Anyone match into a program where they thought they didn't do well on their interview?

[xjustcuious]

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Hi, was wondering if anyone ended up matching at a program where their interview didn't go super well. I had my first interview today and I felt like my performance was very mediocre. I don't think I did anything bad but I'm not sure how to even stand out. It was 30 min and with only 1 faculty member. Its crazy to me they are evaluating students just based on a 30 minute interaction and from the perspective of one interviewer.

 

[DOVinciRobot]

Hi, was wondering if anyone ended up matching at a program where their interview didn't go super well. I had my first interview today and I felt like my performance was very mediocre. I don't think I did anything bad but I'm not sure how to even stand out. It was 30 min and with only 1 faculty member. Its crazy to me they are evaluating students just based on a 30 minute interaction and from the perspective of one interviewer.

Reading between the lines their rank list will be largely app based and the interview more to see if you can hold a normal conversation.

 

[xjustcuious]

Reading between the lines their rank list will be largely app based and the interview more to see if you can hold a normal conversation.

Not sure if i should be relieved by this or not..i got an interview at this place really really late (like after all the dates were full, was lucky to see to get an opening) so definitely didnt meet the 1st wave

 

[DOVinciRobot]

Not sure if i should be relieved by this or not..i got an interview at this place really really late (like after all the dates were full, was lucky to see to get an opening) so definitely didnt meet the 1st wave

Eh I’m not sure timing of the interview matters. There are quite a few non-app related reasons they didn’t send you one the first round. I wouldn’t stress things that are out of your control

 

[BlueBleck]

I flubbed the IV where I matched. I also did my sub-i there and had the most awkward interaction with the PD. I asked for a meeting towards the end of the rotation and spent the meeting asking *really* stupid questions (i cannot stress how stupid they were. i was basically making an excuse to say hello) for like 15 mins as I walked with him to his office. He randomly walked into another doc's office and left me alone in the hall and I was like, "wtf." During the interview with the PD, he asked my weaker questions and I gave super generic canned responses. I also got IV'd by one of the residents that I think I got along with the least and did the worst with.

Hit it off with the APD during the rotation and the IV, so I think he pulled me through lol.

But one of my pet theories is that many programs have a pre-IV list/score (eg step1 + class rank + MSPE + LoR strength), and the IV doesn't budge the needle a tremendous amount. On paper, I was a good fit for the program. I didn't necessarily need to do much except to not come off as a psychopath, which is a bar that I think I met.

 

[xjustcuious]

I flubbed the IV where I matched. I also did my sub-i there and had the most awkward interaction with the PD. I asked for a meeting towards the end of the rotation and spent the meeting asking *really* stupid questions (i cannot stress how stupid they were. i was basically making an excuse to say hello) for like 15 mins as I walked with him to his office. He randomly walked into another doc's office and left me alone in the hall and I was like, "wtf." During the interview with the PD, he asked my weaker questions and I gave super generic canned responses. I also got IV'd by one of the residents that I think I got along with the least and did the worst with.

Hit it off with the APD during the rotation and the IV, so I think he pulled me through lol.

But one of my pet theories is that many programs have a pre-IV list/score (eg step1 + class rank + MSPE + LoR strength), and the IV doesn't budge the needle a tremendous amount. On paper, I was a good fit for the program. I didn't necessarily need to do much except to not come off as a psychopath, which is a bar that I think I met.

I worked with someone who use to be a chief resident at a low-mid tier academic program in Florida and they mention that for their program they have pre-interview and a post-interview scores....although this was pre-COVID so it might of been easier to evaluate someone in person

 

[DOVinciRobot]

I worked with someone who use to be a chief resident at a low-mid tier academic program in Florida and they mention that for their program they have pre-interview and a post-interview scores....although this was pre-COVID so it might of been easier to evaluate someone in person

Well yes, my program still does that. But the pre-interview score doesn’t go away after the interview, the post-interview score is just a small +/- in either direction from the pre-interview score most of the time.

 

[xjustcuious]

Well yes, my program still does that. But the pre-interview score doesn’t go away after the interview, the post-interview score is just a small +/- in either direction from the pre-interview score most of the time.

That a little disheartening, especially at places where I'm very surprised I got an iv at and don't think my stats are that competitive relative to others they are interviewing

 

[DOVinciRobot]

That a little disheartening, especially at places where I'm very surprised I got an iv at and don't think my stats are that competitive relative to others they are interviewing

I would compare more to the stats of the people they usually match, and not who they interview. Programs can interview all the 250+\multiple pub applicants they want, but that doesn’t necessarily reflect who they match.

 

[deleted1079620]

I would compare more to the stats of the people they usually match, and not who they interview. Programs can interview all the 250+\multiple pub applicants they want, but that doesn’t necessarily reflect who they match.

Where does one find this kind of information?

 

[deleted1100659]

you may have done better on the interview thank you think. Try not to over think it. I think if you're nice, approachable, show up on time and it seems like you want to be there, then thats something people notice.

 

[Osteosaur]

I wouldn't say interviews are "normal conversations". I've certainly had a few that came down to talking about hobbies and the area.

I've also just had them rattle off a bunch of behavioral interview questions and then "any questions for me?" It's hard for that to be conversational.

I think it's definitely hard to evaluate your performance. Like they have scoring rubrics and may be evaluating your answers across specific parameters not necessarily on whether you had awkward pauses.

 

[xjustcuious]

Is it a bad sign if the faculty or PD doesnt specificially say they hope that you will rank them high or that you are a very good fit for the program? my SO has gotten that response from many path program… but I havent gotten that at most of the IM programs I interviewed at

 

[DOVinciRobot]

Is it a bad sign if the faculty or PD doesnt specificially say they hope that you will rank them high or that you are a very good fit for the program? my SO has gotten that response from many path program… but I havent gotten that at most of the IM programs I interviewed at

No. Don’t overthink this process.

 

[xjustcuious]

No. Don’t overthink this process.

thanks

 

[Deecee2DO]

I would compare more to the stats of the people they usually match, and not who they interview. Programs can interview all the 250+\multiple pub applicants they want, but that doesn’t necessarily reflect who they match.

Do you know where one could find stats on matched applicants for specific programs?

 

[DOVinciRobot]

Do you know where one could find stats on matched applicants for specific programs?

Some programs have it on their website or share that info on interview day. Otherwise you have to get it from current residents.

 

[Deecee2DO]

Some programs have it on their website or share that info on interview day. Otherwise you have to get it from current residents.

Thanks!