Asking interviewer what their ideal candidate looks like?

[SchwiftyMD]

Is asking "what does your ideal candidate look like?" to your med school interviewers alright? Asking because candidates often ask this question during job interviews, but am unsure if this pushes some boundaries for medical schools

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[WedgeDawg]

Honestly could I see it being more useful as a residency interview question than as a medical school interview one because medical school classes are so diverse and the acceptance rates individually so low that 1) there is no good answer 2) whatever the answer is won't be useful to you and 3) you won't look good for asking the question which eliminates pretty much any advantage of asking the question in the first place.

The question can be useful when applying for a job because there likely is an ideal candidate. This cannot be said at all for medical school candidates.

 

[jarednogeek]

Don’t ask that. It will have no value to you and differ based on the person. Won’t look good and may look bad.

 

[OchemOficionado]

Boring question. Back to the drawing board.

 

[DameJulie]

I know where you're coming from this, and I personally would want to ask this too at an interview. However, if you ask that, you either are going to get a generic answer like "someone who fit our mission" or giving the impression that you aren't aware of the school's selection factors (which is usually on their website).

 

[Goro]

Is asking "what does your ideal candidate look like?" to your med school interviewers alright? Asking because candidates often ask this question during job interviews, but am unsure if this pushes some boundaries for medical schools

My answer would be "someone who will make a good student and a good doctor".

It's not a question that's going to help you at all.

 

[Justabronco]

It works better for residency interviews since sometimes there are more defining traits/characteristics that the program values more than others, which means you can turn around and talk about what makes you fit those things the interviewer mentioned. And also helps you to assess whether you might be a good fit for that residency program (e.g. a program that values research vs one that doesn't).

But every med school is pretty much the same and that question becomes worthless

 

[aldol16]

There's no one ideal candidate profile so you're not going to get much of an answer. If you ask this at the beginning of an interview, it'll just seem like you're trying to conform yourself to whatever it is they tell you. If you ask at the end, it doesn't really help you and only serves to satisfy your curiosity. There must be other things you want to know about the school.

 

[Angus Avagadro]

I dont often assume, but I will assume what characteristics do interviewers like to see? I like to see real world experience, either non-trad, or military. A sports or musician/ arts backround. They usually have the Grit to get through the pre clinical grind and the life skills to excel in the clinical rotations. They understand the sacrifices necessary and are willing to make them. As I said, these are characteristics I LIKE, and this is not an inclusive list. All the other pre req items are to be included.These students rarely appear in the " usual suspects" crowd who end up with Red Flags, course or board failire, for residency applications.

 

[SchwiftyMD]

Thanks for all the input! I definitely won't be asking this question.

 

[getdown]

Will you be ready when the answer is the complete opposite of you?