEngDude said:
first MD invite! damn, amygdarya, you're good! 😀
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:laugh: Congrats!
Captain Sisko said:
Picked up another myself this morning 🙂
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Awesome, congrats!
Too bad I can't have adcoms send any more IIs to myself 🙁
 
SN12357 said:
Is it weird if I'm least worried about my MMI interview, compared to the traditional ones? I'm just a lot more confident in my ability to bang out answers to specific questions and scenarios than in building rapport for 30-60 mins with a random interviewer.
Click to expand...
NuttyEngDude said:
No, not weird at all. I think the majority agree with you. I'm the opposite, I prefer traditional interviews, but that is because of my past.
Click to expand...
I'm kind of ambivalent about traditional interviews: on the one hand, it kind of feels unnatural to talk about myself (remnants of my native culture where it's considered immodest and improper to talk about one's achievements), on the other hand, as a non-trad with diverse interests (and a foreigner with a pretty unconventional childhood) I have a lot of interesting stuff to talk about. Never had MMIs - and not sure if I ever will - but they sounds like fun.
QuantumJ said:
I think the most important aspect for interviewing is to be yourself and honest. I was of course nervous for my first interview but it was a mixture of nervous excitement. I can say now that I have done one I'm purely excited about the rest of them. It's nothing like a job interview; they really want to show you what their school has to offer and what you are like as a person that the paper can't show. If you've gotten this far then you're reasons for why medicine, what makes you a good candidate, etc should be fairly well formed...

...Be sure to look at each school's mission and talk about how your goals mesh with the school's and what you can offer the school. As far a left field curve ball, no-right-answer ethical questions, simply give a moments though and come up with an answer you can defend.

I think everyone will be pleasantly surprised how easy going and enjoyable the interview days can be. You can finally see how close you are to your goal. Exciting!
Click to expand...
I agree with all of this 100%. And I'm really excited about my upcoming interviews!
Captain Sisko said:
I'd also read up other essays you wrote for other schools that you really think represent who you are and what you bring to the table. You've submitted a primary. And a secondary. The interview is your chance to give them a tertiary, something else that they can look at. Don't pass up the opportunity, especially if they didn't ask that diversity question, or greatest challenge question that you wrote an awesome essay for but couldn't give to that particular school.
Click to expand...
Good advice, I will use it at my next interviews 😉
 
There is a funny thing about my application cycle: whining about not getting IIs seems to help me get them :laugh: I just whined about not getting any more IIs this morning - and voila, a few hours later I get an II from one of the top 5 schools. I can't believe I got an II from this school - I don't even know what delusion of grandeur lead me to apply there in the first place 😀
That said, I am extremely happy about my other 4 interviews.
 
I finally have something to report! First interview invit. At ucsf. I. Can. Not. Believe. It.
 
First rejection. Expected, but it still stings. Sigh.
 
SN12357 said:
First rejection. Expected, but it still stings. Sigh.
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Sorry to hear that. But you know that even the most awesome applicants get at least some rejections. It's all good, as long as you have some IIs under your belt 😉
 
You guys been sending thank you emails to your interviewers?
 
Amygdarya said:
+1
Personalized handwritten postcards... hope I'm not overdoing it :laugh:
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Ha, intense. I plan on emails. No way I can even get to a post office with my current schedule.

Got my 8th (!!) interview today and it's scheduled for NEXT WEEK--the short time frame is actually better for missing work but omg, I had no idea schools were willing to schedule on that short notice.
 
SN12357 said:
Ha, intense. I plan on emails. No way I can even get to a post office with my current schedule.

Got my 8th (!!) interview today and it's scheduled for NEXT WEEK--the short time frame is actually better for missing work but omg, I had no idea schools were willing to schedule on that short notice.
Click to expand...
There is a post office right next to my work, so this is not an issue for me.

Congrats on your interviews! And on your ability to accept them on a short notice 🙂
I've come to realization that it's actually good that I don't have as many interviews as some other people - or at least not as many interviews in a short period of time 😉 - 'cause I can't attend more than one interview every 2 weeks (on average) anyway, and this is exactly how my interview schedule has been so far. But if any adcoms are reading this, my November and December are wide open 😉
 
SN12357 said:
Ha, intense. I plan on emails. No way I can even get to a post office with my current schedule.

Got my 8th (!!) interview today and it's scheduled for NEXT WEEK--the short time frame is actually better for missing work but omg, I had no idea schools were willing to schedule on that short notice.
Click to expand...

Closing the gap! I suspect my ii stream is going to dry out pretty quick- you're going to catch me soon 🙂
 
Woohoo! Ivy League strikes again, II number 6 and a good reason to visit my beloved NYC! I'll have to wait for November dates to open though. But this feels awesome anyway.

(Whine, whine, whine, whine, whine...)

- from Pittsburgh with love 😉
 
Amygdarya said:
Woohoo! Ivy League strikes again, II number 6 and a good reason to visit my beloved NYC! I'll have to wait for November dates to open though. But this feels awesome anyway.

(Whine, whine, whine, whine, whine...)

- from Pittsburgh with love 😉
Click to expand...

Ha! It's working! 🙂
Congrats!
 
Amygdarya said:
Woohoo! Ivy League strikes again, II number 6 and a good reason to visit my beloved NYC! I'll have to wait for November dates to open though. But this feels awesome anyway.

(Whine, whine, whine, whine, whine...)

- from Pittsburgh with love 😉
Click to expand...

Congrats! Maybe I'll start whining too, though i suspect that if I did I wouldn't make any friends on here...
 
Whining! The unwritten EC! Count me in, friends.
 
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