Is this a trick question?

[Sam32]

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I noticed that at some interviews or secondaries, applicants are asked what they would pursue as an alternative career if they don't get accepted to med school.

If you say that you would do Ph.D, or Nurse practitioner or DO, intervieweers will obvioulsy ask why don't you pursue these careers now?

But if an applicant insists that she or he would strengthen her/his application and apply next year---this sounds like the applicant is not answering the question.

 

[NeuroChaos]

But if an applicant insists that she or he would strengthen her/his application and apply next year---this sounds like the applicant is not answering the question.

This should be your answer. Just add a line of how you can't see yourself in any other profession. I don't see how this is non responsive to the question.

 

[WellWornLad]

This should be your answer. Just add a line of how you can't see yourself in any other profession. I don't see how this is non responsive to the question.

No, no, no. Niet. Negative.

1) 99% of the time, your interviewer will phrase or restate the question such that it is clear that medicine is not an option. The other 1% have lost interest in you as a candidate anyway, and don't feel like pulling teeth to get a real answer.

2) The point of the question is not to see whether the applicant is really, really interested in medicine, as opposed to just really interested. The point is to gauge whether the applicant has seriously thought about a career in medicine, and serious thought engenders serious alternatives. In that sense, the ONLY wrong answer is, indeed, medicine.

 

[235009]

No, no, no. Niet. Negative.

1) 99% of the time, your interviewer will phrase or restate the question such that it is clear that medicine is not an option. The other 1% have lost interest in you as a candidate anyway, and don't feel like pulling teeth to get a real answer.

2) The point of the question is not to see whether the applicant is really, really interested in medicine, as opposed to just really interested. The point is to gauge whether the applicant has seriously thought about a career in medicine, and serious thought engenders serious alternatives. In that sense, the ONLY wrong answer is, indeed, medicine.

i agree and disagree

definitely don't try to dodge the question by saying medicine is the only option...that's extremely immature. you have to give an alternative and if you haven't thought about it then you should!

however i think "i'd reapply" should be a component of your answer. i was asked this question only once.... when i gave my answer, the follow-up question was "would you reapply?" ...if the answer is no...lie! i said no (which was the truth) and regretted it immediately. clearly since the interviewer asked that as a followup he was looking for it in my initial answer

 

[rockaction]

this article on SDN sums up a good approach to this question nicely:

http://www.studentdoctor.net/2008/07/cant-be-a-doc-for-now/

 

[Sam32]

this article on SDN sums up a good approach to this question nicely:

http://www.studentdoctor.net/2008/07/cant-be-a-doc-for-now/

Perfect! Thanks man

 

[LizzyM]

I don't use this question but I know someone who used it regularly. What I think that the interviewer was looking for was other interests, other facets of your personality. If a career in medicine were completely cut off to you would you be a teacher, a chemist, an inventor, an artist, an entrepreneur, something else? What does that career have in common with medicine? Why do medicine and that other career both appeal to you?

 

[airplanes]

This should be your answer. Just add a line of how you can't see yourself in any other profession. I don't see how this is non responsive to the question.

Yeah, this is plain wrong.

I don't use this question but I know someone who used it regularly. What I think that the interviewer was looking for was other interests, other facets of your personality. If a career in medicine were completely cut off to you would you be a teacher, a chemist, an inventor, an artist, an entrepreneur, something else? What does that career have in common with medicine? Why do medicine and that other career both appeal to you?

This is how I interpreted the question during interviews.

 

[NTF]

I don't think the actual answer matters as much as the thought process, personal values and characteristics you bring to bear in answering the problem. I generally avoided "canned" answers. Having interviewed people before in various settings (though not as an adcom or anything) I always looked for extemporaneous thought processes. A good interviewer doesn't just fire "canned" questions at you but realizes that the nuances are in the follow-up questions derived from your answers. I think you always want to see people who are thoughtful, spend time considering their choices and are interested and engaged in the world around them.

A good interviewer question is also a test of how clearly, concisely and creatively you can express yourself. And overall a good interview also reveals your professionalism and your personability.

 

[BlueElmo]

On a second note, I suggest buying that book from the author who wrote that SDN article. "Interview: A System for Success". I have a copy and it's really helpful.