Anybody ever act crazy in an interview.. on purpose?

  • Thread starter Thread starter 186321
  • Start date Start date
Med School Insiders
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
1

186321

Members do not see this ad.
Its just something I've always wanted to do for fun. Unfortunately, I haven't been accepted anywhere (maybe thats a sign) and haven't been able to. I think it would be great to be accepted to your #1, then go to another school's interview and just act completely and totally bizarre and see if you get in.

Like when they ask you "What do you think about health care?", you reply with "I don't know, what do you think?" or something like that. Of course you could get weirder and say you make statues out of baby carrots and tooth picks in your free time.

My buddy did it once with a job interview. When they asked him what his requested salary would be he said $80,000 and didn't crack a smile (It would be his first job after college).

I think it would be a great social experiment. I'm sure no one shares my love for social awkwardness..
 
cottenr said:
Its just something I've always wanted to do for fun. Unfortunately, I haven't been accepted anywhere (maybe thats a sign) and haven't been able to. I think it would be great to be accepted to your #1, then go to another school's interview and just act completely and totally bizarre and see if you get in.

Like when they ask you "What do you think about health care?", you reply with "I don't know, what do you think?" or something like that. Of course you could get weirder and say you make statues out of baby carrots and tooth picks in your free time.

My buddy did it once with a job interview. When they asked him what his requested salary would be he said $80,000 and didn't crack a smile (It would be his first job after college).

I think it would be a great social experiment. I'm sure no one shares my love for social awkwardness..
Click to expand...

I don't think anybody would purposely act bizarre at an interview, considering the expense of traveling and all. If someone is already accepted at their top choice, I think they wouldn't bother going to the others. They would just chill and relax.
 
I think that the pressure of getting into a medical school currently forces students to watch themselves to the point of seeming like a complete nervous wreck.

That and you don't ever know for sure if you're getting into a school and sometimes it's just too late to have fun, or too costly so one turns down the interview. Or they just don't go to the interview and instead offer it to someone who really wants to go to that school (which is what should be done, imo).
 
I suppose I should change my question to has anyone ever wanted to, not has anyone ever done it.

It was just floating around in my mind, and I'm bored so I thought I'd throw it out there.
 
cottenr said:
I suppose I should change my question to has anyone ever wanted to, not has anyone ever done it.

It was just floating around in my mind, and I'm bored so I thought I'd throw it out there.
Click to expand...


In a heartbeat. I would bring a hidden camera with me and start asking THEM questions.

"Why are you asking us to pay such an exorbitant fee for primaries AND secondaries?"

"So, what do YOU think about DO's?"

Wishful thinking...
 
When you go to an interview you are in part representing your undergraduate institution and the professors who wrote your LORs. Intentionally bombing the interview would be a slap in the face to those people who helped get you to the that stage. And you certainly wouldn't be doing any favors for the folks from your school that will be applying in the future.
 
Kaustikos said:
In a heartbeat. I would bring a hidden camera with me and start asking THEM questions.

"Why are you asking us to pay such an exorbitant fee for primaries AND secondaries?"

"So, what do YOU think about DO's?"

Wishful thinking...
Click to expand...
In one of my interviews, I actually had to come up with a question to ask my interviewer for every question he asked me. When I ran out of questions, the interview was over. Yeah, that was a quick rejection.
 
cottenr said:
Its just something I've always wanted to do for fun. Unfortunately, I haven't been accepted anywhere (maybe thats a sign) and haven't been able to. I think it would be great to be accepted to your #1, then go to another school's interview and just act completely and totally bizarre and see if you get in.

Like when they ask you "What do you think about health care?", you reply with "I don't know, what do you think?" or something like that. Of course you could get weirder and say you make statues out of baby carrots and tooth picks in your free time.

My buddy did it once with a job interview. When they asked him what his requested salary would be he said $80,000 and didn't crack a smile (It would be his first job after college).

I think it would be a great social experiment. I'm sure no one shares my love for social awkwardness..
Click to expand...

In this case I would have to be boring, and actually try for my interview. Otherwise, I would just feel like an a.s, a complete douchebag, and a fkchead for wasting an interview spot that someone else was seriously hoping/dreaming/fighting for. I'm all for clowning around, but not about something like that.
 
Kaustikos said:
"Why are you asking us to pay such an exorbitant fee for primaries AND secondaries?"
Click to expand...

you had to do it. my GW interview is friday and thats all i will be thinking about.
 
NJDIF said:
you had to do it. my GW interview is friday and thats all i will be thinking about.
Click to expand...


Only if the interview is already going downhill. Then you have to ask. You can put that on your resume/application as volunteer service for SDN. 👍:meanie:
 
Someone at one at my interviews showed up in a red corduroy dinner dinner jacket.And he was a couple of minutes late to the orientation so everyone saw him walk in.
It looked pretty sweet. I wish i had the nads to pull that.
 
I'd like to send a proxy like Ben Affleck in Good Will Hunting. Retainer!
 
The OP made me laugh. Did you like Borat?
 
when they ask "why aren't you applying to be a nurse instead? it's less schooling and less grueling, and you still get to interact with patients", i always want to say "well, why didn't you become a nurse, if you're saying being a nurse is so great?"
 
Ginzo said:
When you go to an interview you are in part representing your undergraduate institution and the professors who wrote your LORs. Intentionally bombing the interview would be a slap in the face to those people who helped get you to the that stage. And you certainly wouldn't be doing any favors for the folks from your school that will be applying in the future.
Click to expand...

This is a really good point 🙂
 
Oh, I think I would pull the old Kumar, from white castle.

"Could you hang on for a moment plz? (as phone rings)"
"Nothing important, what's up?"
"Dude, **** that ****, I've got an ounce of the best **** in town, and I am not smoking it alone..."

Do you honestly think that after the way you just behaved, I would even consider accepting your application?!

"No, actually the only reason I came here was so that my father would shut up"

But you have perfect MCAT scores!
"Yeah, just because you're hung like a moose doesn't mean you should do porn"

and on...and on...

Also, I sometimes have an urge to shake my manhood in the interviewer's face, just to see the expression.
 
i love awkward dialogues, i do plan to do this in the future.
 
TehDoc said:
i love awkward dialogues, i do plan to do this in the future.
Click to expand...


Ditto. I sometimes make it a priority to do it with certain people. I have been especially great at it after watching Arrested Development and seeing George Micheal (Michael Cera).👍
 
skinnylindsay said:
In one of my interviews, I actually had to come up with a question to ask my interviewer for every question he asked me. When I ran out of questions, the interview was over. Yeah, that was a quick rejection.
Click to expand...

Good lord, that's an interesting story...

Anyway, to a certain degree, I'm sure some interviewers would find it refreshing to have someone act different in some way. I mean, not like pulling your pants off and running around or anything, but you know maybe asking a tough or semi-taboo question of them. It would be risky, though, which is why no one does it.
 
I got into my top choice really early into the season, but I went through with all the other interviews in case I liked another school more. It was a lot of work, and I did all the research I needed to, but towards the end I took more liberties with my interviews. I would tell jokes, take more risks, etc. I wasn't making a mockery of the interview, but I didn't have the pressure to be perfect and I think the interviews actually came out better. I especially liked when my interviewer at AECOM asked what kind of doctor I wanted to be and I said "a good one." She loved it. But then I proceeded to actually answer the question. I don't think I'd ever act crazy, though.
 
Although I wouldn't call it "sabotaging" by interview, I was able to have fun with two schools.

Back when I applied I ended up with most of my interviews between september and november. By luck, I ended up getting accepted to my state school (which is top 10) in late october. Unfortunately, I was unable to assume I would get in this early and I had already. Both of these were great schools, but I knew I would choose my state school over them any day. However, since I had never been to these cities I decided to go to the interviews as a vacation. Since I had literally no pressure on me I ended up being very frank and also very comedic about my answers to questions. Oh, and I opted for the no-tie look too (just always felt that portrayed an image that wasn't me....but I still wore a suit)

All of the interviews (3 at one place, 2 at the other) ended up going really well. I kept the mood really light and I had 2 interviewers say that it was "refreshing" to interview me. Long story short, I heard back both of these schools within 2 weeks. A dean from one of the schools called me personally and said that the committee was really looking forward to having me join the class and said they would be contacting me again in the early spring to let me know what scholarships they can offer me. In fact the personal attention from this school was enough for me to keep them on my short list until the very end.

So...........I wasn't a d*&k in these interviews but I definitely didn't think politically about any of my answers and I went out of my way to make the interviewers laugh. I didn't BS ANY of my interviews, but I usually at least watered down some of my more strong opinions and did my best to portray a budding doctor.
 
HeadMed said:
Although I wouldn't call it "sabotaging" by interview, I was able to have fun with two schools.

Back when I applied I ended up with most of my interviews between september and november. By luck, I ended up getting accepted to my state school (which is top 10) in late october. Unfortunately, I was unable to assume I would get in this early and I had already. Both of these were great schools, but I knew I would choose my state school over them any day. However, since I had never been to these cities I decided to go to the interviews as a vacation. Since I had literally no pressure on me I ended up being very frank and also very comedic about my answers to questions. Oh, and I opted for the no-tie look too (just always felt that portrayed an image that wasn't me....but I still wore a suit)

All of the interviews (3 at one place, 2 at the other) ended up going really well. I kept the mood really light and I had 2 interviewers say that it was "refreshing" to interview me. Long story short, I heard back both of these schools within 2 weeks. A dean from one of the schools called me personally and said that the committee was really looking forward to having me join the class and said they would be contacting me again in the early spring to let me know what scholarships they can offer me. In fact the personal attention from this school was enough for me to keep them on my short list until the very end.

So...........I wasn't a d*&k in these interviews but I definitely didn't think politically about any of my answers and I went out of my way to make the interviewers laugh. I didn't BS ANY of my interviews, but I usually at least watered down some of my more strong opinions and did my best to portray a budding doctor.
Click to expand...

That just all comes with the severe decline in pressure from the acceptance. When I got my research position before one of my interviews this past fall I was a lot more relaxed and comfortable than the previous year. It does help when you don't feel the pressure, you can answer questions without that nagging worry that you might not get in. I wasn't as comfortable as you, as I wasn't accepted anywhere, but the job I had definately removed some weight from my back.

This also brings up another question: Is it better to wear no tie or a suit with tie that's not fully tightened?
 
I actually thought about this the other day. If by some bizarre mixup Harvard decided to give me an interview, I'd probably act like a lunatic just to see what happens. Who knows, maybe they would perceive it as diverse behavior? I know damn well that Harvard wouldn't give the real me a shot, so why not act as outlandish as possible and see what happens? I bet people have used this strategy before.
 
veaselhaufen said:
I actually thought about this the other day. If by some bizarre mixup Harvard decided to give me an interview, I'd probably act like a lunatic just to see what happens. Who knows, maybe they would perceive it as diverse behavior? I know damn well that Harvard wouldn't give the real me a shot, so why not act as outlandish as possible and see what happens? I bet people have used this strategy before.
Click to expand...
4.0/36. Dont sell yourself short.
 
etf said:
i'd go no tie. it makes it seem like you didn't want to wear a tie, as opposed to just being sloppy with the loose tie.
Click to expand...

My approach on attire: Look respectful while still maintaining the image you portray on a daily basis. For instance I wore shirts (and occasionally ties) that fit my style. I like cool patterns and colors. Also, I felt like buying shirts that I could reuse as 'clubbing' shirts (7 diamond, ben sherman, etc). I felt that I would look like a tool sporting the mormon elder look: white shirt, black tie, black suit (no offense to otherwise stylish mormon elders.....I have several mormon friends and this is a constant point of jest).

Also, I have been sporting the russel crowe scruff look for years now and I didn't feel like breaking out the razor for the interviews. It is all about how you carry yourself. For some people no tie and no shaving might make them look strung out, but I think it definitely depends on the person. I also don't think that I looked so casual that I was disrespectful. Incidentally I still dress like this seeing pt's in the hospital and NO ONE has ever made any comment about my not dressing appropriately.

I didn't want to stand out (like wearing a rainbow color shirt, and a mohawk), but I didn't want to seem fake because my personality doesn't jive with the super straight-laced look.
 
if i had an acceptance, i would go there and answer as such

Why do u wanna be a doc?
- good job stability, lots of money, and women

etc.
 
supernareg said:
if i had an acceptance, i would go there and answer as such

Why do u wanna be a doc?
- good job stability, lots of money, and women

etc.
Click to expand...

Prior to acceptance I answered:

good job stability, great compensation, and respect


......it is all semantics.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

G
Any Data on A's Post-Interview in Sept/Oct?
Replies
8
Views
681
Butalbusaur
Butalbusaur
I
Cancelling an interview without an acceptance?
Replies
4
Views
1K
LindaAccepted
LindaAccepted
Salem Dany
Purpose of asking about voting status in secondary application
Replies
3
Views
743
Med Ed
Med Ed
C
Is 7 days enough time to prep for an interview
Replies
18
Views
2K
sportsmed2233
S
C
  • Question Question
Do lower stat applicants get interviews later on in the cycle?
Replies
6
Views
3K
Rachapkis
Rachapkis
Top