How are you interviews going?

[Glitterbox]

---

Members do not see this ad.

What types of q's have you gotten? Any stress interviews? Think you made the right choice? Anyone second guessing? Has anyone "found the one"?

Please discuss.

 

[Glitterbox]

I'll start. I kinda back loaded my interviews because I had a lot going on in November, so just one down. It was okay, about as awkward as could be expected! It was weird having so much attention being placed on me!

I liked the program, thought I fit in great with the residents, but I'm not sure if its got enough resources to help me start my career the way I want to.

 

[migm]

Most random question I've gotten so far: "What was your favorite halloween costume and why?"

 

[winkleweizen]

Mine have all been relatively laid back, no real stress interviews or real big screw ball questions.

I do have to say I found a program that I absolutely love and am going to be hard pressed to find a better place at any of my other 10 interviews.

 

[Glitterbox]

Mine have all been relatively laid back, no real stress interviews or real big screw ball questions.

I do have to say I found a program that I absolutely love and am going to be hard pressed to find a better place at any of my other 10 interviews.

What made you love it? I really hope this happens for me. It would make the situation so much easier.

 

[winkleweizen]

What made you love it? I really hope this happens for me. It would make the situation so much easier.

Everything. The residents and faculty were awesome. The actual curriculum was everything I was looking for. The pathlology was great and hospitals were baller. The location actually impressed me (which was suprising as I was looking to move to a very different part of the country)

 

[tsp1]

Not a really stressful question but I was asked whether I was a "data gatherer or a story gatherer". Kinda puzzled me a bit but I liked the question, though I was not entirely sure what my interviewer was looking for in my response.

What has come up a lot that does make me feel a bit uneasy is that most interviewers in my home region so far have said something along the lines of "Well I bet you're interviewing all over the country..." with a long pause afterward. So I think they are avoiding the direct "Where are you interviewing?" but it's hard not to nod or give some response to the open ended statement.

 

[winkleweizen]

Not a really stressful question but I was asked whether I was a "data gatherer or a story gatherer". Kinda puzzled me a bit but I liked the question, though I was not entirely sure what my interviewer was looking for in my response.

What has come up a lot that does make me feel a bit uneasy is that most interviewers in my home region so far have said something along the lines of "Well I bet you're interviewing all over the country..." with a long pause afterward. So I think they are avoiding the direct "Where are you interviewing?" but it's hard not to nod or give some response to the open ended statement.

Ive had plenty straight up ask me where im interviewing...No biggie, i just keep it broad.

 

[EPtoB]

Ive had plenty straight up ask me where im interviewing...No biggie, i just keep it broad.

Just curious, what is the reason for not naming places? Mostly wondering because I've told people where I'm interviewing when they flat out ask (and EVERY program I've been to has had one person ask, at least). Don't know if it puts me at a disadvantage?

 

[Apollyon]

Just curious, what is the reason for not naming places? Mostly wondering because I've told people where I'm interviewing when they flat out ask (and EVERY program I've been to has had one person ask, at least). Don't know if it puts me at a disadvantage?

A few of them are just Nosy Parkers, but most are trying to gauge where their program is - they know your stats, and want to know who is on par with them (as fallacious as that is, considering the myriad reasons two applicants with otherwise identical stats choose one reason over the other - location, cush or not, big or small, urban or suburban, all white versus multiple races, that sort of thing).

 

[winkleweizen]

Just curious, what is the reason for not naming places? Mostly wondering because I've told people where I'm interviewing when they flat out ask (and EVERY program I've been to has had one person ask, at least). Don't know if it puts me at a disadvantage?

well almost all of mine are in the south or west, but I have interviewed at two in the midwest and north....I didnt really want them to know they are the sore thumbs of the bunch.

 

[bad virus]

The weirdest thing for me has been the lack of interviews asking about me. I have some pretty awesome things in my application that I was proud of, but almost no one has asked me about it. 90% of the interviews have either consisted of me and them just laughing it up real hard or them telling me how awesome their program is and why I would find it fun to train there.

Anyone else kinda weirded out by this? I went in expecting the tell me about your self or other kind of stuff that you usually hear.

 

[woeiru]

The weirdest thing for me has been the lack of interviews asking about me. I have some pretty awesome things in my application that I was proud of, but almost no one has asked me about it. 90% of the interviews have either consisted of me and them just laughing it up real hard or them telling me how awesome their program is and why I would find it fun to train there.

Anyone else kinda weirded out by this? I went in expecting the tell me about your self or other kind of stuff that you usually hear.

Must depend on the programs? I've been to a number with forms they're filling out while asking me all the psych-like questions "What are the two defining moments of your life?" "What animal would you be if you were not a human" "What would your best friend change about you?". It's not that the interview is going awkwardly and this is what is turned to, these are the type things that the interview starts out with... Would be fun just to have a conversation.

 

[migm]

err jeez .. which programs did that? the hell is the point of questions like that besides turning off the applicant

 

[QfeverQ]

The weirdest thing for me has been the lack of interviews asking about me. I have some pretty awesome things in my application that I was proud of, but almost no one has asked me about it. 90% of the interviews have either consisted of me and them just laughing it up real hard or them telling me how awesome their program is and why I would find it fun to train there.

Anyone else kinda weirded out by this? I went in expecting the tell me about your self or other kind of stuff that you usually hear.

I've been on >5 and they have been as you described.

 

[woeiru]

err jeez .. which programs did that? the hell is the point of questions like that besides turning off the applicant

The most intense ones like this were at a big Ohio school who straight out told us in the initial presentation what the point of the interviews was to figure out our personalities. But two of the other places I was at threw in a couple as well. I've run into someone along the way who claims to have been asked "If you were a rock in a stream, what type would you be?", although that one seems way out there.

Maybe as I move to my more competitive interviews in Dec/Jan they will improve...

 

[migm]

I really think my response to a left-field pseudopsychiatric question like that would be irritation and contempt. If you can't figure out my personality by having a conversation then I don''t want to rank your program.

 

[woeiru]

I really think my response to a left-field pseudopsychiatric question like that would be irritation and contempt. If you can't figure out my personality by having a conversation then I don''t want to rank your program.

In one of these lines of questioning I got the "What is one goal in life you've been working on but haven't accomplished yet?" question and really had to prevent myself from initially being a smart-ass and replying that over the past few years I'd been working really hard on becoming a doctor, but just hadn't finished quite yet.

The hardest thing about these questions is stopping myself from saying the first sarcastic response that comes to mind.

 

[migm]

lol

 

[DeadCactus]

With no classes, board exams, or attendings to rant about the pack of medical students have turned to attacking their interviews as a source of contempt...

 

[DB2013EM]

I love interviews. I hate the travel. It pretty much reminds me that no matter where I will be, I will be happy. Not a lot of deal breakers with me.

 

[migm]

With no classes, board exams, or attendings to rant about the pack of medical students have turned to attacking their interviews as a source of contempt...

?

 

[Anon212]

Most of them have been completely unremarkable. I haven't fallen desperately in love with anything, but there's a few places I can see myself ranking relatively highly.
There was only one place I strongly consider not ranking at all cause my experience was so terrible. The assistant PD was rude as can be and wouldn't leave the room during the resident lunch so we couldn't ask any real questions. The resident "running" the pre-interview dinner did not smile or speak unless spoken to, and even then he spoke in monosyllables, was super arrogant and just watched the football game on tv the whole night. The PD was bizarre and spent most of my interview trying to determine why in the world I would want to live in that city and trying to convince me not to. It was a complete disaster.

 

[StevieStud]

Most random question I've gotten so far: "What was your favorite halloween costume and why?"

questions like this one are designed to give the applicant a chance to talk passionatly about themselves or a topic. It is can be used as an icebreaker or a test to determine the applicants ability to think on their feet.

When you get an oddball question, it doesn't really matter your response, just that you do respond, so go have fun with it.

 

[DrYoda]

Over half of mine have been purely BSing about music, sports or something else non-EM related.

The rest have been pretty generic, no difficult questions.

 

[sylvanthus]

Anyone else totally blow at interviews? I get nervous and just suck. Think im going to have to do all 18 bloody interviews just to do well enough on enough to match. Really wish this whole thing didnt come down to an hour interview. Hate to spend months to years doing well to screw it up in an hour.

 

[Glitterbox]

Anyone else totally blow at interviews? I get nervous and just suck. Think im going to have to do all 18 bloody interviews just to do well enough on enough to match. Really wish this whole thing didnt come down to an hour interview. Hate to spend months to years doing well to screw it up in an hour.

Do you practice?

 

[sylvanthus]

Ive prob done about 10 practice ones. Just depends on the questions and the interviewer expectations. Not sure how to prepare more to be honest. Gotta say it sucks to have all this work come down to how well we interview over one hour. Ive done well on rotations and have good SLORs and LOR so im a decent social person in real life. Just sucks to have it come down to a short interview.

 

[bad virus]

Ive prob done about 10 practice ones. Just depends on the questions and the interviewer expectations. Not sure how to prepare more to be honest. Gotta say it sucks to have all this work come down to how well we interview over one hour. Ive done well on rotations and have good SLORs and LOR so im a decent social person in real life. Just sucks to have it come down to a short interview.

I call total BS Syl. I bet you are chill as a cucumber. PM your number and I will give you a call and we are going to chill it out on the phone and make sure you relax some. On the introvert to extrovert spectrum, I am a gregarious MF. I actually have to tone it down during interviews and pretend I am a regular human being that has appropriate social skills.

Luckily, all of my interviews have been about getting riled up about sports and how things are sucking or doing awesome in the sport world.

My only regret is not wearing my chargers gear during my highland interview (jk).

 

[bad virus]

by the way, Should I wear my Troy Polamalu or my Tom Brady Jersey to my Indy pre interview social?

 

[sylvanthus]

Hehe thanks man, guess I am just stressing cuz I just interviewed at my top place and felt like I sucked horribly. Will send ya a PM.

 

[DB2013EM]

I dont prepare at all. I enjoy being genuine. I enjoy taking time to think of answers to the questions. And I just let the real me come out. I'm also a pretty quick thinking person though.

 

[dally1025]

Hehe thanks man, guess I am just stressing cuz I just interviewed at my top place and felt like I sucked horribly. Will send ya a PM.

I would bet you are overanalyzing. Try taking a deep breath before you answer. Not a giant sigh or anything too noticeable but give yourself a second or two to collect your thoughts. It might seem like a lifetime to you but it doesn't to the interviewer.

 

[Lanolin]

Ive prob done about 10 practice ones. Just depends on the questions and the interviewer expectations. Not sure how to prepare more to be honest. Gotta say it sucks to have all this work come down to how well we interview over one hour. Ive done well on rotations and have good SLORs and LOR so im a decent social person in real life. Just sucks to have it come down to a short interview.

You guys need to practice less and just be yourself when you get there. The interviews that I have had are basically a time to see if you fit with the program. I really think it's less of what you say and more of how you carry yourself and how genuine you are during the interview.

Good luck though. No practice interviews for me so we'll see how my theory goes...

🙂

 

[Glitterbox]

Obviously its going to be person dependent, but practicing and thinking about things in advance have definitely helped me. It helps you come across as prepared, and the more prepared I feel, the more relaxed I feel. Practicing for me is simply writing out all my answers to possible questions the night before, and then saying them out loud once. That being said, I do have a sister who is a pageant queen, and watching her is what made me realize there is definitely an art to this sort of thing.

 

[sylvanthus]

Redeemed myself on the last couple.

 

[xenakis]

Anyone else totally blow at interviews? I get nervous and just suck. Think im going to have to do all 18 bloody interviews just to do well enough on enough to match. Really wish this whole thing didnt come down to an hour interview. Hate to spend months to years doing well to screw it up in an hour.

Right there with you,too,Sylv. I practice and know my stuff about the program and a decent guy, but feel like I do something dumb somewhere throughout the interview day - a reply, a case question, or just asking too few/many questions during the day. Or just the lack of a look like - we need this guy.

Each interview seems like 83% instead of the usual 98% feeling that I had for med school interviews. Im glad that Im not the only one feeling that way.

 

[jbar]

The weirdest thing for me has been the lack of interviews asking about me. I have some pretty awesome things in my application that I was proud of, but almost no one has asked me about it. 90% of the interviews have either consisted of me and them just laughing it up real hard or them telling me how awesome their program is and why I would find it fun to train there.

Anyone else kinda weirded out by this? I went in expecting the tell me about your self or other kind of stuff that you usually hear.

It depends what that awsome stuff is. I did simulation research in med school and most places I interviewed I was interviewed by one of the simulation faculty, so we talked about it a lot. If your awsome stuff isn't really in the niche of the person who is interviewing it comes up less.

 

[Glitterbox]

It depends what that awsome stuff is. I did simulation research in med school and most places I interviewed I was interviewed by one of the simulation faculty, so we talked about it a lot. If your awsome stuff isn't really in the niche of the person who is interviewing it comes up less.

I could see that. I chose programs that were really strong within my niche so those aspects of my application come up all the time. Several interviewers have told me I was a "mini" version of one of their faculty haha. That being said, I also kinda direct the interview in that area to perfectly honest.

 

[dally1025]

Practicing those interview questions doesn't seem to matter much... I have yet to be asked any of the standard interview questions and it's mostly been based around my hobbies and the occasionaly the random, let me think about this a minute type question. Everyone has been so laid back and puts you at ease! Getting tired of touring the hospitals though...

 

[DreamingTheLive]

Practicing those interview questions doesn't seem to matter much... I have yet to be asked any of the standard interview questions and it's mostly been based around my hobbies and the occasionaly the random, let me think about this a minute type question. Everyone has been so laid back and puts you at ease! Getting tired of touring the hospitals though...

Yup. Hardly even call this an "interview process." Oh, and I don't give two Sh*ts about seeing the ICUs. They exist. At some point I will exist in them. ED (and maybe cafeteria or other ER resident-specific stuff) and that's it.

 

[bad virus]

Warning: Post may come off as Douchey (trust me, that is not my intent).

Ok so far, I have finished the following

1. Cinci
2. Hennepin
3. Maricopa
4. UCLA/Harbor
5. Highland (Alameda)
6. Indy
7. UoA Tuscon
8. UNM
9. Texas Tech (Elpaso)

********

I still have the following scheduled but I am starting to get burnt out. I don't want to go on more than 12, so which of the following would you go on if you were in my shoes and which would you pass up. I ask so I can cancel them early and so that someone more deserving can get the spot.

So far, I have enjoyed the Academic-County Hybrids the most, but mostly I am looking for a program that the residents get to do all ER procedures in it (Hennepin fit this bill as they get first crack on everything).

Choices are as follows:

1. Carolinas
2. Pitt (UPMC)
3. Vandy
4. Christiana
5. Parkland (UTSW)
6. Cook County (chicago)
7. USF tampa
8. Orlando Health
9. Loma Linda

Thanks guys, and my apologies for the Douchey post, it was honestly not my intent. I just need to cancel some of these quick so others can get a crack at them.

 

[Anon212]

Hey,

sorry to ride on bad virus' coattails, but I have a question about which interview to keep as well.

I'm looking at Cooper (in Camden, NJ) vs VA Tech. Both are pretty new programs so my advisor doesn't know which one to recommend. I'll be in the NY area anyway so I'm tempted to keep Cooper rather than pay for an extra flight, but I honestly just feel like I don't know which one would be better.
Some background: so far I've liked more academic-leaning places, but I don't want to lose out on trauma experience. I like to be in/close to a good sized city and around other single people (trying to avoid places where everyone is married or about to be).

Thoughts?

 

[Glitterbox]

Hey,

sorry to ride on bad virus' coattails, but I have a question about which interview to keep as well.

I'm looking at Cooper (in Camden, NJ) vs VA Tech. Both are pretty new programs so my advisor doesn't know which one to recommend. I'll be in the NY area anyway so I'm tempted to keep Cooper rather than pay for an extra flight, but I honestly just feel like I don't know which one would be better.
Some background: so far I've liked more academic-leaning places, but I don't want to lose out on trauma experience. I like to be in/close to a good sized city and around other single people (trying to avoid places where everyone is married or about to be).

Thoughts?

Is VA Tech in Blacksburg by the college? Isn't it way out in the mountains? I dunno, I'm not much of an outdoorsy person (I know... blasphemy!). I'm also not a huge fan of Virginia in general. I lived there for a few yrs. Not much too see once you leave NoVa (IMO). I think I would do Cooper.

 

[EPtoB]

Is VA Tech in Blacksburg by the college? Isn't it way out in the mountains? I dunno, I'm not much of an outdoorsy person (I know... blasphemy!). I'm also not a huge fan of Virginia in general. I lived there for a few yrs. Not much too see once you leave NoVa (IMO). I think I would do Cooper.

I interviewed there. The hospital and med school are actually in Roanoke, which is a step up from Blacksburg in my opinion. It is a fairly small, but not too small, city with lots and lots of outdoorsy stuff.

 

[Lanolin]

Warning: Post may come off as Douchey (trust me, that is not my intent).

Ok so far, I have finished the following

1. Cinci
2. Hennepin
3. Maricopa
4. UCLA/Harbor
5. Highland (Alameda)
6. Indy
7. UoA Tuscon
8. UNM
9. Texas Tech (Elpaso)

********

I still have the following scheduled but I am starting to get burnt out. I don't want to go on more than 12, so which of the following would you go on if you were in my shoes and which would you pass up. I ask so I can cancel them early and so that someone more deserving can get the spot.

So far, I have enjoyed the Academic-County Hybrids the most, but mostly I am looking for a program that the residents get to do all ER procedures in it (Hennepin fit this bill as they get first crack on everything).

Choices are as follows:

1. Carolinas
2. Pitt (UPMC)
3. Vandy
4. Christiana
5. Parkland (UTSW)
6. Cook County (chicago)
7. USF tampa
8. Orlando Health
9. Loma Linda

Thanks guys, and my apologies for the Douchey post, it was honestly not my intent. I just need to cancel some of these quick so others can get a crack at them.

Not sure anyone on here can actually help you. Such a personal decision. Some people like myself would drop Cook, Orlando, USF, Loma, etc simply on location alone. With that said, I did hear that UTSW was like Emory but much better. Vandy's interview made me not want to go there, which is a shame b/c it was in my top 3 pre-interview and is now outside the top 10. Christiana I heard was a good interview. Carolina is supposed to be a good place and interview.

GL!

 

[DreamingTheLive]

Agree with Lanolin. Personal decision. Read the websites, think about the locations, do a little introspection into what you're REALLY looking for.

 

[winkleweizen]

Not sure anyone on here can actually help you. Such a personal decision. Some people like myself would drop Cook, Orlando, USF, Loma, etc simply on location alone. With that said, I did hear that UTSW was like Emory but much better. Vandy's interview made me not want to go there, which is a shame b/c it was in my top 3 pre-interview and is now outside the top 10. Christiana I heard was a good interview. Carolina is supposed to be a good place and interview.

GL!

Yeah very personal...I had a horrible time at the Christiana interview. I met like a total of 3 residents at the dinner and interview day combined, and none of them seemed too enthusiastic. The location was awful. It was really a waste for me, but to each his own.

 

[RustedFox]

If you don't check out Pittsburgh, you're missing one of the best cities in the east. Friendliest people, great food, nested at the foot of the Alleghenies.

Just sayin', bud.

 

[engineeredout]

If you don't check out Pittsburgh, you're missing one of the best cities in the east. Friendliest people, great food, nested at the foot of the Alleghenies.

Just sayin', bud.

2nd this. If I had to decide by location alone, it would be Pittsburgh in a heartbeat.

Interviews getting old for anyone else? I'm going on a lot of them because I'm couples matching so we wanted to keep our chances of matching up, but damn its getting old. Either working or traveling/interviewing, and I am getting tired of the same stupid interview questions over and over again. Worst is when a place has like 6 different interviews and they all ask the same basic questions, and usually just end up being "Oh so do you have any questions for me?" For the last few people I just end up saying no.