Feeling ‘rusty’?

[studiene]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Has anyone ever felt ‘rusty’ while on the interview trail?
I’ve been fortunate enough to have had two prior interviews (which led to acceptances, but that’s beside the point), both in early/mid September. I have another interview this Thursday, but as just mentioned, it’s been over two months since I last had one. I’ve reviewed my app again and looked over questions that I’ve been asked in my past interviews, but I’m not sure I feel as ‘sharp’ as I did in September.
Is this a normal thing or am I just being irrational? 😵

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Has anyone ever felt ‘rusty’ while on the interview trail?
I’ve been fortunate enough to have had two prior interviews (which led to acceptances, but that’s beside the point), both in early/mid September. I have another interview this Thursday, but as just mentioned, it’s been over two months since I last had one. I’ve reviewed my app again and looked over questions that I’ve been asked in my past interviews, but I’m not sure I feel as ‘sharp’ as I did in September.
Is this a normal thing or am I just being irrational? 😵

You're probably not going to get much sympathy having 3 interviews when a lot of people here have 0. Prepare for accusations of humblebragging.

 

[de Ribas]

I’ve been fortunate enough to have had two prior interviews (which led to acceptances

 

[ChymeofPassion]

This is really bad. In fact, I know a guy that had a school he had a rusty interview at contact AMCAS on grounds of misrepresenting his interview skills at schools he was previously accepted too. Got all of his acceptances rescinded. I'd start by looking into improving your technique or preparing for reapplication.

 

[ihadahamsandwich]

Has anyone ever felt ‘rusty’ while on the interview trail?
I’ve been fortunate enough to have had two prior interviews (which led to acceptances, but that’s beside the point), both in early/mid September. I have another interview this Thursday, but as just mentioned, it’s been over two months since I last had one. I’ve reviewed my app again and looked over questions that I’ve been asked in my past interviews, but I’m not sure I feel as ‘sharp’ as I did in September.
Is this a normal thing or am I just being irrational? 😵

Get a few mock interviews in before to freshen up!

 

[studiene]

You're probably not going to get much sympathy having 3 interviews when a lot of people here have 0. Prepare for accusations of humblebragging.

Not bragging by any means. I threw that in there to show that my interviewing skills in general must not be all that bad if I managed to pull that off. I genuinely just feel this way and was looking to see if I was alone on this.

This is really bad. In fact, I know a guy that had a school he had a rusty interview at contact AMCAS on grounds of misrepresenting his interview skills at schools he was previously accepted too. Got all of his acceptances rescinded. I'd start by looking into improving your technique or preparing for reapplication.

Okay, I don’t think I’m /that/ rusty...

Get a few mock interviews in before to freshen up!

If I had the time I’d consider that! But alas I do not

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Not bragging by any means. I threw that in there to show that my interviewing skills in general must not be all that bad if I managed to pull that off. I genuinely just feel this way and was looking to see if I was alone on this.

Having 3 interviews doesn't imply that your interview skills are good. Having acceptances implies that your interview skills are at least average. And this is just about the time where people with no IIs are feeling super ****ty as they prepare to reapply next year. Timing was not super great for this thread that boasts about having 3 IIs and "worrying" that your interview skills have declined. Just saying. It doesn't apply to me, so I don't really care. I just wanted to prepare you for either a lack of answers or a bunch of haterade.

 

[studiene]

Having 3 interviews doesn't imply that your interview skills are good. Having acceptances implies that your interview skills are at least average. And this is just about the time where people with no IIs are feeling super ****ty as they prepare to reapply next year. Timing was not super great for this thread that boasts about having 3 IIs and "worrying" that your interview skills have declined. Just saying. It doesn't apply to me, so I don't really care. I just wanted to prepare you for either a lack of answers or a bunch of haterade.

I didn't mean to come off that way whatsoever! So if I did, I apologize. I guess I am just overthinking this too much. Thank you.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

I didn't mean to come off that way whatsoever! So if I did, I apologize. I guess I am just overthinking this too much. Thank you.

Yeah, you are. You can't really judge your own interview skills, and if you have no acceptances or rejections yet, you can't really tell if you have issues interviewing. I'd just shake off the rust by practicing talking without doing any tics or **** like that. Not much else to do besides the stuff you normally do to prep for an interview.

Edit: just looked at this on the computer. Does your sig mean you have 2 acceptances already? If so, then your interview skills are fine. Don't freak out.

 

[studiene]

Yeah, you are. You can't really judge your own interview skills, and if you have no acceptances or rejections yet, you can't really tell if you have issues interviewing. I'd just shake off the rust by practicing talking without doing any tics or **** like that. Not much else to do besides the stuff you normally do to prep for an interview.

Edit: just looked at this on the computer. Does your sig mean you have 2 acceptances already? If so, then your interview skills are fine. Don't freak out.

You’re definitely right there. I’ll probably just talk to myself on the car ride, lol. Thank you for your tips, I appreciate your taking the time to answer me. And again, I want to apologize because I truly did not mean to cause anyone hard feelings. Good luck in the rest of the application cycle!

 

[snowballll]

Has anyone ever felt ‘rusty’ while on the interview trail?
I’ve been fortunate enough to have had two prior interviews (which led to acceptances, but that’s beside the point), both in early/mid September. I have another interview this Thursday, but as just mentioned, it’s been over two months since I last had one. I’ve reviewed my app again and looked over questions that I’ve been asked in my past interviews, but I’m not sure I feel as ‘sharp’ as I did in September.
Is this a normal thing or am I just being irrational? 😵

I definitely feel that way so I'm thinking it's normal! I'm basically in the same situation as you and am out of "interview mode" so to speak which is slightly worrisome, haha. But I'm thinking that once you get closer to Thursday, some of those interview nerves will kick in again and you'll do great! Good luck! 🙂

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

You’re definitely right there. I’ll probably just talk to myself on the car ride, lol. Thank you for your tips, I appreciate your taking the time to answer me. And again, I want to apologize because I truly did not mean to cause anyone hard feelings. Good luck in the rest of the application cycle!

Thanks but I’m in a linked program already. Good luck in your interview.

 

[studiene]

I definitely feel that way so I'm thinking it's normal! I'm basically in the same situation as you and am out of "interview mode" so to speak which is slightly worrisome, haha. But I'm thinking that once you get closer to Thursday, some of those interview nerves will kick in again and you'll do great! Good luck! 🙂

Thank you! This was reassuring to know that I’m not the only one who felt that way and I wasn’t actually going completely crazy. You were correct though in that everything seemed to come back to me come the big day 😛

Thanks but I’m in a linked program already. Good luck in your interview.

Oh, I see. I was not aware, so congrats on that! I’m sure you’ll make an amazing doctor 🙂

 

[amerepedestrian]

I’m definitely starting to feel burnt out and less motivated to prep for interviews after going on 4 interviews already, and I am relatedly wondering if your acceptances are making you feel a bit complacent. You’ve probably been stressed for months (if not years) about “getting into med school” as this abstract achievement. Now it’s happened, and your mind is more relaxed. Maybe even less motivated to earn the approval of subsequent ad-coms. I guarantee someone with more of a dog in this fight is doing their damnedest not to feel rusty. Two weeks ago, I would have been obsessively researching the upcoming schools well in advance. Now I’m just reflecting on how I could be living practically anywhere in the country next year, and how the contents of my future—my very reality—depend largely on the decisions of people in suits chatting at a distant table.

Part of my own burnout is that I kind of have my heart set on 2/4 schools, but I’ve been accepted to one that was just okay to me. I think in addition to lack of practice, it’s normal to just feel overwhelmed by this chaotic process. This isn’t a humblebrag—I remind myself constantly that people would kill to be in my position, and I should be infinitely thankful. I used that reminder to help me prepare for #4 when I really felt like “honestly though #1 can you just accept me so I can stop having to travel and miss work?” Bottom line: I think preparation is an antidote to both apathy and anxiety. You should practice for the interview and treat it like one of the most important days of your life, because it very well may be. So much of this process is unpredictable and out of your control. Control what you can and leave the rest to the Powers That Be (the adcoms). Peace.