Interview help!

[Johnny Appleseed]

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So I was just rejected post interview from BCOM. I feel like I have a pretty solid application despite some red flags (a semester of F's and subsequent academic warning as a freshman, and a misdemeanor charge from when I was a juvenile). I know it's impossible to know why I was rejected, but I feel like my poor interview performance was the biggest reason.

I felt prepared as I've done mock interviews before and I have been the interviewer many times at my previous job.

I also wasn't nervous and went into the interview calm. However, I couldn't seem to relate to my interviewers and I felt like I had Wernicke's Aphasia. Everything came out jumbled like word salad.

I've thought about typing out my answers to the common questions, or writing them on flashcards so I know what points to hit as well as to organize my thoughts.

Any suggestions on how to prepare quickly? I have my AZCOM interview on Wednesday and a KCUCOM interview in October. I'm starting to freak out I'll bomb those interviews as well.

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[brachialplexus]

So I was just rejected post interview from BCOM. I feel like I have a pretty solid application despite some red flags (a semester of F's and subsequent academic warning as a freshman, and a misdemeanor charge from when I was a juvenile). I know it's impossible to know why I was rejected, but I feel like my poor interview performance was the biggest reason.

I felt prepared as I've done mock interviews before and I have been the interviewer many times at my previous job.

I also wasn't nervous and went into the interview calm. However, I couldn't seem to relate to my interviewers and I felt like I had Wernicke's Aphasia. Everything came out jumbled like word salad.

I've thought about typing out my answers to the common questions, or writing them on flashcards so I know what points to hit as well as to organize my thoughts.

Any suggestions on how to prepare quickly? I have my AZCOM interview on Wednesday and a KCUCOM interview in October. I'm starting to freak out I'll bomb those interviews as well.

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Email BCOM and see what they thought the weaknesses in your application/interview were. I don't think anyone can answer this for you! That misdemeanor might hurt your chances, unfortunately. Good luck!

 

[Goro]

So I was just rejected post interview from BCOM. I feel like I have a pretty solid application despite some red flags (a semester of F's and subsequent academic warning as a freshman, and a misdemeanor charge from when I was a juvenile). I know it's impossible to know why I was rejected, but I feel like my poor interview performance was the biggest reason.

I felt prepared as I've done mock interviews before and I have been the interviewer many times at my previous job.

I also wasn't nervous and went into the interview calm. However, I couldn't seem to relate to my interviewers and I felt like I had Wernicke's Aphasia. Everything came out jumbled like word salad.

I've thought about typing out my answers to the common questions, or writing them on flashcards so I know what points to hit as well as to organize my thoughts.

Any suggestions on how to prepare quickly? I have my AZCOM interview on Wednesday and a KCUCOM interview in October. I'm starting to freak out I'll bomb those interviews as well.

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I sense the misdemeanor was #1 on the list, but people are also terrible judges of their own interview performance.

 

[Goro]

What was the misdemeanor? I read Junior, when it was Juvenile! !!!

 

[Johnny Appleseed]

What was the misdemeanor? I read Junior, when it was Juvenile! !!!

Yes. I was sixteen years old (10 yrs ago) and with a group of friends. My friend threw a water balloon at an off duty parole officer. He got our license plate number and then he attempted to prosecute us to the full extent of the law. The charges were eventually dropped and my fine was even refunded. It is on my record and I was advised unofficially by lawyer to include it on app. Now I'm wishing I hadn't.

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[Johnny Appleseed]

What was the misdemeanor? I read Junior, when it was Juvenile! !!!

It was labeled "criminal mischief"

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[Doc_Ock]

Email BCOM and see what they thought the weaknesses in your application/interview were. I don't think anyone can answer this for you! That misdemeanor might hurt your chances, unfortunately. Good luck!

Love your username.


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[Goro]

Yes. I was sixteen years old (10 yrs ago) and with a group of friends. My friend threw a water balloon at an off duty parole officer. He got our license plate number and then he attempted to prosecute us to the full extent of the law. The charges were eventually dropped and my fine was even refunded. It is on my record and I was advised unofficially by lawyer to include it on app. Now I'm wishing I hadn't.

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I'm thinking where it was just bad interview skills.

Forget this one, and on to the next one!!!!

 

[brachialplexus]

Love your username.


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Haha, its the rite of passage for health professions.

 

[fourandtwo]

I would get multiple people to mock interview you. Particularly people who are in hiring positions or in the medical field. Also read up STAR interview method 🙂


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[bears1992]

Yes. I was sixteen years old (10 yrs ago) and with a group of friends. My friend threw a water balloon at an off duty parole officer. He got our license plate number and then he attempted to prosecute us to the full extent of the law. The charges were eventually dropped and my fine was even refunded. It is on my record and I was advised unofficially by lawyer to include it on app. Now I'm wishing I hadn't.

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Haha. I doubt anyone cares. Also, you should find out if you were officially charged. Police can't charge anyone, they can only arrest you and recommend charges to the state attorney. If it was a power tripping cop, the state may have declined to press charges. Only one school I applied to asked for arrests. The others asked for charges or convictions.

 

[SLU Student]

Your red flags are not major, and you have above average stats for D.O. I suspect it is your interview skills.

Everyone is different, but this is what I did, and so far I have been very successful; maybe it will help you.
1. Write or type on a word document/notebook/flash card all the common questions you know you will be asked. These include: Tell me about yourself. Why do you want to be a physician? More specifically, why D.O. and not M.D. (or vice versa)? Why this specific school? Why not a nurse, PA, NP, etc.?
Know these questions and their answers like the back of your hand. You WILL be asked them at many interviews, if not all.
2. DO NOT type/write out your full answer to any one question. You will have trouble during the interview trying to recall exactly what you typed/wrote, and that will not end well. Also, if you take the time to memorize your full answer exactly, you will sound like a robot. Also not good.
3. DO write out bullet points, and keep them short. I'm talking less than one sentence, preferably just a few words. This makes you less likely to forget your main points, and you can memorize the order in which you typed/wrote these out. This will give structure to your answers. At the same time, this will also give you flexibility with your answers.
4. A few days before the interview, make a fact sheet about the school. Some topics you can write down include: mission/vision/goals of the school, curriculum, and anything unique you can find. Bring up some of these during your interview, and structure your questions around these as well. Being well informed and doing your research on the school will show in your interview.
5. Make another sheet with questions. You can memorize these exactly. Make sure they are good questions and not just some BS. Also, make sure the answers to these questions cannot be found online. Also, some may be answered during the presentations you get pre-interview on interview day. Prepare quite a few in case this happens. I suggest 8-10. I usually ask around 3 at the conclusion of my interviews.
6. Mock interviews are very important. DO NOT get a close friend or family member to do this. Get somebody you respect and are only acquaintances at best. Also, record yourself during these, and watch yourself. You will learn a lot.

I wish the best of luck to you, and I hope these points helped somewhat.

 

[workaholic181]

So I was just rejected post interview from BCOM. I feel like I have a pretty solid application despite some red flags (a semester of F's and subsequent academic warning as a freshman, and a misdemeanor charge from when I was a juvenile). I know it's impossible to know why I was rejected, but I feel like my poor interview performance was the biggest reason.

I felt prepared as I've done mock interviews before and I have been the interviewer many times at my previous job.

I also wasn't nervous and went into the interview calm. However, I couldn't seem to relate to my interviewers and I felt like I had Wernicke's Aphasia. Everything came out jumbled like word salad.

I've thought about typing out my answers to the common questions, or writing them on flashcards so I know what points to hit as well as to organize my thoughts.

Any suggestions on how to prepare quickly? I have my AZCOM interview on Wednesday and a KCUCOM interview in October. I'm starting to freak out I'll bomb those interviews as well.

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It just didn't work out man! There is nothing toxic about your app, otherwise you wouldnt have been given these interviews in the first place.

I think most schools accept slightly less than half of al interviewees.. one weird thing about this path is accepting the rejection. More people than not dont get in anywhere. Very few get multiple acceptances. You're still in the game!

 

[dial1010usa]

In order to receive a supplemental application, you must have a minimum, cumulative Science GPA of 3.0 AND score a 493 on the MCAT. Scores older than 3 years prior to matriculation date (August 2015) will not be considered.

May be they thought you will not accept their offer because your stats are way above their avg especially your MCAT. Whatever happens happen for a good. You will get in somewhere.
Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine (BCOM) Discussion Thread 2016-2017

 

[kubyx]

I feel like I'm a fairly strong interviewer (I have solidly been offered more jobs than I have been rejected over in my professional life). Best advice I can give:

1) Anticipate *every* single question that might come up, and create a framework for how you will approach it. Just list out the highlights as you don't want to sound robotic when you repeat them.

2) Find ways to intertwine your passions/hobbies/interests into your response. It will make you sound more human, and it will give the interviewer opportunities to latch onto those words and give you the ability to speak passionately about something. It's kind of difficult to build rapport over some random volunteer work you did, but it's pretty easy to bond over a shared hobby, or something you're interested/passionate about the the interviewer is keen to know more about.