awkward interview tours...

[CaliforniaAppli]

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Ever have an interview tour where no one is saying a thing?
Or when a tour guide cracks a joke but no one laughs?
How about when another interviewee says something and it is just silent afterwards.
Share your stories

 

[nadaba]

It seems like tours are usually a pretty somber thing

I can't stand it when there's 15 people on a tour and they sprawl out in the halls blocking everything. Isn't it common sense to stay on one side? 🙄

 

[docbrill]

It seems like tours are usually a pretty somber thing

I can't stand it when there's 15 people on a tour and they sprawl out in the halls blocking everything. Isn't it common sense to stay on one side? 🙄

Apparently not because I've seen it happen at almost all my interviews

 

[docbrill]

Ever have an interview tour where no one is saying a thing?
Or when a tour guide cracks a joke but no one laughs?
How about when another interviewee says something and it is just silent afterwards.
Share your stories

Personally, I haven't had an awkward situation during tours but would be curious about others' experiences...

 

[RookTookIt]

Personally, I haven't had an awkward situation during tours but would be curious about others' experiences...

I've had a couple of irritating ones. Not awkward, just annoying. The worst was when I was on a very small tour group and one of the applicants went to the school for UG, worked at the hospital, had one parent who was a physician there, and had one parent who was a researcher there. The guy himself was really awkward socially, but that didn't stop him from practically giving the tour himself. Any question that we tried to ask the tour guides he would jump in and answer. Also, he kept asking the tour guides all these questions that nobody else would ever care about like "remember when this used to be painted green, but then they changed it to blue and moved the coffee cart there?" And the tour guides would be like "umm, I think that was before I came here." It was driving me crazy.

 

[SellerAl]

I've had a couple of irritating ones. Not awkward, just annoying. The worst was when I was on a very small tour group and one of the applicants went to the school for UG, worked at the hospital, had one parent who was a physician there, and had one parent who was a researcher there. The guy himself was really awkward socially, but that didn't stop him from practically giving the tour himself. Any question that we tried to ask the tour guides he would jump in and answer. Also, he kept asking the tour guides all these questions that nobody else would ever care about like "remember when this used to be painted green, but then they changed it to blue and moved the coffee cart there?" And the tour guides would be like "umm, I think that was before I came here." It was driving me crazy.

pet peeve

 

[stick]

There was this really awkward person on mine named urban classic. Man i swear they might have had aspergers

 

[Ismet]

I've had a couple of irritating ones. Not awkward, just annoying. The worst was when I was on a very small tour group and one of the applicants went to the school for UG, worked at the hospital, had one parent who was a physician there, and had one parent who was a researcher there. The guy himself was really awkward socially, but that didn't stop him from practically giving the tour himself. Any question that we tried to ask the tour guides he would jump in and answer. Also, he kept asking the tour guides all these questions that nobody else would ever care about like "remember when this used to be painted green, but then they changed it to blue and moved the coffee cart there?" And the tour guides would be like "umm, I think that was before I came here." It was driving me crazy.

😱 Woah, that's obnoxious. I really didn't want to be "that person" when I was touring my UG's medical school, but whenever someone in the group would ask about the campus, the tour guide would field the question to me. Talk about awkward.

Probably my most irritating interview day/tour was with another applicant who would not stop talking about his interview at Yale. Every sentence out of his mouth included the word "Yale." Not only was he obviously bragging, it's also in very poor taste to rave about one school when you're at another school's interview.

 

[RookTookIt]

😱 Woah, that's obnoxious. I really didn't want to be "that person" when I was touring my UG's medical school, but whenever someone in the group would ask about the campus, the tour guide would field the question to me. Talk about awkward.

Probably my most irritating interview day/tour was with another applicant who would not stop talking about his interview at Yale. Every sentence out of his mouth included the word "Yale." Not only was he obviously bragging, it's also in very poor taste to rave about one school when you're at another school's interview.

Ha, substitute Hopkins for Yale and I had one of those too.

 

[Nymphicus]

😱 Woah, that's obnoxious. I really didn't want to be "that person" when I was touring my UG's medical school, but whenever someone in the group would ask about the campus, the tour guide would field the question to me. Talk about awkward.

Probably my most irritating interview day/tour was with another applicant who would not stop talking about his interview at Yale. Every sentence out of his mouth included the word "Yale." Not only was he obviously bragging, it's also in very poor taste to rave about one school when you're at another school's interview.

Jeez. Haven't had any of those. If anything people have been evasive.

 

[JasonicBoom]

😱 Woah, that's obnoxious. I really didn't want to be "that person" when I was touring my UG's medical school, but whenever someone in the group would ask about the campus, the tour guide would field the question to me. Talk about awkward.

Probably my most irritating interview day/tour was with another applicant who would not stop talking about his interview at Yale. Every sentence out of his mouth included the word "Yale." Not only was he obviously bragging, it's also in very poor taste to rave about one school when you're at another school's interview.

I must have met the same applicant on one of my interviews. On top of the Yale-centric small talk, he dominated the financial aid session and kept asking questions such as "if my parents are both doctors and can technically afford to pay for everything but won't, do I qualify for aid" and "if I'm holding substantial assets in my name, should I transfer them to my parents when applying for aid?"

 

[Ismet]

Jeez. Haven't had any of those. If anything people have been evasive.

I think he was talking to someone who is UG at Yale but hadn't been offered an interview there yet. Didn't stop him from continuing to rave about it, both in front of the tour guide AND in the admissions office while we waited for a speaker to get there. The secretary kept staring at him.

 

[Ismet]

I must have met the same applicant on one of my interviews. On top of the Yale-centric small talk, he dominated the financial aid session and kept asking questions such as "if my parents are both doctors and can technically afford to pay for everything but won't, do I qualify for aid" and "if I'm holding substantial assets in my name, should I transfer them to my parents when applying for aid?"

I'm pretty sure this was the same person. Both of his parents are doctors so he was concerned about listing them on his FAFSA because they're "not going to pay for anything."

 

[Nymphicus]

I always giggle on the inside at the inevitable "how many people to a cadaver" questions.

 

[Ismet]

I always giggle on the inside at the inevitable "how many people to a cadaver" questions.

+1. Never fails. I like to think that the tour guide giggles too. 🙂

 

[SellerAl]

Things tour guides always say:

"They're really receptive to the students input here way more than other schools, if we complain about something they always change it."

Things my interviewer always says:

"My favorite thing about this school is the people."

Questions the tour guide always gets asked:

"Whats your least favorite thing about the school?" Answer is almost always parking

At the morning intro:

"We want to have a very low stress day, its more about us getting to know each other and assessing 'fit'."

And if I hear the word "holistic" again I'm going to lose it. I haven't had nearly the amount of interviews as a lot of SDNers but I feel like there all exactly the same, must start to get monotonous. The strangely uncomfortable tour is usually in there somewhere too.

 

[TheGloaming]

I always giggle on the inside at the inevitable "how many people to a cadaver" questions.

Yes, why is that question ALWAYS asked?

Also, one of my pet peeves has to be "that guy" in the group that goes out of his way to make sure to always be the one to hold every door open for the entire group as if its some huge task that we can't handle.

 

[centrigeugle]

Yeah.

I sure hate it when people are courteous for me, too.

I'll add the unnecessarily long tour of the study facilities. So, here's our amazing new library built by some millionaire. Over here you can see the older library. Now, down this older library hallway you'll find some display cases with books. Awesome books! Okay, follow me to the study rooms where all 20 of you can stand awkwardly inside the empty-except-for-chairs-and-a-whiteboard room. See the room? The empty room? This is where we study. Any questions about the empty room? No?

 

[SellerAl]

Yeah.

I sure hate it when people are courteous for me, too.

I'll add the unnecessarily long tour of the study facilities. So, here's our amazing new library built by some millionaire. Over here you can see the older library. Now, down this older library hallway you'll find some display cases with books. Awesome books! Okay, follow me to the study rooms where all 20 of you can stand awkwardly inside the empty-except-for-chairs-and-a-whiteboard room. See the room? The empty room? This is where we study. Any questions about the empty room? No?

Why do some schools show the anatomy lab, and others just show the empty study rooms? Is there some legal issue there?

 

[SellerAl]

One school was letting me touch the cadavers, it was really cool

 

[Cinclus]

Yes, why is that question ALWAYS asked?

Also, one of my pet peeves has to be "that guy" in the group that goes out of his way to make sure to always be the one to hold every door open for the entire group as if its some huge task that we can't handle.

I like that guy. He makes tours easier for me.

 

[centrigeugle]

Why do some schools show the anatomy lab, and others just show the empty study rooms? Is there some legal issue there?

I strongly suspect this is mostly a CYA with regards to privacy by the universities themselves, rather than some hard-and-fast rule.

For what it's worth, for three interviews the "can we see the anatomy lab?" question was answered with a snort, laugh and headshake.

One interview, the guy peeled back the moist towels and started showing us loops of intestine, casual as can be.

So... I dunno.

 

[SellerAl]

I like that guy. He makes tours easier for me.

Eh, I judge a little bit I admit.

 

[RookTookIt]

Why do some schools show the anatomy lab, and others just show the empty study rooms? Is there some legal issue there?

Because some schools have nice anatomy labs and some schools have nice study rooms.

 

[Nymphicus]

And if I hear the word "holistic" again I'm going to lose it. I haven't had nearly the amount of interviews as a lot of SDNers but I feel like there all exactly the same, must start to get monotonous. The strangely uncomfortable tour is usually in there somewhere too.

Want to know what's monotonous?
The financial aid talk.

Financial aid talk + 8am start + 3 hour time difference so it's really like 5am = 😴😴😴

 

[docbrill]

I've had a couple of irritating ones. Not awkward, just annoying. The worst was when I was on a very small tour group and one of the applicants went to the school for UG, worked at the hospital, had one parent who was a physician there, and had one parent who was a researcher there. The guy himself was really awkward socially, but that didn't stop him from practically giving the tour himself. Any question that we tried to ask the tour guides he would jump in and answer. Also, he kept asking the tour guides all these questions that nobody else would ever care about like "remember when this used to be painted green, but then they changed it to blue and moved the coffee cart there?" And the tour guides would be like "umm, I think that was before I came here." It was driving me crazy.

😱 How annoying!

 

[docbrill]

I like that guy. He makes tours easier for me.

+1

Yeah.

I sure hate it when people are courteous for me, too.

I'll add the unnecessarily long tour of the study facilities. So, here's our amazing new library built by some millionaire. Over here you can see the older library. Now, down this older library hallway you'll find some display cases with books. Awesome books! Okay, follow me to the study rooms where all 20 of you can stand awkwardly inside the empty-except-for-chairs-and-a-whiteboard room. See the room? The empty room? This is where we study. Any questions about the empty room? No?

 

[Myuu]

Ever have an interview tour where no one is saying a thing?
Or when a tour guide cracks a joke but no one laughs?
How about when another interviewee says something and it is just silent afterwards.
Share your stories

Ever give an interview tour where you are being followed in silence by a group of people dressed for a funeral? It's quite frustrating--you say interesting thing that usually spawns a question or comment and get nothing. You crack a joke. Nothing. You crack another funnier joke. Nothing. You wonder whether anyone's listening at all, start saying absolutely outrageous, but vaguely related things and only 50% give you weird looks.

Then some idiot premed asks you how people do on the match. You explain to him that given programs are good at different things and that it is nearly impossible to tell how prestigious or competitive a program is based solely on name-recognition, and furthermore, you have no idea what those students' first choices were, anyway. Then he looks at you derisively and you know he's thinking "80% of you go into primary care or match to your home institution (which obviously sucks--trust him, he's a pre-med who's about to get rejected)."

Man, I hate those days.

 

[Bacchus]

Ha, substitute Hopkins for Yale and I had one of those too.

"Hopkins? I never heard of it. Where's that at?"

Report back with someone's reaction, please.

 

[elblackwell]

"Hopkins? I never heard of it. Where's that at?"

Report back with someone's reaction, please.

Lol I'll have to try that sometime.

 

[Ismet]

Why do some schools show the anatomy lab, and others just show the empty study rooms? Is there some legal issue there?

Yeah, schools that don't show the anatomy lab lose a few points in my mind. Only one of my schools didn't allow applicants to see the anatomy lab. When we asked, they said it was for students only. Nevermind that we are potentially going to be students at that school next year...

 

[Myuu]

Yeah, schools that don't show the anatomy lab lose a few points in my mind. Only one of my schools didn't allow applicants to see the anatomy lab. When we asked, they said it was for students only. Nevermind that we are potentially going to be students at that school next year...

We do that because of our privacy agreement. If no bodies are open, you can go in. But your entitlement is appreciated.

 

[StoicJosher]

It seems like tours are usually a pretty somber thing

I can't stand it when there's 15 people on a tour and they sprawl out in the halls blocking everything. Isn't it common sense to stay on one side? 🙄

I hate that to the point of being physically uncomfortable. I tend to walk at the end of the group of people and ask people to get out of the way if someone is coming up from behind the group.

Most of my interviews have been people separating into small groups and talking within the group while the tour guide walks up front with two or three interested people and talks to them.

 

[MT Headed]

One of my tours took me to a nearby Naval hospital to see the third year rotations. While walking down a hallway we all walked past a sign by a nurse's desk that said "Pediatric Sub Station". I loudly murmured "wow, the kids here get to play on submarines too?"

There was a very pregnant pause while people were deciding if I was being a wise-ass or just an idiot. Eventually they started laughing with me. Or was it at me? Whatever.

 

[ncrassa]

At one school, the tour guide was entirely clueless and kept leading us into construction sites.

Surprisingly, in all my interviews, only one person has ever asked about how many students there are to a cadaver.

I found most tours somewhat unhelpful. They all showed libraries, which all looked the same. They all showed lecture halls and classrooms, and those look similar too. Everybody fancies their own children's hospital. Everybody thinks the kids in the lobby are cute. Cue conversation on how troubling it must be to work with sick children even though kids are so fun.

Lunch is always fun and mostly centered around how to eat without spilling stuff all over yourself or making noise opening bags of potato chips while earnest current students tell you that med school's like real fun and the people are cool and all but it's expensive, dude.

Oh, and every five minutes, someone must compulsorily ask, "so do you guys have any questions?"

 

[by604]

At one school, the tour guide was entirely clueless and kept leading us into construction sites.

Surprisingly, in all my interviews, only one person has ever asked about how many students there are to a cadaver.

I found most tours somewhat unhelpful. They all showed libraries, which all looked the same. They all showed lecture halls and classrooms, and those look similar too. Everybody fancies their own children's hospital. Everybody thinks the kids in the lobby are cute. Cue conversation on how troubling it must be to work with sick children even though kids are so fun.

Lunch is always fun and mostly centered around how to eat without spilling stuff all over yourself or making noise opening bags of potato chips while earnest current students tell you that med school's like real fun and the people are cool and all but it's expensive, dude.

Oh, and every five minutes, someone must compulsorily ask, "so do you guys have any questions?"

perfect

 

[Donnie1310]

At one school, the tour guide was entirely clueless and kept leading us into construction sites.

Surprisingly, in all my interviews, only one person has ever asked about how many students there are to a cadaver.

I found most tours somewhat unhelpful. They all showed libraries, which all looked the same. They all showed lecture halls and classrooms, and those look similar too. Everybody fancies their own children's hospital. Everybody thinks the kids in the lobby are cute. Cue conversation on how troubling it must be to work with sick children even though kids are so fun.

Lunch is always fun and mostly centered around how to eat without spilling stuff all over yourself or making noise opening bags of potato chips while earnest current students tell you that med school's like real fun and the people are cool and all but it's expensive, dude.

Oh, and every five minutes, someone must compulsorily ask, "so do you guys have any questions?"

This is literally what I put the most amount of concentration into during EVERY SINGLE interview day.

 

[StoicJosher]

I found most tours somewhat unhelpful. They all showed libraries, which all looked the same. They all showed lecture halls and classrooms, and those look similar too. Everybody fancies their own children's hospital. Everybody thinks the kids in the lobby are cute. Cue conversation on how troubling it must be to work with sick children even though kids are so fun.

Pretty much. I usually just look around for other students and try to feel out the atmosphere.

 

[gravitywave]

I always giggle on the inside at the inevitable "how many people to a cadaver" questions.

+1. Never fails. I like to think that the tour guide giggles too. 🙂

Yeah, schools that don't show the anatomy lab lose a few points in my mind. Only one of my schools didn't allow applicants to see the anatomy lab. When we asked, they said it was for students only. Nevermind that we are potentially going to be students at that school next year...

no, grasshopper Ismet, no. Both questions are ridiculous.

 

[MilkmanAl]

Things tour guides always say:

"They're really receptive to the students input here way more than other schools, if we complain about something they always change it."

Things my interviewer always says:

"My favorite thing about this school is the people."

Questions the tour guide always gets asked:

"Whats your least favorite thing about the school?" Answer is almost always parking

At the morning intro:

"We want to have a very low stress day, its more about us getting to know each other and assessing 'fit'."

Lunch is always fun and mostly centered around how to eat without spilling stuff all over yourself or making noise opening bags of potato chips while earnest current students tell you that med school's like real fun and the people are cool and all but it's expensive, dude.

Geez, you guys need to be on one of my tours. I admit that I'd probably tell you the people here are cool (as compared with the other schools I have experienced), but I definitely would have different responses to the other questions.

 

[SellerAl]

Milkman- please elaborate

 

[TheGloaming]

Lunch is always fun and mostly centered around how to eat without spilling stuff all over yourself or making noise opening bags of potato chips while earnest current students tell you that med school's like real fun and the people are cool and all but it's expensive, dude.

This is awesome... I also notice how if there is some sort of presentation given during lunch everyone kind of "half eats" while still trying to look like they are really paying close attention to the presentation.

 

[ManBroDude]

If the interviews are at the end of the day, you can sense the increasing stress in the group as the day progresses. It's practically palpable.

 

[Ismet]

If the interviews are at the end of the day, you can sense the increasing stress in the group as the day progresses. It's practically palpable.

Oh god yes. At one of my interviews, half of us interviewed in the morning and half of us in the afternoon. We all had the financial aid meeting, lunch, and tour together. I was in the afternoon group, and I was dying. Meanwhile all the morning people were happy and relaxed. Didn't help that it was my first interview!

 

[TheGloaming]

Oh god yes. At one of my interviews, half of us interviewed in the morning and half of us in the afternoon. We all had the financial aid meeting, lunch, and tour together. I was in the afternoon group, and I was dying. Meanwhile all the morning people were happy and relaxed. Didn't help that it was my first interview!

This is how it was for one of my interviews and one guy from the morning group had his tie all loosened up and top button undone and just looked like he was completely tuned out from everything.

 

[kautionwirez]

This is awesome... I also notice how if there is some sort of presentation given during lunch everyone kind of "half eats" while still trying to look like they are really paying close attention to the presentation.

I tear my lunch up and go for 3rds if I can.

Except my Drexel lunch interview... I didn't eat most of my lunch, sad day 🙁

 

[username456789]

Ever give an interview tour where you are being followed in silence by a group of people dressed for a funeral? It's quite frustrating--you say interesting thing that usually spawns a question or comment and get nothing. You crack a joke. Nothing. You crack another funnier joke. Nothing. You wonder whether anyone's listening at all, start saying absolutely outrageous, but vaguely related things and only 50% give you weird looks.

Oh God, this x 1 million. I give tours at my school occasionally and it's absurd how awkward the applicants are. We take them in groups of 5 or 6, and I explain thoroughly that I have no input/association with the admissions committee whatsoever, so just relax for a bit and ask any questions you have.

Any time I say anything, or more specifically any time I directly address the applicants or ask them a question (i.e. would you like to see the gym?), I'm met with blank stares. Not even a "no" or "yes" mumbled under their breath. Just blank stares. I have never witnessed that kind of behavior before, and it's extremely odd. But it happens every time. I realize the students are on edge and nervous, but how is that even considered normal behavior? It turns into the most awkward few seconds of silence as I await at least some signal that their brains have processed what I just said.

 

[DrMcHindi]

Recent tour of lower ranked med school X.

Aside: Note that med school X requires a special type of student to go there: the crazy or those that have few options (no offense). The environment is... let's say unique.

Tour guide: "So blah blah blah about safety, access to normal things. Think of X and this city (in terms of development, weather) as sayyy the best city in the Caribbean. [Proud laugh, smile]"

Well said.

 

[Hamiltonian]

In the words of Teddy Westside:

"If you can't spot the crazy person on the bus, it's you."

 

[URHere]

Why do some schools show the anatomy lab, and others just show the empty study rooms? Is there some legal issue there?

Yeah, schools that don't show the anatomy lab lose a few points in my mind. Only one of my schools didn't allow applicants to see the anatomy lab. When we asked, they said it was for students only. Nevermind that we are potentially going to be students at that school next year...

At our school, we're don't show the anatomy lab for 2 reasons:

1) If you are interviewing after late October, the anatomy class is over and there really is no lab to see.

2) Even if you interview early in the season, our school has an agreement that severely restricts access to the cadavers. You are only allowed in if you are a student or faculty member directly involved in the anatomy lab. The only exception is if you are a family member of a first year student, also in the medical profession, and you specifically request to help your son/daughter learn on the cadaver (for what it's worth, I've never heard of anyone attempting this).

So, it's not that we don't want you to see the lab, it's just not an option.