Interview day question

[JasonE]

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for those who have interviewed at a med school, do you have to bring a copy of your resume? do you ever bring anything else (papers publications anything)?

 

[ygree001]

for those who have interviewed at a med school, do you have to bring a copy of your resume? do you ever bring anything else (papers publications anything)?

You don't need to bring anything with you unless they ask for a picture (if they didn't in the secondary). I would suggest you bring at least paper and a pen to take notes about anything you want to remember. At your first interview you will think you will remember everything clearly but details start to run together after you see a couple schools. I also brought a copy of my personal statement and secondary essays to reread to have them fresh in my mind, but I didn't need it, I prepped ahead of time.

 

[qmcat]

When I interviewed, all I brought was a pen (however for one interview I just came in my suit). At all of the interviews I went to, they will give you some brochures and some paper (things like your interview schedule, a map, etc), so you can just use the back of those pages to write stuff on if you need. All of the schools I interviewed at also included pens in the brochures, but one of the Ivy schools I went to didn't give us one (those cheapos) so you should bring your own just in case you need to write something.

 

[Zoom-Zoom]

Most people bring a leather portfolio type folder with paper and a pen. It's good to keep a copy of your AMCAS w/ ps with you just in case someone happens to ask.

Every school will give you a paper folder with papers and info in it, so you don't really need a portfolio, although it might make it easier to carry around the paper folder they'll give you.

Bring a snack like a protein bar or something that you can keep in your pocket just in case they don't give you food. Most places will give you a little OJ and bagels or something in the morning, and food for lunch...but I had one school that offered nothing in the AM, and another that gave me a sandwich I happened to be allergic to w/ no other options for lunch. Come to think of it, that was one school. UCSD 👎

 

[Bacchus]

I brought a padfolio to my first interview. Every other one I brought nothing, including a pen. Schools love to give free promotionals away.

 

[Hextra]

If you have interview-anxiety or anything of the sort, it can help to bring a padfolio and keep a piece of paper with topics/ideas/questions/notes to keep your mind focused and calm.

Most interviewers have no problem if you ask politely to have it out during the interview, and you can even write it off as "wanting to take notes" if you feel hesitant to ask.

 

[Mattabet]

I had the exact same question right before I started interviews. And the answer is that you won't need a resume or anything. If you want to carry a copy of your AMCAS around as a security blanket, you can, but you won't need it. You definitely wouldn't be out of place with a padfolio, but you won't need one either, and I find it helps not to have something in my hands in high stress situations. Otherwise I tend to play with it and it becomes a distraction (mock trial training - keep your hands clear unless you want the judge to notice what's in them 🙂 ).

 

[TopSecret]

for those who have interviewed at a med school, do you have to bring a copy of your resume? do you ever bring anything else (papers publications anything)?

Be prepared. Bring everything that you can fit inside a folder. Make sure the folder looks professional, too.

Anything more is probably too much stuff to carry.

 

[mvenus929]

Since I had to travel to my interviews, and stayed in the city the night before, I brought my applications (both primary and secondary) with me just to browse through real quick. At the actual interview, I had a small purse I used to carry my keys and wallet and stuff, but that's about it.