bringing notepad to interview?

[Pablo94]

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Should I bring a notepad/notebook to my interview day? I see other students bringing them, but really don't see any use for them. If i don't have a fancy leather one, is a normal notebook appropiate?

 

[gyngyn]

No need.

 

[Goro]

No.

Should I bring a notepad/notebook to my interview day? I see other students bringing them, but really don't see any use for them. If i don't have a fancy leather one, is a normal notebook appropiate?

 

[Pablo94]

thanks, I don't get why other students do this

 

[Mclovin0351]

I've been to a lot of interviews and I'm almost always the only person NOT carrying one, they irk me. I bring a bottle of water, a pen, and some almonds.

 

[Endoxifen]

I've been to a lot of interviews and I'm almost always the only person NOT carrying one, they irk me. I bring a bottle of water, a pen, and some almonds.

I know that there may be situations where you need a pen, but I think it's hilarious that you bring one, but no paper.

 

[Pablo94]

I've been to a lot of interviews and I'm almost always the only person NOT carrying one, they irk me. I bring a bottle of water, a pen, and some almonds.

See what im saying?! will they frown upon us for not having a notepad lmao

 

[aldol16]

I stopped a long time ago. They'll give you a packet with all the information you'll receive on interview day about the school. The rest are minor details, like average indebtedness or average Step 1 score. If those are important to you, I'm sure that you can hold them in your head long enough to write them down afterward or put them in your phone.

 

[Mclovin0351]

Lol @Endoxifen good point, but they always hand out folders or papers or something.
Hasn't hurt me Pablo I have a few acceptances.

 

[LizzyM]

#notabigdeal
Bring a pen although they are likely to give you a freebie. Most schools give you a folder with the agenda for the day and other materials You can always use that folder for anything you want to jot down.

 

[kraskadva]

thanks, I don't get why other students do this

If you google something like "what to bring to an interview", you'll see a lot of sites telling you to bring a folder/portfolio/notepad. These are pretty normal for a business interview, where you would be bringing copies of your resume with you and trying to keep it looking neat. But totally unnecessary for med school interviews.
Does it hurt to have one? No.
Is there a point to having one, other than keeping your hands occupied? No.
Is it a pain to carry them around the whole time? Usually.

 

[BurghStudent]

Don't bring one. Play it cool.

 

[Nietzsche's Barber]

If you want to look like a nerd...

 

[SymphonyNo9]

There was an interview I went to didn't give us a folder, just several separate sheets of paper. But I checked school-specific threads beforehand and brought one myself to that interview.

 

[Phoenix628]

I brought a padfolio to hold a mini-notebook that I used to compile notes about each interview day. It's nice to have all the information together in one place instead of scattered about various individual school folders, especially if you have gone on/are planning on going on many interviews.

 

[WhittyPsyche]

I have to write anything I put little notes on one of the dozen sheets of paper in the folders you get. I've seen a few people with diary style agenda books writing full on essays while people are talking. I think it looks awkward and wholly unnecessary.


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[DrBallerBro]

Don't be a nerd

 

[MareNostrummm]

Bring a pen with 4 different colors, so you can style on everyone else.

 

[iandraggia]

I'm honestly shocked that the response is so polarized to one side. Before I attend every interview I make sure to spend a few days on their website and try to put together 6 or 7 questions on things that weren't abundantly clear in a notepad. Then, during interview day, I'd ask some of the students a few of them and end up asking 2 or 3 of them to my interviewer. I do this because the questions I ask are important should I receive and acceptance and have to determine whether or not I would be a good fit. I do it personally because I like having those questions on hand instead of having to memorize them and risk forgetting an important one. I would only avoid it if you're trying to bring one just for the formality.


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[Mellophone5]

Some schools specifically tell you that you won't need one. in that case, follow their directions.
I've never had to use a notepad at my interviews. Don't sweat it if everyone has one and you don't

On the other hand, a folder does come in handy as some schools will not provide you with one and you'll need something to place the papers they give you in.

 

[sleepyhead22]

I bought a padfolio on amazon for like $12 before my interviews. I liked being able to toss everything in it (including the folder they gave out at interviews) and not be fumbling around with stuff. I also liked having something to hold during tours because I'm awkward with my hands. I never actually used the notepad to write things down- it was more of a security item for me lol.

 

[LizzyM]

I'm honestly shocked that the response is so polarized to one side. Before I attend every interview I make sure to spend a few days on their website and try to put together 6 or 7 questions on things that weren't abundantly clear in a notepad. Then, during interview day, I'd ask some of the students a few of them and end up asking 2 or 3 of them to my interviewer. I do this because the questions I ask are important should I receive and acceptance and have to determine whether or not I would be a good fit. I do it personally because I like having those questions on hand instead of having to memorize them and risk forgetting an important one. I would only avoid it if you're trying to bring one just for the formality.


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Anyone who prefers to travel light may be able to write a couple questions on the 3x5 card and slip it into a pocket. What gets my goat is having someone who is trying to carry a padfolio and a beverage and then realizes that they can't shake hands with the interviewer. Awkward.

 

[whosthatgirl12]

.

 

[WhittyPsyche]

I don't know, from what I've seen the people with the big notepads or journals are so obsessed with writing every single word they hear that they have their head down furiously writing the entire time. It starts to come off a bit antisocial because they don't make eye contact with anyone that comes in to speak with the group, nor with the other interviewers.

And let's be honest, most of the information given on an interview day a clear cut info that we already know or could find on the website. There are only a couple things worth writing down.


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[Endoxifen]

I'm of the opinion that, if you want to write something down, you should bring a pocket journal like a Moleskine. You don't need an a canvas-sized sketchbook.

 

[iandraggia]

Anyone who prefers to travel light may be able to write a couple questions on the 3x5 card and slip it into a pocket. What gets my goat is having someone who is trying to carry a padfolio and a beverage and then realizes that they can't shake hands with the interviewer. Awkward.

If only a couple of questions, then sure. But if I had a bunch of questions, I'd rather give myself enough space to jot down bullet points without having everything I'm writing cramped together. I find it difficult to imagine an adcom looking more favorably on bringing in a 3x5 notecard for questions + corresponding notes than bringing a notepad with enough space to keep everything organized. To each their own.

What irks me is when people bring a blank notepad or padfolio, only for the purposes of looking more refined. I'd imagine adcoms can read straight through the BS though.

 

[LizzyM]

If only a couple of questions, then sure. But if I had a bunch of questions, I'd rather give myself enough space to jot down bullet points without having everything I'm writing cramped together. I find it difficult to imagine an adcom looking more favorably on bringing in a 3x5 notecard for questions + corresponding notes than bringing a notepad with enough space to keep everything organized. To each their own.

What irks me is when people bring a blank notepad or padfolio, only for the purposes of looking more refined. I'd imagine adcoms can read straight through the BS though.

What irked me was an applicant who pulled out a sheet of legal paper, or perhaps it was two sheets joined together (it looked like a cartoon version of a Santa list) while he said, "mind if I ask you a few questions?"

No one is going to be critical of having a padfolio but be coordinated enough to be able to carry it, and a drink (if you must) and shake hands. If you aren't that coordinated, a small stack of 3 x 5 cards will do the job (best friend of the clinician, and they fit in a pocket).

 

[Pedsmd2b]

I bring a padfolio to take notes. It has helped me compare and write down questions I have for each during interview days.

 

[Wcm21]

I bring a padfolio for notes as others said but mostly to have a place to put my stuff. I'm a girl and my suit has no pockets so needed some place to store phone/ID/keys