How long should you talk?

[capuchin]

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I've read that you shouldn't talk so much during the interview, but when they ask questions like "why medicine", it could get fairly detailed for most of us.

When addressing this specific question, do you guys just give summary of your personal statement in less than 5 minutes or is 5 minutes already too long for one question?

 

[FrkyBgStok]

five minutes is WAY too long. They are generally looking for a couple sentence answer. Make it concise. They read your personal statement and if you regurgitate it they will probably say nay.

 

[koan]

Agree. Unless you have something really profound to say, keep it around 2 min or less per answer. The more important thing is to avoid rambling, stream-of-consciousness, or irrelevant tangents.

 

[capuchin]

If it's closed file, then is it okay to not 'regurgitate' but use the same points from personal statement? But if it's open file, give them different reasons? 😕

I talked to one of the advisers and she said to tell them a story on 'why medicine'. Well, that takes some time...you know.

 

[Dmr6186]

I find it best to keep it short and to the point. Talking too much could cause someone to either lose interest and have their minds wander, or you could lose track of where you were going with your story and mess it up. Keep it simple and well-rehearsed.

 

[wooki]

this question serves 2 purposes: 1. they find out your reason why you want to do medicine and 2. it gives them stuff to ask about for follow up. if you talk for 5 minutes, they won't really remember anything to ask you for a follow up. keep it short and concise.

 

[GunnerBGone]

What goes in a soda can? Soda.

Nothing else. Not your favorite grape jelly. Not your racist grandma. Just soda.

What do you want when YOU ask a question? The answer. Not your explanation of the reason of the purpose of the history of the background of the answer. Just a nice, thirst-quenching, delicious answer.

If they didn't like you in the first 20 seconds...you're not gonna change very much by blabbering.

 

[Sophocles]

five minutes is WAY too long. They are generally looking for a couple sentence answer. Make it concise. They read your personal statement and if you regurgitate it they will probably say nay.

I completely disagree. I think you should take as much time is needed. The adcom will stop you if you are going to far. I would say to keep it within 3-5 but if it's one of those "tell me about yourself" things, then I might go on a little further since this is your time to shine. The interviewer is usually who fights for you to the committee and you want to shine. It's true they have your file, but aren't you much more than just a few essays and numbers? Just my opinion, I'm sure everyone will be different. The guy I quoted is in medical school so you might want to listen to him, too.

 

[SpecterGT260]

When in doubt, shout "STARING CONTEST!" Awkward silences aren't awkward if it is a competition 🙂


but for srsly: Talk for a couple minutes but don't ramble. After you have addressed what you were asked, if possible, attempt to bring the discussion back to the middle and encourage back and forth. 90% of this is the impression you give them so if the interview is less of an interrogation and more of a "chat" you will do well.

 

[SpecterGT260]

I completely disagree. I think you should take as much time is needed. The adcom will stop you if you are going to far. I would say to keep it within 3-5 but if it's one of those "tell me about yourself" things, then I might go on a little further since this is your time to shine. The interviewer is usually who fights for you to the committee and you want to shine. It's true they have your file, but aren't you much more than just a few essays and numbers? Just my opinion, I'm sure everyone will be different. The guy I quoted is in medical school so you might want to listen to him, too.

I wouldn't discuss much in the file if it is an open-file interview. Unless you specifically want to highlight... however if you get to the point where the interviewer is trying to slow you down you have screwed up. Don't relentlessly plug your achievements because you will sound like a tool, but instead focus on demonstrating thought processes and relate from time to time to the experiences that were in your file. Use things in your file only as asides to bolster your points. that is my opinion anyways.

 

[DolFAN]

You can speak for exactly 3.25 minutes, any more or less than that amount of speaking time is a sure fire rejection.

 

[QualityProcess]

You can speak for exactly 3.25 minutes, any more or less than that amount of speaking time is a sure fire rejection.

THIS IS WRONG. Everyone knows your responses can only be 3.11187 minutes.

Just kidding. Formulating responses ahead of time and setting min-max time limits is a great way to screw up an interview. Know what you're talking about through preparation, relax, and smile.

 

[SpecterGT260]

THIS IS WRONG. Everyone knows your responses can only be 3.11187 minutes.

Just kidding. Formulating responses ahead of time and setting min-max time limits is a great way to screw up an interview. Know what you're talking about through preparation, relax, and smile.

fail..... perfect opportunity to use pi and score nerd points and you go with a totally random number. Shame on you 😎

 

[Sophocles]

👍

I wouldn't discuss much in the file if it is an open-file interview. Unless you specifically want to highlight... however if you get to the point where the interviewer is trying to slow you down you have screwed up. Don't relentlessly plug your achievements because you will sound like a tool, but instead focus on demonstrating thought processes and relate from time to time to the experiences that were in your file. Use things in your file only as asides to bolster your points. that is my opinion anyways.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

A statement should be short enough to cover all the important bases and long enough to have a bit of humor or pomp. I.e if you think your friends would be bored of you if you were telling them this, then that's an indicator that your interviewer checked out 30 seconds earlier.

 

[gmcguitar4]

I don't think you should think about it too much. I mean..when you have a normal conversation with a person and they ask you a question..do you usually talk for 5 minutes without them coming in with more questions or taking the conversation somewhere else? You say what's needed and maybe add some other parts to the story to make it interesting/funny/inspiring/etc.

With any conversation, you want the other person to be interested in what you are saying. With these interviews it is the same exact thing..just more so. I know that is obvious, but that is all it is really. Thinking about the length of your answers is just another thing to think about and make you fumble.

 

[capuchin]

Haha okay guys...it's not like I'm actually gonna time myself and stop talking once I reach a 3 min mark.😉 Except yeah, if you want to make it interesting I don't see how you (I) could do that by keeping it short and "just answer the question".

All good suggestions. Thanks!