awkward interview tours...

[blue0rchid]

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the school i interviewed at didn't show the lab during tour (though they had no problem doing it) because class was going on. But before/after the tour, interviewees can just walk into the lab during lab session, put on a pair of gloves, and "dig" in with the regular students. Kinda cool...

 

[karmayogi]

someone hugged the admissions lady at the end of our tour, that was pretty great.

I also hate financial aid presentations. Just say "fill out the FAFSA" and move on (and maybe give me some handouts so IF i do get in there i can reference them)

 

[NoNotYouLionel]

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.

I can't hear what the tour guides are saying most of the time. They're either soft-spoken or mumblers.

 

[username456789]

I can't hear what the tour guides are saying most of the time. They're either soft-spoken or mumblers.

I'm a loud mouth and I literally stand there 6 feet away from them talking directly to them, in a quiet hallway. Trust me, hearing was not the issue. It's so bizarre. Like a game of chicken, to see who can last the longest without saying anything.

 

[Myuu]

I can't hear what the tour guides are saying most of the time. They're either soft-spoken or mumblers.

You have clearly not been on any of my tours.


You should've seen the nervous laughter I got from asking them if there was anything they were afraid to ask on SDN at lunch the other day, though.

 

[CaliforniaAppli]

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.

How true is this though?
I think I am always paranoid that they are still watching even though the students say otherwise. This definitely makes things more tense for me, and I rather not say something foolish.

 

[SellerAl]

samzies!

 

[PlayUltimate15]

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.

This resonated with me so much. Hilarious and true.

 

[PlayUltimate15]

How true is this though?
I think I am always paranoid that they are still watching even though the students say otherwise. This definitely makes things more tense for me, and I rather not say something foolish.

If you were to really screw up in some way (swear really loudly, bail early on interview day, hit on a professor, make vulgar jokes, talk about how much better you liked some other med school) then a student may report it. Otherwise, when we tell you we don't have input in your acceptance decision, we mean it.

 

[Myuu]

If you were to really screw up in some way (swear really loudly, bail early on interview day, hit on a professor, make vulgar jokes, talk about how much better you liked some other med school) then a student may report it. Otherwise, when we tell you we don't have input in your acceptance decision, we mean it.

And yet even so, every year there's a premed (or a lot more than one) who is so completely unaware of social cues and acceptable behavior in polite company that it makes you glad he's probably going to get the axe.

 

[phnerd1105]

😱 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.

This happened to me too, especially since my tour guides were M1s and didn't know much about campus other than what they had direct exposure with. I would just give a quick answer, and then shirk into the back so no one would think I was "that girl" 😳

 

[phnerd1105]

I also had a friend interviewing with me and he kept texting during the whole tour, as well as in the class we sat in on, during the lunch with current students and when we sat in the office.

 

[Myuu]

I also had a friend interviewing with me and he kept texting during the whole tour, as well as in the class we sat in on, during the lunch with current students and when we sat in the office.

Now, see, that I would definitely mention. Cannot believe some idiot thought I couldn't see her texting throughout the entire session behind her outrageously huge purse...

 

[mmmcdowe]

I personally think students should be able to see the anatomy lab, but alas my school has voted to close its doors to students due to ethical/legal issues. It's a bummer, because they just renovated a bunch of it too and its high up in the building so its got a decent view.

 

[docbrill]

I personally think students should be able to see the anatomy lab, but alas my school has voted to close its doors to students due to ethical/legal issues. It's a bummer, because they just renovated a bunch of it too and its high up in the building so its got a decent view.

Do you go to VCU? 😀

 

[MilkmanAl]

How true is this though?
I think I am always paranoid that they are still watching even though the students say otherwise. This definitely makes things more tense for me, and I rather not say something foolish.

Why bother saying it if it isn't true? Chill out. Like the others said, you have to screw up enough to make someone feel like going to extra effort during his day off to make sure you don't get in for us to make any difference. I'm a pretty tolerant guy, so you'd have to be absolutely off your freaking rocker for me to bother mentioning anything to anyone.

 

[mmmcdowe]

Do you go to VCU? 😀

A smidgeon north of Virginia I'm afraid.

 

[username456789]

Why bother saying it if it isn't true? Chill out. Like the others said, you have to screw up enough to make someone feel like going to extra effort during his day off to make sure you don't get in for us to make any difference. I'm a pretty tolerant guy, so you'd have to be absolutely off your freaking rocker for me to bother mentioning anything to anyone.

Bingo.

 

[docbrill]

A smidgeon north of Virginia I'm afraid.

Oh, okay. VCU also couldn't show us the anatomy lab, which was renovated and had a nice view...

 

[mmmcdowe]

How true is this though?
I think I am always paranoid that they are still watching even though the students say otherwise. This definitely makes things more tense for me, and I rather not say something foolish.

I've done something around 100 interview tours over the last 3 seasons and I never have weighed in on any student. Trust me, I've seen some rude behaviors, some sucking up, and some down right funky stuff. A few people I know have bugged the office about letting someone they know in, but I think you'll find the vast majority of us don't have such inclinations. We'd rather just laugh about someone's doucheyness amongst ourselves than tattle.

 

[EyeDigress]

Not really an awkward situation per se, but at one of my interview days everyone ended up canceling except for me. So for 3 hours (tour and lunch) it was just me and an M1.

 

[kpcrew]

Not really an awkward situation per se, but at one of my interview days everyone ended up canceling except for me. So for 3 hours (tour and lunch) it was just me and an M1.

that actually sounds really useful and fun, unless you guys didn't click. then that would suck.

 

[scarshapedstar]

Finished interview, went to pee.

Interviewer came in and started peeing in the urinal next to mine.

Left as quickly as humanly possible, didn't acknowledge him. 😳

 

[SellerAl]

Finished interview, went to pee.

Interviewer came in and started peeing in the urinal next to mine.

Left as quickly as humanly possible, didn't acknowledge him. 😳

Brutal