If You Could Ask an Adcom Anything, What Would you Ask?

[Kalyx]

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All right,

So here's the deal. I'm going to be putting on a series of workshops for a tutoring center at my university on the process of applying to medical school. I'm pretty familiar with the process and have certainly benefited from excellent resources (many of which/whom were found on SDN).

I may have the opportunity to meet with a prominent adcom at my university's medical school to ask him questions about the application process and get an adcom's perspective on the whole deal.

So, my question to you all is, those of you who will soon be applying, what would you like to know? Those of you who already applied, what do you wish that you had known before starting your primary app?




~Kalyx

 

[longhorn09]

"Just tell me, yes or no!"

 

[bannie22]

"Just tell me, yes or no!"

👍

I came in here to say the exact same thing.

 

[metallica81788]

"Just tell me, yes or no!"

This.

To add "if you interviewed me 4 months ago and you rank me on a list, why can't you just tell me already!"

You know what I'm talking about longhorn.

 

[longhorn09]

This.

To add "if you interviewed me 4 months ago and you rank me on a list, why can't you just tell me already!"

You know what I'm talking about longhorn.

You are right, they are mada fuka.👎thumbdown👎

 

[BlueElmo]

"Just tell me, yes or no!"

Agreed.

 

[Naijaba]

I would like to have their perspective on interviewees. I'd really like to know how the majority of applicants act at an interview. I was completely relaxed and myself at all of my interviews, and I'm wondering if that's good, bad, what everyone does, or different than everyone?

 

[Kalyx]

Ah snap!

I was thinking of adding a little blurb on expecting to get non-serious or smart-ass answers, but then didn't because I thought that sounded anal.

You guys are charming, but I'd like some questions whose answers could benefit a lot of students, please. 🙂


~Kalyx

 

[bannie22]

Ask them. How much does the interview count for really?

Is it EVERYTHING
or tinyTHING?

 

[metallica81788]

Ah snap!

I was thinking of adding a little blurb on expecting to get non-serious or smart-ass answers, but then didn't because I thought that sounded anal.

You guys are charming, but I'd like some questions whose answers could benefit a lot of students, please. 🙂


~Kalyx

How much does real life work experience at some crappy job count?
How much does membership in some crappy club that everyone joins count?
Do you need research?
Can amazing ECs pull up a borderline GPA?
What matters more, MCAT or GPA?

that's a good list

 

[Bacchus]

Do you truly value life experience or are you looking at the numbers first and foremost?

 

[DrSmooth]

What makes an applicant with average or above average stats stand out and have a good shot at getting in?
What factors do you think make an applicant a great interviewer?
Would you rather see guys in a black, navy, or charcoal suit?

 

[OneMCATAway]

here's one: after you get an interview how much do stats matter?

 

[OpalOnyx]

here's one: after you get an interview how much do stats matter?

yup, I second this question.

 

[FutureScaresMe]

I would ask an adcom if they could tell by the end of an interview whether the interviewee is going to get accepted.

 

[Antibodies]

I would ask an adcom if they could tell by the end of an interview whether the interviewee is going to get accepted.

Depends on who is doing the interview.

 

[Antibodies]

Ask if the letters of interest/intent mean anything to them.

 

[cliffhuxtableDO]

how often does it come down to a coin flip between applicant A and applicant B

 

[jl lin]

I would ask an adcom if they could tell by the end of an interview whether the interviewee is going to get accepted.

Good one.


My bet is they have to start cutting somewhere so it goes like this:

STATS fist--that and the PS and anything of particular interest help you to get the interview. After that, the interview, just like in getting any position in life, counts HUGE. ???

Isn't getting to the interview point and then interviewing well what makes all the difference?

So, please ask them if I'm right on this or not.

 

[jl lin]

Oh, and my smart azz question would be, How much clevage should I show during the interview?

 

[ThatQuestionGuy]

Do you yield protect? (Reject people for being overqualified)

 

[utah3219]

The p.

 

[jvesco22]

Do you prefer Jelly or Syrup?

 

[nuneyah]

Will you please post the transcript of your interview when you're done, please?

 

[Queenshawtii]

^I second that!

 

[Kalyx]

The problem with asking any adcom member is that it isn't going to be representative of all schools. So if you do put up workshops you need to put a disclaimer that it applies to that particular school.

I applied broadly and from what I've seen, EVERY school looks for different things.

Absolutely. The workshop will be geared primarily toward gaining acceptance at my university's medical school, so specific advice from an adcom AT that school will most benefit the students.

However, I'll certainly put forth a disclaimer that students should also apply to many other schools and should understand that the adcom's personal advice many not be as relevant for those other schools.


Thank you all for these questions thus far!

~Kalyx

 

[imnastywitit]

What are some red flags during the interview?

Like, if the applicant said 'x', I would be strongly pre-disposed to reject him.

and like obviously if x='legalize pot' a rejection will be coming.

but what are some more subtle things that x can be that could really rub an interviewer the wrong way. i know this is going to vary hugely between interviewers, but any insight would be appreciated.

 

[anonymousername]

how much do you weigh?
any diabetics in the family?
any history of smoking?
any surgery?
where?
did they only remove one testicle or both?
are you on any medications now?
what is your insurance coverage?
have you ever had a blood transfusion?
are you allergic to any of the following? asprin, barpituates (sleeping pills), codeine, iodine, latex, local anesthetic, penicillin, sulfa, other_____
any history of high blood pressure?
what religion are you?
any painful urination?


[I would suggest to see a specialist here]

will you pay by cash or credit?

 

[BerlinDude]

Right now, what I'd like to ask Adcoms is:

Why don't you go f*** yourself?

 

[csmittyB]

Oh, and my smart azz question would be, How much clevage should I show during the interview?

You should start a poll for this topic. Don't forget the pics 😉.

 

[thamsenman]

"Do you have a soul?"

 

[kmd34]

Are you enjoying holding some one's breath for 2 to 3 months and later giving death shot by snail mail in form of "Rejection Letter" ?

 

[CaliGirl14]

What in the EFFING world do I have to do to get into your DARN SCHOOL!?

 

[Sammich117]

Why do you silently reject people instead of giving them the decency of at least letting them know you don't want them?

My biggest pet peeve of this whole process...

 

[Tutmos]

Can you show me the secret handshake?

 

[anonymousername]

Can you show me the secret handshake?

this is it right here.


[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9u2rRYdUaw[/YOUTUBE]

i can totally see LizzyM and me sharing some skin to seal the deal after my interview...

 

[LizzyM]

this is it right here.


[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9u2rRYdUaw[/YOUTUBE]

i can totally see LizzyM and me sharing some skin to seal the deal after my interview...

No, never at an interview but if you think you see me at a second look event, ask if I know the secret handshake and if I do....

 

[mmikey]

Do you prefer Jelly or Syrup?

It's a sensation feeling, that feels good. We straight, it's cool.

Haha, seriously though.. Does the adcom interview people late in the season just to fill up the alt list?

 

[298609]

"what's up, doc?"


bahahahaha i always want to say that to MDs but feel like when i start laughing at my own joke they will be like wowwwwww and walk away.

 

[PureMotivation]

Ask them. How much does the interview count for really?

Is it EVERYTHING
or tinyTHING?

I agree with this. I want to know how much the person really counts or do they just want to find out if you are not totally crazy and from there its all NUMBERS.

In my case, my GPA is great, but MCAT is kind of weak and I know this hurts me. However, 2 of the schools I am waitlisted at I really thought that my personal statement, personality, and other intangibles resonated with the schools mission. But alas it seems that numbers win.

 

[jl lin]

Why do you silently reject people instead of giving them the decency of at least letting them know you don't want them?

My biggest pet peeve of this whole process...

I have to agree with 👍 Sammich totally on this. I understand they get a lot of applicants, but they want a timely and formal response should they offer the applicant a seat, right????

I mean they want the applicant to state whether he or she would accept or not.

It should go both ways, period. Silent rejection is just totally disrespectful and bad form to me.

In fact I'd like schools to start listing that they do this. Of course it would end up being more work for the schools that have the decency to give a response, since I think more folks would apply to those schools first. I say this, b/c IMO, if you don't have the decency to send out a simply notification of rejection, I'd have to question the mentality of how the programs operates with its students.

I can't find any sound justification for this practice.👎 But what it may do for them is limit the amount of "Why not?" calls and letters. Well set up a system for that and suck it up. Respect is supposed to go both ways.

 

[morning]

Do you know what they call a Quarter Pounder with cheese in France?

 

[MDtobe31311]

Will you please post the transcript of your interview when you're done, please?

Yes please do! I'd love to hear the response to some of these questions.

 

[298609]

Do you know what they call a Quarter Pounder with cheese in France?

now i have a fantasy where i act out the entire scene with an interviewer. even the dancing.

 

[anonymousername]

Do you know what they call a Quarter Pounder with cheese in France?

"A Royale with cheese"

what a great movie, Uma Thermon was eh...