Adcom's Interview Bias

[bnleong]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Ok I'm here to talk about biases that everyone may have including adcoms.

I think that these factors would certainly affect admissions chances and I'm not talking about stats.

Here are a few I could think of.

Speech Ipediments: I know a few people that speak with a studder and its downright annoying. There are really smart kids out there with that just can't help it. I just feel bad for them because adcoms might dismiss them just because of this.
No one wants to listien to a studdering doctor especially when they are sick.

Foreign Accent: Its understandable to reject someone if their English is so mangled that its difficut to make out what they are trying to say. But what if they are truly dedicated to medicine. I know a few people who speak quite clearly but extremely slowly. Would this pose a problem at interviews or maybe later on in their career.

Looks: What if someone is just extremely ugly. I'm talking about someone has the appearence of a gremlin. Would that pose any problem to adcoms. I mean they might potentially scare patients. I know this may be vain but given two doctors with equal skill, I'd take the better looking one.

Now I can reverse all of these and see them as potential benefits.
For instance someone that is very well spoken. Has a clear and professional TV sounding voice.
Or someone that is very tall and good looking.

If you think of any other factors please post them here.

THanks

 

[bnleong]

Or dyslexia. (Notice the missing m in ipediments.)

 

[MrBurns10]

Or dyslexia. (Notice the missing m in ipediments.)

Yeah...that's not dyslexia. That's just bad typing/spelling.

 

[fizzle]

Medicine is as much a social career as it is a scientific one. Thus, these things do matter. But wait, what's the point of this topic? To list them all? To debate whether they're right or wrong? Huh? 😕

 

[Vido]

I have a very obvious kind of thick accent but my interviewer didn't seem to care and she complemented on the way i spoke with her. I even tend to think that this accent actually helped me get in where i wanted. I felt that she wanted me to get in and she avoided asking the questions that might need some more explanation. But, that's only how i think things went!

 

[ChubbyChaser]

fat people...

 

[bnleong]

Medicine is as much a social career as it is a scientific one. Thus, these things do matter. But wait, what's the point of this topic? To list them all? To debate whether they're right or wrong? Huh? 😕

Point of the thread is to discuss these potential limitations/assets.

How about ways to improve on some of these things.

While you can't really change one's appearence, there are ways to help people with accents or speech impediments. There are classes that teach people how to project their voices and speak more clearly.

Aha I just thought of another one. How about etiquette. People with very good manners seem to be more well respected.

 

[fizzle]

Aha I just thought of another one. How about etiquette. People with very good manners seem to be more well respected.

I know man, those adcoms are biased against us rubes who got no manners 😡 It's not fair! So what if I like to greet people by slapping them in the face? 🙁

 

[bnleong]

I have a very obvious kind of thick accent but my interviewer didn't seem to care and she complemented on the way i spoke with her. I even tend to think that this accent actually helped me get in where i wanted. I felt that she wanted me to get in and she avoided asking the questions that might need some more explanation. But, that's only how i think things went!

Hey if you got in. It obviously wasn't much of a problem for you.

There are people with varing degrees of accents. Even if its thick, you can be very well spoken and people won't have a problem understanding you.

But if the interviewer is repeating "say that again" like 15 times then I think thats gonna hurt.

 

[MrBurns10]

Aha I just thought of another one. How about etiquette. People with very good manners seem to be more well respected.

Well, while the other ones you mentioned could indeed be "biases," I think this one just makes sense. I'll have a much better impression of someone if he/she shakes my hand, looks me in the eye, says "thank you", is polite, etc. I wouldn't consider that a bias.

 

[bnleong]

Well, while the other ones you mentioned could indeed be "biases," I think this one just makes sense. I'll have a much better impression of someone if he/she shakes my hand, looks me in the eye, says "thank you", is polite, etc. I wouldn't consider that a bias.

But then again that is bias as well. Direct eye contact is a product of a cultural/sociological phenomenon. People in certain cultures find it extremely rude to look other people directly in the eye.

Someone might just be timid or nervous and feel uncomfortable making so much eye contact.

My point is that there are factors like this that can affect your chances of getting into med school. Ranging from things that you can't control like how you look to things that are ingrained in your behavior and mannerisms.

 

[binko]

I have a fear that I'll have a big zit when I interview and it will be so gross that my interviewer won't be able to focus on anything else and I'll get nervous and absentmindedly pick at it while answering questions and it will be like one of those scenes from Ren and Stimpy.

I guess that's related to appearance bias.

 

[binko]

But then again that is bias as well. Direct eye contact is a product of a cultural/sociological phenomenon. People in certain cultures find it extremely rude to look other people directly in the eye.

Someone might just be timid or nervous and feel uncomfortable making so much eye contact.

 

[calnation]

No one wants to listien to a studdering doctor especially when they are sick.

Its understandable to reject someone if their English is so mangled that its difficut to make out what they are trying to say

What if someone is just extremely ugly. I'm talking about someone has the appearence of a gremlin. Would that pose any problem to adcoms. I mean they might potentially scare patients. I know this may be vain but given two doctors with equal skill, I'd take the better looking one.

I'm getting a feeling of deja vu from this thread. Somebody posted something like this once and it turned into a giant troll orgy.

 

[bnleong]

I'm getting a feeling of deja vu from this thread. Somebody posted something like this once and it turned into a giant troll orgy.

Harsh as it may sound but I think most people would agree with me.

If I just had surgery, the last person I would want to hear from is a studdering doctor. Its very annoying. Or even worse a doctor that I can't understand.

Everything I'm saying here has some relevance to the admissions process.

 

[MrBurns10]

But then again that is bias as well. Direct eye contact is a product of a cultural/sociological phenomenon. People in certain cultures find it extremely rude to look other people directly in the eye.

Someone might just be timid or nervous and feel uncomfortable making so much eye contact.

My point is that there are factors like this that can affect your chances of getting into med school. Ranging from things that you can't control like how you look to things that are ingrained in your behavior and mannerisms.

Agreed that degree of eye contact can be a somewhat cultural thing, as can handshakes and the like (e.g. married Orthodox Jews of the opposite sex). I'm totally fine with that, to a certain extent. But if someone is incapable of making eye contact, is impolite, etc, I definitely wouldn't get as good of an impression of them. If you're hoping to practice western medicine in a society where eye contact is not only seen as appropriate but necessary, you have to adjust somewhat. And if someone is just "too timid or uncomfortable" making eye contact, that's something they're going to have to work on. You don't have to be a stand-up comic or anything, but I would have to get the impression you wouldn't pass out at the prospect of meeting new people or, Heaven forbid, a patient. You could call this bias but we may just have to disagree on that, I guess.

 

[BlueElmo]

Is the speaking problem really a big deal? I can speak well around friends or in informal situations. But when I'm in a high pressure situation like in interviews or public speaking, I'm not totally smooth. I don't stutter but I tend to use "umm", "like", "so", "you know" etc quite liberally. Do you think this is okay?

 

[MrBurns10]

Is the speaking problem really a big deal? I can speak well around friends or in informal situations. But when I'm in a high pressure situation like in interviews or public speaking, I'm not totally smooth. I don't stutter but I tend to use "umm", "like", "so", "you know" etc quite liberally. Do you think this is okay?

It depends what "quite liberally" means. Sometimes is totally fine, but every other word is distracting and probably wouldn't help. I had a friend in college who was told she needed to change that about her speaking by our premed advisor, and I thought it was great advice. I don't think it's something that would kill your chances, but I would make every effort to work on it before interviews so you don't even have to worry about its possible effect on your application.

 

[bnleong]

Is the speaking problem really a big deal? I can speak well around friends or in informal situations. But when I'm in a high pressure situation like in interviews or public speaking, I'm not totally smooth. I don't stutter but I tend to use "umm", "like", "so", "you know" etc quite liberally. Do you think this is okay?

Hey I tend to do that too. It probably won't be such of a problem but its definitely better if you can avoid it.

The best interviews usually happen when you are completely relaxed and carefree. Its really something that we both can work on. Just keep practicing it.

Theres these interview clinics at my school where I can get a chance to work on some interview skills. If you don't have these at your school, you could just try interviewing for jobs or just practicing with friends.

 

[235009]

i bet interviewers would have a bias against someone with voice modulation disorder

 

[dw2158]

I'm talking about someone has the appearence of a gremlin. Would that pose any problem to adcoms. I mean they might potentially scare patients.

No one wants to listien to a studdering doctor especially when they are sick.

If I just had surgery, the last person I would want to hear from is a studdering doctor. Its very annoying. Or even worse a doctor that I can't understand.

Everything I'm saying here has some relevance to the admissions process.

am i the only one who's unsure of what a studder is? 😛

fat people...

seriously.

Aha I just thought of another one. How about etiquette. People with very good manners seem to be more well respected.

i wonder why this could be???

Is the speaking problem really a big deal? I can speak well around friends or in informal situations. But when I'm in a high pressure situation like in interviews or public speaking, I'm not totally smooth. I don't stutter but I tend to use "umm", "like", "so", "you know" etc quite liberally. Do you think this is okay?

stand in front of the mirror and answer some med school interview-type questions out loud. speak slowly and clearly and be very conscious of not saying "like," "you know," etc. practice not saying it around your friends as well. i've been working on this for years... i really do believe it's quite important. you will sound more intelligent without that stuff (a bit of it is normal though, and will make you appear less robotic). good luck!

jeez. this thread gave me a good laugh. thanks, OP.

 

[BlueElmo]

am i the only one who's unsure of what a studder is? 😛



seriously.



i wonder why this could be???



stand in front of the mirror and answer some med school interview-type questions out loud. speak slowly and clearly and be very conscious of not saying "like," "you know," etc. practice not saying it around your friends as well. i've been working on this for years... i really do believe it's quite important. you will sound more intelligent without that stuff (a bit of it is normal though, and will make you appear less robotic). good luck!

jeez. this thread gave me a good laugh. thanks, OP.

I do practice in front of mirrors and friends, but I do fine then. It's just when I'm interviewing for important jobs or positions or speaking in public. It's just different when there are people you've never seen before in front of you. Maybe it's nerves. Do you recommend beta blockers?

 

[Handy388]

But then again that is bias as well. Direct eye contact is a product of a cultural/sociological phenomenon. People in certain cultures find it extremely rude to look other people directly in the eye.

I came from a culture where it's rude to look into the eyes of others, but I came to America, and I was expected to adapt to the local culture, and I did.

Physician is a field of professional service, and must adhere to the local cultural standards. I feel that there is nothing wrong with dinging an applicant for not being sensitive to the local culture.

 

[dw2158]

I do practice in front of mirrors and friends, but I do fine then. It's just when I'm interviewing for important jobs or positions or speaking in public. It's just different when there are people you've never seen before in front of you. Maybe it's nerves. Do you recommend beta blockers?

yeah i feel you. i haven't had such great luck with beta blockers. i think the main reason i'm less nervous for interviewing is because i did a mock med school interview recently and i'll do another closer to interview season. the mock helped me a lot 👍

 

[bnleong]

am i the only one who's unsure of what a studder is? 😛



seriously.



i wonder why this could be???



stand in front of the mirror and answer some med school interview-type questions out loud. speak slowly and clearly and be very conscious of not saying "like," "you know," etc. practice not saying it around your friends as well. i've been working on this for years... i really do believe it's quite important. you will sound more intelligent without that stuff (a bit of it is normal though, and will make you appear less robotic). good luck!

jeez. this thread gave me a good laugh. thanks, OP.

I can understand your confusin about "studder" because its actually spelled stutter!!! lol. I was looking it up on youtube.

If your still confused here is a dramatic case of stuttering!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2k-Ir4B0gg

 

[dw2158]

I can understand your confusin about "studder" because its actually spelled stutter!!! lol. I was looking it up on youtube.

If your still confused here is a dramatic case of stuttering!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2k-Ir4B0gg

oh dear lord. i know what a stutter is. i was poking fun at you.

 

[WashMe]

Ok I'm here to talk about biases that everyone may have including adcoms.

I think that these factors would certainly affect admissions chances and I'm not talking about stats.

Here are a few I could think of.

Speech Ipediments: I know a few people that speak with a studder and its downright annoying. There are really smart kids out there with that just can't help it. I just feel bad for them because adcoms might dismiss them just because of this.
No one wants to listien to a studdering doctor especially when they are sick.

Foreign Accent: Its understandable to reject someone if their English is so mangled that its difficut to make out what they are trying to say. But what if they are truly dedicated to medicine. I know a few people who speak quite clearly but extremely slowly. Would this pose a problem at interviews or maybe later on in their career.

Looks: What if someone is just extremely ugly. I'm talking about someone has the appearence of a gremlin. Would that pose any problem to adcoms. I mean they might potentially scare patients. I know this may be vain but given two doctors with equal skill, I'd take the better looking one.

Now I can reverse all of these and see them as potential benefits.
For instance someone that is very well spoken. Has a clear and professional TV sounding voice.
Or someone that is very tall and good looking.

If you think of any other factors please post them here.

THanks

I stutter occasionally, only on the first phoneme of certain words (dang "ch" and and soft "h" sounds... and sometimes "t" or "d") I also tend to talk pretty fast. Maybe that's why I didn't get in anywhere despite 5 interviews.

Note to self: talk like Forest Gump next year.