HELP!! My first stress interview (UWSOM) approacheth!

[SMW]

My interviews so far have been fairly relaxed, chatty affairs. But next week I interview at UWSOM in Seattle where I gather the approach is "make 'em sweat!" <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" /> It's my state school (through WWAMI) and thus my #1 choice. I plan on doing my usual prep -- interviewfedback.com, the school website, especially their ethics website. Anybody got any other tips or advice for me? I hate the thought of facing a panel of interviewers!

I'm also interviewing at USC and OHSU next week, so if anyone can offer any advice/insight re their interviews, I'd really appreciate it.

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[El Jefe]

Well I interviewed at USC and thought it was probably the easiest of all the interviews I've had. They do it closed file, so it was basically just them telling me about USC and me telling them whatever stuff I wanted them to know about me. No ethics stuff or anything hard like that. Just have a response to "tell me about yourself" ready since it is more likely than not going to be the first thing asked.

 

[SicVic]

The trick for doin well in a tough interview environment is - stay calm, take your time. Especially Aviod rushing to answer tricky or difficult question (bascially be thoughtful). 5 seconds might seem like eternity. Good luck and kick ass.

 

[rockaway]

congrats on the interview.....sleep well before...remember, they're human too...it's sounds so cliche...but be yourself, smile when you can...part of this game is to get them to "like you" in a relatively short period of time. Know that you deserve this, and all the hard work you've done so far is about to pay off!!!! GOOD LUCK!!!! (smile, deep slow breaths)

 

[ccryder]

I would definitely prepare your stance on different ethical issues. Remember to take a pause when dealt an ethical situation so that you can think it through clearly. I think UWSOM uses hard ethical healthcare issues to check out the applicant's thought processes. Make sure you have a reason for your answers (back up your statements with info provided about the ethical situation).

Also remember that even if after the interview you feel that it did not go well that probably isn't true. I thought I bombed my interview there but was offered an acceptance shortly afterwards.

As for USC, that was a total conversational interview. My interviewers spent more time trying to sell the school to me than asking questions.

Good luck!!!

 

[hellojed]

SMW-- from my experience, everyone said not to worry about the panel, that they've changed their "make 'em sweat!" interview mentality, it was fine, it was laid back, but that was not my experience at all! I don't know what else you can do to prepare in addition to what you already listed, as I did the same things ie read their entire bioethics site, and still felt like crap afterwards. I guess "don't be intimidated, be as confident and composed as possible" would be something to do and keep in mind, but of course that's so much easier said than done. Oh yeah, and I heard something to never say to their question is "I don't know."

Please feel free to PM me if you want to ask me anything else!!!

 

[SMW]

Thanks, everyone!! This is just the type of info I was looking for! I'd love to hear from others who've interviewed at these three schools.

ccryder and hellojed, are either of you WWAMI applicants? I wonder if the WWAMI interviews differ in any way from regular UW interviews.

 

[otter]

Best of luck with your interview, SMW!!! I interviewed there in November although I haven't been accepted (yet!).

One thing I can tell you is, don't be worry too much about giving the "wrong" answers to these ethics questions. They're trying to just see how you react under pressure. So make sure you're always composed. Also, make sure you give yourself plenty of time before the interview, as the Health Sciences Building is one complicated maze.

 

[Mr. Furious]

When you walk into your interview, you must project overwhelming fury. As soon as you walk into the door let the lava of wrath flow out of your mouth and flood the room. When making eye contact with your interviewers, unleash on them an avalanche of unparalleled rage. Make sure to respond to each question with apocalyptic anger and lash out with every limb, like the octopus who plays the drums.

I usually don't recommend that interviewees use artificial means to achieve enough anger to zap level five fireballs out of their eyes, but a solid combination of ephedrine, no-doz, yohimbe and androstenedione can make your anger go places that you can simply not imagine. Chase the pills with some Jolt Cola or Red Bull and you will be The Interviewee that they will never forget.

Fill any pauses in conversation with a typhoon of explosive rage and cloud up the room with a tempest of fury. Then thunder around the room spraying the misty acid rain of pure unabashed anger.

Good luck to you and I hope my advice wil;l guarantee you'll come here post about yet another on-the-spot acceptance.

Mr.

 

[reesie0726]

Be calm. Be relaxed. Right before the interview, don't read any hard ethical crap or even stupid crap about the school. Bring a cheesy novel or magazine while you are waiting so you go in relaxed. ( Well this works for me) Don't let them pressure you into rushing into an answer. Take a deep breath and form a thought in your head before rushing out with something. This was the best advice that I have read about interviewing. I have several stress interviews and this worked for me. Good luck.