I read that a common interview prompt is simply, "Teach me something." What factors/qualities are adcom interviewers looking at or looking for with this prompt? And what are some safe bets and pitfalls? Thanks.
Expected Interview Prompt
- Thread starter WorldWiz
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Where did you see this? I've never run into that prompt on my interview trail, nor have I seen it on any interview feedback pages I've seen on SDN while I was prepping last year.
"The Medical School Interview: Secrets and a System for Success" by Jeremiah Fleenor, MD, MBA
I don't really remember what originally led me to buy this book in particular, but part of the reason may have been that it was an Amazon Best Seller.
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I got something similar in an interview once, actually one of my favorite interviews. He asked me to teach him something I learned in my neuroscience classes as if I were teaching a 4th grader. He seemed really pleased with how I did, and he talked about how teaching is essential in medicine. I'm not sure if that was his only goal, but I think he just wanted to see how I could simplify a complicated topic.
I know a couple of my classmates have used that when interviewing applicants. I think if it's left really open-ended and you can teach anything you want, teach something you're passionate about. One of my friends interviewed someone who taught her how to throw a curve ball or something because the applicant played baseball. I don't think there would be any pitfalls to avoid other than obviously avoiding controversial things. Just be creative and talk about what you know. It's hard to say what the interviewer is looking for, if they're looking for anything at all.
