Interviewing for Non-traditionals?

[almost_there]

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Hi folks,

I thought that we might share our interviewing experiences, since the kinds of questions that might come up for frequently for us may differ from those of the traditional undergraduate applicant.

For example, I was talking to my microbio professor, who happened to be on the admissions committee at UW SOM, and he advised me that the biggest question for me in the interviews would be a good justification of why I decided to change careers. And in recent threads, it seems like non-traditional applicants are disproportionately grilled in terms of motivation in their interviews.

Has this been your experience?

I imagine that many of us have much more thought out rationales for going into medical school at this point in our lives, and have experienced more of the world than the traditional undergrad applicant. How did this impact your interviews? What kinds of questions did they ask you?

I'm still submitting secondaries (first was submitted two weeks ago), and have no interviews yet, but I will post my interview experiences here as I go (assuming that I get interviews ).

Cheers, and good luck to everyone!

a_t

 

[Law2Doc]

Hi folks,

I thought that we might share our interviewing experiences, since the kinds of questions that might come up for frequently for us may differ from those of the traditional undergraduate applicant.

For example, I was talking to my microbio professor, who happened to be on the admissions committee at UW SOM, and he advised me that the biggest question for me in the interviews would be a good justification of why I decided to change careers. And in recent threads, it seems like non-traditional applicants are disproportionately grilled in terms of motivation in their interviews.

Has this been your experience?

I imagine that many of us have much more thought out rationales for going into medical school at this point in our lives, and have experienced more of the world than the traditional undergrad applicant. How did this impact your interviews? What kinds of questions did they ask you?

I'm still submitting secondaries (first was submitted two weeks ago), and have no interviews yet, but I will post my interview experiences here as I go (assuming that I get interviews ).

Cheers, and good luck to everyone!

a_t

Expect to need to give good reasons for making a career change. Why medicine, why now, why not years ago. Also interviewers sometimes expect you to have a better and more thought out sense of exactly what you see yourself doing after med school then your younger counterparts will be expected to have. Expect questions about family structure, and family/spousal supportiveness of your decision.

 

[blee]

I didn't find my interviews to be significantly harder than those of my fellow non-nontrad interviewees. There were, of course, some differences, and I think Law2Doc outlined them pretty well. The fact of the matter is that you must have some good reasons for pursuing a medical career if you're willing to ditch your first job and go through years of training and debt without any guarantee of big money afterwards. Be yourself, but be prepared to explain why you want to be a doctor. That's about it.

 

[ShyRem]

I wasn't asked why I changed careers - the last job I had was as a paramedic. It was also in my PS that I got hurt at work and went back to school while I was healing.

However, I was asked how strong my marriage was. I was asked if my husband and children would be moving with me. They did not ask if I could handle the workload - I guess 21 credits a semester made that point moot. I was also asked if, given my experience as a paramedic, I thought I was better prepared for med school or if I thought I was better than other applicants.

It seemed that I was asked more questions regarding my humility than my preparedness. Kindof makes sense tho - nontrads tend to be more confident of themselves, stronger in personality, and have more experience than younger applicants.

 

[MoosePilot]

My first school interviews were very relaxed.

My USUHS interviews, where I was at a severe advantage due to a career in active duty and interviewing with doctors who've followed the exact same non-traditional aircrew to doctor path I'm looking to follow, were much more difficult. I had to answer "How would you fix the health care system to insure the uninsured?". Ok, how is that relevant at all at a military med school?! 😡

So I'm about 50/50 so far. I think both asked why I was changing careers, but I don't think of that as a hard question at all.

 

[osli]

Good question... something I'm wondering about as well. I made a strong case for why I didn't go pre-med right off the bat in my PS, but the question of why you want to change careers NOW is still a tricky one.

Often the honest answer(s) can come out sounding canned and oh so tired and typical. "To help people" just won't cut it unless you have something a heck of a lot more specific and interesting to add to it.

In my previous life I was in mechanical engineering, and I'm mulling over just how I approach discussing this in interviews. I have no doubt that medicine is where I should be and want to be, and I have all the family/spouse support in the world. What trips me up is that I truly believe there is a lot in common between many of the engineering disciplines and medicine (practicing medicine that is); all are applied rather than research or theoretical sciences, they deal with many of the same thermal, fluid, electical, and mechanical systems, and I think the logical problem-solving mindset of engineers is just what makes for a good medical student (and presumably good doctors).

But I don't want to talk about similarities, and how useful I think an engineering background will be to me, that I get a response like "well, why change then... sounds like you are a perfect fit for engineering." Truth is that I believe an engineering viewpoint often gives me a significant advantage over traditional pre-med students in many of my pre-req classes, but I don't want to sound in any way "above" the traditional route during an interview.

So I'm pondering how to make my background seem relevant, without also making it seem like I haven't fully committed to medicine.

 

[QofQuimica]

So I'm pondering how to make my background seem relevant, without also making it seem like I haven't fully committed to medicine.

I also have this issue, since I'm coming from a basic science research background. Especially when I have PhD interviewers, I have to be very careful not to bash basic science research, while still emphasizing that I'd like to switch to clinical research. One thing that I did was to start volunteering as a co-investigator on a clinical trial. This gave me some experience in clinical research so that I could speak with authority about the similarities and differences between the two kinds of research. I do always get asked about why I want to go into medicine, but I think that I have a very coherent and reasonable answer. More importantly, I am able to back it up with this very specific example. So I guess what I would suggest to you in particular, osli, is that you try to find some kind of work or volunteer experience that merges medicine with engineering where you would be able to give a specific example of how your engineering background makes you uniquely qualified for medical school.

 

[Hoberto]

My background is also engineering and I said basically what you did about how engineering knowledge will be a great asset as a physician and researcher. The big point I tried to make was that as an engineer there is very little chance to work with people. I made it clear that I like computers and modeling and bench work and so forth but that with no interaction with other people I just am not fulfilled. I also talked about how I want to see the benefits of my work...many times engineers fix problems/devices or come up with new solutions with new ideaas but rarely get to see the impact of their design and product.

No one really bashed my engineering background, in fact, nearly all of my interviewers commented on how engineers make great med students and doctors.

I think you'll be okay.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

i've only interviewed at osteopathic schools, but it hasn't been an issue at all. i got the standard why medicine stuff, and a few people did ask me when i decided on medicine and, of course, why not law. no one seemed suspicious about my motivations.

 

[cfdavid]

I've had 3 interviews so far, and I personally felt as if they look at you more like a peer. Believe it or not. O.k., so maybe not peer, peer, but more of an "adult" nonetheless. In my experience, they like older applicants, and two came right out and said it. (I'm 31)

I feel way more prepared to have done this than I would have at 22. I give some of the trads a lot of credit for being as mature as many that I've met have been.

 

[Ambakm]

How would you answer these questions:
a)what will you bring to the class of 200x
b) what should I tell the admissions comm. about you that will grant you an acceptance...

both were asked before - both traditional and non-traditional students... good questions, but difficult to answer with a short and clear answer..
any ideas? I am sure there are some qualities that are unique to the non-traditional applicants..

Thanks

 

[efex101]

This is something that *you* will have to figure out for yourself...I cannot tell you what *you* will bring to the class of whatever...just think about your qualities and that is your answer.

 

[Beau Geste]

In line with efex, I don't want to "give" you an answer because you need to look inside yourself as to why you are special (I feel a Stuart Smalley moment here....)

but, say you are leaving an allied health field (nursing, PT, OT, SLP, AuD, etc) to enter med school (like I will be someday 😛), then you can educate other med students that don't have exposure to your former field on how to approach them and develop a professional relationship with those nurses, PTs, etc. and heck, even making your work a better place to be! (Awwww...)

I wanted to throw that out there because that's a personal answer for me (but not my only one). There are a million different answers that are good!

 

[USAFdoc2be]

I interviewed at USUHS and because a large percentage of their classes are non-trad I don't think they view us as being non-trad. I'm active duty, and have had 2 other jobs since college that were medically related, although my current one is not. My PS showed my progression from college, to my jobs and the AF, and how I'm better prepared, more mature and now ready to be a doctor in the military.

My questions were more about leadership....

 

[almost_there]

As promised, my first interview...

Three interviewers, one interviewee (me!).

The first ten minutes were focused on why, with a successful career in software engineering and lots of other things I could be doing, I was interested in medicine. Different variants of this, etc.

After that, they asked me about future health care issues. Quizzed me about why so many people are uninsured. Asked me what kind of doctor I thought I would want to be (interest in public health). What I would do if I wasn't accepted. How I was currently supporting myself. What I looked for in the schools I applied to. (And how many I applied to). And some ethical questions... (e.g. 65 -yr with terminal cancer, what kind of treatment do you recommend?)

When I e-mailed my interviewers thank you notes, my head interviewer replied with a question he forgot to ask. I'm hoping it is a good sign... 🙂

Thanks for everyone's feedback!

a_t

 

[thegenius]

I've had 3 interviews thus far and every single one of them have been relaxed, fun, and informative. I love interviewing - I feel confident that there is nothing that will make me sweat or become nervous. I've had a tremendous amount of practice interviewing for engineering jobs and I find that my previous experience interviewing has come out during my current med school interviews.

Now, this doesn't imply that I can sufficiently answer every question to my liking, there have been one or two questions that I had to think about - but overall I look at my interviewers as if I'm their peer. And I honestly believe that I'm looked at that way as well.

To give you an idea of how they transpire...most interviewers (if not all of them) say that I will have no problem getting into medical school, it's just a matter of where I want to go. Now I am applying as a URM, but I think some interviewers are not aware of that, but some are. Which means that they either think my application on paper is extremely competitive, or that I come across as an interviewee with confidence. Probably a little of both.

I'm beginning to recognize that I think I can turn the interview process into a positive experience for myself. Obviously I haven't seen the results from this yet, and I could be completely wrong.

I have been asked the same question numerous times (what kind of medicine are you interested in, why now? why do you want to switch careers) and I never answer those questions with the same answer. Each answer I give is different because every situation, interviewer, experience, and environment is different. Interviews transpire in different ways and often dictate or influence how I answer questions. I try to bring up ancedotes or analogies from what we spoke earlier. I do try to saty some specific things (like what I want to find in a medical school) but I always try to engage the interviewer. It's a conversation, similar to ones that I've had with my dad, mom, friends, and family.

The point of all of this is that I believe medical schools like us, perhaps even prefer us to regular applicants. That is my impression. If they have two candidates who on paper have similar numbers, I think they will go for the one who have more life experiences and who is more interesting. We are special people because we can talk about what it's like playing in a band for 5 years, or building the website for AL Gore 2000's presidential bid, or have worked in management consulting, or who have families with kids. I think we often bring levity and maturity to our interviews. I spoke with someone at Albany for 15 minutes on the dot.com boom I was a part of in Silicon Valley. It's just a lot of fun.

Be confident! We are a valuable resource in the med school community! Engage your interviewers, show passion and you will succeed!

 

[Maurizio]

Good question... something I'm wondering about as well. I made a strong case for why I didn't go pre-med right off the bat in my PS, but the question of why you want to change careers NOW is still a tricky one.

Often the honest answer(s) can come out sounding canned and oh so tired and typical. "To help people" just won't cut it unless you have something a heck of a lot more specific and interesting to add to it.

In my previous life I was in mechanical engineering, and I'm mulling over just how I approach discussing this in interviews. I have no doubt that medicine is where I should be and want to be, and I have all the family/spouse support in the world. What trips me up is that I truly believe there is a lot in common between many of the engineering disciplines and medicine (practicing medicine that is); all are applied rather than research or theoretical sciences, they deal with many of the same thermal, fluid, electical, and mechanical systems, and I think the logical problem-solving mindset of engineers is just what makes for a good medical student (and presumably good doctors).

But I don't want to talk about similarities, and how useful I think an engineering background will be to me, that I get a response like "well, why change then... sounds like you are a perfect fit for engineering." Truth is that I believe an engineering viewpoint often gives me a significant advantage over traditional pre-med students in many of my pre-req classes, but I don't want to sound in any way "above" the traditional route during an interview.

So I'm pondering how to make my background seem relevant, without also making it seem like I haven't fully committed to medicine.

Hey Osli,

I am also a mechanical engineer and I have been thinking of applying to medical school. I still have a ways to go before I apply (I still have a year until I complete my Ph.D. in mechanical engineering and I have to do a few pre-req courses as well) but I have also been thinking of how I can answer this question. I think, at least from a research perspective, an engineering degree can complement a medical degree by giving you the flexibility to explore areas that an MD can't explore on his own (and vice versa). For example, the areas you mentioned above (thermal, fluid, electical, and mechanical systems) are at the core of mechanical engieering and play an important role in any kind of drug delivery system. This can be an advantage if you pursue research in this area. These are just some preliminary thoughts I've had. I think we should try and find how an engineering degree gives us an advantage (without sounding like we think that we're better than everyone else, of course). You should use your degree to make yourself stand out from the rest. What do you and your background bring to medicine that that others don't. I'd love to get your thoughts on this and even discuss it with you if you like.
GOOD LUCK
Maurizio 👍

 

[CerealBox]

..he advised me that the biggest question for me in the interviews would be a good justification of why I decided to change careers. And in recent threads, it seems like non-traditional applicants are disproportionately grilled in terms of motivation in their interviews.

Has this been your experience?

I think this (why you changed careers) is something that you definitely need to think about. I wrote about this in my personal statement, but still get asked about it, mostly because my interviewers are really interested in knowing how I went from economics policy research, to owning and running a martial arts studio, to health services research, to wanting to go to med school. And really, this nontrad path I took is what makes me look interesting compared to other applicants so I am happy to talk about it.

Other things I have been asked about:
*balancing family life with med school
*if my husband is willing to come with me wherever I go (tricky, because we recently decided to separate and terminate our marraige when I leave for med school... and its messy to get into)
*why not just an MPH?
*how will i balance all of my activities while in med school

And I wasn't nec. grilled. Actually all of my interviews have been super friendly. I'm just in a different place in my life so I get different kinds of questions.

Good luck