Interview question: What was the last book you've read?

[supraman]

I haven't read any books since first two years of college, it's just so hard to really have the time to read one and I'm afraid I'm going to get owned on this question. For anyone faced with this question that did not recall book details...what did you say? Best to just be honest? No ridicule please, thanks.

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[thethethe]

lol, i would get owned by the same question. I guess you should go look up the nytimes best selling books and read one so this question doesnt stump you.

 

[Frederico Albin]

Biology Eighth Edition by Campbell and Reece can be a humoristic answer 🙂

 

[mflinchb]

I would probably just be honest or try to recall one that you can remember from the first two years of college that stands out in your mind. If you have a weekend or so, you should read Randy Pausch's "Last Lecture". It's really sad but extremely interesting and motivating. It's not a 600 pg novel either, but just a REALLY good book. Good luck! 🙂

 

[eldirty]

I had that question at Buffalo and was stumped at first ... then I went with a book I read junior year of high school ... I think we had to relate it to the field in some way ... I was accepted so ...

 

[supraman]

I had that question at Buffalo and was stumped at first ... then I went with a book I read junior year of high school ... I think we ha to relate it to the field in some way ... I was accepted so ...

Nice how indepth did you go into it? Did you give a brief description of the book?

 

[Vicviper]

At Pitt I was asked "So you're walking into a bookstore, what section would you go to?" I guess that's kind of a similar question.

Don't lie about not reading any books, it might be really apparent to the interviewer and that could mess up the rest of your interview. Take a weekend or two and actually pick up a book you can enjoy and talking meaningfully about. I hear the Last Lecture is quite good, and I've heard that guy speak on the radio, he's pretty awesome - so sad though.

Though this may seem like a minor question, I think it is really an opportunity for you to impress the interviewer. Most science majors are in the same boat as you, so having a good answer can make you stand out. My sister got a full scholarship to law school when she impressed the interview committee by talking about her thoughts on Atlas Shrugged.

 

[supraman]

Wow thats nice, great advice. I'm just foolish for waiting until the last minute, my interview is tomorrow...hmm...

 

[Vicviper]

Don't stress, just think back to a book you've read at some point or another that was meaningful to you. Just kind of rehearse what you would have to say about it (as you should every interview question you're expecting) so you won't get tripped up. Good luck!

 

[eldirty]

I wouldnt stress too much about it at all ... an interview is an opportunity for the school to get to know who you are and no one knows that better than you do.

It had been year since I read that book or any none textbook for that matter so im sure my details were minimal at best. I just tried to be honest and answer the question the best I could

Your interview is at Maryland ... right? Best of luck to you and dont forget to post those pics and tell us all about it.

 

[enfuego]

Isn't writing / english comp required for admissions? Usually you have to read a few books in those kinds of classes, so might as well list off one of those if you've got nothing else. If you've written papers about it, then you presumably have some decent knowledge about the book.

I have a massive list of books I want to read, but like a lot of people, I don't have the time. (Or when I do have time, the last thing I want to do it expend more brain energy to read 😉 ) I wouldn't necessarily list the LAST book I read anyways - I'd pick a book that was interesting and important to me and one I could really talk about intelligently. Because if the last book you read was Twilight...

Unfortunately, if you're like me, you may have to moderate your answers to this. I focus on political and economic books, and they make my political beliefs REALLY obvious. And you know what they say about politics... probably not a good thing to talk about when you're trying to impress people in case they happen to disagree with you. It SHOULDN'T affect their judgment of you, but subconsciously it probably will.

 

[GNF8300]

Unfortunately, if you're like me, you may have to moderate your answers to this. I focus on political and economic books, and they make my political beliefs REALLY obvious. And you know what they say about politics... probably not a good thing to talk about when you're trying to impress people in case they happen to disagree with you. It SHOULDN'T affect their judgment of you, but subconsciously it probably will.

I can certainly sympathize with this. I actually got away with it at one school and got accepted. It didn't come up at any of the other schools, but there was a moment at an interview where I literally had to bite my tongue as one of the professors "went political."

OP - If you don't remember details from the book you think you're going to choose if asked, just check out a synopsis online to refresh your memory. I don't think I even got most recent book question.

 

[War Eagle]

The first time I got asked this, they asked me what the last book I read that wasn't for a class was. I honeslty couldn't think of one. The only books that came to mind were the Goosebumps series, Tuck Everlasting, and Hatchet. All were books I read in elementary school. haha. I mentioned that it had been a while since I read a book for fun and that I usually do other things in my leisure time. I finally just said a book that I did read for a class, it was kind of a sucky book though. A few days after the interview I thought of a different book and used it the second time I was asked that question. That book was also for a class, but I had wanted to read it anyways and had read many chapters of it previously. The first time I was asked it, I probably should have mentioned that I do read quite a bit in my free time, but I tend to read a lot of magazine, newspaper, and online articles rather than books. Honestly, I probably haven't read a book for pure enjoyment for at least 6 years.

The funny thing is that I probably could have listed like 10 book that my wife had read in the previous 4 months. I guess I should have taken her advice and read one of them with her. lol.

 

[Svart Aske]

I read quite a bit outside of class so I think I will be prepared for this question. However, I also read comic books (a guilty pleasure) in addition to non-fiction so I hope I don't blurt out a comic title.

 

[armorshell]

If the answer to this is Twilight, lie.

 

[hotinwoof]

No one heard of Cliff's Notes?

 

[supraman]

Thanks for the replies my peeps. I think Im just going to state some faves like The Crucible and The Great Gatsby. But I read the Newsweek everyweek so Ill throw that in. If they won't but that I'll ask my interviewer what he read lol

 

[MolarExpress]

If the answer to this is Twilight, lie.

Haha...agreed!

 

[DrReo]

Wow thats nice, great advice. I'm just foolish for waiting until the last minute, my interview is tomorrow...hmm...

Supra, go pick up the most recent copy of Captain Underpaints. Don't sweat it.

 

[eternalxdemon]

If the answer to this is Twilight, lie.

now what is wrong with Twilight???? -_-;;;

 

[doc3232]

now what isn't wrong with Twilight???? -_-;;;

Fixed.

I would say Harry Potter 7.

 

[knife]

I actually joked with my interviewers about this question. I just said something like: "oh man, it was this great book called evolution & cell biology. It talks about the story of a little eukaryotic cell that went on to build an empire called the animal kingdom.". They laughed and I told them that aside from my daily newspaper, I hadn't read much (leisurely) since my sophomore year in college. Then I just briefed them on a book I read about the life story of a Buddhist monk called "happiness is your creation." it seemed to work pretty well haha cuz they got a kick out of it 😀
You just gotta keep in mind that they're aware of you're schedule as a predent. Plus, humor is always a good fallback if you get stumped.

 

[MonMonii]

I was asked this question and I said: I didn't have much time to read books for pleasure, I tend to work out in my free times to refresh my brain. as I said I remembered a book I read 2 years ago...and I said oh I read Freakonomics..and I read economist magazine . I haven't heard back from the school yet. do you guys think my answer was really bad?

 

[Vicviper]

It probably depends on the interviewer. How did they react? I'd say that maybe more the old school ones might take it as a bad sign, but eh, I wouldn't worry too much.

I've been interviewing people to replace me in my research lab when I graduate, and I've been told to more or less turn anyone down who says they do nothing but study all the time. So definitely don't say you're too busy studying, because they may just think you're making that up to try to impress them.

 

[doc3232]

It probably depends on the interviewer. How did they react? I'd say that maybe more the old school ones might take it as a bad sign, but eh, I wouldn't worry too much.

I've been interviewing people to replace me in my research lab when I graduate, and I've been told to more or less turn anyone down who says they do nothing but study all the time. So definitely don't say you're too busy studying, because they may just think you're making that up to try to impress them.

It's not that we don't have time because we were studying a lot. It is because of studying and everything else. Volunteering, shadowing, researching (the job), exercising, etc.

Also, those that study all the time won't have time to do research. they will flake every other day.

 

[eternalxdemon]

It's not that we don't have time because we were studying a lot. It is because of studying and everything else. Volunteering, shadowing, researching (the job), exercising, etc.

i managed to read my favorite books every time midterms came around... along with doing research, volunteering at the hospital and working weekends at jamba juice. haha. 🙂 reading novels relaxes my brain from all that "studying" i do on the computer... 😉

 

[eternalxdemon]

Fixed.

I would say Harry Potter 7.

I admit twilight is a bit predictable.. so much so i never bothered reading it... tho i did read about it on wiki!!!! 🙂

n hp is AWESOMEEEEEEEEEE. dude... i finished 7 in a think two days. 🙂 i couldn't put it down... even tho i had tests n quizzes...

 

[bri0216]

wait so if i tell them i just read "are you there vodka, its me chelsea?" by chelsea handler and "i hope they serve beer in hell" by tucker max they won't be impressed by my taste in books?

 

[Flossy13]

haha i had to answer this on the first day of my english class, and sicne i didnt want to seem like an idiot who doesnt read in an upper level english course, and i froze up and couldnt think of a single book besides harry potter or the da vinci code, i made one up... haha my TA asked me like 10 questions about it, it was horrible.

sorry i know this doesnt help u, but hey ur not alone buddy

 

[eldirty]

If the answer to this is Twilight, lie.

ohhhh Edward ... ohhhh Bella

 

[eldirty]

Supra, go pick up the most recent copy of Captain Underpaints. Don't sweat it.

Yeah or maybe the adventures of tintin or a choose your own adventure book ...

 

[sony102]

Biology Eighth Edition by Campbell and Reece can be a humoristic answer 🙂

LOOOL, exactly what i was thinking

but just for that question, I designated a week to read " the 7 habits of highly effective people"
but I was never asked that question by any of the 4 schools that I interviewed with.

 

[zorie]

If the answer to this is Twilight, lie.

👍👍👍

 

[Habslive]

Wow thats nice, great advice. I'm just foolish for waiting until the last minute, my interview is tomorrow...hmm...

Do you have an inspiration? Role model? Favourite singer? Athlete? (For me it's Saku Koivu, if you don't know his story it's actually really fascinating)

Read (or pretend to have read) a biography on that person or autobiography. Just make sure you know who wrote it if it's a biography (and auto 😛) and the title.

 

[DrReo]

Did you get this question today?

 

[Mrbubbles]

wth? this question is SO dumb! who cares what u have to say?? it's not law school or anythign..it's dental school where they know u will fry ur brain out. so what's wrong iwth twilight? harry potter? or these so called "juvenile" books...
reading is suppose to be fun, who said it had to be political or intellectual? interviewers shouldn't judge u by ur answer, just like u shouldn't judge a book by it's cover.

say what u wish, but i got a 23 on RC and i read all these stupid books..i'm actually readin g"he's just not that into you" and if i were asked that question, i would say the truth.

be yourself guys, or else uw ill "sound rehearsed" or u may risk stuttering or stumbling over ur lie. interviewers are trained to find total BS.

 

[supraman]

Relax Mr Bubbles, I scored high on RC as well reading 5% of the books you've read and it was even commended in the interview today. The question was not brought up, but I had no intention to lie. The interview went great and the school is absolutely fantastic