Interview Stuff

[RasputinDO]

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I have three interviews coming in the next three weeks and I've got a few questions/advice about them. Some of them may seem stupid.

Is it necessary to wear a full on suit? or will a shirt tie (minus jacket) suffice.

Is it necessary to bring copies of your application stuff with you? Does it look bad??

Should you bring something to take notes with?? Does it look bad if you don't??

Questions to ask them?? I know a couple but I know people say it is good to ask questions.

Any other help/advice would be greatly appreciated. Just wiggin' out a few days before the first one!!! Thanks again.

Joshua

 

[Chronotropic]

Definately wear a suit.

I always brought my application with me, find a nice portfolio to carry it in.

I brought a note pad to take notes. It comes in handy during the day when potential questions pop up.

Definately bring some good questions. If you come off as someone who is evaluating the school, it makes you look much more professional and serious about your education. Plus you wouldn't buy a 120K house without asking the previous owner any questions would you?

Relax, from what I've heard and experienced osteo interviews are very laid back.

 

[ChiaPet312]

Where are you interviewing? some of the schools have a pretty long wait between the interview and tour. it's a good idea to take a book or a magazine to read as you wait.

also, the schools usually hand out brochures/statistics about the school when you walk in. you can read the material and develop questions from there.

 

[Chronotropic]

Oh yeah, a bottle of water isn't a bad idea. In case you get cotton mouth or something.

 

[scubadiva]

My answers are in bold 🙂.

I have three interviews coming in the next three weeks and I've got a few questions/advice about them. Some of them may seem stupid.

Is it necessary to wear a full on suit? or will a shirt tie (minus jacket) suffice.

YES! A shirt and a subdued tie with a complementary jacket and pants along with non-scuffed shoes and NOOOOOO WHITE SOCKS!!!

Is it necessary to bring copies of your application stuff with you? Does it look bad??

It's a good idea to review what you stated in your applications the night before. I didn't read them right before the interviews because there's so many people to talk to while you're waiting. I get distracted easily 😀 Just don't whip out your application during the actual interview

Should you bring something to take notes with?? Does it look bad if you don't??

I didn't. I brought a pen to take extra notes on top of the handouts that they give you.

Questions to ask them?? I know a couple but I know people say it is good to ask questions.

Look on the interview link for school specific questions. That's what I did because there was time for school specific questions.

Good LUCK!

 

[scubadiva]

Oh and some schools DO have alot of downtime, but I just had fun talking to everyone. That was very calming before the interview. I brought an mp3 player just in case there wasn't anyone to talk to or if I *might* not have been in the mood for conversation (Wait, that never happens.).

 

[Amy B]

Originally posted by jtessier
Some of them may seem stupid.

No question is stupid at SDN 😀

Originally posted by jtessier
Is it necessary to wear a full on suit? or will a shirt tie (minus jacket) suffice.

I would say a whole suit or at least a sports jacket. I have been on 8 interviews over the past 2 years and have never seen any guy without a jacket. Just make sure it fits. I saw one poor guy who was wearing a jacket about 2 sizes too big. I felt sorry for him.

Originally posted by jtessier
Is it necessary to bring copies of your application stuff with you? Does it look bad??

I had mine in a leather binder along with some paper to jot down anything I might want to remember.

Originally posted by jtessier
Should you bring something to take notes with?? Does it look bad if you don't??

Answered above. I did take some notes and I used the paper to write down emails of people.

Originally posted by jtessier
Questions to ask them?? I know a couple but I know people say it is good to ask questions.

here is a great place to find some questions that you could ask.
http://www.aamc.org/students/applying/about/31questions.htm

Good luck and try not to stress. Just be yourself.

 

[DORoe]

I would wear a full suit to the interview, it looks more professional and makes you seem like you are not just blowing the whole thing off. I know it is a pain, but sometimes you have to do these types of things.

I wouldn't worry too much about bringing your application with you, just be sure that you know the information contained within it.

As far as questions to ask I think that it would depend on the school that you are interviewing. I researched the schools prior to my interview and had a list of things that I wanted to know about going into the day.

The biggest thing is to not stress out too much. Everyone is going to be nervous, and just remember to let your personality show to the interviewers. Obviously you are qualified to attend on a strickly academic level or you would not have been invited for an interview. I believe that if you give them a good impression of what you are like they will appreciate it and in the end so will you (after all you wouldn't want to go somewhere that did not want the real you). It helped me to think of the interview as a time that was not only about the schools acceptance of me, but of my acceptance of the school. You are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you! Good luck🙂

 

[Amy B]

oops I just read over my post and realized I forgot to mention.... I didn't need my application but I did have it just in case I needed it. It is like when you bring an extra resume to a job interview, you never know if you are going to need it. I did read over it in the car before the interview.

 

[RasputinDO]

Thanks to all your suggestions/feedback were very helpful as always. Now I just take a big breath and try to make sure I sleep ok tonight before tomorrow.......Thanks again.

Joshua

 

[Chrisobean]

i read that list on AAMC of questions to ask at your interview..

but alot of that seems to be answerable from each school's website (like grading systems, match lists...)

will you look like an idiot if you ask something on an interview that could've been answered on the website? won't that make you look uninformed and uninterested in their school?

i have a problem with asking questions, b/c i can never think of anything until after the fact. when i come home and my mom starts asking me stuff, i end up kicking myself for not thinking of that. i tend to only ask questions when i dont understand something.

what if you make a list of questions to ask beforehand, and it all gets answered in your tour and presentation?

and what happens if you apply to the med school of your undergrad school? what the hell can you possibly ask then, when you have spent 4 years of your life on the same campus, working with alot of the same profs, in the same buildings...?

i seem to panic alot about these interviews, especially since i dont even have one yet. sorry. but thanks!