Did my interview go poorly?

[YoungMoneyMint]

I just had an interview at a T15, and my student interview went phenomenally (it was extremely conversational and we connected very well.)

However, my faculty interview felt a little more like an interrogation. She asked me several pretty difficult questions about my research that I wasn’t able to answer (although I’ve heard from current medical students at the school that this shouldn’t impact my interview score, as it was likely out of genuine interest — she’s a professor within my field.) Other than that, I was questioned pretty extensively about my first-gen/low-income/non-Ivy background (some questions were pretty tough and I’m not sure I gave the best answers). Throughout, I stayed gracious and positive (smiling a ton!), and I managed to have a good conversation by the end with them, where she concluded with “you’re going to go far.”

My question is: does the latter constitute a good interview? I was screaming internally throughout but I mostly kept my composure and was as authentic as possible. I would otherwise think this was a pretty poor showing, but their comment at the end is giving me pause.

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[Goro]

I just had an interview at a T15, and my student interview went phenomenally (it was extremely conversational and we connected very well.)

However, my faculty interview felt a little more like an interrogation. She asked me several pretty difficult questions about my research that I wasn’t able to answer (although I’ve heard from current medical students at the school that this shouldn’t impact my interview score, as it was likely out of genuine interest — she’s a professor within my field.) Other than that, I was questioned pretty extensively about my first-gen/low-income/non-Ivy background (some questions were pretty tough and I’m not sure I gave the best answers). Throughout, I stayed gracious and positive (smiling a ton!), and I managed to have a good conversation by the end with them, where she concluded with “you’re going to go far.”

My question is: does the latter constitute a good interview? I was screaming internally throughout but I mostly kept my composure and was as authentic as possible. I would otherwise think this was a pretty poor showing, but their comment at the end is giving me pause.

Without being at the interview, it's impossible to answer your question.

But I would not hang all of your hopes on that last comment by the interviewer, because we are all trained to be polite. No interviewer is ever going to tell you "you suck, you'll get into this school Over My Dead body."

Also keep in mind that an individual interviewer may love you, but get out voted by the rest of the admissions committee.

This interview is done. Over. You can't change the past, so now it's time to move on to the next one

 

[a_distant_dream]

Prepare for the worst but don’t worry about it. You can’t change the past. The second interviewer could have been conducting a stress interview (usually done by the more senior interviewer at certain T15s).

 

[Angus Avagadro]

Sometimes, I pressure the applicant a little bit if I like them . Sometimes applicants claim to be involved with research and upon closer questioning, they don't know much about the research or subject. True, I wouldn't consider it a big deficiency. I also like to see how they handle themselves under pressure. On the other hand, I sometimes ask an open ended question and argue with whatever position they take to see if their response is genuine and how their decision making tree works. The interview is mostly about getting to know you and would I want you to be my doctor. Agree with the above. The one being interviewed has the least sense of how it went. Often after a little pressure, I will conclude they held up well, even if they think I was pressuring them.

 

[YoungMoneyMint]

I hear all of you. Generally, my approach to interviews is to be as genuine, thoughtful, and calm as possible (how I say things vs what I say—within reason), and I’ve generally gotten feedback from past interviewers that I’m likable, even if I feel that I struggled with a few questions. Fingers crossed that my approach serves me well come future decision days! But upwards and onwards to the next.

 

[fogo]

I will say that I only received A's to schools where I knew I killed the interview. If it was even a bit lackluster, I got a WL or an R. Know that this whole process has a large element of luck involved -- including in the interview stage. As previous posters commented: hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

 

[YoungMoneyMint]

u rly called it a t15 😭😭

The only T5 schools are the schools that accept me

 

[willworkforsnacks01]

Just wanted to jump in here and say, probably nah. But you'll get into Mich.

 

[mlfpprf]

This could have been a stress interview where they may just try to make you feel pressured. I'm sure anyone can do that. There also may be a possibility that that faculty already made up their mind in the first few minutes, and that the interview is just "going through motions" so that "they have someone to reject" which is entirely possible. Without being there, we would not be able to come to any meaningful conclusions. The best bet is to look forward to the next one, as others said.