Acceptable hobbies to mention?

[aznb0y129]

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This was brought up in a previous thread where the OP asked if playing video games was acceptable, but I wanted to expand upon this issue a little bit. For my SUNY Upstate Interview, one of the essay questions asks you to list 4 major interests. I already have playing viola (1), running/working out (2), and travel (3).

Travel is already a little bit of a stretch since I haven't left the country in 4 years, though my study abroad trip did have a major impact on me, so I'll leave it. So far, I'm confident those three will be acceptable to virtually any interviewer I come across, but I'm having some trouble coming up with the fourth one.

I don't read very much, so I'm hesitant to list that in case they ask me about recent books I've read. What about listening to music or playing basketball? I already have 1 music and 1 sport item, so I don't necessarily want to repeat myself. Everyone watches movies, so I'm not sure how helpful that will be either.

Basically, I'm curious if anyone had any additional suggestions or input on what I've already mentioned. Many thanks!

 

[Diksha]

It doesn't matter what you put for your fourth activity; they just want some indication that you aren't a robot and you know how to relax. Put down whatever you spend the most time doing, I guess.

 

[213965]

This was brought up in a previous thread where the OP asked if playing video games was acceptable, but I wanted to expand upon this issue a little bit. For my SUNY Upstate Interview, one of the essay questions asks you to list 4 major interests. I already have playing viola (1), running/working out (2), and travel (3).

Travel is already a little bit of a stretch since I haven't left the country in 4 years, though my study abroad trip did have a major impact on me, so I'll leave it. So far, I'm confident those three will be acceptable to virtually any interviewer I come across, but I'm having some trouble coming up with the fourth one.

I don't read very much, so I'm hesitant to list that in case they ask me about recent books I've read. What about listening to music or playing basketball? I already have 1 music and 1 sport item, so I don't necessarily want to repeat myself. Everyone watches movies, so I'm not sure how helpful that will be either.

Basically, I'm curious if anyone had any additional suggestions or input on what I've already mentioned. Many thanks!

Yesterday, I also mentioned viola and my interviewer didn't even know what a "viola" was. That conversation didn't last long.

I then mentioned video games, and he didn't seem to interested in that either.

When I discussed camping, he just nodded.

But when I talked about chess, however, we had a decent conversation going. I could tell he was trying to find some "common ground" with me -- my suggestion is to keep with your hobbies but maybe mention one from each "category" - sports, music, leisure, and travel is good too especially if you've visited the same places before.

Sucks that he didn't want to talk about research whatsoever, though, seeing as I spent 4 years on it and had assumed that's where the bulk of our interview time would be spent. Obviously, I was wrong.

Good luck!!

 

[shraf]

read the question...its not asking for hobbies. plus it's a closed file interview so whatever essays you submit will be all they have about you.

 

[aznb0y129]

read the question...its not asking for hobbies. plus it's a closed file interview so whatever essays you submit will be all they have about you.

Here is the essay prompt in its entirety: Identify four of your major interests and describe how these have shaped your character and will contribute to your success as a physician.


I'm assuming they are referring to hobbies. I wouldn't call my work experiences or internships "interests," so what else could it mean?

 

[funkydrmonkey]

Here is the essay prompt in its entirety: Identify four of your major interests and describe how these have shaped your character and will contribute to your success as a physician.


I'm assuming they are referring to hobbies. I wouldn't call my work experiences or internships "interests," so what else could it mean?

I wrote more indepth about my major AMCAS activities, and turned it into a 4 page essay, and my interviewers said that they liked reading it, because it gave them more detail about what I personally did during these activities, and how they helped me out. I believe it is an open ended question.

By the way, Upstate is awesome. I loved that school!

 

[NoMoreAMCAS]

Go with volunteering or something along those lines, some of your pre-med activities. You'll sound like a total uptight ***** who never relaxes or actually has fun, but it's what they want to hear. Spoon feed em.

 

[aznb0y129]

I wrote more indepth about my major AMCAS activities, and turned it into a 4 page essay, and my interviewers said that they liked reading it, because it gave them more detail about what I personally did during these activities, and how they helped me out. I believe it is an open ended question.

By the way, Upstate is awesome. I loved that school!

Interesting take, funkydrmonkey. I guess I should have thought of that, but my impression was that I already listed those activities on my AMCAS and secondary; therefore, the interview essays were gauging my personality and life outside of academics and medicine.

But, like you said, it seems like an open-ended question and the word "interests" is up to interpretation. Maybe I can talk about my volunteer work as an interest as well.

 

[EM_Rebuilder]

'Acceptable hobbies'?

Come on people, list your ACTUAL hobbies. I would MAYBE leave out the S&M, Child Porn, Mutalating Cats, Making/Selling Drugs...if those are your things, but everything else is free game.

Doctors ARE people too. You have any idea how many times I played Halo over the previous few years in some resident lounges???


Make a list of your legit top four. You NEVER know who is going to interview you, it may well be some Dungeons and Dragons nerd....


Good Luck...

 

[armybound]

I mentioned beer drinking at one interview. Explained how it wasn't frat-boy getting drunk, more like wine tasting, learning about different styles, etc.

Turns out the interviewer is into beer himself and even goes to the Brewers Festival in Oregon. we discussed plans to get into homebrewing and the like.

 

[bruceleehiiiyaa]

mastur......oh wait.


<--LOL is this what happens when you use too much lube and it slips

 

[UVAbme2009]

'Acceptable hobbies'?

Come on people, list your ACTUAL hobbies. I would MAYBE leave out the S&M, Child Porn, Mutalating Cats, Making/Selling Drugs...if those are your things, but everything else is free game.

Doctors ARE people too. You have any idea how many times I played Halo over the previous few years in some resident lounges???


Make a list of your legit top four. You NEVER know who is going to interview you, it may well be some Dungeons and Dragons nerd....


Good Luck...

That's my feeling too. I know others advised me against it, but I did it anyway for some of the schools that asked. Well I got an interview at Tulane, and my interviewer asked about some of my hobbies. So I'm glad I didn't mask anything.

 

[umean2tellme]

Tell them falsifying applications is your favorite hobby, that'll keep em guessing for the whole interview.

 

[RSAgator]

if you can't think of 3 things that you like you honestly need to broaden your horizons. The point of the other thread was that when someone asks you about your interests, or your favorite hobby, you don't want to immediately say the one that might be received the most dubiously and you definitely don't want to ONLY say that one hobby. Just list the things you genuinely enjoy and use your own judgment, SDN's will only get you so far and it can often lead you astray.

 

[Lukkie]

Tell them falsifying applications is your favorite hobby, that'll keep em guessing for the whole interview.

oh my god

 

[mbe36]

I listed automotive detailing and maintainence on my AMCAS.

 

[ANF1986]

Doctors ARE people too. You have any idea how many times I played Halo over the previous few years in some resident lounges???


Make a list of your legit top four. You NEVER know who is going to interview you, it may well be some Dungeons and Dragons nerd....


Good Luck...

Lol, the sad fact is that you probably legitimately offended someone reading this thread with your D&D nerd comment. Oh well, seriously...Some people need to actually go to this place called 'outside' and get some sun or fresh air. Life is about a lot more than books and grades. If all of your "interests" are centered around your research and EC's, you make for a pretty boring person. I'm guessing thats not really an issue if you're a pathologist, but if you want to go into any field where you might *GASP* have to interact with other people who *GASP* aren't smart like you, that just might be a problem.

I'd say dont be afraid to list your true hobbies at all, even if theres some sort of stereotype attached to it. Diversity is about a lot more than just skin color.

 

[aznb0y129]

Thanks again for everyone's comments. Just to clarify, I'm not a loser with no hobbies who's never seen the light of day or spoken to other human beings, but I was just looking for what would be acceptable to mention within an interview setting. 🙂