How to answer this tricky question?

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
"Tell them I will do anything, then wink, then tell them the wink is from me"

1565833735760.jpeg


Desperate times require desperate measures.
 
If this question is asked towards the end of the interview: just express appreciation for the opportunity and their time unless there is actually something the adcom really, really needs to know (nb: there usually isn't since anything that is important should be in the primary/secondary applications).
 
If this question is asked towards the end of the interview: just express appreciation for the opportunity and their time unless there is actually something the adcom really, really needs to know (nb: there usually isn't since anything that is important should be in the primary/secondary applications).
The context I've seen this in a lot of times is basically the interviewer not asking any question and instead letting the applicant focus on whatever he/she wants to emphasize about themselves i.e. "what do you want to make sure that the admissions committee knows about you?" Insinuating that the response may carry a lot of weight.

Frankly, I would be horrified if I was asked this.
 
Frankly, I would be horrified if I was asked this.
That makes two of us 😉 .
The context I've seen this in a lot of times is basically the interviewer not asking any question and instead letting the applicant focus on whatever he/she wants to emphasize about themselves i.e. "what do you want to make sure that the admissions committee knows about you?" Insinuating that the response may carry a lot of weight.
If you had to summarize yourself in a couple sentences, what would you say? For example, what attributes define who you are, and how are you viewed by your peers? That should help guide your answer to this question 🙂. Your answer should indirectly address why you would be a good medical student, and also give an idea of what can expected from you if accepted. e.g "I'm excited to be here. I hope to convey that I am W and X. Y has served as my guiding principle, and is a large part of why I want to become a physician." Some broad overview like that should work. Just my thoughts.
 
Last edited:
That makes two of us 😉 .
At least I'm in good company 😀

If you had to summarize yourself in a couple sentences, what would you say? For example, what attributes define who you are, and how are you viewed by your peers? That should help guide your answer to this question 🙂. Your answer should indirectly address why you would be a good medical student, and also give an idea of what can expected from you if accepted. e.g "I'm excited to be here. I hope to convey that I am W and X. Y has served as my guiding principle, which prompted me to Z, and ultimately led me to here." Some broad overview like that should work. Just my thoughts.
Thank you for this! It is so well-put. Now I hope they DO ask me this question haha
 
The context I've seen this in a lot of times is basically the interviewer not asking any question and instead letting the applicant focus on whatever he/she wants to emphasize about themselves i.e. "what do you want to make sure that the admissions committee knows about you?" Insinuating that the response may carry a lot of weight.

Frankly, I would be horrified if I was asked this.
I was asked only this question in an interview last year, was caught off guard but gave an OK/mediocure answer. Got a WL then an R from that school
 
I was asked this specific question "What would you want us to tell the admission committee about you?" at the end of my interview (later accepted into said school.) But the worst question during that same interview was " Hi, tell us why you're here" :wow: At the BEGINNING, as soon as I sat down
 
If you had to summarize yourself in a couple sentences, what would you say? For example, what attributes define who you are, and how are you viewed by your peers? That should help guide your answer to this question 🙂. Your answer should indirectly address why you would be a good medical student, and also give an idea of what can expected from you if accepted. e.g "I'm excited to be here. I hope to convey that I am W and X. Y has served as my guiding principle, and is a large part of why I want to become a physician." Some broad overview like that should work. Just my thoughts.

Yeah, I don't love this question. I mean I won't flop around on the floor if I am asked it. Not only do I have to show them all of this stuff during the interview, now I have to summarize what I have been telling them for the last 30-40 min?
 
This seems like a chance to show how serious you are about attending that particular school.
 
In an interview, if asked "what would you like me to tell the admissions committee?", what is an appropriate way to respond?
1) The context I've seen this in a lot of times is basically the interviewer not asking any question and instead letting the applicant focus on whatever he/she wants to emphasize about themselves i.e. "what do you want to make sure that the admissions committee knows about you?" Insinuating that the response may carry a lot of weight.

2) Frankly, I would be horrified if I was asked this.
1) I'd suggest that the response should be a brief soundbite that ties into "why this school." Once you get past the second sentence, the interviewer won't recall enough of your blurb to matter.

2) Ditto. I'd have been like a deer in the headlights. If you get stuck, just expressing appreciation for the interview opportunity is sufficient.
 
any sort of question like this I always like to start out with joke . something like "other than how good looking I am?"
 
Great way to put a nervous interviewee at ease. /s

My sympathies.
Thank you Catalystik . Thankfully, I have a weird way of reacting while under duress - I started smiling Which calmed me down. Then I basically summarized why medicine and why that school, together in one sentence. For the last question: what should we tell admin- I just went through my app and basically told them that since I'm a nontrad and career changer, I'm more certain than ever that this is what I want to do. I also told them to tell admin that once admitted, they'll have to forcefully remove me off campus before I quit trying to achieve my dream. I think they saw how fierce I was and took pity on me. ‍♀️

Moral of the story, you'll never know what to expect during these things. Just practice a lot (I had a lot of experiences going on job interviews as a chemist) and don't freak out if they throw you a curve ball Do your best, be sincere, and don't forget to smile.
 
Top