I'm terrified of interviewing with surgeons....

[Sluggie]

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First, I mean no offense to surgeons or surgeons in training: the field saves countless lives and requires incredible skill and determination.

I was never afraid of surgeons before applying to medical school, but all my interviews with them have been so stressful. The interviewers were terse and unwelcoming. All of my interviews with basic science people, pediatricians, phychiatrists, and pathologists seemed to go very well.

I've met many wonderful surgeons and don't buy into common stereotypes, but I have nothing but bad interview experiences with them. Has anyone else had this experience?

I know I can't request to chose my interviewers, but does anyone have advice for interviewing with seemingly unsympathetic doctors? Would they make others nervous also and still have to write positive evaluations of some candidates? Is my fear exaggerated? What are some very simple and easy to practice interview approaches for me if faced again with same situation.

I'm really quite scared. Any insights (please constructive and not sarcastic) would be extremely appreciated!

 

[seelee]

First, I mean no offense to surgeons or surgeons in training: the field saves countless lives and requires incredible skill and determination.

I was never afraid of surgeons before applying to medical school, but all my interviews with them have been so stressful. The interviewers were terse and unwelcoming. All of my interviews with basic science people, pediatricians, phychiatrists, and pathologists seemed to go very well.

I've met many wonderful surgeons and don't buy into common stereotypes, but I have nothing but bad interview experiences with them. Has anyone else had this experience?

I know I can't request to chose my interviewers, but does anyone have advice for interviewing with seemingly unsympathetic doctors? Would they make others nervous also and still have to write positive evaluations of some candidates? Is my fear exaggerated? What are some very simple and easy to practice interview approaches for me if faced again with same situation.

I'm really quite scared. Any insights (please constructive and not sarcastic) would be extremely appreciated!

If you feel that your interview was unproductive or unfair, you might be able to request another interview (risky though). You are probably over concerned. I had alot of interviewers who I felt were unresponsive and difficult, and I ended up getting an acceptance. Likewise, I had interviewers who were really into me, even going so far as saying that I would probably get in to their school, yet getting rejected.

 

[chman]

They do like to cut things, even if they don't admit it, they do. Be afraid, very afraid.

 

[AGLAIA]

There is something to be said for the fact that the seem to prefer their patients asleep when they deal with them. I have worked with surgeons and am friends with several ... even married one of them ... but they are often the first to admit they aren't very good with people.😀

 

[Sluggie]

So how to be very good with people (not necessarily surgeons) who aren't very good with people? I just can't seem to engage them or elicit any kind of empathy. I even interviewed with a laywer (true story, an employee of the medical school) and had a much better conversation.

 

[chman]

So how to be very good with people (not necessarily surgeons) who aren't very good with people? I just can't seem to engage them or elicit any kind of empathy. I even interviewed with a laywer (true story, an employee of the medical school) and had a much better conversation.

All joking aside, I think that you have kind of build this up in your head. Just go in there and say to yourself, "these are people, that is all they are." They put their pants on one leg at a time just like you.

 

[Sluggie]

Any else, please?

 

[Depakote]

Just be confident in how you present yourself. Keep your answers succinct.

 

[dude1344]

Surgeons are a different breed... that doesn't make them people to be afraid of in an interview. Just be confident and don't let them affect you negatively.

I had a surgeon interviewer last year who kept mentioning during the interview how often he gets drunk with his buddies and his ordeals... over and over and over again.

 

[fastnfurious]

I've had two experiences with surgeons in interviews. One went okay and the other went horrible. I feel like the stereotype can definitely be true. they can be arrogant, cocky, self-righteous, and blunt. However, not all are like that and I'm sure as long as you keep yourself composed they will respect you

 

[Sluggie]

I really tried to tell myself to stay composed and think I did a reasonable job on my last, but it was so hard to elicit any kind of response. Do you think interviewers who seem cold might actually do it on purpose?

If one interviewer just scared everyone and didn't like any applicants, then the rest of adcom would stop listening to him/her after a while, no? They have to like some applicants, it seems?

 

[FuturaDocta]

Surgeons are a different breed... that doesn't make them people to be afraid of in an interview. Just be confident and don't let them affect you negatively.

I had a surgeon interviewer last year who kept mentioning during the interview how often he gets drunk with his buddies and his ordeals... over and over and over again.

Where? I wanna get some of that for an interview. It sounds way better than the usual "why doctor?"

 

[LiveUninhibited]

I'd just stay positive and confident. Thinking, "Oh no, a surgeon!" isn't going to help you.

Surgeons are a different breed... that doesn't make them people to be afraid of in an interview. Just be confident and don't let them affect you negatively.

I had a surgeon interviewer last year who kept mentioning during the interview how often he gets drunk with his buddies and his ordeals... over and over and over again.

That would be tough. Interviews are hard enough even when they do stay on topic and ask good questions. Should we be sympathetic and allow the conversation to drift away from our app, or should we carefully steer the conversation back towards convincing them we're ready for medicine? In the former case, they may not be able to speak of your readiness for medicine, and in the latter case, you may not appear to be a receptive and empathetic person who listens...

 

[texaslily]

I have had the same experience as the OP with surgeon interviewers. I think they just have a different expectation of the q&a style of the interview and really want to make sure you can back up what you say and have confidence in yourself. (I found this out afterwards unfortunately). It was really intimidating but I think next time I won't try so hard to build an empathetic connection and focus on giving them solid, well thought out answers, which is what I feel they want anyway. I think it's not that they don't like applicants.. they just don't care about having a good conversation or building rapport. In my opinion their method of seeing if the applicant can do well/is a good fit for med school is a little different from that of other MDs like a psychiatrist for instance.

 

[dude1344]

Where? I wanna get some of that for an interview. It sounds way better than the usual "why doctor?"

It was at CCLCM. The most off-topic interview I've ever had. We basically spent the whole time discussing music (we both played certain instruments).

I ended up getting waitlisted and didn't get off. 😕 😛

 

[artx2008]

My OP surgeon interviewer said so many odd things during my interview. I even thought he was doing it on purpose to provoke me. I stayed calm and ignored odd statements that did not require a response.

In the end, I got accepted when the first batch of acceptance offers came out.

 

[TheMightySmiter]

They put their pants on one leg at a time just like you.

Whatever, the elite among us save time by jumping into our pants two legs at a time. 😎

 

[Depakote]

Whatever, the elite among us save time by jumping into our pants two legs at a time. 😎

you guys still wear pants? 🙄