Is an interviewer allowed to ask this question on an interview?

[dmitrinyr]

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Is ______ (add in the name of their school) your first choice if you are offered multiple addmissions?

If you say yes, can they count that equivalent to a letter of intent?

So, basically, can you say yes to this interviewer and then take an acceptance from another school if you're also accepted by this school?

I don't think it is a very fair question. It is perfectly fine to put people on the spot during interviews but this is different.

I wonder what kind of an answer are they looking for?

If you say yes, will you seem to eager?
If you say no, is that the final straw in your hopes of going to that med school?

just wondering.

dmitri

 

[Yogi Bear]

i was asked that in maybe once of twice. just say that u're highly enthuisiastic about a particularly school, but that at this point, before visiting each and every school, it's unwise to say which is the top choice.

 

[thesocialbeast]

I too was asked that several times during while interviewing...I agree mostly with the previous post...I do suggest saying its your first choice if it really is your first choice and able to give very clear, specific reasons

 

[ice_23]

What if they ask about the other schools you are applying to, or how many schools you are applying to? Do they ever ask a question like that?

 

[thackl]

You'll get a lot of this when applying for residency too. They are not supposed to ask it, but they do.

 

[Rapid Decomposition]

Yes, a few interviews asked me where else I was applying, where I would go if I got into all of them, etc. and I was honest, even if I was pretty sure I wouldn't be going to the school I was interviewing at if I got in. Interestingly, I was accepted at these schools anyway. So I don't think you'll really get hurt if you're honest and say a different school is your first choice. Plus, med schools might try to "win you over" by accepting you if you are a competitive candidate.

 

[carrigallen]

i think on just about every interview they asked where else i was applying, or more often, where have you interviewed? Have an answer ready.

 

[ATPase]

Is there any way schools can find out what other schools you applied to or interviewed at, without your actually telling them?

 

[surge]

Originally posted by ATPase
Is there any way schools can find out what other schools you applied to or interviewed at, without your actually telling them?

This has been debated ad nauseum, but I can tell you they do know. Not officially, and not from AMCAS, but schools, especially certain schools in similar tiers, communicate. I've experienced it on more than one interview, and I'm not the only one.

As far as asking the question, it's easily the most common question I got. If you're truly excited, admit it, if not, you shouldn't be there anyway. You don't have to say they're your first choice, but you have to have reasons for wanting to go to a particular school. In the end, however, what are they going to do? Sue you? In other words, no, it's not binding in any way.

But do keep in mind that not being enthusiastic about a school makes all the difference. I won't share my experience out of respect for the schools, but it's exactly what happened to me.