I see that many applicants feel this way. I love interviewing, its always come natural to me. I just speak and act naturally, I am who I am. And I've always gotten excellent feedback. I'm not saying I'm all that, I just think you do yourself and the program a great favor by being yourself. You wouldnt want to act a certain way and then get into that program, only to really not fit in there and be miserable for the next 4 years. Get in where you fit in. I have interviews at large programs with big names and at small private programs. In the end I'm gonna rank the programs that I will be most comfortable at the highest. If I'm happy with my program, then I will perform my best, and thus get the most out of my training.
Ok, sorry for the rant. I hope everyone's interviews are going well!! 🙂
E-Mo
perhaps i was not clear. and in reading my statement it appears that i was not. i don't think one should misrepresent themselves at all. i am speaking more to the nuances of what is essentially a social interaction. people have different temperments, senses of humor (or worse, a lack of one), different composures (some interviewers are more relaxed and informal others are quite proper and really very formal in the way in which they communicate) and the list goes on and on. it is especially the case in pathology where there is a distinct older cohort of physicians as well as very young junior faculty. also, geographic location and prior training institutions leave their mark on a person's professional demeanor.
30 min interviews with potentially 7 very different people is tiring because you must within seconds acertain these aspects of your interviewer's personality so that you can accomadate them. not for the sake of "getting in", but to relieve any akwardness that may ensue. i personally like to connect in a meaningful way to each person i interact with. regardless of whether our personalities "naturally" mesh. having said that, i do not consider it misrepresentation to be cognizent of the differences in personality traits and behave in a way that allows for the most effective interaction.
if anything...i think it is a more evolved human interaction when you are able to engage someone at their level, or in a fashion in which they are most responsive.
the above perspective is in no way meant to be confused with "not being yourself" or whatever. in fact, it would require absolute self-awareness and a very real level of self-confidence (in other words, being really comfortable in own's own skin) to meet a perfect stranger on their terms.
so, i think it goes without saying, social interactions of this sort are exhausting, esp when limited to 30 min times 7 a day for about 10-15 times in 1-2 months.
in any case, i realize that my original comment was misleading and i'm sorry if it lead you to believe that i was encouraging not being oneself. and i think that other applicants essentially feel this way although they may not articulate it as such...the short-hand version is that you want your interviewer to like you even if they don't really get you. it's not an applicant thing, it's a basic human motivation that drives essentially all our social interactions.
and yes, ultimately, you find an institution where the majority of personality types and styles are compatible with your own. and yes, you rank that highest and find yourself performing your best and getting the most out of your training.
good luck and sorry about my rant.