Bringing Up Negative Elements in Interviews

[mechtel]

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I was reading the Medical School Interview 'Secrets' book by Jeremiah Fleenor today and one thing he suggests is to mention negative elements during an interview and address them so that the interviewer can advocate on your behalf while presenting to adcom. While I found the book insightful (remarkably so given that it is written by someone who wrote it at time of residency and from my reading only interviewed students for a committe letter and not in the capacity of any actual adcom--correct me if i am mistaken), I tended to disagree with this assertion.

I'm inclined to protray myself in best light possible. I wanted to know if anyone else was of the opinion that candidates should specifically try to adress negative elements if not specifically asked.

Also, possible weakpoints in my application are as follows:
I did signfificant clinical research with abstract and poster presentation for major conference, but did not publish a paper.
I repeated one course and withrew from another.

How important is it that research experience end in a publication? Which of the above is more serious and should I mention either?

Thank you very much for any insights!

 

[lord_jeebus]

I think it could be a good strategy IF you think you're hitting it off with your interviewer and believe they will go to bat for you.

I would not worry about lack of a publication and would not bring it up. If someone asks, just say that the paper has not been submitted "yet."

As for the academic issue, that may be worth explaining if you have a good reason (as opposed to a lame-sounding excuse).

 

[DrYoda]

I did signfificant clinical research with abstract and poster presentation for major conference, but did not publish a paper.

I don't think this is a big deal, most premeds don't publish.

 

[mechtel]

I think it could be a good strategy IF you think you're hitting it off with your interviewer and believe they will go to bat for you.

I would not worry about lack of a publication and would not bring it up. If someone asks, just say that the paper has not been submitted "yet."

As for the academic issue, that may be worth explaining if you have a good reason (as opposed to a lame-sounding excuse).

RE: Academic Issues--
Repeat was one quarter of a prereq in which I got a B+ the first time and then an A. I realize now how ridiculous this was. My response would be, "I set very high standards and sometimes do not live up to my own standards. However, I learned to take a step back and focus on learning. In fact, later in my academic career I took risks with X and Y very advanced courses and managed to do very well while focusing only on engaging my curiosity."

Withdraw was due to sickness and had ADA exception. I think this is valid excuse, but fear being stigmaited due to past illness. My response would be to the effect of "I decided my health was most important and focused on recovering my strength. I have since undertaken full work and coureload with extensive travel, etc. etc. and am confident that I could handle the demands of medical school."

If it helps give more picture, I was a good student with 3.9 GPA from top research university, so I do believe I am academically qualified.

Would you mention either if not specifically asked if you were me?

 

[lord_jeebus]

Neither seems like a big deal, I would not bring up either of them. I doubt that either of them would come up in an interview or a committee meeting.

 

[BlueElmo]

Generall I would explain my weak points only if prompted by my interview. I wouldn't bring it up point-blank. At least that's how I will approach my interviews.

 

[dingyibvs]

I tried not mentioning my weak spots, which was easy since my interviews were either blind or the interviewer didn't mention them. Didn't really work.

If you have a major weakness, you'd be naive to think that the entire adcom will overlook it. It is VERY possible that an interviewer could miss it and not ask about it, especially for a blind interview, obviously, but don't think the entire adcom will as well. So be proactive and address the issue first so you get the first word and hopefully your interviewer will relay it to the adcom so you'll have the first word there as well. If it's something irrelevant like a research not being published, then don't mention it, but if it's something important like a few terrible semesters, then don't hesistate

 

[mechtel]

No terrible semesters, just a B+ i somehow decided to retake and a withdrawal from a lab course that i physically could not complete at the time.

 

[dingyibvs]

It's probably not a big issue then, I wouldn't mention it unless they want to talk about it. I highly doubt that the adcom or especially the interviewer would notice a retake. The W may get some discussion, but I wouldn't mention it if it's not brought up either.

 

[LiveUninhibited]

No terrible semesters, just a B+ i somehow decided to retake and a withdrawal from a lab course that i physically could not complete at the time.

Weakness for grades would be any course <B-, or a GPA of either type below interquartile range for that school.

Weakness for research would be having none, or being in a research lab but only washing beakers and never being given any responsibility.

The way I would approach it is if you're in the interquartile range for those accepted, it's not really a major strength or weakness. >75% of matriculants likely have a B or A in organic chemistry, so if you got a C that's a weakness. So if you're below, it's a weakness, if you're above, it's a strength. IMO... sounds reasonable to me at least.

It's interesting you should bring all of this up, as Fleenor advises you to focus on double-edged strengths when they ask about weaknesses. The double-edged part wasn't his wording, but that's what he meant. Attributes that are simultaneously strengths and weaknesses.

So I guess maybe for your weaknesses, you could try to turn them into double-edged attributes when possible. For example if somebody got a C in o-chem and retook it for an A, that shows they can do it and take responsibility to ensure they learn what they need to and persevere.

 

[dw2158]

Generall I would explain my weak points only if prompted by my interview. I wouldn't bring it up point-blank. At least that's how I will approach my interviews.

👍

and, i don't know... i tend to feel like all "explanations" for bad grades sound like excuses. unless it's something along the lines of "i was immature and didn't work hard enough but i realized this and look at me now." that, to me, suggests that you're taking responsibility for your record instead of looking to outside sources (however legit they may be) to explain away your grades. JMO.

(FWIW, i briefly debated putting something in one of my secondaries about my short streak of "bad" grades and decided against it for the above reasons, basically.)

 

[dw2158]

No terrible semesters, just a B+ i somehow decided to retake and a withdrawal from a lab course that i physically could not complete at the time.

IMO, this is 150% NOT worth mentioning. unless you're asked directly about it.

 

[mechtel]

Oh wow... I got interview #8 from Penn this morning. 😍

Thank you all for your advice.

 

[Phosphorus Ylide]

Oh wow... I got interview #8 from Penn this morning. 😍

Thank you all for your advice.

# 8? Hey, give me one of those interviews. lol😛

 

[Jolie South]

I wouldn't bring up any weaknesses unless directly asked by your interviewer. If asked, then I would avoid making excuses for mistakes and own up to them. Say how you have corrected whatever problem led to the mistake.

I think that we can overestimate how serious some things are and how much people care about them. Lack of a publication is not something that I would consider major.

 

[LizzyM]

I was reading the Medical School Interview 'Secrets' book by Jeremiah Fleenor today and one thing he suggests is to mention negative elements during an interview and address them so that the interviewer can advocate on your behalf while presenting to adcom.

If you are on a first date, are you going to point out that huge zit on your chin? Are you going to say that the problem is that you planned poorly and ran out of clearasil? You need to play up your positives and hope that the zit gets overlooked given the power of your charm, brains, and wit.

Don't bring up a negative unless the interviewer brings it up first.