Illegal Interview Questions?

[praying4MD]

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What are the all powerful interviewers allowed to ask us?

Here is a sampling of topics that I was asked about recently (all in one interview, mind you!)

1) Racism Conference
2) Slave Reparations
3) Evolution
4) The Existence of God

My opinions on each of these topics was asked. I'm guessing it is allowed because the interviewer really hasn't transgressed into personal boundaries. Maybe I was just overwhelmed at the sheer depth of the questions.

BTW, it went really, really well so that's not a concern. I am just wondering if they are within their rights to ask me about things like this.

 

[Scooby Doo]

where was this at?
I think they just want to hear how you argue on very controversial cases...
What's been going on at the racism conference. We walked out right?
Anything new happening?

 

[johnthestreak]

what interview was this (school)?

 

[praying4MD]

Interview was at UTMB-Galveston.

 

[md2be06]

We walked out because Israel was being harshly criticized at the conference.

 

[Hopkins2010]

Originally posted by md2be06:
•We walked out because Israel was being harshly criticized at the conference.•

I think it was a little stronger than that. The conference wanted to make an official statement saying Zionism is racism, and of course the U.S. strongly disagrees with that language.

 

[Hopkins2010]

praying4MD,

Wow thats pretty deep content in the span of one single interview.

One of my interviewers at UTMB gave me some ethics stuff, but nowhere near the amount you got.

 

[BlackPuma]

baylor21, I think they asked her those questions because of her background......

it really isn't fair, but honestly, once you get into another medical school of your choice, write the dean a letter and complain if in any scenario the interview went bad 🙂

 

[kutastha]

Supposedly you should immediately go to the admissions office if you feel some questioning is out of line or makes you uncomfortable. How many people actually do that is another story. I doubt homeboy was trying to use your personal beliefs as part of the admissions process, but rather wanted to hear you articulate your thoughts on controversial topics.

Andrew

 

[Scooby Doo]

She said that her interview went "REALLY REALLY WELL"....so she doesn't have to do anything. Relax...not a big deal...I think they talked about current events...that's fine...
I would love to go to an interview where we only talked about those issues..it would be more fun than "why you want to be a doctor" type questions.

 

[praying4MD]

Again, the interview proceeded smoothly overall; I just had kind of unexpected subjects. It's interesting to talk about those things if you're discussing with a friend, but when you're talking to an adcom it's a little different. You want to show that you can understand both sides of the issue (actually ALL sides of it) yet, you do not want to come across as wishy washy. Interesting but challenging.

I was just wondering how deep the interview gods are allowed to delve into our personal beliefs. I wasn't necessary uncomfortable because I could respond aptly and confidently (thank God I actually knew about those subjects!) So I didn't see any need to report it to anyone. I was simply taken aback at the directly confrontational topics that were chosen.

 

[BlackPuma]

if they asked you what gives you the highest orgasm....then you know they crossed the line 😉

hope that helps 😀

(I think that is illegal in most states, except in Washington D.C....ehem whitehouse...but you didn't hear that from me 😀)

 

[Doctor Wyldstyle]

Hmm... At one interview, the interviewer beat around the bush for awhile. Finally, the interviewer just straight out asked me my ethnic background. I felt violated because I didn't think it mattered.

wyldstyle2000

 

[Wednesday]

I think the only real illegal questions are questions that are considered discriminatory. For example, they aren't really allowed to ask you if you are planning on getting married or having children. And they usually only ask these questions to women. But every book I've seen has said that you should find a way to answer the illegal personal questions instead of telling the interviewer right on the spot that they're out of bounds. Most likely the interviewer doesn't even know and thinks these questions are a perfectly good way to find out if someone is serious about medicine or not.

Questions about world events are probably fine for the most part.