Bringing items to an interview

[Jet915]

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I had a question about bringing items to an interview. Does anyone do it? I was thinking of bringing a copy of my master's thesis, a copy of a school paper I write for and also some nature photographs (im a photographer). I was just wondering if that was common cause I think it would be a good way of making conversation or just telling the interviewer more about yourself. Also, thank you notes are generally sent to the admissions office right? Just wondering.........thanks.

Jetson

 

[SMW]

Well, you could bring them, but I don't think I'd haul them out, unless a natural opportunity arises. Thank-you notes should be sent to the interviewer directly.

 

[Street Philosopher]

I thought I'd just hijack this thread with some questions of my own.

Is it acceptable to wear a backpack? I figure it looks pretty silly to have a backpack while wearing a suit.

What else are we supposed to have bring? Pen, notepad, some sort of binder, what else?

 

[SMW]

Pen/pencil is good. Almost every school will give you some sort of folder, so if you bring one, you end up hauling around extra stuff. Women, of course, get to carry a purse. If you're a man and need something other than pockets, you could bring a slim leather briefcase. You're right, a backpack looks pretty silly with a suit. A small notebook, if you want to have all your notes on different schools in one place, is nice.

 

[Nefertari]

Originally posted by Street Philosopher
Is it acceptable to wear a backpack? I figure it looks pretty silly to have a backpack while wearing a suit.

SP, some may condemn it a fashion faux-pas, but I think that would look cute!!

Seriously, I was thinking @ the same question as the interview season gears up. I'm a gal, but don't own a purse. It might not look as goofy if you hand carry it instead of wearing it, and if it's not all ragged from 4 yrs of undergrad.

 

[SMW]

Originally posted by Nefertari I'm a gal, but don't own a purse.

You bought a suit, right? Buy a purse! (they even come in handy sometimes 😉 ).

Good luck, everyone, with your interviews!! 🙂

 

[Nefertari]

SMW,

No, I'm still only halfway thru 2ndaries & so haven't even had time to shop. I was going to wait til the fall suits go on sale & go bargain hunting. Also, I don't want to be all nervous, overheated & sweaty in a winter suit.

Yeah, I'll probably look for a purse that's not too "fru-fru" (spelling?). Up to now, I've boycotted the "Gucci" types of purses b/c of the crazy prices they charge!

 

[Andrew_Doan]

Don't wear a backpack. That looks silly with a suit. Use the folder they give you or bring your own. Otherwise, use a nice briefcase.

Better yet, take notes on your Palm! Then you don't need to carry anything.

Good luck!

 

[chopsuey]

I wouldn't wear a backpack, either....i'm a girl and I just carry a medium sized purse (put in a notebook, chapstick, lipstick, pen, bottle of water, mints, cell phone with the ringer off, ID, wallet/keys, directions, an extra pair of hose, shout wipes and two granola bars because lunch wasn't until 1 and i wouldn't have eaten since 7:30 am otherwise). In a folder, I carry two copies of my personal statement, a xerox of my secondary, a copy of my AMCAS, notes about the school, my interview invite, passport-sized photo and some more questions i had written down to ask at the interview. there are other threads out there on what people recommend bringing. search for "what to bring to interviews." i'll see if i can find it later.

good luck!

 

[DW]

get one of those leather attaches they sell at your local staples/office max/campus bookstore. they're only like 16 bucks and will carry all the materials you bring and receive comfortably. a backpack looks too firstyear frat pledge

 

[Amy B]

Hi Jet915,

You can bring those things, but you probably wont need them. I am also a photographer, and although I was asked about it, it would not have been appropriate to have brought photos.

As to backpacks, if you are in school or coming from the airport and have a suitcase, the staff in the admissions offices are used to that and if you ask them, they will almost always have a safe place for you to stash these away till after your interview.

I brought my leather bound daytimer. It is wide enough that I was able to put my keys, lipstick and compact mirror in it.

As to what to bring, I would suggest those eclipse breath strips that dissolve on your tongue. They are fast, effective and you won't be chewing anything. Also a small mirror to give yourself a quick looksee to make sure your teeth are clean and you haven't smeared anything on your face by accident.

Good luck and BE YOUR SELF DURING ALL INTERVIEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!😛

 

[DoubleDoctor]

Be careful what you bring and especially what you look at during the interview. One of the girls that interviewed the same day as I did had a very bad experience. She had brought a copy of her AMCAS app and the interviwer ask her about a particular class she had taken and her grade in that class so she pulled out her app and looked it up. The interviewer ended up asking to see the app and then keeping it. She was mortified because she had all kinds of personal notes to herself like her excuses for less than a stellar grade, "make sure you say this or that" etc. written all over this app and the interviewer then quizzed her on all that stuff too with questions like "well why did you think that you should say this? and "why did you make a note saying make sure you don't say that. She was pretty shook up about the entire process because the whole tone of the interview changed after that.

 

[Sonya]

Originally posted by DoubleDoctor
Be careful what you bring and especially what you look at during the interview. One of the girls that interviewed the same day as I did had a very bad experience. She had brought a copy of her AMCAS app and the interviwer ask her about a particular class she had taken and her grade in that class so she pulled out her app and looked it up. The interviewer ended up asking to see the app and then keeping it. She was mortified because she had all kinds of personal notes to herself like her excuses for less than a stellar grade, "make sure you say this or that" etc. written all over this app and the interviewer then quizzed her on all that stuff too with questions like "well why did you think that you should say this? and "why did you make a note saying make sure you don't say that. She was pretty shook up about the entire process because the whole tone of the interview changed after that.

****, I don't think the inteviewer had a lot of business doing that...

yeah, bring you thesis, that's a good idea. just, don't be hauling around a lot.

 

[Rapid Decomposition]

Hm, I brought one of the music scores I have been working on for a long time to one of my interviews. When we were on the topic I offered to bring it out for a look-see. Did I shoot myself in the foot? Is that like totally inappropriate behavior or something?

 

[kaos]

Speaking of backpacks...😀

Most of the girls I've seen @ interviews brought a bag of some kind. Most guys had nothing, which made me wonder where they stuck their papers, copies of their secondaries, extra photos, maps, etc. But at my USUHS interview last Thursday, there was this one dude with a very BIG and rather tattered backpack. It was so big and full (of what, I have no idea), that when I was trying to pass behind him while he was getting some coffee @ the little snacks table, he almost knocked me down with it.

So, NO BACKPACKS.

Oh, and also, try not to bring your parents. I think 2 interviewees actually brought their parents, and while one girl's mom stayed outside, the other's parents joined the tour and just couldn't stay the hell out of my way. I kept running over that old couple while going in and out of doors. 😉

 

[DarkChild]

lol - I graduated in 2001, two years later I can still remember every grade I got in every class I took.. am I the only one?
😀

Originally posted by DoubleDoctor
Be careful what you bring and especially what you look at during the interview. One of the girls that interviewed the same day as I did had a very bad experience. She had brought a copy of her AMCAS app and the interviwer ask her about a particular class she had taken and her grade in that class so she pulled out her app and looked it up. The interviewer ended up asking to see the app and then keeping it. She was mortified because she had all kinds of personal notes to herself like her excuses for less than a stellar grade, "make sure you say this or that" etc. written all over this app and the interviewer then quizzed her on all that stuff too with questions like "well why did you think that you should say this? and "why did you make a note saying make sure you don't say that. She was pretty shook up about the entire process because the whole tone of the interview changed after that.

 

[Sweet Tea]

No, DarkChild, you're not the only one. Okay, I don't remember every grade (ie, Linguistics 30), but I do remember the pre-reqs.

Kaos-- people brought their folks to an interview?? What, were they trying to be extra-prepared for the "tell me about your family" question? I just don't understand that one...🙄

 

[kaos]

I know, I didn't get it either. It was really annoying, actually. I wouldn't recommend it. 🙄

 

[DW]

was this at USUHS kaos? must be a mormon thing

just kidding for all those latter day saints out there

 

[kaos]

Yeah, it was at USUHS.

 

[Amy B]

Oh, something else I thought of....
ladies, please watch the length of your dress or skirt.

During one of my interviews, one of the women had such a short skirt on that everytime she sat down she was pulling and tugging on it to try and cover herself up. It was REALLLY short. Those of us interviewing were talking about it when she left the room for her interview. Maybe she hoped to impress a male interviewer, but she was interviewed by a female doctor.

It was really unprofessional.

 

[Random Access]

Originally posted by Amy B
Oh, something else I thought of....
ladies, please watch the length of your dress or skirt.

During one of my interviews, one of the women had such a short skirt on that everytime she sat down she was pulling and tugging on it to try and cover herself up. It was REALLLY short. Those of us interviewing were talking about it when she left the room for her interview. Maybe she hoped to impress a male interviewer, but she was interviewed by a female doctor.

Well you know...the main reason male med students want to be interviewers is to pick up chicks. 😉

 

[rotatores]

kaos,

I saw that guy with the backpack. Pretty stupid looking. We were all making fun of him. J/k.

 

[Jet915]

Hey, thanks for the suggestions.........so Im still wondering though, if my interviewers asked about my hobbies and photography came up, it wouldnt be appropriate so show them some of my work?? (im published🙂)

Jetson

 

[Amy B]

Originally posted by Jet915
Hey, thanks for the suggestions.........so Im still wondering though, if my interviewers asked about my hobbies and photography came up, it wouldnt be appropriate so show them some of my work?? (im published🙂)

Jetson

As a published freelance photographer (my job before I went back to school) I really feel it wouldn't be a good thing to do. I think it might take away from the reason you are there... to show your potential as a doctor. And although you may be a great photographer, you want them to remember you for your GPA, MCAT, EC's, personality, etc and then maybe remember you take photos. It might look too braggy. I don't know, but hey this is just my opinion. Do whatever makes you feel comfortable. 😎

 

[SMW]

jetson, I don't think you can decide in advance. It depends on the tenor of the interview. Some interviewers ask about EC's but it's like it's on their check-list. Others end up chatting you up about it forever, expecially if it's a mututal interest. In that case, it might be appropriate to mention you happen to have an example of your work, if they're interested. Make sure the photo you bring is a show-stopper. Hey, do you have them posted anywhere on the internet? 🙂

 

[Jet915]

www.naturesamerica.com

Alot of the photographs are ok in general. If I do bring photographs, they will be my best ones............

Jetson

 

[SMW]

Great site! Loved your Alaska pics!!