Invasive Interview Questions?

[ranne13]

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I just interviewed at a school, and I felt a little uncomfortable with a chain of questions I was asked. I was asked A. If I had interviewed at other schools, B. If I as accepted to any other schools, and C. Which schools I was accepted to. I answered honestly, but the more I think about it, the more inappropriate I felt those questions were. Is there technically anything wrong with the interviewer asking me that? Or am I overreacting? Thanks for any feedback!

 

[DrFortiusNatando]

As interviewers, we are told by the head ADCOM staff not to ask these type of questions.

At our school, not sure it would be all that relevant as some of our closest competitors do not release decisions until late in the interview season (ie not rolling).

I am sure that this interviewer was trying to do his/her own rogue yield-protection, by trying to judge whether you have been accepted at schools that might be preferable.

I am sorry that you were put on the spot like this. This is wrong. You did the best you could on the spot - I applaud you for answering honestly. To other applicants who do not feel comfortable answering the questions honestly, (or any other uncomfortable question), you can always turn the question around and say "If, by your questions, you are wondering if I am serious about considering going to this school if accepted, I can assure you that I have voted with my feet by coming here for an interview this late in the season; of course I am serious about coming here. Moreover, I have been fortunate enough to have a great interview season that has exceeded my expectations!" That should 1. make the interviewer think that you are really popular and well-liked by other medical schools, AND 2. reassure them that you are serious about their school (which, just by the fact that you are attending an interview there this late in the season, they should know...)

 

[965978]

As interviewers, we are told by the head ADCOM staff not to ask these type of questions.

At our school, not sure it would be all that relevant as some of our closest competitors do not release decisions until late in the interview season (ie not rolling).

I am sure that this interviewer was trying to do his/her own rogue yield-protection, by trying to judge whether you have been accepted at schools that might be preferable.

I am sorry that you were put on the spot like this. This is wrong. You did the best you could on the spot - I applaud you for answering honestly. To other applicants who do not feel comfortable answering the questions honestly, (or any other uncomfortable question), you can always turn the question around and say "If, by your questions, you are wondering if I am serious about considering going to this school if accepted, I can assure you that I have voted with my feet by coming here for an interview this late in the season; of course I am serious about coming here. Moreover, I have been fortunate enough to have a great interview season that has exceeded my expectations!" That should 1. make the interviewer think that you are really popular and well-liked by other medical schools, AND 2. reassure them that you are serious about their school (which, just by the fact that you are attending an interview there this late in the season, they should know...)

I feel like an interviewer who would cross professional boundaries by asking questions like this would likely also get offended if an applicant were to dodge the question like that. Given the insane competitiveness of medical school admissions, I sometimes feel like interviewers like to feel the power dynamic above the applicant getting interviewed. So if an applicant doesn’t answer a question so personal, it offends them.

 

[ginsengreset]

Yeah, it's not a great position to be in during the interview, but there's nothing you can really do about it here. Fortunately, when you're interviewing for residency programs, that is very much a prohibited question and is reportable to the NRMP as a match violation (unless you're applying for urology or ophtho).

 

[Goro]

I just interviewed at a school, and I felt a little uncomfortable with a chain of questions I was asked. I was asked A. If I had interviewed at other schools, B. If I as accepted to any other schools, and C. Which schools I was accepted to. I answered honestly, but the more I think about it, the more inappropriate I felt those questions were. Is there technically anything wrong with the interviewer asking me that? Or am I overreacting? Thanks for any feedback!

At my school, we're not allowed to ask that either. But apparently, it is either OK at some schools, or their interviewers aren't well trained.

I really don't see why the question is all that invasive. Just tell the truth...the school invited you, so they already are willing to gamble that you'll attend there.

 

[DrFortiusNatando]

I feel like an interviewer who would cross professional boundaries by asking questions like this would likely also get offended if an applicant were to dodge the question like that. Given the insane competitiveness of medical school admissions, I sometimes feel like interviewers like to feel the power dynamic above the applicant getting interviewed. So if an applicant doesn’t answer a question so personal, it offends them.

Totally get it. But for those people who do not feel comfortable giving an honest answer or lying (which I am never a fan of), this is just another suggestion. And sometimes, these kinds of people respond positively to someone who is assertive without being arrogant.

And to OP, I hope you do not let the interviewer cloud your opinion of the school. I had two advisees have bad interview experiences this interview season; both at different T10ish institutions. One came away saying they would never go to said place, other one says that place of bad interviewer is still first choice.

 

[lalalallala]

I've been asked these questions in interviews. Sure I don't like it - who wants to tell an interviewer that they have other acceptances and applied to their competitors - but I always try to turn it into a positive - like explaining that I applied to east coast schools bc being near my family is important and my family is very close to here for ex. I don't think it is an inappropriate question. They ask you a honest question - you give an honest answer.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Maybe I’m odd, but I didn’t have a problem answering those questions. They are trying to do a job, and they are doing it without very much real information, so I can see why they’d be tempted to ask that stuff.

 

[candbgirl]

What’s “invasive” about these questions? Might be uncomfortable but I don’t think they are invasive. Just tell the truth and that’s what you did.