How important is your behavior during the general info sessions at interviews?

[cheesebanana]

I read somewhere that acting disinterested or not asking any questions at the general info sessions at interviews (e.g. the financial aid and curriculum presentations that most schools have on your interview day) could impact your application negatively. Just wondering if anyone knew if there was any truth to that, or if the real impact of your interview day is with your interview performance. Do the presenters at these info sessions really remember who asked questions and who didn't?

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[equinsu ocha]

I read somewhere that acting disinterested or not asking any questions at the general info sessions at interviews (e.g. the financial aid and curriculum presentations that most schools have on your interview day) could impact your application negatively. Just wondering if anyone knew if there was any truth to that, or if the real impact of your interview day is with your interview performance. Do the presenters at these info sessions really remember who asked questions and who didn't?

You should act interested around everyone you meet there as you never know who has an impact on your decision.

 

[aSagacious]

I would say that it's not terribly important. First and foremost, they have no idea who you are at the beginning of the day. In my experience there are 10-20 interviewees on any given day and usually a couple of interview days per week. The staff would have a really tough time memorizing everyone's name and matching it to a face ahead of time. Unless you did something egregious to make yourself stand out, I really doubt someone would go out of their way to match your face to a name. That said, you should always be on your best behavior at all times on interview day.

 

[tm12]

Bad behavior is unhelpful. No need to feign interest in financial aid.

 

[PeterPesto]

I'm not going to ask a question for the sake of asking a question and appearing interested.

 

[pkwraith]

Interview process begins when you first step onto the school. That means be on your best behavior from first to start.

Some school care about pre-interview behavior a lot more than others, but why keep track when you should be professional at all times.

Acting disinterested? Why would you ever do that? Is this a real question? Sit up, takes notes, and pay attention. That's professional and courteous behavior, and you're applying to professional school.

Questions? If you have them, ask them. If you don't, don't.

 

[ucsfstudents]

You are being evaluate throughout the whole day by many people you come in contact with, from secretary onward. Try to only have positive interactions with people, appear interested, and have questions prepared for your interviewer (because asking astute questions shows interest). You don't need to ask questions during financial aid talks or general talks that could be given at any institution. Smile, look interested, look friendly and approacheable, as if you really enjoy being there.

 

[MegMurry]

I read somewhere that acting disinterested or not asking any questions at the general info sessions at interviews (e.g. the financial aid and curriculum presentations that most schools have on your interview day) could impact your application negatively. Just wondering if anyone knew if there was any truth to that, or if the real impact of your interview day is with your interview performance. Do the presenters at these info sessions really remember who asked questions and who didn't?

During the general info sessions, not asking any questions isn't synonymous to acting disinterested. Maybe someone asked the q you already had or the presentation was very comprehensive so you didn't need to ask a thing. Please don't be the person who asks a question just to ask a question. That's as transparent / irritating during that sort of session as it is in a class.

For the interview itself? That's a different story. Have at least a few questions prepared...AAMC has this article called "Selecting a Medical School: Thirty-Five Questions I Wish I Had Asked" (https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/requirements/109762/35_questions.html). That should be a good place to start.

 

[gmcguitar4]

Asking questions that can easily be answered from the schools website looks pretty stupid in my opinion. Just because you don't have questions does not mean you are not interested. If you have any really good questions, I would suggest holding them until the interview itself.

 

[NickNaylor]

Don't make yourself look like an ass. That should be the rule you follow at all times.

 

[EpicBearMan]

Don't be rude to people. Be polite and courteous. Pay attention when people talk to you. I doubt you'll be noticed outside the interview unless you are rude and unprofessional.

 

[Barcu]

Pretend to be interested and you should be ok. Please don't ask questions just to ask questions.

 

[LizzyM]

You never get a second chance to make a first impression.

You may discover that a person making a presentation early in the morning is the same person who will be interviewing you later in the day. If they recognize you in the one-on-one as the person who was inattentive at the earlier session, they've already formed an opinion of you.

Likewise, I can not stress enough that you should be courteous and kind to every employee you meet through the day. I have seen high ranking med school officials who observe rude behavior go out of their way to report it to the admin office and remember -- they have your mug shot and anyone can pick you out of a photo line-up. Receptionists and others who manage the interview day don't have to put up with your shi+ so keep that in mind, too. I have seen applications go into the metaphorical shredder after a report of rude behavior toward our beloved interview coordinator.

 

[ppfizenm]

You never get a second chance to make a first impression.

You may discover that a person making a presentation early in the morning is the same person who will be interviewing you later in the day. If they recognize you in the one-on-one as the person who was inattentive at the earlier session, they've already formed an opinion of you.

Likewise, I can not stress enough that you should be courteous and kind to every employee you meet through the day. I have seen high ranking med school officials who observe rude behavior go out of their way to report it to the admin office and remember -- they have your mug shot and anyone can pick you out of a photo line-up. Receptionists and others who manage the interview day don't have to put up with your shi+ to keep that in mind, too. I have seen applications go into the metaphorical shredder after a report of rude behavior toward our beloved interview coordinator.

This. At my last interview the person who gave the presentation on the school was also my interviewer. Another time before that my interviewer was one of the fldoctors who gave us a tour of the hospital. You're at the interview for a spot in their med school. Treat the entire day like you're being watched. Why risk otherwise when you are trying hard to get in?

 

[smarts1]

You never get a second chance to make a first impression.

You may discover that a person making a presentation early in the morning is the same person who will be interviewing you later in the day. If they recognize you in the one-on-one as the person who was inattentive at the earlier session, they've already formed an opinion of you.

Likewise, I can not stress enough that you should be courteous and kind to every employee you meet through the day. I have seen high ranking med school officials who observe rude behavior go out of their way to report it to the admin office and remember -- they have your mug shot and anyone can pick you out of a photo line-up. Receptionists and others who manage the interview day don't have to put up with your shi+ so keep that in mind, too. I have seen applications go into the metaphorical shredder after a report of rude behavior toward our beloved interview coordinator.

Are the students really that bad? I can't imagine how you could go all that way to interview at a school when it's for your future and tick off people. Maybe it's just that some people are normally snotty and conceited...

 

[CodeBlu]

Don't make yourself look like an ass. That should be the rule you follow at all times.

This.

 

[AvidAvatar]

Also....SMILE!

I swear, sometimes I go into a room at an interview and it looks like a funeral. Everyone is so serious.

Smile like you are happy to be there!

 

[chiapet874]

As with anywhere in life, you should always pay attention to your behavior. As LizzyM said, you never know who you will run into.

 

[SisterDisco08]

The person who gave the shpeel at my last interview was the COM's Asst. Dean of Admissions....so...you decide 😛