I have heard that many interviews can be conversational, where the interviewer just casually asks and talks about your ECs, etc. However, is it wise to keep the interview conversational or make it an opportunity to get across your points about why you would be a good doctor and fit for their school? Any advice from you more experienced people?
For those good at interviewing
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In my experience, conversational interviews that are uncomfortable or too comfortable will not favor you if you're application is middle of the road. If the interviewer grills you during the interview at all, from my limited experience it was was very favorable. If the interviewer is supposed to grill you, but does not do so too harshly or does so moderately, it won't go too well for you.
This is from my limited experience. In short, if it's a grilling interview, feel uncomfortable. If it's a conversational interview be comfortable and yourself. If you believe talking about certain points will help make you look more desirable then you certainly should bring up those points, but not in a way that it is obvious as to what you're doing or that by doing so it strays away from the stream of conversation.
Be a smooth talker, but a talker with insight and curiosity. Be yourself
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You don't want to be aggressive in your interview. If things are going conversationally then let them. If you can subtly insert selling points about yourself into your answers then do so, but to derail the interview by interrupting and driving home your points, or looking like you are desperately trying to read off a script and get your whole prepared spiel in, is not good.
At the end of almost every interview the interviewer will ask if there is anything you want to add or will somehow give you an opportunity to say something. This is when you can say a brief small bit about how much you like this particular school. Don't go into a 10 minute prepared speech. Just cover the ground you wished they had asked you about.
At the end of almost every interview the interviewer will ask if there is anything you want to add or will somehow give you an opportunity to say something. This is when you can say a brief small bit about how much you like this particular school. Don't go into a 10 minute prepared speech. Just cover the ground you wished they had asked you about.
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The worst interviewees relentlessly come back to their bullet points as if on a death march.
Would it be ok to ask the interviewers for their feedback right afterward? I don't know if you are suppose to do this or not. Since it is my first interview, I want to get immediate feedback and improve for the next time.
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Don't do this. It's not a mock interview.
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I agree. I think it's best to wait until a month or so or maybe even before your second interview. Most interviewers will be uncomfortable to tell you what they think of you straight to your face.
Haha yea this was a silly question.
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There's no such thing as a silly question. Just be happy you got some feedback before actually doing it.
But I agree, don't ask for feedback. I would only ask for feedback once you were rejected to find out what went wrong. If you end up being waitlisted or not accepted right away (because there is a difference), just focus on reminding the school that you are very interested and work on proving you would be a valuable asset to the school if they would accept you. Hopefully they will revisit your application later and the new information will help they see why you would be a great fit and really believe you want to go there. It worked for me!
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Don't be some pre-programmed talking points robot. Don't have a ton of practiced answers, I'm sure they can see through it. Just be organic and yourself.
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Things I've found out about interviews by messing up repeatedly:
1.) Maintain eye contact, but don't bore a hole through your interviewer's soul.
2.) smile occasionally
3.) If the interviewer compliments your app, say, 'Thank you.'
4.) give thorough answers to questions
5.) prepare to answer, 'Why this school?' and 'Why medicine?' Don't write scripts, but be able to recall a few key points
6.) Don't try to dominate and direct the conversation. You're just there to answer a few questions, then ask a few questions at the end.
7.) Don't fudge answers. Here's a Catch-22 question I got:
- "Why don't you want to go to your Alma mater, a top tier school?" (Note- this--alma mater--was my dream school, but if I told the truth, I felt that I would be dissing the school where I was interviewing)
- I fudge an answer where I say something along the lines of their curriculum not suiting me
- Blank look from interviewer
result: rejected
8.) Guard against verbal vomit-- think before you answer:
Example:
- British interviewer--"What did you think of London?" ( somewhere in my app I wrote that I been to England)
- Me-- "Oh, it reminded me of New York." (what? Why on earth did I say this?)
Result: rejected
9.) don't go into an interview on a caffeine high
10.) Don't fall apart during harsh questions-- keep your thoughts together and answer honestly any difficult questions. Don't change your opinion because of the interviewer's perceived opinions.
11.) Plan to arrive 30 minutes early to any interview
12.) If you're attending an interview at a state school-- KNOW ABOUT KEY HEALTHCARE ISSUES IN THE STATE. Be aware that if you make it to interview stage an an OOSer at a school that is IS heavy, you're still at a serious disadvantage.
13.) Write five questions beforehand that you would like to ask the interviewer at the end. his is your chance to show your interest in the school, and have a real conversation. Ask about third year clerkships, Step prep, global health opps, research...anything you would want to know if you were a student at that school.
1.) Maintain eye contact, but don't bore a hole through your interviewer's soul.
2.) smile occasionally
3.) If the interviewer compliments your app, say, 'Thank you.'
4.) give thorough answers to questions
5.) prepare to answer, 'Why this school?' and 'Why medicine?' Don't write scripts, but be able to recall a few key points
6.) Don't try to dominate and direct the conversation. You're just there to answer a few questions, then ask a few questions at the end.
7.) Don't fudge answers. Here's a Catch-22 question I got:
- "Why don't you want to go to your Alma mater, a top tier school?" (Note- this--alma mater--was my dream school, but if I told the truth, I felt that I would be dissing the school where I was interviewing)
- I fudge an answer where I say something along the lines of their curriculum not suiting me
- Blank look from interviewer
result: rejected
8.) Guard against verbal vomit-- think before you answer:
Example:
- British interviewer--"What did you think of London?" ( somewhere in my app I wrote that I been to England)
- Me-- "Oh, it reminded me of New York." (what? Why on earth did I say this?)
Result: rejected
9.) don't go into an interview on a caffeine high
10.) Don't fall apart during harsh questions-- keep your thoughts together and answer honestly any difficult questions. Don't change your opinion because of the interviewer's perceived opinions.
11.) Plan to arrive 30 minutes early to any interview
12.) If you're attending an interview at a state school-- KNOW ABOUT KEY HEALTHCARE ISSUES IN THE STATE. Be aware that if you make it to interview stage an an OOSer at a school that is IS heavy, you're still at a serious disadvantage.
13.) Write five questions beforehand that you would like to ask the interviewer at the end. his is your chance to show your interest in the school, and have a real conversation. Ask about third year clerkships, Step prep, global health opps, research...anything you would want to know if you were a student at that school.
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Excellent advice, SilverCat. Maybe smile more often than occasionally!
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Let the conversation ride. I had former interviewers tell me the number on thing they were looking for in an interview was a potentially "good" future colleague.
Don't be the guy no one wants to work with. #1. Peice of advice I got.
Yes, sell yourself--but be an approachable, down to earth and professional person.
Don't be the guy no one wants to work with. #1. Peice of advice I got.
Yes, sell yourself--but be an approachable, down to earth and professional person.
What do you wish you had said for this question?
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Some of the best practical advice I've ever read for interviews. Thank you.
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I think I should have said something along the lines of, "Well, I did apply my Alma mater, but I like your school because of X, Y, and Z." Not too polished, but honest.
A less honest, but more polished, way to handle it would be to say, "I didn't apply there, because I would really like to get away from that city." Trust me, anyone would believe this if they knew which city I was talking about.
New Haven? 😉 (If anyone from Yale is reading this, I kid!)
Good advice all around. Thanks!
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Could you also say something like wanting to diversify your experiences, so while your undergrad was a great school, wanting to experience a new city/school?
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Definitely. That sounds perfect, actually.
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do you feel it important to explain your subpar GPA if its not brought up by an interviewer?
Ill be interviewing at a school where my GPA is in the 20% percentile but my MCAT is above their 95% percentile.
Ill be interviewing at a school where my GPA is in the 20% percentile but my MCAT is above their 95% percentile.
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If they don't ask, I wouldn't. That might be information that isn't given to the interviewer. I had a few interviews like that. At the end I'm sitting there thinking this Harvard trained dermatologist thinks I'm an idiot after seeing my grades. He says something along the lines of they don't see grades, and even so he wouldn't care. He grades interviews on who he wants as a student/colleague. You think he wants a student/colleague who randomly launches off about their GPA? I doubt it.
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Don't do it. They may not even consider it so great a weakness, if your app is strong otherwise.
Case in point:
- Interviewer: "Do you have any weaknesses In your application that you know of?"
- Me: "Well, I didn't do quite so well in physics."
- Interviewer: "Really? I hadn't noticed that." Looks at AMCAS. "Ah, yes." Frowns.
Result: rejection
Don't draw attention to grades unless they ask.
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This question dealt specific with weaknesses in my app (sorry if it wasn't clear). Sometimes they'll ask it as, "Are there any red flags in your application?" Unless you have multiple grades of C or less, ethical issues, IAs, etc, you should answer no to this question.
The personal weaknesses question is different. You have to give an answer here--and then tell how you've been trying to improve it, highlighting your ECs. For example,
"I know that I can lack confidence at times, particularly when engaging in a new activity. For this reason, I became involved in X organization, gradually learning new skills Z and Y, and recently accepting a leadership position. I've gained greater confidence in myself since becoming involved, particularly when I was able to design a campaign to raise 50 billion dollars for X. Rather than shrinking from challenges, I now seek them out."
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Talk about a weakness that you were able to turn into a strength
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SilverCat is giving some really excellent advice... I have definitely experienced most, if not all, of those pitfalls. As cliche as it sounds, the best piece of advice is to just be yourself.
I am not advocating entering an interview without any preparation. Rather, I recommend taking the time in the weeks before your first interviews to really probe your sense of self, your values, your goals, your passions etc. Take time to be completely honest with yourself - including your shortcomings. Then consider the standard interview questions, and start developing answers that are still honest to yourself. Then spend time refining these answers in order to present your best side (i.e. so that you don't accidentally slip in some disconcerting extraneous thoughts in a bumbling, Hugh Grant-esque fashion).
It is ultimately a balancing act between over preparing and seeming like a product of rote memorization of a script and under preparing and seeming like an inarticulate fool.
I am not advocating entering an interview without any preparation. Rather, I recommend taking the time in the weeks before your first interviews to really probe your sense of self, your values, your goals, your passions etc. Take time to be completely honest with yourself - including your shortcomings. Then consider the standard interview questions, and start developing answers that are still honest to yourself. Then spend time refining these answers in order to present your best side (i.e. so that you don't accidentally slip in some disconcerting extraneous thoughts in a bumbling, Hugh Grant-esque fashion).
It is ultimately a balancing act between over preparing and seeming like a product of rote memorization of a script and under preparing and seeming like an inarticulate fool.
IIRC some schools have the interviewers only see your ECs and essays, not your stats. So you don't want to bring up a weakness they have no idea about. If they ask about weaknesses in grades specifically, then I guess you have to mention it at that point. But one C+ is really not a big deal.
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Does anyone recommend any texts or websites to help me prepare for interviews? I am a non-trad (graduated in 2007) and was thinking about doing some mock interviews with fellow applicants. How else can I prepare for my interviews?
Thanks!!!
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Some good websites- OSU Dean Capers has some interviews tips. You can also look up a list of 100 med school interview questions -- U Colorado.
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I am afraid that any weakness could be a potential red flag....
D
deleted307836
Good advice, Silvercat.
I remember reading a post on SDN from a guy who lived in NYC his whole life and was interviewing at an out-of-state school (I think in Boston). Anyway, the interviewer asked him if he would rather go to school in NYC than in Boston since he has lived there forever. His answer was that yes, all things equal, he probably would choose to go to school in NYC if he could, but that there are no guarantees in medical school admissions. (This would now probably be a good time to mention some of the positives of this particular school.)
He was accepted there. I'd rather go for an honest answer that potentially could be perceived negatively - that shows the interviewer that you are honest and probably speaks to the quality of your own personal values and convictions. Some people are good at seeing through BS.
I remember reading a post on SDN from a guy who lived in NYC his whole life and was interviewing at an out-of-state school (I think in Boston). Anyway, the interviewer asked him if he would rather go to school in NYC than in Boston since he has lived there forever. His answer was that yes, all things equal, he probably would choose to go to school in NYC if he could, but that there are no guarantees in medical school admissions. (This would now probably be a good time to mention some of the positives of this particular school.)
He was accepted there. I'd rather go for an honest answer that potentially could be perceived negatively - that shows the interviewer that you are honest and probably speaks to the quality of your own personal values and convictions. Some people are good at seeing through BS.
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If I have to be brutally honest with myself, I would say:
1) Eye contact; but have been doing TA and tutoring since high school years to improve through practice
2) Forgets some information in several weeks/months after watching/reading insightful TedTalks, NYT, etc.; so have been writing them down in a huge word file with 100+ page, so that I can look them up using key words and refresh myself when I need to.
3) Sometimes being impatient with others doing their job; taught students in various ages and children, so that I learn to adjust my standard depending on my audience
I am not sure what else I could say, but #1 seems to be a potential red flag since it's crucial in communication. I am not sure how I could turn that into strength. #3, holding a high standard for others, is cliche; #2 seems a red flag also, since a lot of information has to be remembered in medical school and etc.
Any advices will be appreciated..
#3. A safe cliche is usually the best bet. But I would focus on the impatience and avoid the use of the word 'standards'.
I'm probably going to end up saying something about having trouble delegating (which I have worked on at my job, yadda yadda).
True answers to this question are never worth it.
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Weakness: sweating during interviews.
Turning it into a strength: Started using Degree Ultimate Protection
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For me, the classic weakness answer is "I'm really passionate about what I do and have gotten in over my head/over-committed in the past." Then you can talk about how you handled being overwhelmed initially, using time management, time prioritization, how you were able to get more done with a heightened level of quality, etc. IMO, it translates well into medicine.
D
deleted458807
I would just advice anyone to be their (polished and professional) self. I mean, the interviewer is going to get whatever information he or she wants from you, chances are they read your resume before you even walked in. So try to establish some chemistry where you feel comfortable and you don't come off as cocky or awkward. My theory is that they want to know YOU. If you can connect with people and if you are professional and passionate.
In my experience, the best interviews are the ones where its a conversation. I was interviewed by an anesthesiologist, and when he asked me if school was easy (I had a good GPA) I said not really, I said I worked very hard, and that although I consider myself very smart I know that if I don't study at all chances are its not going to go as good as I want it to and stuff like that. I mean I wouldn't mention that time you had a breakdown and you ate a whole tub of Nutella because you got a C but.. you get my point. Also, don't be scared of the conversation to go off topic, try to be cool. But don't try too hard (just don't)
For those interviewers who don't do much talking, just act as if you don't notice and you are very much enjoying your time. Think of some questions to ask.. say longer answers (but dont blablabla have some substance,dude)
My two biggest pointers would be:
1- dont try too hard. (You'll come off as cocky, ew. Or even worse, desperate)
2- Go to the school's website and reaaally reaaaally look at what they have to offer, because when they ask you (and they will) "why do you want to come here and not anywhere else?" you better know about that opportunity offered in the third year and the private tutoring sessions and the population served by the hospital. Who cares if you just want to get in somewhere in that interview you turn into their cheerleader (dont try too hard though)
In my experience, the best interviews are the ones where its a conversation. I was interviewed by an anesthesiologist, and when he asked me if school was easy (I had a good GPA) I said not really, I said I worked very hard, and that although I consider myself very smart I know that if I don't study at all chances are its not going to go as good as I want it to and stuff like that. I mean I wouldn't mention that time you had a breakdown and you ate a whole tub of Nutella because you got a C but.. you get my point. Also, don't be scared of the conversation to go off topic, try to be cool. But don't try too hard (just don't)
For those interviewers who don't do much talking, just act as if you don't notice and you are very much enjoying your time. Think of some questions to ask.. say longer answers (but dont blablabla have some substance,dude)
My two biggest pointers would be:
1- dont try too hard. (You'll come off as cocky, ew. Or even worse, desperate)
2- Go to the school's website and reaaally reaaaally look at what they have to offer, because when they ask you (and they will) "why do you want to come here and not anywhere else?" you better know about that opportunity offered in the third year and the private tutoring sessions and the population served by the hospital. Who cares if you just want to get in somewhere in that interview you turn into their cheerleader (dont try too hard though)
D
deleted307836
I don't wanna judge... but that sounds like it would be a pretty boring interview and a waste of an opportunity for both parties. I'm all for a conversational environment but talking about a sitcom the whole time seems ridiculous...
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I talked about a waterfall for 30 minutes of one of my interviews. I was accepted there too, but I didn't matriculate.
The point of the interview, from an applicants standpoint, is to make a good lasting impression. If you think trying to make the interview follow a strict answering questions kind of thing, then it isn't going to leave a good impression. Instead, use conversion to get on the interviewer's good side so they may try to fight for you.
Sometimes interviewers just want to know that you're know a normal person and that you can make a connection and get along with people.
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All of my questions in one interview revolved around sports. At the end he told me why:
1. Nobody practices answers to questions about football
2. He likes to talk sports during downtime
D
deleted550985
Weakness: sweating during interviews.
Turning it into a strength: Started using Degree Ultimate Protection
In all seriousness, is comedy ever appropriate in an interview? I could see a situation where if the tone of the interview was right, a joke answer not unlike the above could show confidence and possibly also buy a little time to think up a more substantial response.
Would this seem overconfident/inappropriate, even if used in an interview with a casual tone?
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It depends on the person interviewing you. It could go fine and other times it could make you come off as immature and possibly insulting. You need to be the judge of that and try to read your interviewer carefully.
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If you are this nervous about it and feel you need immediate feedback you should do a mock interview. Otherwise you are wasting your first real interview as "practice".
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Personally, I have always addressed interviewers as Mr. or Dr., never by their first name.
a lot of people say 'like' and 'um' in casual conversations, which is another reason to avoid it.
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Any ideas of where we could go to do a good mock interview? I plan to practice with friends but I would like a professional opinion. Where could one go for a good mock interview session or an interview coach?
Thanks!
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Your school, even if you've already graduated. Pretty sure every school offers mock interviews - usually with the option to record them - for free. It might be through the alumni office.
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I graduated in 2007 and my school is a few states away from where I currently work/reside... :-/
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For the question about greatest personal weakness, would something like "My greatest weakness is that I have trouble connecting with people." be an appropriate response, if I was able to talk about what I've done to improve it and demonstrate that improvement via a (hopefully) successful interview? Or would simply mentioning it leave them subconsciously evaluating me for signs of discomfort or social awkwardness?
