Horrible Interview

[ayed22]

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Hey all!

Last week I had my first interview. I practiced a lot for it and went through questions posted on different forums, as well as the ones posted underneath the school here on SDN. I ended up doing pretty awful still and ever since then I’ve been pretty down about how that turned out. Although it’s been a week, I still can’t shake off the feeling of dissapointment. Anyways, I was wondering how you guys have turned stuff around for your next interview after having a bad interview that bummed you out because I have one more coming up in two weeks and I’d like to get in a better mindset.

 

[artist2022]

@Michael_Scott This one is for you!

 

[Its_Me_G]

How do you know it was bad? So far, everyone I have spoken to has seemed unsure about how it went. I have yet to talk to someone that truly feels like they killed it and they’re going to get accepted. And also, the first interview is always the hardest. Keep practicing and it should get easier, maybe try mock interviews!

 

[ayed22]

How do you know it was bad? So far, everyone I have spoken to has seemed unsure about how it went. I have yet to talk to someone that truly feels like they killed it and they’re going to get accepted. And also, the first interview is always the hardest. Keep practicing and it should get easier, maybe try mock interviews!

Thanks for responding! After my interview I compared what happened with everyone else I interviewed with and about all of them thought that they killed it could swear that they’d be getting in dec 1st. I felt like my answers were not as polished/ as professional as they should have been and at times did not covey what I was trying to get across. 🙁 I’ll keep practicing as suggested though!

 

[Michael_Scott]

Lol so...third time posting this..
My first interview was horrible and I felt like i blew it.
Dec 1st came around and I got accepted to the school.

Relax and do your best. Just be yourself and don't try to create a fake persona.

 

[yaya97]

Not trying to change the subject from OP’s question but anyone have interviewers ask what other schools have extended an interview invite to you?

 

[I-hate-alginate]

Not trying to change the subject from OP’s question but anyone have interviewers ask what other schools have extended an interview invite to you?

I know somebody who got asked about what they didn't like about the school that interviewed them last!

 

[yaya97]

I know somebody who got asked about what they didn't like about the school that interviewed them last!

Okay wow that’s tough. I wonder what they said. I’ve loved the school I’ve interviewed at so I wouldn’t even know what to say.

 

[Life of Pablo]

Hey all!

Last week I had my first interview. I practiced a lot for it and went through questions posted on different forums, as well as the ones posted underneath the school here on SDN. I ended up doing pretty awful still and ever since then I’ve been pretty down about how that turned out. Although it’s been a week, I still can’t shake off the feeling of dissapointment. Anyways, I was wondering how you guys have turned stuff around for your next interview after having a bad interview that bummed you out because I have one more coming up in two weeks and I’d like to get in a better mindset.

One thing I've learned, no matter how well you think you did, you'll ALWAYS overthink/overanalyze the interview and come to the conclusion that you bombed it. Just try your best to relax and be yourself. Think of the interview as a regular conversation with someone. The interviewers aren't trying to stump you and make you look bad. They just want to learn more about you.

 

[setdoc7]

Not trying to change the subject from OP’s question but anyone have interviewers ask what other schools have extended an interview invite to you?

That is one of my favorite questions. It is not so much a mind your own business question as a showcase of your selection process. If most places you apply are somewhat similar, then the trend is apparent. If they are all diametrically different, an explanation of thought process might be the next question. Throwing school names up in the air and picking 10 off the pile on the floor doesn't generally cut it.

 

[schmoob]

Hey all!

Last week I had my first interview. I practiced a lot for it and went through questions posted on different forums, as well as the ones posted underneath the school here on SDN. I ended up doing pretty awful still and ever since then I’ve been pretty down about how that turned out. Although it’s been a week, I still can’t shake off the feeling of dissapointment. Anyways, I was wondering how you guys have turned stuff around for your next interview after having a bad interview that bummed you out because I have one more coming up in two weeks and I’d like to get in a better mindset.

You can't over-prepare for interviews. Memorizing a list of answers to potential questions is not the best way to go about it. Do not rehearse; it's an interview, not an audition. The interviewers are way better at interviewing than you are, so chances are they can smell a canned response a mile away.
Know the basics like "why dentistry?" or "why school x?" Let the interviewer drive. Have a conversation with him/her. And most importantly be honest, don't just rattle off stuff you think they want to hear. I would imagine that becomes quite tiresome for them.

 

[DAT Destroyer]

I absolutely agree with schmoob. Be yourself and don't rattle off some rehearsed script. If you have an opportunity to engage with the interviewer, do it. If the opportunity presents itself that allows you to ask the interviewer a question you should have something prepared. Always make eye contact and try to smile. Several of my students have been getting asked ethical type questions this year. Some have been rather tricky so make sure you think the question threw before responding. And if you don't have an answer, just state you don't, better than bumbling around to come up with something to say that you regret. If you are asked a question and don't have an answer you can always ask the question back to the interviewer for clarity, that way you are stalling for some time to come up with a response, sort of flipping the script.

Good luck in the interview process

 

[ayed22]

Thank you all for responding. I will keep on practicing, take all your advice to try to not overthink things, and let you all know how my interview goes this week!

 

[shibedeleshibe]

Everyone here is definitely right. Try to find an opportunity to engage. I was at OSU today and one of the interviewers and I talked about running marathons for about 5 minutes it was awesome!

 

[I-hate-alginate]

Everyone here is definitely right. Try to find an opportunity to engage. I was at OSU today and one of the interviewers and I talked about running marathons for about 5 minutes it was awesome!

It can go either ways, I talked with the interviewer about Arsenal for 3-5mins yet I still bombed it lol.

 

[SmileItsLife]

It can go either ways, I talked with the interviewer about Arsenal for 3-5mins yet I still bombed it lol.

Were they a spurs fan?

 

[I-hate-alginate]

Were they a spurs fan?

I would've walked out if he was.

 

[ncide]

My worst interview led to an acceptance, and I was almost certain I wouldn't get accepted because of how badly the interview went. You never know!

 

[Coupd'Cat]

Keep truckin'! One thing that has helped me with nerves is telling myself (whether it be true or not) that your interviewer is also trying to get you interested in their program. At the very least, it helps me feel like I'm more on even footing with the interviewer and helps tamp down the air of desperation that I often feel rising pre-interview haha.

That being said, definitely didn't follow my own advice many times. When applying to medical schools, I did horribly during an interview at one school where I could feel my interviewer becoming colder and colder. In response, I got quieter and quieter so that she had to ask my several times to speak up. My next interviewer (at the same school) was so kind, but some of his more personal questions actually got me crying during our interview (SO. EMBARRASSING. Definitely a giant "do not do this"). Needless to say I wasn't accepted at that school.

Instead, went to a place where the interview itself felt like just a regular conversation and was really welcoming. Four years later, decided (maybe this is rationalizing) that I wouldn't have been happy at the first program if that was how their faculty made students feel. After all, I don't think I changed that much between two interviews.

Whatever helps you keep up your self-esteem during this process, do it. Think it. And try to have fun and enjoy the ride. 🙂 Best of luck.

 

[cometx3]

I have a friend who got an interview to a school that they were way below the average for. You would think under those circumstances you would have to kill the interview to get in. Well the day of the interview they actually got lost and showed up two hours late, makeup smeared everywhere and had sweaty armpits from running around campus trying to find the place. The interviewer laughed and asked if there was a tornado on their way to the interview, and told them to zip their fly. That person was frazzled the entire interview but they still ended up getting into that school. I think schools get that you will be nervous, or that things can happen, and they just want to get a gauge of who you are. Sometimes the interviewer will not like you from the getgo and there is nothing you can do about that, but sometimes you can think you did poorly and still get in. You never know.

 

[schmoob]

Thank you all for responding. I will keep on practicing, take all your advice to try to not overthink things, and let you all know how my interview goes this week!

Curious if you've had any more interviews. How did they go?

 

[ayed22]

Curious if you've had any more interviews. How did they go?

Yeah I have had an interview since then. I really liked m interviewer and felt a lot more relaxed and better about that one but I was kind of exhausted from my flight (key tip- don't fly across the country overnight for an interview you'll be jet lagged af) so I was kind of a lot more quiet than usual with the students...hopefully we're not judged on how much we interact with them. Overall a better experience though. Hoping for the best!

 

[ayed22]

For anyone that cares, ended up getting into the school I made this post about!!! Anything can happen boys and girls! 🙂