Do you like staying with a student host for interviews?

[dbeast]

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Discuss.

 

[eli20]

Pros:
Great source of information about their school
Free (save money on hotel)
Can be a stress reducer if you know your host can take you right where you need to be in the morning.
Get a chance to "peek" into the life of a med student

Cons:
All hosts are not created equal
Sometimes before an interview I want to just chill out by myself and not have to work at speaking to a stranger.
In one particular instance, I had a host who was roommates with a student who was actually on the adcom (I don't think this is standard practice at all, and it has the potential to be a good or bad thing, but just putting the possibility out there)

 

[wolverinepwns]

NO, becuase I don't feel comfortable taking my PRE-GAME dump in their room.

 

[dbeast]

NO, becuase I don't feel comfortable taking my PRE-GAME dump in their room.

Protip: Do it right before you shower so it has time to air out without anybody going in the bathroom.

 

[Barcu]

I do like to stay with hosts.

You can't beat the price (even though all of them aren't free, they are still cheaper than a hotel).

Plus, getting a chance to meet a host gives you a chance to meet a bunch of other students as well. This might give you some vibes into the student body. And you get some good interview answers when you listen to your host talk about their school.

I've done both a host and a hotel. I will admit the hotel is nice (because I really, really love staying in hotels by myself). Still, I think the host is a better experience. It gives you a much better impression of the school (get to talk with students, see where they live, hang out, etc).

 

[mitchlucker]

Haven't done it yet, but I'm definitely going to everywhere possible.

Usually the students who offer themselves to host interviewees are more social, so you get a better taste of the social scene and the type of people who go to the school. Usually these people have connections with faculty as well and admissions WILL get wind of what type of person you are.

Just be very friendly, polite and be open to do stuff, whatever it is.

I know students who have hosted and been hosted, so I'm actually looking forward to it.

 

[panasonic52]

I've never stayed with a host, but I enjoy the quiet time to myself before the big day so I can relax. I think I do better that way.

 

[addo]

I stayed with student hosts at 4/10 schools. Definitely enjoyable and worth it (saved at least $500).

 

[OrkidLover]

I only stayed with a host once. It was a helpful and friendly experience. But my later interviews I just paid for hotel rooms. It's just nice to be able to make a mess and do whatever you want. I cannot go #2 in other people's homes.

 

[catswym]

like folks have said: you can't beat the price. And usually the convenience too as the student will take you to the school.

But I agree that not all hosts are created equally. I had one host who was super friendly and talked with me about the school and their experience. We went out to dinner and then she left me alone to relax before sleeping. I had another host who told me if I was hungry I could make pasta in the kitchen for dinner and then didn't speak to me for the rest of the time I was there.

 

[NickNaylor]

Cheaper is always better.

 

[DancinSarah]

NO, becuase I don't feel comfortable taking my PRE-GAME dump in their room.

I cannot go #2 in other people's homes.

Is this fear common

 

[enterthepanda]

I think staying with a host can be informative and great, but the night before an interview, I like the flexibility of staying in a hotel by myself. I wish I could stay with a host the night AFTER the interview - could ask lots of questions, get a feel for the school, all without the stress of worrying about the interview.

 

[addo]

Is this fear common

Yea, youd be surprised at the number of people I have come across that are terrified of taking a dump anywhere besides their home, or I guess a hotel room. Strangers, friends, and sometimes public restrooms are off limit. Weird 😕

 

[fletch575]

100% Hotels...I can't sleep at other people's houses. I end up just staring at the ceiling forever or waking up randomly throughout the night. (and yes obviously there is no way i can drop a Pre-Game Duece at a strangers house)

 

[curlytop]

Hotels, no question about it. I like the freedom of doing whatever I want the night before, it's relaxing and I actually look forward to it.

But mostly it's because I like being able to take an obscene amount of time in the bathroom in the morning for showering and hair/makeup.

 

[medicalmatins]

I loved staying with host students for 2/5 interviews. Both times, it was very informative to drive around the town and hear the way they thought (by talking to them about whatever--the weather, say). I could ask myself whether I could live in this place, and I could see a little about what sort of student School X admits.

Both of my hosts were kind enough to leave me lots of quiet time (they had to study, after all) while also making some polite conversation. They also both took me to the interview (since they had to go to the same building complex that morning, anyways). Took a big load off my shoulders while answering a lot of questions I wouldn't've felt brave enough to ask the tour guides (what's stressing you out right now? What don't you like? Is this a good place to bicycle?) 🙂