Bring a book to the interview?

[lisa13579]

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I know this is one of those frivolous threads, but I have some time at work today and I have an interview tomorrow, so it's on my mind. It's appropriate to carry along a book for downtime right??

 

[xguo77]

I was told not to bring a book by my health profession advisor. So, best luck.

 

[Megalofyia]

It would be good for the "what was the last book you read question?" Better yet bring a MAD magazine with you.. they are interesting and it could be a converstation starter.

 

[trauma_junky]

Originally posted by xguo77
I was told not to bring a book by my health profession advisor. So, best luck.

Boy, If I did everything my prehealth advisor said to do I would be sweeping streets right now.

 

[mlw03]

short of brining a penthouse, i say go for it. there is plenty of downtime on interview day, and it gets damn boring just sitting around or making small talk with people you don't care about. think about it... is some school gonna say, "well, johnny is bright, personable, and dedicated, but he was carrying around a grisham book on interview day, so screw him." i brought a book to my first interview day, and no one cared. i placed it to the side during the interivew and no one said a thing. in fact, some the other prospectives saw it and it was a nice conversation starter (the book was "fast food nation" by eric schlosser - a book that's somewhat relevant to someone entering healthcare - i didn't do this on purpose - it just happened to be what i was reading at the time).

and hell, if penthouse is your cup of tea, you oughta just bring it.

 

[chapinsita]

Originally posted by trauma_junky
Boy, If I did everything my prehealth advisor said to do I would be sweeping streets right now.

So true.

(computer monitor = my prehealth advisors)

 

[OrneryOne]

I brought a book to several of my interviews. It actually sparked an interesting discussion at one of my interviews when the interviewer noticed me carrying it.

 

[Thundrstorm]

I say bring one. I carry a book in my purse or bag pretty much all the time. I hate getting stuck waiting for someone, sitting on the subway, or wasting time between classes with nothing to occupy my mind, so I always have a book, just in case. 🙂

 

[Spacekat]

YES!!!!!!
Bring one - your alternative is to sit around and chat with your fellow interviewees, all of whom are nervous as hell. This will make you nervous, or just annoyed, and neither emotion will help your interview technique. Just be sure the book is something really engaging that gets your mind off of the situation, not homework or something else to make you tense.

 

[pboothe]

No No No! I know you're already at this interview by now, but for future reference: Don't bring a book. What kind of serious introvert are you anyways.? The idea of the interview process is to learn as much about the school as possible. You will be doing yourself a great disservice by toting around a book. First of all, I think it will make you appear uninterested in being there at all. It will make you appear somewhat anti-social, and I'm sure that the medical school student ambassadors will be somewhat perturbed by it. As for the thought that talking to other interviewees would be a bad thing, boy I hope I don't end up in medical school with too many people that think that way. I personally feel that how well you interact with people you just met is a great indication of your people skills as a doc.

I mean I love to read books too, but seriously is it really that great of a book that it can't wait till you get back. Oh by the way for suggested books go to my website and click on book reviews.


😎

 

[Spacekat]

Originally posted by pboothe
The idea of the interview process is to learn as much about the school as possible. You will be doing yourself a great disservice by toting around a book. First of all, I think it will make you appear uninterested in being there at all. It will make you appear somewhat anti-social, and I'm sure that the medical school student ambassadors will be somewhat perturbed by it. As for the thought that talking to other interviewees would be a bad thing, boy I hope I don't end up in medical school with too many people that think that way.
😎

Good points, but my experience was that we spent a majority of the interview day sitting in a room with no one else present. We chatted amiably for about the first unoccupied hour, but after that it was all nervous chatter about what adcoms are looking for, or about Brittney Spears and Madonna.

So, unless there is a hidden camera, and unless the 21-year-olds around that table have some special insight into the admissions process 🙄 I still recommend the book.

pboothe's point is a good one, though - don't whip that baby out in the middle of the dean's welcome speech!

 

[pboothe]

Well, my experience was different, but I suppose if it's like that then you can keep one surreptitiously placed until an APPROPRIATE moment comes about.

 

[mdchick]

Some interviews are better structured than others in which case you'll constantly be doing things/ interacting with people that you will not want to read a book. However, others aren't so structured and you might find yourself waiting until the late afternoon to feet with a faculty member. You probably know a lot about the school already (or that's definitly what you should be doing before you get there). They will tell you anything that you are questionable about. Plus. they are not watching you all the time. So bring it, put it in your bag, and if you find that you want to read, go ahead and do it. Its fine. I do some of the student interviews and no one brings this up. Med schools don't want you to be bored (they don't necessarily realize that you are, though).

 

[lola]

i agree with you pboothe!

 

[lisa13579]

Thanks for the replies. Now that I'm back from my interview (Univ of WI)... I did end up bringing one in my purse, I wouldn't have felt comfortable just carrying it around. But I didn't have time to read it, and it just ended up being heavy (hardcover book). I think the day was structured really great, so there wasn't really any down time, but I'll have to think about it for other interviews. (maybe start reading a paperback🙂 )

p.s. Having U of WI as my first interview was wonderful! Everyone was extemely nice and it seems like a great place to be.