Interview with an MD, or with someone else...

[bluecalx]

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I was wondering what everyone's experience has been interviewing with PhDs or other staff, such as "Dean of Multicultural Affairs," as opposed to interviewing with MDs.
I have gone on 3 interviews so far, and they have ALL been with people other than MDs, whereas many other interviewees that day had seemingly wonderful conversations with MDs or MD students. I am beginning to think I just have bad luck. As an applicant to MD programs, I want to speak to someone who has that degree. There's a certain connection that can be made with an MD, and the conversation is more likely to be more engaging.
With my interviews there was little to no connection, and I am starting to get rejections from those schools.
Any thoughts?🙁

 

[thestrokes14]

To be honest, I agree with you. But at the same time, I have to assume that the interviewers are all trained to approach the interview in the same way. You never really know, though.

 

[music2doc]

There are good and bad interviewers of all types. I suspect that's not the main reason you're being rejected. If you're getting rejected consistently, it may be worth doing some mock interviews.

 

[IlDestriero]

To be honest, I agree with you. But at the same time, I have to assume that the interviewers are all trained to approach the interview in the same way. You never really know, though.

They get whoever they can get. All of the physicians I work with are on the faculty of the medical school. I only know 2 who interview prospective students. It requires a significant and disruptive time commitment that most are not willing to make.

 

[Slowpoke]

It is a tad bit presumptuous to conclude that it was because your interviewer not having an MD or direct personal experience with obtaining said degree that contributed to an unsuccessful outcome.

 

[bluecalx]

I'm certainly not saying that is the reason I'm getting rejected. I'm just saying, a PhD who has been doing research their entire career is going to connect more with a science major who has done research than with a nontrad who has a lot of clinical and life experience. Likewise, an MD who interacts with patients on a daily basis will be more likely to have an interest in someone with my background. It's frustrating to get to this point, have horrible interviews with PhDs who don't care about my life experiences, then to meet back with other applicants who have had wonderful conversations with doctors and med students. I'm not saying it's THE reason, but it certainly has something to do with it.

 

[MilkIsGood]

it doesnt matter you you interview with. approach all the same. although i do like interviewing with faculty more than with students

 

[music2doc]

I'm certainly not saying that is the reason I'm getting rejected. I'm just saying, a PhD who has been doing research their entire career is going to connect more with a science major who has done research than with a nontrad who has a lot of clinical and life experience. Likewise, an MD who interacts with patients on a daily basis will be more likely to have an interest in someone with my background. It's frustrating to get to this point, have horrible interviews with PhDs who don't care about my life experiences, then to meet back with other applicants who have had wonderful conversations with doctors and med students. I'm not saying it's THE reason, but it certainly has something to do with it.

While I get what you're saying, I'm also a non traditional non science major applicant and I've found my PhD interviewers to be pretty easy to talk to and they've generally appreciated my background. None were super hard on research questions either

 

[johnisles2011]

One of my interviews at a school was with an RN. I was kind of surprised to see she was on the admissions staff. Anyway, she seemed to be inherently dismissive of me from the first moment I met her. It was really frustrating. I felt like I got screwed on that one.
But then again, if she does interviews all the time, maybe it was just ME she didn't like; she can't hate everyone.

 

[Isoprop]

some phds have patient contact too. phds go see doctors too. in fact, a non-physician will often have valuable insight as to the qualities of a good physician.

 

[CodeBlu]

They get whoever they can get. All of the physicians I work with are on the faculty of the medical school. I only know 2 who interview prospective students. It requires a significant and disruptive time commitment that most are not willing to make.

This.

I know for a fact that certain local area medical schools are currently sending out emails to recruit people for the last batch of interviews...

 

[robertch8]

I've had just about every scenario....faculty interviewers, student interviewers, MDs, PhDs, even a DO at one interview and a Reverend at another interview. I have to say though that I don't feel like it's a disadvantage to have a PhD at all; many of those that aren't MDs who have interviewed me are faculty who are advisors, teachers, or spend significant time with current medical students. Due to this, I end up feeling like they have a better pulse of the type of medical students actually than physicians that are volunteering and don't spend as much time with medical students.

 

[MT Headed]

In addition to the usual students, RN's, and PhD's interview me, I was once interviewed by a retired former dean. He muttered about being dragged out to do these interviews when he'd rather be doing something else. We spent most of the interview debating the practicality of building a non-AAMC medical school where students could pass their boards, do their rotations, and qualify for residencies while skipping this whole MD junk. It was kind of surreal.

I have another interview on Monday. It wouldn't surprise me if the janitor interviews me next.

 

[Danlee07]

A degree does not make the person...

For a basic science related job, I got interviewed by a MD. This doesn't change the fact that it's an interview and it's up to you to communicate clearly and effectively.

 

[idontcaureuknow]

I was wondering what everyone's experience has been interviewing with PhDs or other staff, such as "Dean of Multicultural Affairs," as opposed to interviewing with MDs.
I have gone on 3 interviews so far, and they have ALL been with people other than MDs, whereas many other interviewees that day had seemingly wonderful conversations with MDs or MD students. I am beginning to think I just have bad luck. As an applicant to MD programs, I want to speak to someone who has that degree. There's a certain connection that can be made with an MD, and the conversation is more likely to be more engaging.
With my interviews there was little to no connection, and I am starting to get rejections from those schools.
Any thoughts?🙁

I agree with you in essence, but I would think the "Dean of Multicultural Affairs" would have more in common with a non-trad non-science major than a science major. I know I was interviewed by an MD who at one point was a grad student. I enjoyed the interview because I could discuss chemistry and not get an eye roll like I do with some professors at my current undergrad.

As for the interview process in general, I feel like it's an open call to anyone willing. How does it work for student interviewers? I kinda felt like some were forced to do it.

 

[Bacchus]

It's the school's job to find the best applicants. Interviewing with various people in various fields of work let's the school get a more-rounded opinion of you. At this point in time, except questions asked, interviewing with a physician isn't truly necessary. You have the qualifications on paper. It SHOULD be a good assumption to feel you know what you're getting yourself into.

 

[NickNaylor]

A degree does not make the person...

For a basic science related job, I got interviewed by a MD. This doesn't change the fact that it's an interview and it's up to you to communicate clearly and effectively.

I agree entirely. Just because someone isn't a MD doesn't mean that they're incapable of understanding the medical profession or have no idea what to look for in future physicians.

 

[bluecalx]

Absolutely. A Medical Degree is by no means necessary to understand what to look for in future physicians. I'm just trying to make the point that it is MORE likely that an MD can relate to an aspiring MD. Most premed students, especially nontrads, are applying because they want to help people, because the clinical exposure they have had has shown them how satisfying it is to diagnose and treat, and to improve people's lives. The doctor-patient interaction is at the heart of that. If that is what an applicant is trying to get across in an interview, expressing that to an MD is, I think, more likely to spark an engaging conversation than expressing that sentiment to someone who has been in a molecular bio lab for the past 20 years.
right?

 

[bluecalx]

Interviewing with various people in various fields of work let's the school get a more-rounded opinion of you.

not if you only interview with one person, and he/she only focuses on your lack of research experience, and scoffs at your "unimpressive" life, clinical and EC experiences.

 

[perpetual labor]

not if you only interview with one person, and he/she only focuses on your lack of research experience, and scoffs at your "unimpressive" life, clinical and EC experiences.

I hear your pain BLUECALX. Interviews can be a dice roll. Of course, you can just as easily have an overworked MD, an MD who is older than antisepsis, or a professor who will focus on your biochemistry grade more than your responses.

Force yourself to calm down at the beginning of each interview, and find a way to appreciate each interviewer. If you can manufacture feelings of goodwill between you and the interviewer it will help your chances of acceptance.

Definitely go to a Career Services Center and get some interview coaching. I had no idea how many questions I was failing to answer.

Good Luck.

-P

 

[rhcp90]

Yeah, I've had interviews with a lot of people with different degrees. Someone even had a MDIV degree. I had to look that one up!

 

[phnerd1105]

not if you only interview with one person, and he/she only focuses on your lack of research experience, and scoffs at your "unimpressive" life, clinical and EC experiences.

This happened to me at my top choice school. I had a faculty and a student interview. The faculty one was with a PhD, who grilled me on why I didn't have any bench research (even though I had four years of clinical research, lead my own research team and have poster presentations). She threw that question at me right after brief introductions, which kind of threw me off guard. However, after that, it seemed like a normal interview, with her asking me some hypothetical questions and inquiring into my activities. We ended up hitting it off, and she told me she thought I was "brilliant and would make a great doctor".

I was eventually waitlisted, but for my stats rather than anything else. In short, it doesn't really matter who you get as your interviewer. They all go through the same training, and they wouldn't be selected if the admissions office didn't feel they were qualified to conduct interviews. I think it's kind of cool, interviewing with someone other than an MD, as they can bring different insights about medicine into the conversation.

 

[b-real]

Absolutely. A Medical Degree is by no means necessary to understand what to look for in future physicians. I'm just trying to make the point that it is MORE likely that an MD can relate to an aspiring MD. Most premed students, especially nontrads, are applying because they want to help people, because the clinical exposure they have had has shown them how satisfying it is to diagnose and treat, and to improve people's lives. The doctor-patient interaction is at the heart of that. If that is what an applicant is trying to get across in an interview, expressing that to an MD is, I think, more likely to spark an engaging conversation than expressing that sentiment to someone who has been in a molecular bio lab for the past 20 years.
right?

Finding ways to relate to other people, especially those with whom you may not have anything in common, is essential for physicians. If you find yourself not having engaging conversations with a non-physician, you are at least part of the problem.

 

[Bacchus]

I can't relate. All the schools I interviewed at had multiple interviewers. I either interviewed with a group of professionals or one-by-one.

 

[ALMD]

I had a JD interviewer once. It was actually nice and we talked about all kind of things, no ethic/healthcare questions either.

 

[Ilovewater]

Finding ways to relate to other people, especially those with whom you may not have anything in common, is essential for physicians. If you find yourself not having engaging conversations with a non-physician, you are at least part of the problem.

I was about to reply with the same answer! Also realize that the Ph.D. who interviewed you may also be someone you would have to interact with in the future as he could be teaching one or many of the classes. You should be able to related to different types of people regardless of their degrees.

Also, interviews with MDs are not always that great. I interviewed with a radiologist who was pulled out of the interview to go do a procedure, which cut my 1-hour interview to 10 minutes. Results? Waitlisted, I assumed it was because she didn't have a strong impression of me since the only question she got to ask me was why I applied to that school. I also interviewed with a psychiatrist (philosophy major in undergrad) who psychoanalyzed me the entire 45 minutes. I felt like I needed a prescription for all of the problems I "seemed" to have.