Blunt Interview Answer

[musicalfeet]

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Just curious on SDN's thought on this..it's something I blurted out but don't know if it's actually a "bad" answer. I got asked the famous "If you couldn't become a doctor, what would you do" question, and I decided to go with the honest route. I said that if I exhausted all my resources and still couldn't get into med school, I'd probably just become one of those miserable "work for a paycheck because I gotta" kind of people and go back to my old career...because we all need to live life eventually. Not being able to become a physician would mean that I wouldn't live MY ideal, but I would need to find a way to make money and live eventually (aka be realistic).

It's probably the reality and what I would do IRL if that happened to me...and I could kind of see how that's an "unattractive" answer, but this answer was honest so I'm not sure!

 

[Glandzburg]

First off, agonizing over your interview answers will slowly kill you inside. There is nothing you can do to change it.

That being said, it was probably not the best answer, although perhaps they'll appreciate your honesty.

If you have more interviews, be conscious about giving your answers some thought before you blurt them out. Learn from it.

 

[Dr Tony T. Chopper]

What a bold response, I responded to this question by saying I'll go into making movie props, special FX makeup and cosplay merchandise. I don't think you need to wreck your brain too much on this though. I've heard a girl say she'll go into culinary arts if this falls through, while some others like to stick with more traditional healthcare roles, perhaps being a mid level provider.

 

[HybridEarth]

Kinda iffy. Some people would probably say you should have said you'd do something medically/service related rather than just finding a job to work for the weekend. The way this question is answered can give a nice peek into what your intentions are even if you take being a doctor out of the picture. Just my two cents. As long as you made it crystal clear that you did everything possible and still came up short several times, your answer is probably fine

 

[musicalfeet]

First off, agonizing over your interview answers will slowly kill you inside. There is nothing you can do to change it.

That being said, it was probably not the best answer, although perhaps they'll appreciate your honesty.

If you have more interviews, be conscious about giving your answers some thought before you blurt them out. Learn from it.

Well taking into account that I'm already 25, if I tried say, 4 cycles (I think I mentioned I think I had enough resources/savings to last 3-4 cycles), I'd be 29 before I gave up. That's pretty old to be trying to yet again, start another career. I did make a point that I'm sure I'd be miserable doing my old career again... and that I'd be happiest as a physician. I don't think that shows intentions of wanting $$$...

And unfortunately I think I'm done for the interview cycle. I guess we'll see what they thought of my response in January.

 

[ConfusedChemist]

Personally, I think that's better than the naive "I can't see myself doing anything else" response from wealthy kids they probably get all the time

 

[Goro]

If you sounded bitter, honest or not, I could see where it might leave a bad impression. After all, why go back to being miserable?

But I wasn't there and so on the written page, your answer is OK.

Just curious on SDN's thought on this..it's something I blurted out but don't know if it's actually a "bad" answer. I got asked the famous "If you couldn't become a doctor, what would you do" question, and I decided to go with the honest route. I said that if I exhausted all my resources and still couldn't get into med school, I'd probably just become one of those miserable "work for a paycheck because I gotta" kind of people and go back to my old career...because we all need to live life eventually. Not being able to become a physician would mean that I wouldn't live MY ideal, but I would need to find a way to make money and live eventually (aka be realistic).

It's probably the reality and what I would do IRL if that happened to me...and I could kind of see how that's an "unattractive" answer, but this answer was honest so I'm not sure!

Gawd, I hate those answers. These people tend to fare poorly in admissions outcomes at my school.

Personally, I think that's better than the naive "I can't see myself doing anything else" response from wealthy kids they probably get all the time

 

[bc65]

I prefer honest answers to the "correct" ones.

This question also depends on the the context and how it's asked. Is it the "what will you do if you don't get in this time" or the "what if you can't be a doctor , what would you do" question. Answering the latter question with "I can't see myself being anything else" show immaturity or psychopathy, in my opinion. Anyway, individual answers don't usually matter that much. It's usually the overall impression that counts.

 

[Wolf3D]

I concur with the above. What you said was fine, it's just the tone you said it in. From what you're saying it doesn't seem like you were very bitter or scathing. Plenty of people just have a job because they need it and live their lives. Nothing wrong with that. The guy probably doesn't even remember what you answered to be honest. Don't dwell on this!

 

[ChillDawg]

I wouldn't necessarily consider it a bad response, and honesty is probably very refreshing for interviewers.

 

[Wisconsino]

not a bad response - you were honest!

 

[Meeehai]

Just curious on SDN's thought on this..it's something I blurted out but don't know if it's actually a "bad" answer. I got asked the famous "If you couldn't become a doctor, what would you do" question, and I decided to go with the honest route. I said that if I exhausted all my resources and still couldn't get into med school, I'd probably just become one of those miserable "work for a paycheck because I gotta" kind of people and go back to my old career...because we all need to live life eventually. Not being able to become a physician would mean that I wouldn't live MY ideal, but I would need to find a way to make money and live eventually (aka be realistic).

It's probably the reality and what I would do IRL if that happened to me...and I could kind of see how that's an "unattractive" answer, but this answer was honest so I'm not sure!

Terrible response. You should have said you will start your own company and become a multi millionaire playboy and when they show up to your chateau begging you to come to their school, your bodyguard will escort them out.

 

[Doug Underhill]

Agonizing over your interview answers is only slightly more useful than agonizing over those MCAT questions where you weren't certain if it was A or B. The reason why I say "slightly more useful" is because you can actually incorporate your agonizing if a later interviewer asks the same question.

 

[Mad Jack]

The same thing I plan to do someday anyway, save up a bunch of money from my day job and make booze for a living.

Really though, I don't think your answer will kill you, though depending on how you said it you might have come off as either desperate or obsessed with the idea of medicine without knowing the reality. It also shows that you have little else going on in your life other than the med school journey and nothing else that really sparks your interest, so it's kind of not the best response, honest as it was.