Interview...didn't talk about my application at all

[ThrowAway999]

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I recently had my first traditional interview where I wasn't asked a single question about my application (except for where I was from and a few questions about my parents). The conversation was about totally random things/my hobbies. Also, the interviewer asked me how many interviews I had at other schools....(is that normal?)...and they said applicants at their school usually have an average of (insert number above 10 interviews here).....

I understand that it's pointless to speculate about how my interview went, but I'm wondering if this sort of interview experience is normal?

 

[123456123456]

In both of my interviews I was asked how many interviews I had. & I think it depends on the school, I feel it is more common to talk about application stuff like volunteering and stuff but I have heard of other interviewees just talking about hobbies the whole time and being accepted

 

[piii]

Don't worry about it. What matters the most is the opinion the interviewer gets of you from what you talk about, but not what you talk about. The school I got accepted to had two interviews. But for one of them, I just shot the **** with the guy (faculty physician). We talked about sports, living in the area, his job, my family, etc. Nothing really about my app.

 

[gmbz]

What @piii said was my interview acceptance story.

I have a nursing background so somehow we randomly got on the topic of thoughts about people being stented to often in the united states. Keep in mind this was shortly after our ~10 minute conversation about Wes Anderson films.

 

[LizzyM]

If you have a very good academic record compared with the average for that school, the concern is not whether you will do well there academically, but whether you will attend there (how many other interviews have you had?) and whether you are personable and a good fit socially (let's talk about random things like we might over lunch on your M3 rotations).

 

[breezy16]

Don't worry about it. What matters the most is the opinion the interviewer gets of you from what you talk about, but not what you talk about. The school I got accepted to had two interviews. But for one of them, I just shot the **** with the guy (faculty physician). We talked about sports, living in the area, his job, my family, etc. Nothing really about my app.

+1
This was two of my interviewers (Sortve three). One of which I've been accepted to, another of which I'm waiting to hear back from. Asked about my family, where I grew up, but knew my app back and forth and really just tried selling the school to me. But, these schools all use committees so even though my interviewer has a vote on final decision, it is not only him that needs to be convinced.

 

[Glazedonutlove]

I think most have had an interview like this. I am assuming they just want to see if you're a normal social person

 

[lcm2020]

I had two interviews like this, and was accepted at both. This is usually a good sign

 

[kmp0410]

They will all be different. At the one school I was accepted (and now attending) I felt like I didn't get to talk about myself at all. Which was nice and laid back...but I kinda left thinking "How could they make a decision on that?" Seems like schools like that have made their decision for the most part and just want to make sure your not a psycho?

 

[maxwell_edison]

Seems pretty normal. At my dad's interview at his school, his interviewer was remodeling his kitchen; my dad had worked as a contractor for a while and they talked about remodeling kitchens. For my interview there (I got accepted! Woohoo!) for both interviewers we talked a bit about my research, then we just discussed the city, hobbies, medical systems, changes in medicine and their implications in continued medical education.


They're looking for your humanity. Anything on your app is there already: why waste time talking about it. Indeed, some interviews are closed file.

 

[p0gono]

Way back when, I had an interview where it was literally 15 min of telling me how much I would love the school, all the great things to do in the area, how much my girlfriend would enjoy the theatre district and nightlife, etc etc. Not a single question or comment about me.

Rejection letter came 1mo later.

that's so r00d

 

[Pastamahn]

Just to chime in with what has already been said, I think this happens more than you would expect. I had one interview that me and my interviewer talked about our passion of running and how it has positively impacted us for a solid 30 mins, and then random little topics that came up along the way. I ended up being accepted, and felt like the interview was really just to get to know me as a person because to a certain extent, academics do speak for themselves.