can we take pictures? should we take notes?

[AbujaMan]

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So i have a question about interview day, most notably the tour. so i know i should look interested and try to ask questions since you never know who could be watching.. but is it normal for students to take notes during the tours? How about taking pictures of the campus during the tour?

Anyone have general pointers on what you should be thinking during the tour besides for trying not to get lost in the sea of suits?

thanks!!

 

[medking]

So i have a question about interview day, most notably the tour. so i know i should look interested and try to ask questions since you never know who could be watching.. but is it normal for students to take notes during the tours? How about taking pictures of the campus during the tour?

Anyone have general pointers on what you should be thinking during the tour besides for trying not to get lost in the sea of suits?

thanks!!

Of course you shouldn't look like you are not interested at all during the tour, but just walking around with the group is fine. I don't think you need to worry about "looking good" during a tour. Of course you want to be courteous and professional. If you have questions, fire them away. Those are precious times to get to know the school and atmosphere.

As far as pictures go, I didn't see anybody taking pictures during the tour. If you want to take pictures of the school, just take them when you have free time (before or after all the scheduled fun for interview day)

 

[FlowLimited]

So i have a question about interview day, most notably the tour. so i know i should look interested and try to ask questions since you never know who could be watching.. but is it normal for students to take notes during the tours? How about taking pictures of the campus during the tour?

Anyone have general pointers on what you should be thinking during the tour besides for trying not to get lost in the sea of suits?

thanks!!

I occasionally saw people take notes during a tour, but I never saw anyone take pictures. The point of the tour is to get a feel for the school, its facilities, and the student body. You can think about whatever you want.

 

[Kaydubz]

Oh man...I'm gonna be the dude snapping pictures of every nice view and each cool building.

 

[FlowLimited]

Oh man...I'm gonna be the dude snapping pictures of every nice view and each cool building.

TOURIST ALERT!

 

[Retsage]

So i have a question about interview day, most notably the tour. so i know i should look interested and try to ask questions since you never know who could be watching.. but is it normal for students to take notes during the tours? How about taking pictures of the campus during the tour?

My God.

Just...

My ****ing God. You cannot be serious.

 

[iA-MD2013]

My God.

Just...

My ****ing God. You cannot be serious.

Haha why? I think it's a legit question. I was planning (although I've never been to an interview before) to have a notebook just in case I want to write things down...but probably not write anything 😛

 

[FlowLimited]

Haha why? I think it's a legit question. I was planning (although I've never been to an interview before) to have a notebook just in case I want to write things down...but probably not write anything 😛

A notebook would be a great thing to have. They're going to be telling you little facts about the school community, buildings, and curriculum during the tour and these are all great things to consider when picking which school's for you. The stress and excitement of the day also tends to make you forget these little school nuances right as you hop in your car to leave. Hence the notebook idea is a good one.

 

[Law2Doc]

Don't take pictures or notes during the tour or interview. You can take notes during the financial aid session as they usually give you handouts you can write on. I would have a pad with you to jot down notes AT THE END OF THE DAY AFTER YOU LEAVE, so you can remember who you spoke to about what etc. But during the day, keep the pad/pen in your pocket, portfolio, handbag, etc. As for photos, if you must have them, double back after the day is done and snap them on your own. Don't do it on the tour.

 

[iA-MD2013]

A notebook would be a great thing to have. They're going to be telling you little facts about the school community, buildings, and curriculum during the tour and these are all great things to consider when picking which school's for you. The stress and excitement of the day also tends to make you forget these little school nuances right as you hop in your car to leave. Hence the notebook idea is a good one.

Thanks saqrfaraj...good to know. I'll be sure to write things down, then.

 

[FlowLimited]

Don't take pictures or notes during the tour or interview. You can take notes during the financial aid session as they usually give you handouts you can write on. I would have a pad with you to jot down notes AT THE END OF THE DAY AFTER YOU LEAVE, so you can remember who you spoke to about what etc. But during the day, keep the pad/pen in your pocket, portfolio, handbag, etc. As for photos, if you must have them, double back after the day is done and snap them on your own. Don't do it on the tour.

Law2Doc is right too. A notebook is good, but you want to be paying attention to the tour and especially the interviewer. Jot down notes when you have some downtime, but try to hold off when you're conversing.

 

[CCLCMer]

So i have a question about interview day, most notably the tour. so i know i should look interested and try to ask questions since you never know who could be watching.. but is it normal for students to take notes during the tours? How about taking pictures of the campus during the tour?

Anyone have general pointers on what you should be thinking during the tour besides for trying not to get lost in the sea of suits?

thanks!!

Taking notes during the tour will make you seem a little odd or maybe OCD, and taking pictures during the tour will prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that you're a total freak. Here's what you need to do. Before you come to the interview, read up on the school. Go to their website, and read all the info on there. Write down a few questions that you have about the program or student life or whatever. When you get to the interview, you will have some clue what the tour guide is talking about, and you can ask intelligent questions that show you know something about the program. Just don't go crazy and dominate the whole conversation. Pay attention to what the tour guide is saying and act interested. That shouldn't be so hard to do if you're at an interview, because you probably wouldn't be there if you weren't interested in that school, right?

 

[MilkmanAl]

Taking notes during the tour will make you seem a little odd or maybe OCD, and taking pictures during the tour will prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that you're a total freak. Here's what you need to do.

That was my initial thought almost verbatim. Making yourself look like a complete tool isn't exactly what you're after on interview day. If something interests you enough that you'll want to ask your interviewers about it, you'll remember it for the the hour between the tour and your interview.

 

[Hurricane95]

That's what I asked her when...um, nevermind.

 

[funkydrmonkey]

Wait... what exactly is so wrong about taking pictures during the tour? I was actually planning to... I guess not anymore...

 

[bugalow121]

That's what I asked her when...um, nevermind.

<----this is how i orgasm

 

[RySerr21]

Wait... what exactly is so wrong about taking pictures during the tour? I was actually planning to... I guess not anymore...

I second this comment. I'm not sure what the big deal is about taking pictures.... maybe cuz it makes you look like a tourist? thats my best explanation, but i still dont see the big deal.

 

[MilkmanAl]

is it normal for students to take notes during the tours?

That's what I asked her when...um, nevermind.

I know med students are analytical, but come on, man!

<----this is how i orgasm

For some reason, this reminds me that one of my friends pledged that if he ever got one wish from a genie, he'd wish that everyone emphatically screamed his entire name every time they had an orgasm. That's provided 5 years of random laughs for me.

 

[Kaydubz]

I know med students are analytical, but come on, man!

For some reason, this reminds me that one of my friends pledged that if he ever got one wish from a genie, he'd wish that everyone emphatically screamed his entire name every time they had an orgasm. That's provided 5 years of random laughs for me.

random laughs, or random screaming of said friend's name?

 

[MilkmanAl]

A little of both. 🙁

 

[Virgil]

A little of both. 🙁

😱

 

[ANF1986]

Why stop at taking pictures? Might as well go all out and bring your video camera with you. Hell, tell them your making a documentary...lol

 

[bcat85]

Um. So guys, I'm going on an interview pretty soon, and I was sort of wondering... is it common to bring your own horse to ride so you don't get sweaty on the tour?

 

[JackInTheBox]

Um. So guys, I'm going on an interview pretty soon, and I was sort of wondering... is it common to bring your own horse to ride so you don't get sweaty on the tour?

I'm going to hire a rickshaw. I figure that the small expense now won't be that big of a deal compared to the money I'll be spending on tuition.

 

[iduwanna]

Why stop at taking pictures? Might as well go all out and bring your video camera with you.

During a Dean's welcome last year I heard a loud, breathy whispering of "here we are at a interview in beautiful Toledo, Ohio..."

I turned to look and it was some douche with a video camera. WTF are people going to do with these pictures/videos? Show their kids a slide-show of their med school interviews?

 

[DrYoda]

During a Dean's welcome last year I heard a loud, breathy whispering of "here we are at a interview in beautiful Toledo, Ohio..."

I turned to look and it was some douche with a video camera. WTF are people going to do with these pictures/videos? Show their kids a slide-show of their med school interviews?

. That just made my day.

 

[xanthomondo]

Um. So guys, I'm going on an interview pretty soon, and I was sort of wondering... is it common to bring your own horse to ride so you don't get sweaty on the tour?

hahaha imagine someone trying to segway their way around the tour

 

[deleted74029]

I think it will make you look superficial if you bring a camera, and like a tool if you're taking notes.

 

[Electrophile]

I don't see a problem with either, especially if you're interviewing at a lot of schools and they start to run together. I think a jotting a few notes in a discrete little memo pad or planner would be fine. Our tours are usually given by student ambassadors who have no say in the interview process, so who cares? Just don't take any pictures if you're allowed to tour in the anatomy lab. Please. 🙄

 

[URHere]

It's hard to put into words exactly why taking pictures during a tour is so weird, but trust those who have been there - you would be "that kid". You don't want to be that kid.

When you are on your tour, you will either be walking right behind your tour guide and listening to them or in the back talking to other interviewees. If you bring your camera along, not only do you lose the chance of really having any conversations without breaking away for a photo every few moments, but you also will miss much of what your tour guide is saying and you may even fall behind the group and get lost. You don't want any of these things to happen.

If you have your heart set on taking pictures during your tours, I would urge you to at least try out your first interview without doing so. After that you should understand why so many people are balking at this idea.

 

[Dulcina]

man i dont see the big deal with notes or cameras either.

I was planning on taking pictures, mostly because I take pictures of everything, everywhere I go.

 

[Hurricane95]

What do people take notes on exactly? I never quite understood the dire need to spend the entire interview writing things down...

"Lecture hall: nice red-brick building. Reminds me of the good 'ol revolutionary times. Made me feel warm and fuzzy inside. I may like it here."

I only jotted down a couple of contact emails and that's it.

 

[MilkmanAl]

Yep, I took names of my interviewers. That's all.

 

[Law2Doc]

I don't see a problem with either, especially if you're interviewing at a lot of schools and they start to run together. I think a jotting a few notes in a discrete little memo pad or planner would be fine. Our tours are usually given by student ambassadors who have no say in the interview process, so who cares? Just don't take any pictures if you're allowed to tour in the anatomy lab. Please. 🙄

Um, if you are a vet student, then what relevance does what your tours are like at your school have to pre-allos?
At many med schools, the med students giving the tour certainly do have input in admissions, whether formal or informal. It's pretty common for the deans to ask these students informally whether there was anyone they had strong feelings about, one way or the other. Similarly, even the receptionist on interview day may have input. Assume that EVERYONE you see and meet on interview day gets input. A good many might. If you come across badly you can bet someone will hear about it. As I suggested before, take notes after leaving, and take pictures when you are on your own, not part of the organized tour. This isn't a tourist event. It's a brief walk-by of the facilities. Your only role there is to listen attentively, and ask any questions you may have.

 

[pianola]

Don't take pictures or notes during the tour or interview. You can take notes during the financial aid session as they usually give you handouts you can write on. I would have a pad with you to jot down notes AT THE END OF THE DAY AFTER YOU LEAVE, so you can remember who you spoke to about what etc. But during the day, keep the pad/pen in your pocket, portfolio, handbag, etc. As for photos, if you must have them, double back after the day is done and snap them on your own. Don't do it on the tour.

👍

Can you imagine being the kid saying "Wait, wait, wait -- just going to take one more. Could you please move the cadaver a little bit to the left? A little more? Thanks, that's perfect."

Obviously someone out there disagrees with me:

 

[Gut Shot]

Anyone have general pointers on what you should be thinking during the tour besides for trying not to get lost in the sea of suits?

Contrary to some opinions, there is nothing wrong with getting lost in a sea of suits during the tour. The best you can do (and still look like a normal, functioning, self-aware human being) is to have some engaging conversation with the tour guides. Pretty much everything else that will make you stand out will be something odd that can either hurt you or provide no benefit.

 

[Jolie South]

i agree with what's been said. just say no to taking pictures and jotting notes during the tour.

you will stand out as the "weird" guy if you do either. i never saw this on the interview trail last year.

the only acceptable time to jot down notes during the interview is if you need to get contact info for an interviewer or office staff, but even then, they're likely to give you a business card.

i should also note that you will most likely receive a packet of literature with all kinds of ridiculous factoids about the school i.e. "XYZ school has the number one patient simulator in the world"

 

[gettheleadout]

what?

 

[BJJ]

Hey people I am new to this post .SO please help me to get more idea about this.
Regards,
Karneval Kostüme

you've got some nice costumes there. I could totally see myself in this one

 

[Ursa]

There was a girl once...with a camera...on a tour. She snapped a picture...and no one ever saw her again.

 

[EpicBearMan]

I tried to take pictures in the middle of my med school tours, but my beak kept getting in the way and I couldn't see what I was doing 🙁.

 

[EpicBearMan]

But seriously, you could get away with a couple pictures if you are on an outdoor tour with a significant walk between buildings and the guide takes a break from their talk. During most tours however, most of the time will be spent moving around indoors with someone talking to you. Taking pictures while you are walking along talking / listening to someone just doesn't work very well. If the campus or surrounding area is pretty, swing by later to take some better pictures. I did just that at a couple schools.

 

[NickNaylor]

I always take pictures with my phone on the tour. Helps me remember places.

 

[armybound]

old thread is old, but...

we get people taking pictures from our helipad sometimes. it has a good view of the city.

never, ever seen anyone take a picture of our gross lab or anything, though. if your memory sucks that bad you might not be fit for med school 🙂

 

[rhesuspieces]

I always take pictures with my phone on the tour. Helps me remember places.

That's different. I wouldn't think twice about seeing someone whip out a phone and snap a picture. However, there's just something about pulling out a camera that seems inappropriate in the context of a tour.

 

[Ursa]

that's different. I wouldn't think twice about seeing someone whip out a phone and snap a picture. However, there's just something about pulling out a camera that seems inappropriate in the context of a tour.

+1

 

[meanderthal]

Wait... what exactly is so wrong about taking pictures during the tour? I was actually planning to... I guess not anymore...

also if you're touring a hospital and break out the camera you might be violating patient privacy rules.