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What exactly should a person emphasize during an interview? Thanks for any input!!! I appreciate it all!!
interview
- Thread starter akerstet2002
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Interviews are a time to sell yourself. Be yourself. Let the interviewers know that you have done your research and understand the osteopathic medical profession by being able to answer why you want to be a D.O., where you see yourself in 10 years. Most DO schools are training primary care physicians. It is important that you understand primary care and that you have a desire to become a primary care doc. A knowledge of HMO's and medical trends is helpful.
One of the questions I was asked was: If there was 1 seat left to fill and 2 applicants, tell me why you would be the best applicant for the seat. This was a great question to sell myself and explain all the extra-curricular activities that I was and am involved in. Involvement in student organization as well as the community is important.
Preparing for an interview is important. You will need to right down commonly asked questions and your responses and practice (don't memorize) how to answer them. Then have someone ask you the questions and practice responding. This will help you be relaxed during your interview since you will have developed confidence in knowing all about yourself. Be sure to review your personal statement and all information that the applications have on them.
One of the questions I was asked was: If there was 1 seat left to fill and 2 applicants, tell me why you would be the best applicant for the seat. This was a great question to sell myself and explain all the extra-curricular activities that I was and am involved in. Involvement in student organization as well as the community is important.
Preparing for an interview is important. You will need to right down commonly asked questions and your responses and practice (don't memorize) how to answer them. Then have someone ask you the questions and practice responding. This will help you be relaxed during your interview since you will have developed confidence in knowing all about yourself. Be sure to review your personal statement and all information that the applications have on them.
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You definitely have to check out: www.interviewfeedback.com
Have fun looking through the interview feedback forms!!!
WELCOME TO SDN by the way!!!
Have fun looking through the interview feedback forms!!!
WELCOME TO SDN by the way!!!
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Emphasize what makes you unique. Be tactful, mature, and friendly.
Try your best in the beginning of the interview to understand what the interviewer is looking for. Realize that interviewers really may have different agendas. Some may want to know you as a whole, while others just want to know why you did so horrible in O-chem.
Know your weaknesses and be prepared to respond to them. Never reveal any weakness that may place you in jeapordy. For example, if it's a closed number interview meaning the interviewers don't have your grades, don't tell them about the F you got in Biology. Don't tell them about how lazy you get in the middle of the school year. What more can I say, be wise.
Try your best in the beginning of the interview to understand what the interviewer is looking for. Realize that interviewers really may have different agendas. Some may want to know you as a whole, while others just want to know why you did so horrible in O-chem.
Know your weaknesses and be prepared to respond to them. Never reveal any weakness that may place you in jeapordy. For example, if it's a closed number interview meaning the interviewers don't have your grades, don't tell them about the F you got in Biology. Don't tell them about how lazy you get in the middle of the school year. What more can I say, be wise.
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the above posters made great points.
interviewfeedback.com is a great site, check it before you go.
to glom on to aloha's post, i'd say be poised...not grim mind you, but poised. knowing your app stuff, practicing before hand, and reading the feedback site will help this. also, be honest. if they ask you something you don't understand or don't know, say so. ask for clarification, reason things out (succinctly). this shows maturity. trying to BS your way through a question shows the opposite.
and also, look polished...it helps.
good luck.
dawg
interviewfeedback.com is a great site, check it before you go.
to glom on to aloha's post, i'd say be poised...not grim mind you, but poised. knowing your app stuff, practicing before hand, and reading the feedback site will help this. also, be honest. if they ask you something you don't understand or don't know, say so. ask for clarification, reason things out (succinctly). this shows maturity. trying to BS your way through a question shows the opposite.
and also, look polished...it helps.
good luck.
dawg
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i'd say also in d.o. interviews it's extremely imp't not to act OVER-EDUCATED! hey d.o.s are known for having great communication skills. show them you can make every patient feel comfortable, even those who were hs drop outs. talk to the interviewer as if you were talking to a patient.
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I have not interviewed yet, but looking at the interviewed/accepted numbers from US News, If you get an interview, you have over a 65% chance at getting accepted at most Osteopathic schools(CCOM-79%,TCOM-65%,NYCOM-65%, KCOM-71%, AZCOM-73%, OSUCOM-65%, DMU-OMC-94%, MSUCOM-97%, UNECOM-67%, Nova-81%, UHS-91%, PC-SOM-70%,COMP-86%) There are a few exceptions, but if you get your app in early, know what you like about Osteopathic Medicine, review interview feedback, and don't comnpletely blow your interview, you should have a great chance of getting accepted.
NUB
NUB
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Personally, the reason for the high acceptance chance when you receive an interview is that most osteopathic schools are really selective on who they are going to give secondaries to, then who to invite for an interview....
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From the stats I would have to agree that they are very selective who they give interviews too, but most schools give you a secondary if you meet their minimum GPA requirements according to AACOM, and at TCOM, everyone fills out a secondary.
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Thank you very much for your feedback. I really appreciate it.
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The only thing I have to add is this: be kind, patient, courteous, and gracious to EVERYONE you meet (whether they are faculty, student, administrative staff, or the custodian mopping the floor as you enter the building).
I cannot emphasize how important this is. Once, I saw a list with my name and the names of other applicants being interviewed the same day. Next to my name, the word "gracious" was pencilled in; "belligerent" was next to another's (a demanding person who complained about parking); "constantly eating" next to another's. Who was the person taking notes? The receptionist in the waiting area who did not even speak to us! Do you think this info was used in the evaluation process? You bet (or why bother to take notes)!
I'll give another example: during my panel interview at ACOM, a woman was led out by a member of the administrative staff to her interview. When she came back, she was practically in tears, said it was "so hard," and left almost immediately without taking the tour or having lunch. Apparently, she had made comments to her escort not knowing she was on the interview panel. I don't know specifics of the comments made (one thing was about how stale the donuts were), but it was enough that she got hammered during the interview.
EVERY piece of information about you is used, including stuff you don't even know is being assessed. Treat everyone you meet as if they were important (that is how you should behave anyway as a physician), and it will go a long way.
ana
I cannot emphasize how important this is. Once, I saw a list with my name and the names of other applicants being interviewed the same day. Next to my name, the word "gracious" was pencilled in; "belligerent" was next to another's (a demanding person who complained about parking); "constantly eating" next to another's. Who was the person taking notes? The receptionist in the waiting area who did not even speak to us! Do you think this info was used in the evaluation process? You bet (or why bother to take notes)!
I'll give another example: during my panel interview at ACOM, a woman was led out by a member of the administrative staff to her interview. When she came back, she was practically in tears, said it was "so hard," and left almost immediately without taking the tour or having lunch. Apparently, she had made comments to her escort not knowing she was on the interview panel. I don't know specifics of the comments made (one thing was about how stale the donuts were), but it was enough that she got hammered during the interview.
EVERY piece of information about you is used, including stuff you don't even know is being assessed. Treat everyone you meet as if they were important (that is how you should behave anyway as a physician), and it will go a long way.
ana
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I totally agree with anna!!! Treat everyone as nicely as the guy/gal interviewing you in the "offical" room. The student giving you a tour before your interview COULD be on the admission panel.. or taking notes about you as soon as you go into the interview room. Be kind, polite, and courteous to EVERYONE! Do you really wanna risk it after you've come this far? I was cringing when the girl I was sitting next to came out of the interview room started chatting with me about one of the OD's in the interview.. as soon as she started talking to me.. I saw the receptionist next across the way from me pick up her pencil and start writing. Was she writing about what she said? who knows.. but WHY RISK IT!???
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Anna is absolutely right! Not only to you make a better impression, it is the right thing to do, being polite and friendly to people.
Do not discount the importance of looking good. You don't need to look like you were just on Rodeo Drive...but if you're a guy, wear something more than a polo and a pair of Dockers pants. wear socks. shave. If you're a gal, wear a blouse, not a tank. a bra. comb your hair. Leave the body jewelry covered, and the tatoos, too. I know you think I am crazy, but this is some of what I saw at various inerviews!
Sometimes, if you know who you are interviewing with, you can find out something about them personally, and that can help you establish a rapport. For example, one of my interviewers was a body builder and I was an exercise science major. After about 15 minutes of talking about ex phys "stuff" he said, "well, ok, guess I better do the interview...do you want to come here?" HELLO!?
Eat well and get enough sleep before the interview and do not try to "over-interview" to save a day on your traveling. Stress will tire you out. Don't get all the way there to poop out! I found that most of the interviews did not feel long at all, while others thought they were in the room forever. The interview is the FUN part, where you get to say all the things you didn't have room for on the application.
best wishes. also, do check out the website Popoy mentioned. He's the bomb, baby!
electra
Do not discount the importance of looking good. You don't need to look like you were just on Rodeo Drive...but if you're a guy, wear something more than a polo and a pair of Dockers pants. wear socks. shave. If you're a gal, wear a blouse, not a tank. a bra. comb your hair. Leave the body jewelry covered, and the tatoos, too. I know you think I am crazy, but this is some of what I saw at various inerviews!
Sometimes, if you know who you are interviewing with, you can find out something about them personally, and that can help you establish a rapport. For example, one of my interviewers was a body builder and I was an exercise science major. After about 15 minutes of talking about ex phys "stuff" he said, "well, ok, guess I better do the interview...do you want to come here?" HELLO!?
Eat well and get enough sleep before the interview and do not try to "over-interview" to save a day on your traveling. Stress will tire you out. Don't get all the way there to poop out! I found that most of the interviews did not feel long at all, while others thought they were in the room forever. The interview is the FUN part, where you get to say all the things you didn't have room for on the application.
best wishes. also, do check out the website Popoy mentioned. He's the bomb, baby!
electra
