Interview Do Not's: Any stories?

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1. do NOT wear new shoes. they may be purty and shiny, but chcnces are, you'll be walking a lot.

2. do NOT bring your mom/dad along. i kid you not, some guy actually brought his dad along with him to the interview--at first, all of us thought he was just another person also interviewing (hey, there are some older ppl still applying) but it was soon revealed that the dad was just there to....be at the interview with his son. he actually stayed there with his son the entire time, i think the only time when he left was when his son was actually interviewing. cut the umbilical cord already, are you gonna bring daddy to school too?

I got an invitation to interview at a school and the letter encouraged you to bring your parents or spouse. Do you think they were just trying to see who would actually do it?? 😕 I'm not bringing my folks.

 

[donkeywhisperer]

Thanks so much. My situation is unique. I need to come with a family member. I'll call them ASAP.

Why is it that you need to come with a family member? Are you like Duggie Houser and you don't have your license yet or something? If it is for health reasons or because of a disability then I totally understand and I don't think that bringing someone along in that situation is at all inappropriate, but if they are just there cause you don't like traveling alone or because you need a second opinion then come on man that's just as sad as a man that breastfeeds when he's almost 30. Mid 20's is still ok, nothing weird with that.
Seriously I'm not trying to make you feel bad about your past interviews, but I would highly advise you to think about going to the rest of them alone. Not just because it would look better to adcoms, but just because it's a good experience. Any time you are forced to go outside your comfort zone it's a good thing, especially if that means going it alone.
One time a buddy of mine got stranded in Japan with a few of his friends, and all his buddies just called up their daddies and they got plain tickets home, but my pals dad basically said, "You got yourself into this mess, you get yourself out." and hung up the phone. Well my buddy didn't speak Japanese, but that night he found a job cleaning this guys house. The guy rented out his closet to my friend and he lived out of his suitcase in a closet for about a month until he could save up money to fly back to the U.S.
Not the best time of his life, but that experience made my pal absolutely fearless.

 

[issa]

if i get an interview then i will bring my dog or my cat with me. loooool

 

[spamtoit]

At one of my interviews that does encourage family members, there were quite a few parents. Just make sure that your parent(s) is not overly zealous with questions. One parent in particular kept interupting and asking questions during the formal presentation, during the tour, and during the lunch with students! I found it kinda irritating, both the volume and what he was asking, and probably looked bad since the kid didn't ask any.

 

[donkeywhisperer]

if i get an interview then i will bring my dog or my cat with me. loooool

I think pets are fine to bring to interviews, I'd say a stuffed animal would be better, don't have to worry about little accidents. Perhaps the best thing to bring is an imaginary friend. Just don't talk to him too much during the interview.

 

[Slash]

Do not, do not I repeat show up to the interview in the morning with a box of glazed donuts for the entire interview group and administration. I saw this happen at one of my interviews. It reminded me of the kid in 2nd grade who would have his mom bring pizzas to lunch for his friends.

 

[Slash]

At one of my interviews that does encourage family members, there were quite a few parents. Just make sure that your parent(s) is not overly zealous with questions. One parent in particular kept interupting and asking questions during the formal presentation, during the tour, and during the lunch with students! I found it kinda irritating, both the volume and what he was asking, and probably looked bad since the kid didn't ask any.

Totally agree with the above statement. At one of my interviews, a girl brought along her husband. During the morning presentations, the Dean of Admissions opened the floor for questions. None of the interviewees, including myself, really took the initiative to bombard the Dean of Admissions with questions. However, the girl's husband did. Before we knew it, the husband's questions turned into an attempt to sell himself as a prospective dental student....how his interest in dentistry was heightened by this whole experience....what his GPA was.....what classes he was taking, etc. It was so damn irritating that I made a concerted effort to gain control of the question period for the interviewees back from this overzealous and shameless husband. I asked some generic questions while I came up with some more specific questions. The husband acted as if he was there on invitation for a formal interview himself, and you just wanted to slap the guy for even being there, and especially acting the way he did.

 

[dat_student]

Do not, do not I repeat show up to the interview in the morning with a box of glazed donuts for the entire interview group and administration. I saw this happen at one of my interviews. It reminded me of the kid in 2nd grade who would have his mom bring pizzas to lunch for his friends.

OMG, I do that too. I brought candies and cookies to my previous interviews. What's wrong with that? Staff, interviewers and interviewees seemed to like my candies & cookies. Strange!!!

 

[donkeywhisperer]

OMG, I do that too. I brought candies and cookies to my previous interviews. What's wrong with that? Staff, interviewers and interviewees seemed to like my candies & cookies. Strange!!!

Me too, I baked sugar cookies the night before in the shape of little teeth, I wanted the adcom to know that not only am I going to be a great dentist, but I'm also one hell of a homemaker.
Sorry dat_student I know I'm picking on you too much. Everytime I read one of your posts it just makes me laugh. I have this feeling that you are really just posting all of this stuff as a big joke just to mess with people.

 

[superchris147]

Me too, I baked sugar cookies the night before in the shape of little teeth, I wanted the adcom to know that not only am I going to be a great dentist, but I'm also one hell of a homemaker.
Sorry dat_student I know I'm picking on you too much. Everytime I read one of your posts it just makes me laugh. I have this feeling that you are really just posting all of this stuff as a big joke just to mess with people.

Speaking of cookies, at my temple interview last year, a girl who was in my interview group was asked what she does in her spare time to improve her hand skills. She told the interviewer that she bakes and decorates cookies i don't think the interviewer was very impressed and then i fell out of my chair laughing

 

[beannaithe]

Don't ask any questions that involve "my wife this..my wife that."

One guy on one of my interviews asked all about the surrounding area and where his wife would be happy living and where he and his wife could raise a family!! We hardly had any time for any dental related questions. 😡

I guess he was just a little bit whipped. 🙄

 

[v&andy_yankee]

Come on. I can't ask my dad or big brother to wander around in Harlem. I don't think it matters. Please, don't convince me otherwise.

fyi, i'm 5'3" and i've never had a problem with "wandering around," so i doubt that they would. also, CU dental is at washington heights, not harlem. there is plenty for your dad/brother to do in nyc--they can go to morningside campus or central park or where ever for the few hours that you are interviewing. unless, of course, if there really are special circumstances (physical disability so you really do need someone with you all the time).



in the end, the decision is up to you. but just know that bringing along a guardian to your interview could be perceived negatively by the admissions office.

 

[dat_student]

...but just know that bringing along a guardian to your interview could be perceived negatively by the admissions office.

You are kidding, right? Me and my big brother are like conjoined twins. We are unseparable. A school can't reject a candidate because he/she comes from a loving family and has grown up into a fun, caring, loving person. It's so unethical. I'll bring my brother.

 

[donkeywhisperer]

You are kidding, right? Me and my big brother are like conjoined twins. We are unseparable. A school can't reject a candidate because he/she comes from a loving family and has grown up into a fun, caring, loving person. It's so unethical. I'll bring my brother.

I think a good rule of thumb is that if you are married and having sex with the person then it's ok to bring them along. If you and your brother fit that description then by all means bring him along.

 

[savvysearch]

I don't see a problem with bringing other along with you. But they should stay in the lobby or waiting room throughout the whole process.

 

[tinman831]

wow, its starting to get pretty hard to determine which posts are serious and which are jokes.

 

[LIer2010]

You are kidding, right? Me and my big brother are like conjoined twins. We are unseparable. A school can't reject a candidate because he/she comes from a loving family and has grown up into a fun, caring, loving person. It's so unethical. I'll bring my brother.

This has to be one of the dumbest things I've ever heard. What does having a close relationship with family members have to do with the necessity of bringing them to an interview? It's YOUR interview, not theirs. If CU adcom people specifically asks not to bring family members, WHY IN HELL WOULD YOU BRING THEM??? Besides, as some people here have mentioned, non-interviewees (family members) can be a distraction to other interviewees present. Why risk inconveniencing other interviewees for the sake of satiating your ridiculous emotional issues? Man, this is really starting to piss me off. 😡

 

[dat_student]

I think a good rule of thumb is that if you are married...then by all means bring him along.

donkeywhisperer, you are picking on me again. Anyways, I don't care. I'll bring my big brother. He wants to see Columbia School of Dentistry. He's begining to love dentistry. Who knows? Next year he may apply to Columbia. He wants to see everything before making his final decision. I think it won't be a problem. These are all rumors.

 

[tinman831]

This has to be one of the dumbest things I've ever heard. What does having a close relationship with family members have to do with the necessity of bringing them to an interview? It's YOUR interview, not theirs. If CU adcom people specifically asks not to bring family members, WHY IN HELL WOULD YOU BRING THEM??? Besides, as some people here have mentioned, non-interviewees (family members) can be a distraction to other interviewees present. Why risk inconveniencing other interviewees for the sake of satiating your ridiculous emotional issues? Man, this is really starting to piss me off. 😡

see what i mean about not being able to tell which posts are serious and which posts are jokes?

 

[kittylover]

I think a good rule of thumb is that if you are married and having sex with the person then it's ok to bring them along. If you and your brother fit that description then by all means bring him along.

awww... that's just sick... 😉

 

[fancymylotus]

donkeywhisperer, you are picking on me again. Anyways, I don't care. I'll bring my big brother. He wants to see Columbia School of Dentistry. He's begining to love dentistry. Who knows? Next year he may apply to Columbia. He wants to see everything before making his final decision. I think it won't be a problem. These are all rumors.

god,shut UP already.

 

[v&andy_yankee]

You are kidding, right? Me and my big brother are like conjoined twins. We are unseparable. A school can't reject a candidate because he/she comes from a loving family and has grown up into a fun, caring, loving person. It's so unethical. I'll bring my brother.

how is it unethical? your brother won't be with you in your classes or clinic--the school has to know that you're going to be ok on your own. especially to bring along an older brother--you realize that you are presenting yourself as being overshadowed. like i said before, the first thought that would come to my mind wouldn't be "what a loving family" but rather "does this kid not have even balls to even go on an interview by him/herself without having to have big brother along?" etiquette-wise, it's also impolite to bring along family members for kicks when the invitation specifically asked not to bring any along (again, for spouses it is different).

just realize that the reason why they conduct interviews is to weed out weird people who are socially inept, or people who they think can't handle the pressures of dental school. they already know you're book-smart, now they want to see if you're common-sense smart. so go ahead and bring along your big bro, just don't be surprised when you're the only interviewee who has. it might be beneficial for your bro to be looking at schools if he's interested--but it will be at your expense.

 

[dat_student]

..."does this kid not have even balls to even go on an interview by him/herself without having to have big brother along?"...

No. Sorry

P.S. The letter says if your situation is unique they can make exceptions. My situation is unique. I'll need my big brother.

 

[U2Me2]

donkeywhisperer, you are picking on me again. Anyways, I don't care. I'll bring my big brother. He wants to see Columbia School of Dentistry. He's begining to love dentistry. Who knows? Next year he may apply to Columbia. He wants to see everything before making his final decision. I think it won't be a problem. These are all rumors.

Dat student, I'm sure you are well intentioned, but I'm sorry to say but you are completely clueless. You maybe should consider postponing D school for a year. Turn off your PC, go out in the world, interact with people, and figure out what is going on.

Oh, and when you go, leave your brother and your cookies at home.

 

[dat_student]

...Oh, and when you go, leave your brother and your cookies at home.

What's wrong with liking my brother? He is the nicest, cutest, most handsome, best looking, most gentle, caring...brother in the entire world. You are misjudging him. He has very good intentions. Also, I am a very passionate person; therefore, I'd love to distribute candies, cookies & other sweeties. My previous interviewers loved my cookies and candies. YESSSSSSSSSSSS 😉

 

[miravyn]

What's wrong with liking my brother? He is the nicest, cutest, most handsome, best looking, most gentle, caring...brother in the entire world. You are misjudging him. He has very good intentions. Also, I am a very passionate person; therefore, I'd love to distribute candies, cookies & other sweeties. My previous interviewers loved my cookies and candies. YESSSSSSSSSSSS 😉

OMG. Seriously, shut up. If I knew where you lived, I would come to your house and kick your A$$.

 

[darius99]

What's wrong with liking my brother? He is the nicest, cutest, most handsome, best looking, most gentle, caring...brother in the entire world. You are misjudging him. He has very good intentions. Also, I am a very passionate person; therefore, I'd love to distribute candies, cookies & other sweeties. My previous interviewers loved my cookies and candies. YESSSSSSSSSSSS 😉

do u honestly have nothing better to do with your time than post multiple stupid responses to every thread in order to try to piss people off? its kinda sad, not to mention annoying

 

[eapleitez]

Guys, I think it's pretty obvious that dat student is just messin around. I HOPE!


Anyway, I remember at my Temple interview, there was this girl there who met up with friends during lunchtime. When our student tour guides said it was time to go, she said "I'll catch up with you guys later!" We were going to the faculty interview! She kept her group waiting, and everyone was thinking, 'what a *****', or at least I did.

 

[dat_student]

2,066 views, 4 pages, in less than 24 hours, amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😱

 

[darius99]

Incest is the best!!!!

like they say, why go down down the street when u can just go down the hall?

 

[dat_student II]

like they say, why go down down the street when u can just go down the hall?

That's what I'm talkin' bout KxM99. You want an interview? You got one sugar!

 

[kittylover]

That's what I'm talkin' bout KxM99. You want an interview? You got one sugar!

HAHAHAHA you guys are too funny

 

[tinman831]

good grief. i guess no one listens to me any more. dat_student has always been making fun silly comments like that. you have to his comments, as well as any comment on the internet, with a grain of salt. you can't hear a person speaking on the internet in order to tell if they're being sarcastic or not. why doesn't everyone just go study for your final exams or something. there's no need to be bickering back and forth on an internet forum. then again, no one listens to me. i suppose i'll just sit back with a bag of popcorn and enjoy the fight. 😀

 

[dat_student II]

good grief. i guess no one listens to me any more. dat_student has always been making fun silly comments like that. you have to his comments, as well as any comment on the internet, with a grain of salt. you can't hear a person speaking on the internet in order to tell if they're being sarcastic or not. why doesn't everyone just go study for your final exams or something. there's no need to be bickering back and forth on an internet forum. then again, no one listens to me. i suppose i'll just sit back with a bag of popcorn and enjoy the fight. 😀

You're on my crap list to now tinman831! No interviews for you

 

[v&andy_yankee]

^^hey chill out everyone. give dat_student a little break--some people are just very neurotic and worry all the time. it's a stressful time for everyone.

just remember, this person could very well be a fellow classmate next year (happened to me--last year someone with a 3.9gpa and 25dat was overworrying, and i reamed him/her out--and now they're at the same school as me 🙄 now i wish i had been a bit more courteous).

 

[tinman831]

You're on my crap list to now tinman831! No interviews for you

NO SOUP FOR YOU!

 

[dat_student II]

^^hey chill out everyone. give dat_student a little break--some people are just very neurotic and worry all the time. it's a stressful time for everyone.

just remember, this person could very well be a fellow classmate next year (happened to me--last year someone with a 3.9gpa and 25dat was overworrying, and i reamed him/her out--and now they're at the same school as me 🙄 now i wish i had been a bit more courteous).

You're totally right man, I'm being way too hard on the poor guy. I mean he really doesn't sound like he's deliberately a jack.. well you get what I'm saying, and he never indulges in personal attacks so you gotta respect that. His comments just really make me laugh sometimes. I really hope I didn't make him cry or anything. At least he's got his brother to comfort him
OK Ok I'll lay off for a while.

 

[kittylover]

You're totally right man, I'm being way too hard on the poor guy. I mean he really doesn't sound like he's deliberately a jack.. well you get what I'm saying, and he never indulges in personal attacks so you gotta respect that. His comments just really make me laugh sometimes. I really hope I didn't make him cry or anything. At least he's got his brother to comfort him
OK Ok I'll lay off for a while.

Why!!! Don't stop!!! You make my time at work go by much faster 🙂

 

[dat_student II]

Why!!! Don't stop!!! You make my time at work go by much faster 🙂

You're still on my list hoe! You're on my brother's list too!

 

[beannaithe]

You're still on my list hoe! You're on my brother's list too!

God, it spawned itself....

ANd your avatar looks like the possessed lovechild of Don King and Oprah.

 

[dat_student]

^^hey chill out everyone. give dat_student a little break--some people are just very neurotic and worry all the time. it's a stressful time for everyone.

just remember, this person could very well be a fellow classmate next year (happened to me--last year someone with a 3.9gpa and 25dat was overworrying, and i reamed him/her out--and now they're at the same school as me 🙄 now i wish i had been a bit more courteous).

vandy_yankee, let them do what they want to do if this kind of behavior makes them a better person and if their posts give them a chance to show their true characters. I don't really pay attention to these people. I really doubt they will associate their real names with some of their many IDs.

 

[dat_student II]

vandy_yankee, let them do what they want to do if this kind of behavior makes them a better person and if their posts give them a chance to show their true characters. I don't really pay attention to these people. I really doubt they will associate their real names with some of their many IDs.

Come on man aren't you gonna say something to me? Give the people what they want, they want to see the battle of the dat_students. Only one of us will be left standing, but we'll both end up at UCSF with our brothers.

 

[rinse-n-spit]

I understand that the parent thing may seem a little tacky, but what if that parent has a really strong pull at the school ie: former student, ex-professor, etc. I would think that if your chances of getting in are improved then why not. If you’re holding an ace play it.

 

[TimR]

vandy_yankee, let them do what they want to do if this kind of behavior makes them a better person and if their posts give them a chance to show their true characters. I don't really pay attention to these people. I really doubt they will associate their real names with some of their many IDs.

well, if i am in your dental school, you will probably know it... I mean Tim R... c'mon now. it will be obvious because i will still be full of jackassery.

 

[donkeywhisperer]

I understand that the parent thing may seem a little tacky, but what if that parent has a really strong pull at the school ie: former student, ex-professor, etc. I would think that if your chances of getting in are improved then why not. If you’re holding an ace play it.

Yeah, I could see that being the case. I'm not real big on playing those kinds of cards, I'd rather make it in based on my own merit, but that's just me. I think if you're going to go that route it would be good to do like everyone else has said and just check with the school and make sure it's ok. Oh and I agree that it's fine if you get dropped off by someone at the school. At my one interview that I had a couple of the girls were there with their dads, but the dads didn't come into the school or anything. They just traveled around the city during the day and picked up their kids when it was over.

 

[TimR]

Yeah, I could see that being the case. I'm not real big on playing those kinds of cards, I'd rather make it in based on my own merit, but that's just me. I think if you're going to go that route it would be good to do like everyone else has said and just check with the school and make sure it's ok. Oh and I agree that it's fine if you get dropped off by someone at the school. At my one interview that I had a couple of the girls were there with their dads, but the dads didn't come into the school or anything. They just traveled around the city during the day and picked up their kids when it was over.

reminds of 2nd grade.... aaaaaaaaaah, those were some good years.

 

[donkeywhisperer]

reminds of 2nd grade.... aaaaaaaaaah, those were some good years.

Hey! I'm not saying that I would have my parents drop me off. I just don't think it's all that bad for a girl to get dropped off by her dad at a school. I mean if I knew my daughter was going to be going to a not so nice part of Philly for an interview I think I'd want to make sure she got there safe and sound. I guess that's just cause I'm a father.

 

[tinman831]

Hey! I'm not saying that I would have my parents drop me off. I just don't think it's all that bad for a girl to get dropped off by her dad at a school. I mean if I knew my daughter was going to be going to a not so nice part of Philly for an interview I think I'd want to make sure she got there safe and sound. I guess that's just cause I'm a father.

I would do the same.

 

[v&andy_yankee]

Hey! I'm not saying that I would have my parents drop me off. I just don't think it's all that bad for a girl to get dropped off by her dad at a school. I mean if I knew my daughter was going to be going to a not so nice part of Philly for an interview I think I'd want to make sure she got there safe and sound. I guess that's just cause I'm a father.

it is not a bad idea for parents to drop off their kids for their interviews. especially if it's a girl interviewing at a neighborhood that's relative shady. i wish someone had dropped me off/picked me up at my temple interview last year--now THAT was a scary neighborhood. i was expecting to get mugged when i was walking back to the train. philly's my hometown, but that is just a bad part of town.

 

[donkeywhisperer]

Oh I just remembered this one. For you girls, don't wear a shirt that's way super low cut. This girl at my Temple interview kept leaning over everytime she talked in the group interview, and I just kept thinking wow that poor guy's gotta try to pay attention to what she's saying through the show.