average interview-but still got in?

[Infinitydrop]

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Anyone had a decent, but not good interview/ bad interview but still got in anyways?

 

[lrkoehle]

Its really hard to tell from the interviewee's point of view. I felt like I did bad at my Iowa interview, but that was my first acceptance...so I guess I wouldn't say I did THAT bad. Maybe I just was being hard on myself after the interview because the week prior to that interview I got put on hold two places and waitlisted at another. I probably was just being hard on myself, but I still realistically thought it was a bad interview. After getting accepted, I would have to say maybe it was a good interview.

Overall, I would have to say no you cannot get in with a bad interview, BUT we as interviewees have absolutely no way of knowing if we in fact had a "bad" interview, unless you vomit on your interviewer due to nerves. It all comes down to what the interviewer thinks of your interview, and matters not what we think. The best approach is to just do your best, and not stress about the interview after it is done. Its not like you can change your interview afterwards anyways.

 

[willen101383]

I had what I thought was a horrible interview last year and still was accepted. I was drilled on clinical lab stuff (because thats where ive worked since graduation im sure you know from other posts). Like nit picky stuff like reference ranges and what not! He never gave any feedback on answers so I was totally unsure of how things went.

 

[osumc2014]

I'd say most people with great stats and ecs with decent interviews get in, it's interesting to hear how many people before the process occurs says how numbers don't matter THAT much and blah blah blah, but realizing after the whole process that numbers still mean a ton! If anything it sure as heck would make things easier!

 

[Curlyfriez12]

Definitely... I interviewed in October 2009 at UTSW, and after the interview I had given up all hope. There was no way they were going to accept me after that shameful encounter I thought. But guess what... UTSW was the first school to accept me.

 

[TooMuchResearch]

Anyone had a decent, but not good interview/ bad interview but still got in anyways?

Yes. I thought my interview went quite adequately (and walked out with that "huh" feeling), but I still got in.

 

[RevMD]

Its really hard to tell from the interviewee's point of view. I felt like I did bad at my Iowa interview, but that was my first acceptance...so I guess I wouldn't say I did THAT bad. Maybe I just was being hard on myself after the interview because the week prior to that interview I got put on hold two places and waitlisted at another. I probably was just being hard on myself, but I still realistically thought it was a bad interview. After getting accepted, I would have to say maybe it was a good interview.

Overall, I would have to say no you cannot get in with a bad interview, BUT we as interviewees have absolutely no way of knowing if we in fact had a "bad" interview, unless you vomit on your interviewer due to nerves. It all comes down to what the interviewer thinks of your interview, and matters not what we think. The best approach is to just do your best, and not stress about the interview after it is done. Its not like you can change your interview afterwards anyways.

👍👍

 

[erica1987]

I think I flunked my interview but who cares- Go Class of 2015!!!

 

[taciturngirl]

Anyone had a decent, but not good interview/ bad interview but still got in anyways?

I have had interviews that I seriously thought i bombed - to the point that I went to my undergrad pre-med center for a remedial mock interview - but I'm still 3/3 for post-interview acceptances. Still have to hear back on 5 interviews, though, and have 3 more interviews coming up...so who knows if my mediocre skills will continue to pull me through. anyway, the point is that a mediocre interview is not an application killer, and there are lots of factors that go into post-interview offers.

Haha, infinitydrop, sorry, I'm kind of following you on the threads since we're both waiting on Pitt decisions this morning, and misery loves company 😛 hope it's not too creepy.

 

[Infinitydrop]

I have had interviews that I seriously thought i bombed - to the point that I went to my undergrad pre-med center for a remedial mock interview - but I'm still 3/3 for post-interview acceptances. Still have to hear back on 5 interviews, though, and have 3 more interviews coming up...so who knows if my mediocre skills will continue to pull me through. anyway, the point is that a mediocre interview is not an application killer, and there are lots of factors that go into post-interview offers.

Haha, infinitydrop, sorry, I'm kind of following you on the threads since we're both waiting on Pitt decisions this morning, and misery loves company 😛 hope it's not too creepy.

lol. I also have a job where I spend the morning on my computer.

 

[dw2158]

my acceptances:
1. one great interview, one meh interview
2. one great interview
3. one okay interview, one interview so short i couldn't say anything
4. one weird interview

#3 was my top choice school. i think what saved me was (1) the rest of my app, and (2) the fact that i straight up told both of my interviewers that the school was at the top of my list

schools i'm waiting on:
5. one good interview
6. one great interview (M4), one okay/bad interview (faculty)
7. one weird interview, one interview so short i couldn't say anything

so, to sum up... no way to to know! though i'm pretty sure that second interview at #6 will sink me 'cause my stats are below their average anyway 🙁

 

[BBender716]

Its really hard to tell from the interviewee's point of view. I felt like I did bad at my Iowa interview, but that was my first acceptance...so I guess I wouldn't say I did THAT bad. Maybe I just was being hard on myself after the interview because the week prior to that interview I got put on hold two places and waitlisted at another. I probably was just being hard on myself, but I still realistically thought it was a bad interview. After getting accepted, I would have to say maybe it was a good interview.

Overall, I would have to say no you cannot get in with a bad interview, BUT we as interviewees have absolutely no way of knowing if we in fact had a "bad" interview, unless you vomit on your interviewer due to nerves. It all comes down to what the interviewer thinks of your interview, and matters not what we think. The best approach is to just do your best, and not stress about the interview after it is done. Its not like you can change your interview afterwards anyways.

Same here with regards to Iowa. It was definitely my "worst feeling" interview. Then again, I think that partially has to do with Iowa's interview structure, but that's a different topic.

This thread seems to recall a debate that happened earlier in the cycle: "how important is the interview?" And there were two camps: a) interview is huge, definitely make or break, b) interview is another part of the application that is factored in.

I used to be in the former camp, but now I that I have actually interviewed at places and heard back, I think that a "bad" interview in the eyes of the interviewer (thanks Irk!), can BREAK your app, but a super interview will not solely get you in.

The two places where I've interviewed where my stats are decently below their average are the exact two places that I've received comments directly following the interviews that said "this was the most interesting interview I've had all season, that was absolutely fantastic!" and the other, "Well, we're supposed to report to the adcom with our feedback about the interview and well, I just want to let you know that I will do everything I can to get you in here. You definitely have the highest recommendation I can give." Almost verbatim for both.

Waitlist and "hold" (waitlist, practically), respectively.

Not bitter at all because I've since had success and feel extremely fortunate and blessed with the results from the cycle. I just want to make sure I share my experiences so that future interviewees understand that you just need to have a "good" interview and be a real person who can hold a relaxed (but still serious) conversation.

Best of luck to those who still have 'em and 2015ers who will have them next year! 🙂

 

[Infinitydrop]

curious, extacly what skills did you employ to recieve such positive response from your interviewers? The best thing I have been told is " you seem like a good kid, good luck"