Interview about nothingness?

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Has anyone had interviews where the interviewer did not ask anything about your application? I've had some interviewers that literally started the session with "I've already thoroughly read your application. Your stats are good. What questions do you have for me?" Or, they'd just give life advice on choosing medical schools...

Is this a good thing/do they like me? Were they just testing my interpersonal skills? Should I mention in my interview feedback questionnaires that the interviewer did not ask any concrete questions?

 

[Dr.TonySoprano]

I'd love those interviews....but I haven't had one like that no. you're lucky.

 

[The Knife & Gun Club]

I had an interview where we spent 29 minutes talking about the intricacies of how to build a tree house.

This is basically the Seinfeld of interviews: its not the content that is important, but rather the presentation.

 

[breezy16]

I'd say 50% of my interviewers have been this way. Have no idea how I did; one of them I wish I spoke more/knew a bit more about philosophy, but when I think on it, it was more about letting them talk/sell/listening rather than being pushy and interjecting (Ie: memememe attitude). I think them asking for questions is a chance to look beyond just the school and show maturity.

 

[Planes2Doc]

An interview about nothing?

 

[musicalfeet]

In my first interview, my interviewer was an MS4, and she spent a good chunk of time giving me advice on school lists and choosing schools 😵. She said she wished she took into account how much time each school gave students for Step1 Review, and that it was more important than students consider when picking schools. haha..

 

[Gandyy]

I had one interview where we talked about Pete Sampras and Micheal Jordan the whole time. It was at an osteopathic school.

 

[clippers50fan]

I had an interview where we spent 29 minutes talking about the intricacies of how to build a tree house.

This is basically the Seinfeld of interviews: its not the content that is important, but rather the presentation.

These interviews are most likely about your ability to be a human being someone wants to be around. If you struggle to make conversation for 30 minutes, that says a lot about an applicant.

 

[WedgeDawg]

I had one, maybe two, of these. I wouldn't read into it at all.

 

[Spinach Dip]

...If you struggle to make conversation for 30 minutes, that says a lot about an applicant.

I have no problem talking for 30 minutes.

But talking about something which the other person finds interesting for 30 minutes is another topic entirely.

 

[Lost in Translation]

I have no problem talking for 30 minutes.

But talking about something which the other person finds interesting for 30 minutes is another topic entirely.

At one of my interviews, we spent around 10 minutes talking about my home town and how the interviewer was familiar with the high school that was in said town. I appreciated the look of surprise on his face when I told him that the high school had been turned into a middle school many, many years ago and now all the kids are shipped off to a regional high school up the hill.

 

[Mwooster]

I'd say 50% of my interviewers have been this way. Have no idea how I did; one of them I wish I spoke more/knew a bit more about philosophy, but when I think on it, it was more about letting them talk/sell/listening rather than being pushy and interjecting (Ie: memememe attitude). I think them asking for questions is a chance to look beyond just the school and show maturity.

+1

I had one interview where we talked about Pete Sampras and Micheal Jordan the whole time. It was at an osteopathic school.

I might not have fared too well. As a fan of the Pistol, I still have to place Roger Federer as the Greatest of All Time (GOAT).

 

[Goro]

Some schools use closed file interviews, so why should they ask about you're app? They're not supposed to!

They reason they're not asking about your app is because they want to find out about you as a person.

I'd say that 80% of my interview questions are NOT app related. In fact, the only time I ask about something in the app is when I have concerns.

Has anyone had interviews where the interviewer did not ask anything about your application? I've had some interviewers that literally started the session with "I've already thoroughly read your application. Your stats are good. What questions do you have for me?" Or, they'd just give life advice on choosing medical schools...

Is this a good thing/do they like me? Were they just testing my interpersonal skills? Should I mention in my interview feedback questionnaires that the interviewer did not ask any concrete questions?

 

[Oh_Gee]

I had an interview where we spent 29 minutes talking about the intricacies of how to build a tree house.

This is basically the Seinfeld of interviews: its not the content that is important, but rather the presentation.

you 2 probz had awesome childhoods

 

[Dr. Death]

I had one interview where we talked about Pete Sampras and Micheal Jordan the whole time. It was at an osteopathic school.

accept reject or waitlist?

 

[Gandyy]

accept reject or waitlist?

was accepted there

 

[takeurmeds02]

Yea, my last interviewer spent 2 minutes on my actual app and told me straight up that my, "app looks fine. I want to know who you are" which was very refreshing and much preferred to being interrogated haha.

 

[The Knife & Gun Club]

you 2 probz had awesome childhoods

More just a borderline reckless level of freedom combined with power tools

 

[hopefulERdoc251]

It depends! Most interviews are very conversational, and you don't really get asked about your experiences directly. Though if they ask me about healthcare related topics (i.e, what do you think healthcare is like, what do you know about healthcare, what's the biggest problem facing healthcare), I usually interject from my own experiences and draw on them in answering the question so I guess it does get the job done. Though I have definitely have the nonsensical interviews. Once, my interviewer was this elderly greek male and we talked about different cultural foods for I'd say 75% of the interview (he prefaced the interview saying I've already read everything on your application). YMMV. Personally, I can see why they would rather talk about something random. Kind of forces you to be on your feet since every interviewer probably prepares for the standard questions, and shows if you are well at relating with other people.

 

[Slave to the Game]

The last time I had such a short interview was when they already knew they wanted me, and I didn't throw up any red flags in the first few minutes of conversation. IMO, from that point forward when they're shooting the **** with you, definitely engage them (don't just sit there, nodding and thanking them for blessing you with the information), ask them topical questions, and I myself try to get them to talk about themselves personally. I think of it as a first date sans sex where you're trying to get to know the person, have a good conversation, and leave them with a good impression of you.

 

[ChrisMack390]

The last time I had such a short interview was when they already knew they wanted me, and I didn't throw up any red flags in the first few minutes of conversation. IMO, from that point forward when they're shooting the **** with you, definitely engage them (don't just sit there, nodding and thanking them for blessing you with the information), ask them topical questions, and I myself try to get them to talk about themselves personally. I think of it as a first date sans sex where you're trying to get to know the person, have a good conversation, and leave them with a good impression of you.

We aren't supposed to be seducing them? Oops.

 

[LizzyM]

The last time I had such a short interview was when they already knew they wanted me, and I didn't throw up any red flags in the first few minutes of conversation. IMO, from that point forward when they're shooting the **** with you, definitely engage them (don't just sit there, nodding and thanking them for blessing you with the information), ask them topical questions, and I myself try to get them to talk about themselves personally. I think of it as a first date sans sex where you're trying to get to know the person, have a good conversation, and leave them with a good impression of you.

Given the age difference and possible gender mis-match, I think of it more as an initial meeting with the parent or sibling of your beloved than a first date.

 

[asdf123g]

90% of my interview questions had nothing to do with my EC's or questions about them. They were stuff like "what do you value" "how do you assign worth to someone?" Just like kind of deep philosophy questions....

 

[mordac21]

at first i thought you were talking about sartre or something. but sometimes my interviewers go on a 30 minute lecture about something or other while i just smile and nod