Yep. This. I just straight up tell people I often have unrealistic expectations of people. It doesn't mean I'm a complete jerk, but I can be and I try really hard not to be. Most importantly I am USUALLY able to recognize when this weakness comes through, and when it does how to improve and prevent it.
For me I'm going to talk about the lack of self confidence that I've been working on since I was younger. I had some severe educational hurdles to overcome (special education classes in high school). I think the fact that I'm taking a chance and applying to medical school shows that I'm making good progress.
Don't make it a complete rehash or verbal regurgitation of your CV, but it is perfectly fine to use examples mentioned in your application. I would hope that an applicant's interview answer to "why medicine" is consistent/recognizable with what's written in the application. Keep in mind that you are invited to interview based on your application - if we didn't like what you wrote, you would not have been invited! Avoid the urge to pander to the school (e.g. saying research is your life at research-heavy schools if your application's theme was about something else).
Thanks. I've received a lot of conflicting information from med school adcoms at application info sessions, saying that they already have my application and have read it and want the interview to bring something new to the table, not a summary of the PS and CV. The strategy you mentioned seems the best way to compromise.
Sounds OK, but I strongly urge SDNers to avoid answering this question with anything that sounds like a positive (Like, "my greatness weakness is that I care too much"...OR, "I'm detail oriented"). A positive trait is NOT a weakness.
Sometimes I find it helpful to put the proposed weakness up against the seven deadly sins:
Ok, I think that might be a little overboard. I would not want to describe myself as any of those in an interview lol
It can go both ways. I would ask for an example
I guess it most likely comes from playing competitive sports, but extends to academics and pick-up games. Basically putting a lot of pressure on myself to ensure that my team/group and I are performing at a high level. This can sometimes lead to what some would say is unnecessary stress. But it’s eustress, not distress in most instances.
I understand not trying to do the classic interview answer of putting too much of a strength as a weakness. it was more of a honest approach of something that has affected me and supporting it with an example. It is something that I will struggle with as I take on the responsibility of caring for the ill.
I see why the qualities you listed should be talked about but 2 of those can be actively worked on. I see a weakness as something that someone will continue to struggle with even if they are able to identify it?
weak·ness
I think that the latter two can be worked on. If they couldn’t, I don’t think CBT/DBT would exist
If I am reading this correctly, your proposed greatest weakness as a human being is that competition typically causes you to experience eustress.
It’s just an answer that could be seen as a positive or a negative trait. Personally, I see it more as a positive thing. But others might see it as a negative.
No, thus far it's a positive trait masquerading as a... positive trait.
If you don't mind my suggesting something that you have probably already given a lot of thought to, have you considered exploring what led to your red flag? That is undoubtedly by far your greatest weakness.
It's a positive.
The one thing I would wonder, though, is whether the interviewer would even know of the applicant's misdemeanor (if it is closed file). In that case, bringing it might lead to more issues. Idk what's the right choice, just bringing up that thought.
Is that even relevant? It is a required disclosure, and it has been disclosed, so it will be before the adcom when it is deciding what to do. What "more issues" are there to raise?
Just be yourself. Sure, try to be a friendly, positive version of yourself. But the last thing you want to be thinking about and concerned with in the middle of the interview is if you are smiling enough or if you said "um". Be kind to yourself and just focus on what's important (the actual interview).
That's great, but ignores the unique power dynamic here. This isn't a job where you might be the perfect candidate, and where your evasion might be tolerated because they want/need your services.
This is definitely true. The dynamics of job interviews are so different because of many different external pressures in hiring. For example, I recently interviewed for a CRC job I am not fully qualified for. I received word I was accepted today, and at a noticeably higher pay scale than I should have been.
