Interview questions to make sure you're sane.

[IluvMCAT]

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I've been on interviews at six schools. So far at least two interviewers have asked me a few strange questions. Some of them have a clear wrong answer: "Do you ever lose your temper?" Others don't make any sense at all: "Would you like to buy a shoe?"

I answered "no" to the temper question and "What kind of shoe?" to the shoe question. The guy who asked the second question responded "A tennis shoe?"

Have your interviewers asked you any bizarre questions? Questions to which there is a very clear correct answer and a very clear WRONG answer. Something that made absolutely no sense at all?

I imagine that they're just trying to see how you react. Just curious. Thanks.

 

[jlee9531]

i dont know if this fits your categories...

but some ones outside of the standard questions...

do you like coke?

tell me your strategy in winning fantasy football.

who do you hate and why?

 

[liverotcod]

Do you really never lose your temper? Not even a little? IMHO, that IS the wrong answer.

My shoes are worn out. I definitely would like to buy new ones. But not just one - I need the pair.

 

[Megalofyia]

Ever watch the Simpson's episode where Ned Flanders just about goes crazy cause he never gets mad and it's all pent up inside of him?

 

[IluvMCAT]

Though it may be difficult for you to imagine, there are people who don't lose their tempers. In my opinion, losing your temper involves yelling. According to that definition, I don't ever lose my temper. You think they want students who go around yelling?

No. They want people who can get rid of anger without losing their tempers. But go ahead and answer "yes" and see where it gets you.

 

[Gleevec]

Originally posted by IluvMCAT
I've been on interviews at six schools. So far at least two interviewers have asked me a few strange questions. Some of them have a clear wrong answer: "Do you ever lose your temper?" Others don't make any sense at all: "Would you like to buy a shoe?"

I answered "no" to the temper question and "What kind of shoe?" to the shoe question. The guy who asked the second question responded "A tennis shoe?"

Have your interviewers asked you any bizarre questions? Questions to which there is a very clear correct answer and a very clear WRONG answer. Something that made absolutely no sense at all?

I imagine that they're just trying to see how you react. Just curious. Thanks.

you have never lost your temper in your life? you are a better person than I

 

[Gleevec]

Originally posted by IluvMCAT
Though it may be difficult for you to imagine, there are people who don't lose their tempers. In my opinion, losing your temper involves yelling. According to that definition, I don't ever lose my temper. You think they want students who go around yelling?

No. They want people who can get rid of anger without losing their tempers. But go ahead and answer "yes" and see where it gets you.

I think there is a difference between losing your temper a few times in life (which the question seemed to imply, from what I understand) and constantly losing your temper...

I probably would have said, yeah I have a couple times, but I felt bad afterwards and usually apologize

I find it hard to believe that someone has NEVER lost their temper though, we are all only human

 

[IluvMCAT]

Of course I've lost my temper at some point. Don't be ridiculous. But it's been years. So I answered honestly. Anyway.... you honestly believe that you should answer "Yes, sometimes I lose my temper." Good luck with that.

 

[kwanny]

Believe it or not, I've NEVER lost my temper...

 

[gary5]

The shoe question is bizarre. I'd answer no, and maybe steer the conversation toward more relevant topics.

 

[IluvMCAT]

See where not losing your temper gets you? CWRU. Good job kwanny.

 

[jlee9531]

Originally posted by IluvMCAT
See where not losing your temper gets you? CWRU. Good job kwanny.

well i guess that means ucsf wants some people who like to go cathartic once in a while 😉

haha just kidding kwanny....jp bro...😀

 

[KarateGirl]

The shoe question is pretty wacko. I'd probably say, "Just one?" and then politely decline. The scary thing is, I'm not sure if it would faze me. I guess all the time spent around my insane friends has finally paid off.

Originally posted by jlee9531
i dont know if this fits your categories...

but some ones outside of the standard questions...

do you like coke?

Were they talking about the soda, or the drug?

 

[ewing]

I got hit with all 4 CAGE questions. Maybe it was because my interviewer caught me drinking from a hip flask in his waiting room.

CAGE Questions:
Cut
Ever felt you ought to cut down on your drinking?
Annoyed
Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?
Guilt
Ever felt bad or guilty about your drinking?
Eye Opener
Ever had an eye-opener to steady nerves in the AM?

Interpretation of CAGE questions

Answering Yes to 2 questions
Strong Indication for Alcoholism

Answering Yes to 3 questions
Confirms Alcoholism

 

[Super Rob]

That's not a fair question 😀

"Have you ever" is one thing, but "Do you ever"?

YES = we've gotta nut!

NO = we've gotta a liar!

Best to elaborate 🙂 I'm sure you handled it fine!


Here's something to look out for in future interviews: it happened to me TWICE, fifteen minutes appart.

The interviewer deliberately chooses to discuss a topic that is over your head or asks you a question about something you are not expected to know the answer to. I told the first interviewer flat-out that I had no prior knowledge of whatever she was talking about. I missed my opportunity to say the same to the second interviewer... part of the premed syndrome is being unable to say "I dunno." Look out for interviewers who are testing you on that 🙂

 

[g3pro]

i think the question is geared more towards checking to see if you can converse witht he adcom without using 'canned' answers. ideally you should be able to continue a 'normal' conversation with them even though the question is completely unrelated to any previous questions.

 

[drlexygoat]

On my app I stated I took 5 yrs of latin in high school and it helped me with other languages. My interviewer then asked me the rest of his questions in pig latin!

"y-whay oo-day ou-yah ant-way o-tay ome-cay o-tay our-yay university-ay?"

VERY bizare. I wasn't sure if I shoudl answer BACK in pig latin or not (I didn't).

 

[medschoolorbust]

Everyone has lost their temper at one time or another. I agree that the question was just to see if someone would lie to make themselves look good. In medicine, it is ideal to recruit people who can keep their cool, I won't argue with that. BUT they also want HUMAN BEINGS who can relate to patients. Patients lose their temper all the time. There's nothing wrong with admitting you've lost your temper...it's not going to keep you out of med school. But flat out lying could. I wouldn't want to get into med school based on lies anyway. If they don't want me for who I am, I don't want to go to their school. My answer would have been "Of course I lose my temper once in awhile, I'm only human."

 

[Northerner]

It depends on the definition, obviously. But everyone loses their temper. You may be a very stable person, but if you don't know how to stabilize yourself when your emotions become inflamed, you'll be rendered ineffective and panic-stricken. Now comes the part when the people who say they never lose their temper argue that point. Maybe you are Superman, I don't know that he doesn't exist, and maybe you're the exception. But it is rather perverse that someone (a general person) honestly believes they never should lose their temper, be honest with yourself, I'm sure you could think of a situation that would make you.

My cop out:
If this doesn't apply to you, you are an exception, I made a generalization: bravo.

 

[SaltySqueegee]

Yes, I would love to purchase a shoe to get my 'foot' in the metaphorical door of medical school!

Thank you ladies and gents, I'll be here all night.

 

[jayski2030]

Originally posted by IluvMCAT
The guy who asked the second question responded "A tennis shoe?"

What'd you say?