"3 people to dinner" interview question

[fiznat]

What is this question actually about? I've been thinking about this one because apparently the school I interview at next likes to ask it a lot. I guess I'm not really understanding what adcoms are trying to get out of it. Are they looking for evidence of curiosity? Intellectual interests? Something unique? I just don't get it. It seems like there are a lot of ways to get at those things without asking such a bizarre and random question. Especially when they follow up with the "...and what would you cook" bit.

I don't want to over think this, or come up with too-rehearsed answers, but I've found a fair degree of interview success by trying to understand what the "real question" is. I seem to be coming up short on this one. Can anyone help?

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[TexasPhysician]

Part of it is that some interviewers like to try and see how applicants handle difficult/confusing questions. Some will even ask "Tell me something that I shouldn't know about you". Other times the interviewer is using a weird way to figure out what subjects/hobbies etc. that you have.

Choosing common names like Ghandi, Mother Theresa or whatever shows a lack of thought and that you prepared a boring answer. Be unique and creative. The interviewer will remember you better if you have good answers.

 

[denco88]

I got asked this at one of my interviews, and the interviewer actually got mad at me for saying my grandmother as one of the people... when I explained why, he apologized about 5 or 6 times during the interview. I got in, but it did not leave me with a very good feeling about the school.

My other answer's were Jane Austen and JFK.

 

[DbDan]

Personally, I've always believed that they know that this is going to be a pre-selected answer but it is going to be the thought that goes into it and your reasoning behind it. I never got answered but my answer was always going to be a political historical figure, someone I admired and a sports figure.

Sports figure was going to be either John Wooden or Vince Lombardi because of their leadership and fundamental values. Historical varied the night before the interview and someone I admired always varied

 

[ShyRem]

Depends on who counts. Does my husband count as one? If so, then I can only invite two. Or can I not invite my husband? Do they have to be dead? Do they have to be famous to the general public or just fascinating to me?

Everyone has a different answer.

What I would cook would be a very simple answer. I'm a great cook.