Illegal interview questions that keep being asked

[seethrew]

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I didn't even know that I had to be concerned at all about naughty questions until an interviewer told me he was about to ask me illegal questions - AND THEN ASKED THEM! Told me I didn't have to answer and then kind of waited for a response. How awkward.

- Are you single?
- How old are you?

Another later interview I was asked my age and I responded without thinking - "you are not suppossed to ask me that", in an informative, but not rude way. And with that the interviewer proceed to calculate and guess my age, accurately. To which I nodded, feeling defeated of my rights.

Normally I don't have a problem discussing these things, but I figure these questions are designated off-limits for a good reason and I feel uncomfortable because it is disrespectful to take away my legal rights. I understand sometimes things come out accidentally that are conversational, but these cases seemed well informed enough.

A friend suggested: would a male applicant be asked if he was single? would a traditional applicant be asked their age?

(In both of these cases the interviewer was male.)

How do y'all feel about this? Have you been asked illegal questions? I don't think I even know what other illegal questions there are?

 

[VPDcurt]

The fact that the schools have my SSN worries me a hell of a lot more than someone knowing my age. Just sit back and take a couple of really deep breaths.

 

[!dr_nick!]

Dont we put DOB on our applications? Then again that was a while ago, and i didnt do aamcas.

 

[Pinkertinkle]

The age thing is pretty obvious, I'm not sure how illegal it is to ask it when the DOB is on the front page of their applicant information packet.

 

[seethrew]

If they have your age then why do they ask? My advisor said they shouldn't - perhaps interviewers do not get ALL your amcas info.

Especially blind interviews.

 

[erin682]

Hmm the age question wouldn't really bother me a lot but the are you single question is a little strange. It really shouldn't have anything to do with your capabilities as an applicant. And though its not impossible I imagine guys would be less likely to be asked those questions. I didn't have any male interviewers ask me stuff like that though. One asked me about my religion though and told me that he always tried to get Christians in to med school. While that worked to my advantage it did seem pretty innappropriate to ask and then use that as a determining factor for admission.

 

[Code Brown]

Hmm the age question wouldn't really bother me a lot but the are you single question is a little strange. It really shouldn't have anything to do with your capabilities as an applicant. And though its not impossible I imagine guys would be less likely to be asked those questions. I didn't have any male interviewers ask me stuff like that though. One asked me about my religion though and told me that he always tried to get Christians in to med school. While that worked to my advantage it did seem pretty innappropriate to ask and then use that as a determining factor for admission.

How about these question:

"How is your relationship with your wife?"
"Do you have any kids?"
"When do you plan on having kids?"
"What's she going to do when you move here?"

Believe me, they ask whatever they want.

 

[liverotcod]

I suspect that medical school applicants are not protected by the same laws that protect job applicants. Different beast. That doesn't make the questions appropriate, though. You can follow the advice given on a gazillion career help web sites on dealing with inappropriate questions.

Here's an interesting article on the successes and failures of the interviewing process from the schools' point of view.

 

[PostalWookie]

Uhm, applying to med school is not like applying for a job. They know your age. It doesn't matter, unless you're on the verge of getting social security benefits.
As for the single/relationship question, it's unusual, but there's nothing wrong with them asking (unless it's in the "iv'e got a aprty in my pants and you're invited" sort of way). An older married applicant has a ifferent outloook on life and maybe a higher maturity level than someone straight out of college.

 

[MeowMix]

I had an interviewer tell me that he would like to ask questions about family, kids, age, etc. but that he could not unless I mentioned it first (which is true). I just sat there, agreed, smiled at him and we moved on to another topic.

If you mention the word "girlfriend," for example, it is completely legal for them to follow that topic. Don't introduce anything unless you want to talk about it.

 

[opinionkitten]

does anyone have real information on the legality of these questions. i had understood it, perhaps i am wrong, that private schools could ask whatever they want. i know that religious organizations, i dont know about medical schools, can ask and discriminate on the basis of religious beliefs. any poly sci pre meds out there with some insight?

 

[liverotcod]

My best googling skills failed to turn up much more than the link I posted. If you're seriously considering taking up the fight (which I think would be a pretty bad idea unless it was really egregious) then you need to talk to a lawyer. Unless ADA applies (which is what I'm not clear about) you're probably looking for state statute, which nobody here is likely to know squat about.

 

[bjackrian]

You also might want to look at equal access statements, which most medical schools have in some form (the "we do not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, religion, etc."). If they aren't discriminating based on those factors, then why are they wasting interview time asking the questions?

 

[LauraMac]

One asked me about my religion though and told me that he always tried to get Christians in to med school. While that worked to my advantage it did seem pretty innappropriate to ask and then use that as a determining factor for admission.

and people wonder why religion scares me...

anyway, i have been asked, how many other schools did you apply to? where were they? why did you choose these schools? these are also illegal questions to ask, but everyone keeps doing it. i keep saying, i applied to a lot of schools all over to be safe. but one of my interviewers apparently wasn't happy with that and made me specify certain schools. it made me very uncomfortable. i don't want them knowing i applied to stanford cause then they'll think i won't go there even if i'm accepted. i don't want them knowing i applied to some of the low-ranked schools either cause then they'll think i'm an idiot. i mean, it's none of their business where i think i have a chance at getting in or what i'm really looking for in a school. if they ask what i'm looking for in a school that is acceptable. but i don't want to answer which schools and why those schools. it's not fair for me to be at an interview in the state of michigan and have to say i applied to cali schools cause i hate winter.

 

[uptoolate]

Just an FYI- I know the Peace Corps is entitled to ask interview questions that would not be legal in an ordinary job interview. I wouldn't be surprised if medical schools also fell under whatever criteria that allows PC to venture into such territory.

 

[crysb]

I interviewed at a particular medical school in Texas and was asked extremely uncomfortable questions about family planning -- I had not brought up the topic first myself. People will throw their hands around and talk crap about how interviewers "just want to see how interviewers react." I don't buy that crap for one second. When I told other physicians and colleagues about my the questions I was asked, they all agreed hands down that they were highly inappropriate and illegal. I was so upset I emailed the Dean at this particular school and told him my situation and agreed that those kinds of questions should not be asked and apologized.

The thing is, those questions have no bearing on how well you perform in medical school or what kind of doctor you'll be. Furthermore, they can absolutely be used to keep you out of medical school, which was what I was afraid of during my interview at that particular school.

My points are 1) I think there are other and more constructive ways to see how an applicant will "react" to a stressful situation and 2) How does that interviewer represent his or her school? Would you really want to go? I don't. Fortunately, I don't have to.

Here's an interesting website that talks about these kinds of issues:

http://www.lewisassoc.com/women4.htm

"You can, and should, report to the Admissions Office before you leave campus any discriminatory behavior, illegal questions, inappropriate questions or poor interview technique"

I feel very strongly about this. Can you tell?

The End.

 

[abraxas20]

I am pretty sure that they cannot ask about your marital status. My interviewer actually worked hard to avoid it. (I am married and was wearing my rings). I said something like "when we moved into our house..." and she finally said "who lives with you?" I laughed, because I hadn't realized until that point that she was being so good about not bringing it up. I volunteered that I was married. She asked some questions about how my husband feels about me going to med school and then she moved on. I had no weird questions except "how does your mother feel about you going to medical school?"

That was strange

 

[Khenon]

On Essay Edge there's a section on interview advice. One topic did cover "illegal" questions, and basically they stated that they will be asked by some interviewers. The reasoning given was that most interviewers don't really care what the anwer is, they more want to throw you off and see how you react to something that is clearly not expected, nor appropriate. The advice given was to think about those questions (basically the ones given in this forum, although they listed several that could get asked), and decide before going into the interview what you're answer is going to be. You can choose not to answer (ie "I'd rather not comment on that"), you can choose to answer with a general or abstract response, or you can just answer the question (ie "I'm 30 years old"). It's really up to you, and because the question is illegal, the interviewers can't argue what your response is. So my advice is to think about these questions, come up with what you want to say, if they come up, and then stick with that.

 

[seethrew]

My advisor told me to report the first instance which I did, to the relief of the admissions director who was dismayed and said those questions should NOT be asked and would be rectified. The director even gave me the name of the person who would be following up on the issue. So it IS illegal, and NOT tolerated by administration WHEN known.

 

[Fermata]

Out of curiousity, why is your age such a personal thing? 😀

To me it's like cheating death for another year. 😀

 

[oniwindu]

My advisor told me to report the first instance which I did, to the relief of the admissions director who was dismayed and said those questions should NOT be asked and would be rectified. The director even gave me the name of the person who would be following up on the issue. So it IS illegal, and NOT tolerated by administration WHEN known.

wow, I didn't know that you could do that.

In several of my interviews, they usually approached the illegal questions indirectly: "How are you going to balance your time between <this and that interest>, your clinical work, and family?" I responded by giving a general answer about time-management and adaptation. One interviewer even outright said, "What if you don't have time for your kids?" During that interview, I didn't even mention wanting to having a family, nor did I ever even get near that topic. I didn't let that anger me in any way and just answered politely that that's a personal issue and will require work (and adapting) when I get there. I don't really feel that these questions have any bearing on whether I get admitted to a school, nor do I get particularly enflamed when someone approaches me about this topic. I guess either way, I don't have a position about whether or not these questions should be reported to the admissions committee.

In any case, when an interviewer brings up something like this, I feel like it's fair game for me to ask for their "advice" or "experience" for how they have managed to balance clinical work, research, academic teaching, family, etc. All the interviewers that I have asked about this are more than happy to talk about it, actually. Often, their answers in some way mimic mine, but in greater experiential detail.

<shrug>

 

[TheElephant]

Well during my inteviews I have been asked about my religion and about my place of birth. I was born outside of the United States, but I have spent half of my life in the US, and usually when the interviewers ask me about my origins I hesitate in telling them my birthplace. But they still insist and I have to tell them the name of the exact country. I belive that these kind of questions can hurt me because sometimes people discriminate unconsiously and do not realize what they are doing.

 

[CuddlyKumquat]

The fact that the schools have my SSN worries me a hell of a lot more than someone knowing my age. Just sit back and take a couple of really deep breaths.

lol
true...identity thieves

 

[Pinkertinkle]

CuddlyKumquat is reviving old threads like some sort of thread doctor.

 

[Scubadoc]

from the above website:

>>First, what are illegal questions? The most common questions asked women that are "illegal" are about marriage, family, and childcare plans<<<

I was asked all three of these questions.

 

[Luv Nietzsche]

is it illegal to ask "what other schools did you apply?" I thought the ad com doesn't know which or how many schools you apply.

 

[45408]

You also might want to look at equal access statements, which most medical schools have in some form (the "we do not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, religion, etc."). If they aren't discriminating based on those factors, then why are they wasting interview time asking the questions?

to make you further elucidate your personality

 

[45408]

is it illegal to ask "what other schools did you apply?" I thought the ad com doesn't know which or how many schools you apply.

in the same vein, I'm wondering if it's appropriate to tell an interviewer that you've already been accepted somewhere else (if it's true) if they ask what you plan to do if you don't get into medical school?

 

[ndbosma04]

Just wanted to throw my two cents in. These questions are actually illegal (I took a bioethics course and had a discussion with my prof who sits on the WashU adcom) and for everyone's benefit, please do report them after they happen even if you don't feel comfortable confronting the interviewer at the time. Deans should be receptive to this, because the school could possibly get sued. People have no right to ask if you plan on having kids and when or how you're going to juggle being a doctor and being a mom. These are questions which are usually asked only of women making them even more innapropriate. 😡

 

[no-see-um]

It's not illegal to ask, but it is illegal to force you to answer... There's not a question I wouldn't answer. No matter what they ask me. I would make them wish they hadn't if they did by just looking right at them and being gravely honest.

Someone asked a friend of mine, who's Jewish and from Israel, if he would treat a suicide bomber. He could have taken that question as an affront to him and who he is, as something very personal, but he took it as a question. And he gave them quite an answer.

 

[BAM!]

I guess these questions are illegal, but I don't think they'd be that hard to answer. Unless you have something to hide, I would just answer naturally. I'm sure that when you're all physicians, your patients will probably ask some rude and inappropriate questions that might catch you off guard.

I worked as a camp counselor for two summers during college. Sometimes the kids would ask questions like that, "how old are you," or "are you dating one of the other counselors," like they were testing you. Unless you're embarassed or uncomfortable, you could just answer them upfront. However sometimes it makes sense to say something like, "I don't feel comfortable talking about this," or "I like to keep my personal life private."

what are your thoguhts?

chjeesr

 

[no-see-um]

I guess these questions are illegal, but I don't think they'd be that hard to answer. Unless you have something to hide, I would just answer naturally. I'm sure that when you're all physicians, your patients will probably ask some rude and inappropriate questions that might catch you off guard.

I worked as a camp counselor for two summers during college. Sometimes the kids would ask questions like that, "how old are you," or "are you dating one of the other counselors," like they were testing you. Unless you're embarassed or uncomfortable, you could just answer them upfront. However sometimes it makes sense to say something like, "I don't feel comfortable talking about this," or "I like to keep my personal life private."

what are your thoguhts?

chjeesr

I totally agree with you.

 

[DGhiker]

is it illegal to ask "what other schools did you apply?" I thought the ad com doesn't know which or how many schools you apply.

I attended a seminar on interview skills at my old undergrad given by a previous Dean of Admissions of a medical school (maybe Michigan, I can't remember). He said this question was not illegal, but you should try to skirt around it by telling the interviewer what criteria you used to pick the schools you applied to. I tried doing this but one interviewer wasn't satisified and wouldn't rest until I gave her a list of like 5 or 6 specific schools. But it wasn't illegal for her to do that I guess. I agree with the other posters about questions regarding age and marital status though, those are illegal.

 

[Luv Nietzsche]

I attended a seminar on interview skills at my old undergrad given by a previous Dean of Admissions of a medical school (maybe Michigan, I can't remember). He said this question was not illegal, but you should try to skirt around it by telling the interviewer what criteria you used to pick the schools you applied to. I tried doing this but one interviewer wasn't satisified and wouldn't rest until I gave her a list of like 5 or 6 specific schools. But it wasn't illegal for her to do that I guess. I agree with the other posters about questions regarding age and marital status though, those are illegal.

Thanks!

 

[Psycho Doctor]

I interviewed at a particular medical school in Texas and was asked extremely uncomfortable questions about family planning -- I had not brought up the topic first myself. People will throw their hands around and talk crap about how interviewers "just want to see how interviewers react." I don't buy that crap for one second. When I told other physicians and colleagues about my the questions I was asked, they all agreed hands down that they were highly inappropriate and illegal. I was so upset I emailed the Dean at this particular school and told him my situation and agreed that those kinds of questions should not be asked and apologized.

The thing is, those questions have no bearing on how well you perform in medical school or what kind of doctor you'll be. Furthermore, they can absolutely be used to keep you out of medical school, which was what I was afraid of during my interview at that particular school.

My points are 1) I think there are other and more constructive ways to see how an applicant will "react" to a stressful situation and 2) How does that interviewer represent his or her school? Would you really want to go? I don't. Fortunately, I don't have to.

Here's an interesting website that talks about these kinds of issues:

http://www.lewisassoc.com/women4.htm

"You can, and should, report to the Admissions Office before you leave campus any discriminatory behavior, illegal questions, inappropriate questions or poor interview technique"

I feel very strongly about this. Can you tell?

The End.

wow sorry you had such a bad experience. I guess some interviewers will try to see what they can get away with. Just curious if you got accepted to the school.

What impact does these answers have on admission..i mean how would they like you to answer regarding age, marital status, religion, etc?