Interviews

[pathmad]

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Hi guys,

for those of you who have prior experience, when do programs usually start sending out interview invites ? and is this by email or regular mail?

 

[yaah]

It varies. Some send invites in september, many in october. There are a few who wait for the complete application (i.e. Deans letter). The latest I got was early december, but by that time I had completed 8-9 interviews and was basically done.

The majority will be by email. I applied in 2003-4 and only a couple were by regular US mail, the rest by email.

 

[Fluble]

You will hear from the more legit programs early on and if you apply to any community/smaller programs it will likely be later if at all. I think Yale was the earliest program I heard from. Others posted here:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=317475&highlight=yale

Most places will send a direct email or an email + ERAS message.

The funniest exception for me was some secretary called on the phone from a non-university NYC program asking to schedule an interview about a week after I already sent in my ROL. No thanks.

 

[yaah]

Not necessarily true. Some bigger programs also prefer to wait (don't ask me which ones, things change year to year). Seemed like the majority of interview invites came in early october though.

Before anybody asks, interviews run from october to january, mostly. Some programs start later (i.e. november) and some run until february or so. I would say most people complete the majority of their interviews before the middle of december, but some people load up on january dates too.

Most interviews you are the only candidate that day, or you are one of two and they keep you separated until the end of the day when you are both given a dull blade and placed in a cold cage. The frost, sometimes it makes the blade stick.

 

[pathmad]

Thank you guys. So I guess there is not much to do but wait.
wow sep is going to be a looooooong month for me.

 

[DarksideAllstar]

Thank you guys. So I guess there is not much to do but wait.
wow sep is going to be a looooooong month for me.

It shouldn't be that bad-- I got 3 or 4 interviews by the time the 2nd-3rd week of Sept came around. Boston programs were very prompt. Didn't hear anything from NYC programs. The rest all fell in between, with most being at the beginning of October.

 

[PathSoccerDude]

SO if given the option to interview in December or January, is it better to interview LATE or EARLY...someone said once if you interview in January they will remember you better when it comes to ranking to match...

What does everyone think?

 

[DarksideAllstar]

SO if given the option to interview in December or January, is it better to interview LATE or EARLY...someone said once if you interview in January they will remember you better when it comes to ranking to match...

What does everyone think?

Doesn't matter. Interview when you have time to. Probably will be more "fresh" earlier on. By my last interview I was pretty burned out (and I only did 8) and it was mid-December.

 

[mlw03]

i think that, like darkside pointed out, it won't matter. my theory is that pathology is small - even the big programs are only interviewing 60-70 a year. compare that with an IM or peds program, or even a med school application cycle (usf interviews about 350 for an incoming class of 120). with the aid of pictures and notes i would think most PDs can remember 60 faces for a few months. i just think that it's a small enough group of applicants that programs will remember you whether you interview in october or february, so i plan to simply interview when it fits best into my schedule.

 

[PathSoccerDude]

Thanks for the advice guys...January is way better for me in terms of interviews, but I was worried that maybe with Path they start setting up their rankings earlier on...

 

[oxygen]

Hi, my question is " what kind of questions they may ask during the interview?" are there any info that we can get to prepare for the interview. I definitely do not want to screw up any potential interviews. Thanks.

 

[yaah]

Hi, my question is " what kind of questions they may ask during the interview?" are there any info that we can get to prepare for the interview. I definitely do not want to screw up any potential interviews. Thanks.

We have had lots of topics on this - mentioned in the FAQ and here http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=71726

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=321107

you can also try the search function.

 

[oxygen]

We have had lots of topics on this - mentioned in the FAQ and here http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=71726

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=321107

you can also try the search function.

Thanks!

 

[Fluble]

The program directors won't forget you unless you allow them.

If you're worried about what questions they will ask and how you will answer them, the best way to practice is to set up your first interview somewhere close by but not necessarily somewhere you want to rank highly.

Here is how most of them will go (no particular order):

5+ minutes about the program
-Question about why you want to go into path and what you want to do as a pathologist
-Question about why you want to go to that program
-Questions about things from your application (research, path electives, hobbies, etc)
-"Do you have any questions?"
-"Do you have any more questions?"

 

[yaah]

That's a good outline, I would add that many of them start with a "tell me about yourself" type thing in addition to why pathology, why that program, etc. Although, to be fair, the answers to those questions are fairly similar. When they ask you to tell them about yourself, they aren't asking about your little league baseball career or what kind of music you like to listen to (although that may come up depending on their interests - I had a random 10 minute discussion about south african history, even though I have never been there and have no real connection to it, with one guy and talked about the red sox with quite a few).

Pathology interviews are with rare exception not stressful. They want to know about you and why they should pick you, but they aren't grilling you or challenging you.

 

[DarksideAllstar]

-"Do you have any questions?"
-"Do you have any more questions?"

50% of my individual interviews consisted of only these questions, so come prepared.

 

[anencephalic]

50% of my individual interviews consisted of only these questions, so come prepared.

Agreed. Do your research and read their brochure/webpage the night before. At least you'll be able to speak intelligently about the program and demonstrate a genuine interest in it.

The majority of my interviews were a "getting to know you" kind of experience and, as such, were for the most part pretty casual.

 

[Neddy]

SO if given the option to interview in December or January, is it better to interview LATE or EARLY...someone said once if you interview in January they will remember you better when it comes to ranking to match...

What does everyone think?

I have a bit of a different take on this - I think it is better to interview early, and avoid January interviews if possible. Most programs have committees that meet several times during the interview season, and size up the applicants they saw over the previous month or so. If you are a strong candidate and you come in early, you're likely to rise to the top after the first review. Later in the process, the program will have seen many strong candidates, and may start looking to 'balance' their top tier with people that stand out in unpredictable ways ('hmm... we haven't had someone interested in medical lung in a while...')

Second, many applicants try to leave the programs they think they are least interested in until late in the game, so they can cancel the interviews if they feel confident about their top choices. Programs know this.

Finally, getting your interviews done early gives you time to ask for a second look visit, which can be very valuable in demonstrating your interest to a program, and confirming your own impressions.

If January is the only month that works for your schedule, it's not a big deal - programs wouldn't schedule the interviews if they weren't serious about considering those applicants. But I don't think interviewing late works to your advantage.

 

[deleted113029]

I have a bit of a different take on this - I think it is better to interview early, and avoid January interviews if possible. Most programs have committees that meet several times during the interview season, and size up the applicants they saw over the previous month or so. If you are a strong candidate and you come in early, you're likely to rise to the top after the first review. Later in the process, the program will have seen many strong candidates, and may start looking to 'balance' their top tier with people that stand out in unpredictable ways ('hmm... we haven't had someone interested in medical lung in a while...')

Second, many applicants try to leave the programs they think they are least interested in until late in the game, so they can cancel the interviews if they feel confident about their top choices. Programs know this.

Finally, getting your interviews done early gives you time to ask for a second look visit, which can be very valuable in demonstrating your interest to a program, and confirming your own impressions.

If January is the only month that works for your schedule, it's not a big deal - programs wouldn't schedule the interviews if they weren't serious about considering those applicants. But I don't think interviewing late works to your advantage.

+1

i scheduled all my top interviews early in october and november. cancelled my december and january interviews. interviewing early also makes you enjoy more of your 4th year and the holidays.

 

[Fluble]

I agree with Villin and Neddy, especially about the possibility of scheduling a 2nd look and cancelling later interviews once you get a feel for where you stand at your top programs.

Also, the weather may be better if you're travelling around the northern US.

 

[oxygen]

Some people say they ask you to see some slides during the interview, is it true? what kind of slides they want you to see and what kind of answer you should give? a diagnosis?😕😕

 

[mlw03]

Some people say they ask you to see some slides during the interview, is it true? what kind of slides they want you to see and what kind of answer you should give? a diagnosis?😕😕

i would be very insulted and put off if an interviewer asked me to look at a slide during an interview. first off, pathology residents are expected to come in knowing very little - med school does not train you to be able to make tissue diagnoses. it trains you to understand pathophysiology and what clinicians try to do. second, it's pointless - if they ask something easy and you get it, big deal. and if they ask something hard that you probably shouldn't know and you miss it, what does that prove? last, it's just rude. i know i don't know much pathology yet, that's why i'm seeking further training. when i interview i want to know if i'm a good fit for a program and vice versa - looking at slides doesn't facilitate this process for me, nor for them.

 

[yaah]

In my 11 interviews I saw one slide, and that was because when I walked into the interviewer's office he was looking at the case, and it was an interesting case.

 

[Neddy]

The only person to show me a slide and ask me to describe it in an interview was Appelman at UM. It was one of my favorite interviews.

 

[DarksideAllstar]

In my 11 interviews I saw one slide, and that was because when I walked into the interviewer's office he was looking at the case, and it was an interesting case.

That happened to me at UCLA. We ended up looking at the rest of the case (it was a radical neck for a SCC).

 

[docbiohazard]

i would be very insulted and put off if an interviewer asked me to look at a slide during an interview.

I wouldn't be upset abou it. It would probably be a little intimidating at first, but you should be able to say a few things about what you see rather than make a diagnosis... probably just a way to see how you handle yourself, and fair game i think. I doubt they want you to make a perfect diagnosis.

BH

 

[DarksideAllstar]

I wouldn't be upset abou it. It would probably be a little intimidating at first, but you should be able to say a few things about what you see rather than make a diagnosis... probably just a way to see how you handle yourself, and fair game i think. I doubt they want you to make a perfect diagnosis.

BH

Personally, I dont believe this is "fair game." In fact, I think it is preposterous to hint that its even relevant to the interview where, ideally, you are there to verbalize your commitment to pathology, not illustrate your profound ignorance of histopath.

 

[docbiohazard]

Personally, I dont believe this is "fair game." In fact, I think it is preposterous to hint that its even relevant to the interview where, ideally, you are there to verbalize your commitment to pathology, not illustrate your profound ignorance of histopath.

I don't know. I wouldn't base my entire evaluation of a student on it, and I wouldn't expect a diagnosis or correct answer - just generation of a discussion which might draw out an original answer, give you a better feel for the interviewee as a person. In a non-contrived situation, I don't see the harm in it. As some people have mentioned it was an enjoyable part of their interviews. It seems like so much of interviewing is the canned question - canned response game. Looking at a slide seems as run of the mill to me as talking about an interesting case in internal medicine...

BH

 

[DarksideAllstar]

I don't know. I wouldn't base my entire evaluation of a student on it, and I wouldn't expect a diagnosis or correct answer - just generation of a discussion which might draw out an original answer, give you a better feel for the interviewee as a person. In a non-contrived situation, I don't see the harm in it. As some people have mentioned it was an enjoyable part of their interviews. It seems like so much of interviewing is the canned question - canned response game. Looking at a slide seems as run of the mill to me as talking about an interesting case in internal medicine...

BH

This happened only once during my entire interview season and the attending showed me the case-- she did not ask for nor expect my input. I think doing this to someone who hasn't had a lot of experience with surg path or cytology will do nothing but potentially agitate them (ie the interviewee stressing about "anserwing" correctly, not sounding ignorant, etc), and thus detract from the interview. I can't see how it might facilitate a process that allows you to "get to know" each other. I don't think that it could be beneficial in any possible way. Sorry, I just don't think that I can be convinced otherwise. Sharing an interesting in case, in which the attending points out the features that make it what it is, is completely different, IMO.

 

[docbiohazard]

I can see your point, I guess I'm conceptualizing it more as the scenario you describe - discussion of an interesting case in a collegial sort of way, rather than interrogation of an interviewee.

BH

 

[Thaitanium]

This happened only once during my entire interview season and the attending showed me the case-- she did not ask for nor expect my input. I think doing this to someone who hasn't had a lot of experience with surg path or cytology will do nothing but potentially agitate them (ie the interviewee stressing about "anserwing" correctly, not sounding ignorant, etc), and thus detract from the interview. I can't see how it might facilitate a process that allows you to "get to know" each other. I don't think that it could be beneficial in any possible way. Sorry, I just don't think that I can be convinced otherwise. Sharing an interesting in case, in which the attending points out the features that make it what it is, is completely different, IMO.

I agree with you Darkside.

IMO, if one of your interviewers did show you a slide and started to ask questions "in a collegial sort of way," I think that still could be mistaken by some applicants as if "this person is pimping me," which can bring on some serious jitters, ruining the whole interview experience.

I don't think showing a slide is necessary at all. You will have many years of looking at slides if you match at the program anyways. IMO, the interview should be meant at getting to know the applicant and assessing if the applicant has a genuine interest in pathology and would make a good "fit" in the program.

 

[Fluble]

I only looked at slides at one or two interviews/70ish also.

Sometimes I got pimped without slides too. I feel that they just want to see how you think on your feet. Other times, they are just trying to get their work done and conduct a non-boring interview at the same time. I never got pimped or shown slides by a PD or chair.

Instead of having the same conversation over and over again, it's nice to have an activity.

 

[docbiohazard]

IMO, if one of your interviewers did show you a slide and started to ask questions "in a collegial sort of way," I think that still could be mistaken by some applicants as if "this person is pimping me," which can bring on some serious jitters, ruining the whole interview experience.

You changed my "discussion" to "ask questions" which sounds more like pimping, I'd agree.

I'm just surprised that anyone would be angry about talking about a slide with an interviewer for a pathology residency. Maybe residency interviews are supposed to be different than anything else I've ever interviewed for, but I've always felt like the interviewer could ask me about pretty much anything related to the job / position at hand so long as it didn't violate federal discrimination law.

BH

 

[Tiki]

You changed my "discussion" to "ask questions" which sounds more like pimping, I'd agree.

I'm just surprised that anyone would be angry about talking about a slide with an interviewer for a pathology residency. Maybe residency interviews are supposed to be different than anything else I've ever interviewed for, but I've always felt like the interviewer could ask me about pretty much anything related to the job / position at hand so long as it didn't violate federal discrimination law.

BH

I wouldn't mind looking at slides.

 

[oxygen]

About the slides during the interview, I have another question. I guess if they do ask you about the slides, they will ask you to describe it instead of dignosis. My question is" how to describe it as a potential residency candidate?" I think it is important to describe it as pathology resident and any path resident want to share your experience of how to describe the slides on your routines? Thanks.

 

[yaah]

If anyone is expecting you to make diagnoses or interpret slides as a pathology resident would during your interview, then that is a distinct aberration and it is possibly not a place you want to go.

If you are shown a slide, which is rare, it is either because they recently encountered a fascinating case and want to show it off, or they want to see what you say about it (which does not mean diagnose it). Certain interviewers will ask questions to get at how you will handle things that you don't know or don't understand. The right response is usually not the "correct" answer but is in fact to show you can think, have intelligence, and can speak coherently. Anyone who has all the "right" answers as an interview candidate probably has something wrong with them.

You don't need to be familiar with everything a pathology resident does, nor do you need to know all kinds of things about pathology. A simple willingness and eagerness to learn are far more important, because the training process is grueling and taxing.

One doesn't need to worry so much about such things. Concentrate more on how to describe your own self, your interests and capabilities, etc than on what the right answers are.

 

[DarksideAllstar]

If anyone is expecting you to make diagnoses or interpret slides as a pathology resident would during your interview, then that is a distinct aberration and it is possibly not a place you want to go.

My point exactly.