Adcoms. What are the worst/most shocking questions applicants have asked during interviews?

[DJChemmyChem]

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@Goro
@gonnif
@LizzyM
@Moko

 

[Goro]

I don't remember the exact wording, but the candidate asked something that implied she would be a failing student, so how could we help her.

One doesn't approach med school with the idea that you're going to fail.

Offhand, I can't think of anything else.

 

[Kamill]

If you don’t mind answering again, what’s the best question you remember then?


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[Goro]

If you don’t mind answering again, what’s the best question you remember then?


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

They all gel

 

[TravelingMedicine]

would it be a bad idea to ask the interviewers what went well/ what did not go well in the interview? I want to ask it so I can better prepare for following interviews.

 

[Goro]

would it be a bad idea to ask the interviewers what went well/ what did not go well in the interview? I want to ask it so I can better prepare for following interviews.

Nope. It's not our job to give you feedback, and more importantly, not say anything that could get us sued.

 

[deleted1011020]

would it be a bad idea to ask the interviewers what went well/ what did not go well in the interview? I want to ask it so I can better prepare for following interviews.

+1 wondering this as well.

 

[TravelingMedicine]

Nope. It's not our job to give you feedback, and more importantly, not say anything that could get us sued.

nope as in not a good idea to ask or nope as in it is acceptable to ask. I realized my question is worded funny so I am just asking for clarification.

 

[deleted1011020]

nope as in not a good idea to ask or nope as in it is acceptable to ask. I realized my question is worded funny so I am just asking for clarification.

No its not a good idea and puts the interviewer in a bad position.

 

[TravelingMedicine]

copy.

 

[Goro]

nope as in not a good idea to ask or nope as in it is acceptable to ask. I realized my question is worded funny so I am just asking for clarification.

Nope as in both.

 

[LizzyM]

I wasn't asked this but a colleague was asked if she had been saved and if she hadn't been, then she was not going to understand the applicant.

 

[Goro]

On second thought, I did remember one egregious example.

In a panel interview format, this hyperacheiver asked if she could answer the question asked of someone else.

 

[Moko]

"So umm.. what questions do other people usually ask?"
"Will your school match (insert merit scholarship from XYZ)?" (this was asked during the interview by a fairly unremarkable applicant)

 

[deleted1011020]

I wasn't asked this but a colleague was asked if she had been saved and if she hadn't been, then she was not going to understand the applicant.

Saved as in... religiously?

 

[Kardio]

I wasn't asked this but a colleague was asked if she had been saved and if she hadn't been, then she was not going to understand the applicant.

In a panel interview format, this hyperacheiver asked if she could answer the question asked of someone else.

"So umm.. what questions do other people usually ask?"
"Will your school match (insert merit scholarship from XYZ)?" (this was asked during the interview by a fairly unremarkable applicant)

😵

 

[Dr. Faust]

Saved as in... religiously?

No. She was inquiring about a Costco membership.

 

[Dr. Faust]

I wasn't asked this but a colleague was asked if she had been saved and if she hadn't been, then she was not going to understand the applicant.

Other than Loma Linda, she will need to be praying for an acceptance.

 

[LizzyM]

Saved as in... religiously?

Yes, as in "by the blood of Christ Jesus". She (the interviewer) hadn't, he (the applicant) couldn't be understood and consequently, you can guess the rest of the story.

 

[907914]

Not an ADCOM but I just kept going and going about how much I love the outdoors and mountains when I was at a school in the middle of downtown big city midwest.....

 

[deleted1011020]

No. She was inquiring about a Costco membership.

Sorry for my ignorance. Not really a term I hear too often and wanted to make sure someone had the gall to do that in an interview.

 

[Detective SnowBucket]

would it be a bad idea to ask the interviewers what went well/ what did not go well in the interview? I want to ask it so I can better prepare for following interviews.

I'd ask what you could do to improve your app between the interview and acceptance (if they take updates). They won't tell you about the interview itself, but they can point out holes in your app.

 

[deleted972488]

Not an ADCOM but I just kept going and going about how much I love the outdoors and mountains when I was at a school in the middle of downtown big city midwest.....

Given your success at that school, this gives me hope because I did something similar. I also like hiking/camping and realized I was talking about that at a school that doesn’t have opportunities for those activities nearby.

 

[907914]

Given your success at that school, this gives me hope because I did something similar. I also like hiking/camping and realized I was talking about that at a school that doesn’t have opportunities for those activities nearby.

Lol once I got to “My Jeep has a roof top tent” she was wide eyed like “Wow you REALLY like the outdoors” but the eyes said *shut up now* so I stopped lol

Edit: still open to school selection due to potential for outdoor activities being available in other geographic locations just in case an adcom from some schools like Stanford, NYU, or Penn are reading… Just in case

 

[Kardio]

the eyes said *shut up now* so I stopped lol

The amount of times I’ve had this experience...

 

[DJChemmyChem]

Lol once I got to “My Jeep has a roof top tent” she was wide eyed like “Wow you REALLY like the outdoors” but the eyes said *shut up now* so I stopped lol

Edit: still open to school selection due to potential for outdoor activities being available in other geographic locations just in case an adcom from some schools like Stanford, NYU, or Penn are reading… Just in case

But the real question is did you get the A after that???

 

[deleted972488]

But the real question is did you get the A after that???

Yeah, he got a full scholarship to that school...

 

[datboi_58]

I don't remember the exact wording, but the candidate asked something that implied she would be a failing student, so how could we help her.

One doesn't approach med school with the idea that you're going to fail.

Offhand, I can't think of anything else.

To be fair to them, AAMC has a list of questions to ask and one of them is “How do students get assistance if an academic need arises”

 

[907914]

To be fair to them, AAMC has a list of questions to ask and one of them is “How do students get assistance if an academic need arises”

I think their intent may have been of this nature, but one should say “If a student needs help..” not “Imma need help...”

 

[Goro]

To be fair to them, AAMC has a list of questions to ask and one of them is “How do students get assistance if an academic need arises”

The candidate asked something far more drastic, and not as realistic.

 

[Goro]

I'd ask what you could do to improve your app between the interview and acceptance (if they take updates). They won't tell you about the interview itself, but they can point out holes in your app.

Again, it's not our job to do that.

 

[Detective SnowBucket]

Again, it's not our job to do that.

Not at all, but I'm glad I asked that twice, they said roughly the same thing. Lets you know where your weak spot is. Also asked one other interviewer and he said he wouldn't tell me

 

[Aktak]

They all gel

Adcom: So Aktak, do you have any questions for us?
Aktak: They all gel?
Adcom: Huh?
Aktak: Goro said it was a great question! Lemme in!

 

[Goro]

Adcom: So Aktak, do you have any questions for us?
Aktak: They all gel?
Adcom: Huh?
Aktak: Goro said it was a great question! Lemme in!

*ahem*

• Goro's Guide to YOUR Interview Questions (2018 edition)

 

[Angus Avagadro]

Most memorable was the one whose Mom wanted to sit in on the interview. You cant make this stuff up.

 

[Detective SnowBucket]

Just going to reiterate, as someone who interviewed applicants at my med school, that this/similar questions are bad questions to ask in an interview. It puts the interviewer on the spot, makes them focus on your negative qualities instead of the positive ones, implies that you don't have the insight to recognize your own weaknesses, and sets you up to argue with the interviewer ("well actually, that's not really a weakness of mine because...").

Guess I'm not too concerned since 2 that I asked ended up rating my very highly and accepted me asap after oct 15...
If I were a student interviewer I would like to see an applicant ask this; its good to know they're interested in continually improving and aren't going to just throw it all in the air once they get in/interview.
Also, don't argue with the interviewer but they won't be on the spot if they've reviewed your file. If its closed, its closed.

 

[deleted1011020]

Most memorable was the one whose Mom wanted to sit in on the interview. You cant make this stuff up.

how are people like this interviewing and I cant get a II looool

 

[and 99 others]

how are people like this interviewing and I cant get a II looool

Thats because you didn't get your mom to write you a LOR. Rookie mistake

 

[Goro]

Thats because you didn't get your mom to write you a LOR. Rookie mistake

I had a candidate who was a middle aged mom. She had her ~13 year old son write a LOR for her. Her logic was because she was a good mom, she'd be a good doctor. You can imagine how well that went over.

 

[907914]

I had a candidate who was a middle aged mom. She had her ~13 year old son write a LOR for her. Her logic was because she was a good mom, she'd be a good doctor. You can imagine how well that went over.

If you saw a cute letter like that in the middle of a bunch of actually good letters, would it be endearing or still just portray poor judgement?

 

[and 99 others]

If you saw a cute letter like that in the middle of a bunch of actually good letters, would it be endearing or still just portray poor judgement?

No, Memelord, do not have your daughter write a letter for you when you're applying for residency.

 

[deleted1011020]

I had a candidate who was a middle aged mom. She had her ~13 year old son write a LOR for her. Her logic was because she was a good mom, she'd be a good doctor. You can imagine how well that went over.

that poor kid probably thought "I better write this or shell never feed me again" LOL

 

[907914]

No, Memelord, do not have your daughter write a letter for you when you're applying for residency.

Nah I would never lol just curious how it could work out for our less informed nontrads.

On a slightly related note, my daughter just learned how to write her name and her alphabet trace book is filled to the brim which means that she is practicing her writing all on her own in her free time which is just absolutely fantastic lol

sorry, random aside from a proud father. Continue with bad interview questions

 

[Aktak]

Nah I would never lol just curious how it could work out for our less informed nontrads.

On a slightly related note, my daughter just learned how to write her name and her alphabet trace book is filled to the brim which means that she is practicing her writing all on her own in her free time which is just absolutely fantastic lol

sorry, random aside from a proud father. Continue with bad interview questions

Lol I’m a few years in front of you, so my little girl was with me most of the time I was studying for MCAT. I was cleaning up the other day and came across a notebook where she had written a bunch of metabolic pathways in crayon. #ProudPapas

 

[907914]

Lol I’m a few years in front of you, so my little girl was with me most of the time I was studying for MCAT. I was cleaning up the other day and came across a notebook where she had written a bunch of metabolic pathways in crayon. #ProudPapas

That is funny how they just absorb things like a sponge.

My OChem prof’s son is in my daughter’s class, so we always get to chatting and Apparently his son learned all of the shapes as “Cyclobutane” “cyclohexane” etc. as opposed to like...square, triangle etc. lol

Ok, sorry. Done derailing. Kids are smart, kids are awesome. Let’s get back to stupid interview questions.

 

[and 99 others]

Lol I’m a few years in front of you, so my little girl was with me most of the time I was studying for MCAT. I was cleaning up the other day and came across a notebook where she had written a bunch of metabolic pathways in crayon. #ProudPapas

Oh my GOD this is so wholesome. Almost makes me want to be a dad.



Almost.

 

[Aktak]

That is funny how they just absorb things like a sponge.

My OChem prof’s son is in my daughter’s class, so we always get to chatting and Apparently his son learned all of the shapes as “Cyclobutane” “cyclohexane” etc. as opposed to like...square, triangle etc. lol

Ok, sorry. Done derailing. Kids are smart, kids are awesome. Let’s get back to stupid interview questions.

Well, I suppose I should have one last derailing comment, as well. This one is colored pencil (she’s 7). One thing I’ve learned from going through this at my age is that all the work I’ve put in has definitely inspired the next generation! If nothing else, that’s something I’m proud of 🙂

 

[907914]

Getting accepted doesn't mean you did everything right in the interview or that your question didn't rub someone the wrong way. I WAS a student interviewer, and this type of question from applicants left a bad taste in my mouth. Even with good intentions it rarely comes off well.

And I didn't mean putting the interviewer on the spot in terms of whether they've read your application - you're basically forcing them to say something negative about you/your application to your face. We generally try to avoid that and many folks in the pre-med population don't respond well to criticism.

I'm not saying you're a bad person or a bad future med student/doctor because you asked a question that generally does not come off well in interviews. It's just some feedback that may help you (and others who read this) in the future. Take it or leave it.

I had to click like 5 different quotes to see what the original question was. Y’all using “this” and “that” too much. Makes snooping harder.

 

[Aktak]

I had to click like 5 different quotes to see what the original question was. Y’all using “this” and “that” too much. Makes snooping harder.

What does this mean in regard to that?

 

[deleted1011020]

If you saw a cute letter like that in the middle of a bunch of actually good letters, would it be endearing or still just portray poor judgement?

I actually thought it would have been endearing too...I guess not.