Interview Q: Plan B, but you've already been accepted

[Monkey12]

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Anyone been asked about their alternate plans at an interview while holding an acceptance? How did you handle this question?

 

[aggiesarah2007]

My interviewers actually tried to ask it as, if there was no medical profession what would you do? But if they straight up ask you plan B, I would in the kindest most humble way possible tell them that you have been accepted. but that's just me......

 

[Monkey12]

My interviewers actually tried to ask it as, if there was no medical profession what would you do? But if they straight up ask you plan B, I would in the kindest most humble way possible tell them that you have been accepted. but that's just me......

Ok that makes sense, maybe then emphasize how that school (current interview) is the #1 choice?

 

[EBI831]

i wouldn't mention the acceptance, it might seem as if you have a small mind, no imagination, and that perhaps you don't understand a hypothetical question. it's like if i asked you what would you do if you found out you were dying at age 5 and you tell me with a crafty, smug, self-congratulatory face that "you have already lived past age five so this doesn't apply to you", you might come across as uncompromising....interviews are a game, just play along and don't come off self-righteous or egotistical.

 

[sprinkibrio]

Anyone been asked about their alternate plans at an interview while holding an acceptance? How did you handle this question?

I was asked that after I was accepted, so I said, "Well, I've already been accepted, but if that hadn't been the case, I would have applied again. If I still could not get in I would have gone into ***." I didn't emphasize that the school was my first choice because it wasn't. After my answer, I was asked which schools I had gotten into (quite a few). I don't know if that helped or hurt me, but I don't really care.

 

[CardiacIntensivist]

If they ask you about alternate plans, you can answer the question directly. Take it like a hypothetical. There really is no need to dance around the question at all. If they wanted to know if you've been accepted elsewhere they can ask.

However, should you tell them that you are holding an acceptance you better bring out that grateful feeling you felt when you first found out.

 

[Wizard of Oz]

My interviewers actually tried to ask it as, if there was no medical profession what would you do? But if they straight up ask you plan B, I would in the kindest most humble way possible tell them that you have been accepted. but that's just me......

Been there. They say, "Well what if you hadn't been..."

Best answer is probably to say that you'd reapply. In my case, I actually had a previous career, so the question was easy.

 

[Monkey12]

Thanks everyone for your responses!!!! I think I'll treat it as a hypothetical.
thanks!

 

[LIRRfriend]

I think you should also pay attention to how the question is asked. Like if they say, "What happens if medicine doesn't work out" or "what are other careers that you would consider" or "what are possible alternative plans," reapplying does not apply to the question and talking about other acceptances isn't something you need to talk about, and you can to talk about other careers. If they say "what happens if you don't get into medical school this year" reapplying and hypotheticals could work, but you may also mention that you got in somewhere. If they ask this question and you don't tell them that you got in somewhere and then they ask you if you have acceptances (I think someone brought this up in another post a while back), it may not look too great...I think at least the person who this happened to felt silly. Peronally, when I was asked what I would do if I did not get an acceptance (after I was lucky enough to get in somewhere), I told the truth and said that I did get in somewhere but that I have also been interested in teaching and research.

 

[Jacks Mannequin]

I plan on responding with "Nah son, I's already beens accepted. Respek."

 

[foofish]

I think you should also pay attention to how the question is asked.

Also, with the "well, what would you do if you couldn't go into medicine"/alternate career question, they're often not looking for whether you'd reapply, etc., but it's a question to show a) that you've really thought about careers and haven't been pigeon-holed into medicine, and b) what career characteristics you're drawn to and what skills you have....it's often a backdoor "are-they-suited-for-medicine" question that's more useful than straight-out asking the applicant, because it offers a more realistic insight into the person. I used to do interviews for a publishing gig, and we used the same exact question, but in terms of writing/publishing.

 

[Monkey12]

Also, with the "well, what would you do if you couldn't go into medicine"/alternate career question, they're often not looking for whether you'd reapply, etc., but it's a question to show a) that you've really thought about careers and haven't been pigeon-holed into medicine, and b) what career characteristics you're drawn to and what skills you have....it's often a backdoor "are-they-suited-for-medicine" question that's more useful than straight-out asking the applicant, because it offers a more realistic insight into the person. I used to do interviews for a publishing gig, and we used the same exact question, but in terms of writing/publishing.

Great Point!