Being personal in interviews?

[Exalya]

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I am interviewing at TCOM this week, and in preparing for my interview, I did a mock-interview with an adviser on campus (note: it was not a pre-health adviser, the pre-health office would not assist me). In some of my answers (not all, of course), such as "tell me about yourself", "why medicine?" and "do you think you can handle medical school?" I mentioned my personal history, which was in my personal statement and secondary. The adviser said that I should not mention anything about my personal life or accomplishments, and be strictly academically/professionally oriented.

To those of you who do have compelling stories and faced hardships during college, did you talk about them? Were you open about it? It is my nature to be open about the things that happened to me; they were personal, yet they drive me to medicine, they motivate me to volunteer with specific groups who shared my suffering. I don't know what to do now, because this person was very adamant that my deep, personal passion is off-limits for interviews.

 

[droogdoc]

the pre-health office would not assist me

First off, gotta love a pre-med office that wont help prepare for interviews....

Second, DEFINITELY talk about your accomplishments if they relate to the question you are asked, and they probably will. The number one thing admissions counselors and interview advice from current students is to talk up your positive points as much as possible, DO NOT BE SHY. Be proud of your accomplishments!!! Of course, dont gloat or be pompous but you kno what I mean. Also, don't tear yourself down, and emphasize weaknesses, but it cant hurt to acknowledge them and discuss how you deal with it. You worked hard to get to the interview stage, NO ONE will hold it against you to talk yourself up. Isnt that what you are there for? To show them they made the right decision to interview you and now you need to convince them they shold accept you.

Your mock interviewer probably meant well, but I highly doubt the interview will go very well if all you talk about is academics and philosphy fo medicine. Look at the insane number of posts from people relating how their interview, at a number of schools, was a fairly laid back conversation for a half-hour.

Be confident, show them you are a strong candidate, be proud of your accomplishments, and you cant go wrong.

Good luck!

 

[DocHomer]

I am interviewing at TCOM this week, and in preparing for my interview, I did a mock-interview with an adviser on campus (note: it was not a pre-health adviser, the pre-health office would not assist me). In some of my answers (not all, of course), such as "tell me about yourself", "why medicine?" and "do you think you can handle medical school?" I mentioned my personal history, which was in my personal statement and secondary. The adviser said that I should not mention anything about my personal life or accomplishments, and be strictly academically/professionally oriented.

To those of you who do have compelling stories and faced hardships during college, did you talk about them? Were you open about it? It is my nature to be open about the things that happened to me; they were personal, yet they drive me to medicine, they motivate me to volunteer with specific groups who shared my suffering. I don't know what to do now, because this person was very adamant that my deep, personal passion is off-limits for interviews.

Your question is pretty broad. Do you mind sharing exactly what you would say in response the those questions? I think it really depends on the scope and depth of the content.

 

[antapolar]

You might want to do more practice than just practicing with your advisor. Check on student doctor's interview section. Go to the school of your interest and go through some of those questions. Bringing in your personal experience is definitely fine. I did that, I related to my primary and secondary. As stated above, bring out your strength. Unless asked, don't say things that may lead them to think you have a weakness. But do prepare for those situation, as well. Be enthusiastic and show that you really want to go to their school should work fine 👍

 

[silas2642]

I am interviewing at TCOM this week, and in preparing for my interview, I did a mock-interview with an adviser on campus (note: it was not a pre-health adviser, the pre-health office would not assist me). In some of my answers (not all, of course), such as "tell me about yourself", "why medicine?" and "do you think you can handle medical school?" I mentioned my personal history, which was in my personal statement and secondary. The adviser said that I should not mention anything about my personal life or accomplishments, and be strictly academically/professionally oriented.

To those of you who do have compelling stories and faced hardships during college, did you talk about them? Were you open about it? It is my nature to be open about the things that happened to me; they were personal, yet they drive me to medicine, they motivate me to volunteer with specific groups who shared my suffering. I don't know what to do now, because this person was very adamant that my deep, personal passion is off-limits for interviews.

So these advisors on campus are like swimming instructors who have never seen a body of water-- they're kind of useless except for the sense that they do provide a warm body that can ask you questions that are typical of a med school interview and they do re-create a situation that can make you a little nervous, which can be useful.

I would forget what he/she said. Med school interviews, for the most part, are about getting to know who you are. They really do want to know why you want to go into medicine, and unless you have some sort of ******* answer like, "to get laid because I look good in a white coat" then tell the truth. You want to get personal, but be professional-- this is where judgment comes in. If you don't have good judgment as to how to make yourself look appropriate in a professional interview, you're probably not ready for med school. But for Christ's sake, tell some sort of version of the truth.

Also, you can mention personal accomplishments, but I would be careful about re-hashing your CV. Don't sound like a pompous ass and remember that it's already on the frickin' piece of paper. They know this already; this is your chance to tell them all the stuff that they DON'T know about you-- are you personable? Are you compassionate? Are you funny? Are you outgoing, shy, are you a quick thinker, do you think before you speak or do you just blurt out the first thing that comes into your mind? Are you professonal? Are you humble, eloquent?

 

[QuackaDO]

Also, you can mention personal accomplishments, but I would be careful about re-hashing your CV. Don't sound like a pompous ass and remember that it's already on the frickin' piece of paper. They know this already; this is your chance to tell them all the stuff that they DON'T know about you-- are you personable? Are you compassionate? Are you funny? Are you outgoing, shy, are you a quick thinker, do you think before you speak or do you just blurt out the first thing that comes into your mind? Are you professonal? Are you humble, eloquent?

^ I agree completely. An interview is so the perspective employer (or in this case school) can get to know YOU and how well YOU will fit in... your professional accomplishments aren't going to tell them that. Sure it may tell them if you can handle the curriculm or job, but to know if you are a true fit they want to get to know you for who YOU are. I've been to MANY job interviews and always done well on them and in followup I was always told that the reason why was because I related personal stories or experiences to the questions rather than giving "canned" answers that anyone can come up with. Saying "I'm a hard worker and I work well with people" is complete bull****... anyone can come up with that. Tell them a story that SHOWS your work ethinc and give an example how and why you helped someone and you'll get a lot further. The best advice I've ever gotten about interviewing for anything is to stay away from generic answers that 90% of the interviewees come up with and present answers that make you UNIQUE... the only way to do that is to relate personal experiences. If you do that you STAND OUT from the crowd of hundreds of others that all said the same boring crap and when it comes time for the committee to make a decision you better believe that they are going to remember your personal answers more than Joe Blow's generic and canned "I work well with people" answer.

 

[Exalya]

Well, for the record, I think I did strike a good balance between being professional yet personal. My interviews went great, and the interviewers seemed genuinely interested in some of my more unusual answers. ^.^ I am very satisfied that I did not take my adviser's advice.

 

[TexasPhysician]

1 of my interviews got REALLY personal.....I got accepted there..

 

[DocHomer]

1 of my interviews got REALLY personal.....I got accepted there..

It's illegal to ask personal questions for job interviews. I would think that it would be illegal as well for school interviews. Personal issues should have no bearing on their decision...it should be about whether a particular individual is qualified to succeed in the profession.

 

[Exalya]

It's illegal to ask personal questions for job interviews. I would think that it would be illegal as well for school interviews. Personal issues should have no bearing on their decision...it should be about whether a particular individual is qualified to succeed in the profession.

I get the idea that it's not, since the secondaries frequently ask for very personal experiences--like, what hardships have you faced? That's an intensely personal question... and since I have faced more than one hardship during my college experience, it was a significant aspect of my interview. I could have not answered the hardship question on the secondary, but I think that the personal strength I exhibit is a huge advantage to me as a professional.

 

[PeterDO2B]

If I were you I would avoid religious or political views, you never know who your going to offend. I think its okay to talk about personal experiences that led to you pursue medicine but avoid things that might cause controversy.