Keep your Video game hobby a secret?

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Nick Riviera MD

Nick Riviera MD

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“What are your hobbies?” seems to be a very common interview question. One of my favorite hobbies (among other things) is playing video games. I grew up in NYC so it wasn’t like I could go out and play in sports in the back yard. Video games were something I could do inside and is something I grew up with. I still play them occasionally today as a way to relax.

Here’s my question: Video games seem to carry a very negative connotation with med schools. Should this be something that is not mentioned at all if asked “What are your hobbies?” on an interview? I’ve seen studies that like video game playing to increased surgical skills, yet med school seem to look down upon this activity as “unproductive”. Given the stress level involved in med school, so what if someone plays video games as a way to relax? Has anyone else had this issue?
 
Didn't you ever read the article about surgeons playing video games and how it helped their coordination and dexterity was greater than their non-gamer counterparts? Say you want to be a surgeon and after reading that article you decided to start playing video games because they were an important tool for you to improve yourself.
 
Don't mention it. It sucks to be secretive about my greatest hobby, but no big deal.
 
my hobby is masturbation. it definitely improved my coordination and dexterity. hahaha


















:meanie:
 
bigman43 said:
my hobby is masturbation. it definitely improved my coordination and dexterity. hahaha


















:meanie:
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Your interviews won't go well when you shake hands and they see you have hairy palms, though.
 
Nick Riviera MD said:
“What are your hobbies?” seems to be a very common interview question. One of my favorite hobbies (among other things) is playing video games. I grew up in NYC so it wasn’t like I could go out and play in sports in the back yard. Video games were something I could do inside and is something I grew up with. I still play them occasionally today as a way to relax.

Here’s my question: Video games seem to carry a very negative connotation with med schools. Should this be something that is not mentioned at all if asked “What are your hobbies?” on an interview? I’ve seen studies that like video game playing to increased surgical skills, yet med school seem to look down upon this activity as “unproductive”. Given the stress level involved in med school, so what if someone plays video games as a way to relax? Has anyone else had this issue?
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Unfortunately, I love video games to. But I don't think I will mention it....
 
Put a spin on it. "I train to be a sniper."
 
Zolar Czakl said:
Didn't you ever read the article about surgeons playing video games and how it helped their coordination and dexterity was greater than their non-gamer counterparts? Say you want to be a surgeon and after reading that article you decided to start playing video games because they were an important tool for you to improve yourself.
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my thoughts exactly.
I'd list some other hobbies, and add this one on the end.

I do so and so............. I also enjoy playing NES or whatever it is you play.
 
I grew up on video games also, plus I gamble, drink, smoke, have premarital relationship with my girlfriend, and every now and again, I like to start fights with dinguses.

Not that all of these qualities are related, but I didn't bring them up in the interview.

Interviews aren't supposed to be the place where you really tell them who you are... you are supposed show them that you can bring something to the table. So only bring up video games if you did it on a international competitive level where you played super mario bros. 3 and you beat the little autistic kid from the Wizard.
 
I'm a wii surgeon! In second opinion I diffused a bomb in a patient's chest once🙂
 
brewmeistervi said:
I grew up on video games also, plus I gamble, drink, smoke, have premarital relationship with my girlfriend, and every now and again, I like to start fights with dinguses.

Not that all of these qualities are related, but I didn't bring them up in the interview.

Interviews aren't supposed to be the place where you really tell them who you are... you are supposed show them that you can bring something to the table. So only bring up video games if you did it on a international competitive level where you played super mario bros. 3 and you beat the little autistic kid from the Wizard.
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Yeah it does seem like Med Schools put video games on the same level as starting fights & Gambling.

I'm going to omit that hobby from my application, and focus on my "passion for helping sick orphans with ADD" or some other such BS.

But this whole thing is just discrimination, I tell you. THE WORST KIND OF DISCRIMINATION!!!! 😡
 
play a game with loads of blood and violence in it and tell the adcoms you're not scared of the blood and cutting people😀.
 
eikenhein said:
Or play "Trauma Center" on the Wii and say you have some hands on training as a surgeon.
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And when the power goes out, the patient usually dies, so I keep a backup generator handy! 😛
 
It's going to depend on who's doing your interviewing I think. I know a lot of family practice and pediatricians are going to be more down on video games because their organizations have come out with recommendations againt letting kids play them. Other than that I think it's going to vary from individual. I still think you should take it off, because some people view it in the same light as writing "I watch a lot of TV". It's unfair because if you were a film buff, it wouldn't viewed as bad to say "I love movies and have an extensive DVD collection."
 
I never brought it up during my interviews. I spent a lot of my free time in undergrad playing video games, and spent more time playing Gears of War online than I did studying for my pharmacology class this year. I wouldn't bring it up. Doctors hate video games and TV because they think it's the reason for childhood obesity, which is probably true. But I sure do love my video games.
 
Just see what your interviewer is like. If I were interviewing you (which I'd like to do in my third year, if I can), I wouldn't think it was a big deal if you listed off your hobbies as something like "Working out, playing video games, skiing, hanging out with my friends." The reason video games might have a negative connotation is that you end up with a lot of anti-social weirdos who play tons and tons of video games (I know some - think WoW nerds), and they just want to make sure you're not one of those.
 
TheProwler said:
Just see what your interviewer is like. If I were interviewing you (which I'd like to do in my third year, if I can), I wouldn't think it was a big deal if you listed off your hobbies as something like "Working out, playing video games, skiing, hanging out with my friends." The reason video games might have a negative connotation is that you end up with a lot of anti-social weirdos who play tons and tons of video games (I know some - think WoW nerds), and they just want to make sure you're not one of those.
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Video game addiction is the latest topic the AMA wants researched and I don't think adcoms need to be upclose and personal with some potential test subjects. 🙄
 
This is won't win me any popularity contests, and I do like the funny responses here, but....

In light of all the studying and other things we're trying too cram into our schedules a serious videogame habit or on-line poker habit could effectively make you a smart premed who is basically illiterate.

I've noticed that many of my younger premed comrades who were raised on these types of activities may be apt partners for science classes but if you ask them about anything else they tend to be on a 1st grade level of literacy when it comes to history, literature, world affairs and this type of thing.

Call me old school, possibly ancient as my kid video gaming consisted of pong and atari 400--there's only some much time you put into moving a square around a maze running from primitive graphically contructed dragons--but I think these are possibly cultural or habit induced deficiencies and consider them good questions for an interview.
 
lol i think Cruisin' USA helped my driving skills
 
During one surgery I observed, the surgeon turned to me and said, "If I cut too deeply, this will turn black and a tooth will fall out. You lose points for that." I loved that. Sure video games help with coordination, but your hobby also says something about you. People who play certain video games are into perfecting skills with their hands, which is what some specialties are all about. I wouldn't exactly call it an advantage but it reveals something about your personality.
 
I love videogames too, but I'm not going to mention it. There are too many negative stereotypes involved that unless the interviewer is close to my age I'm not even going to think about talking about it.
 
Mister Pie said:
I love videogames too, but I'm not going to mention it. There are too many negative stereotypes involved that unless the interviewer is close to my age I'm not even going to think about talking about it.
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occasionally i play PS2.....got a modded console....but mostly play games on the computer. They are inherently better designed and more involved graphically....IMO.
 
Nasrudin said:
This is won't win me any popularity contests, and I do like the funny responses here, but....

In light of all the studying and other things we're trying too cram into our schedules a serious videogame habit or on-line poker habit could effectively make you a smart premed who is basically illiterate.

I've noticed that many of my younger premed comrades who were raised on these types of activities may be apt partners for science classes but if you ask them about anything else they tend to be on a 1st grade level of literacy when it comes to history, literature, world affairs and this type of thing.

Call me old school, possibly ancient as my kid video gaming consisted of pong and atari 400--there's only some much time you put into moving a square around a maze running from primitive graphically contructed dragons--but I think these are possibly cultural or habit induced deficiencies and consider them good questions for an interview.
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times have changed, and there is nothing primitive about today's graphics, and in some cases, you can make a legit case for the MMORPG world being more meaningful and engrossing than real life....
At least online everyone is equal and you could be born from a poor family and kicking the richest snots trust fund kids around like there is no tomorrow.

btw, I'm a demon at excite truck if anyone plays that on the Wii, great for improving hand skills and reaction time.
 
Yeah, I've played MMORPGs since I was 13 and occassional FPS games for as long as well (Counterstrike, Unreal Tournament 2003/2004, etc). But I highly doubt I'll put that under my hobbies. I specifically know first hand what MMOs can do to you (from 7th-10th grade I basically never left the computer, was highly isolated, severely depressed and those games were a coping mechanism). Thankfully I recovered and now that I have goals to achieve in life, my self control with these things has grown tremendously. However, the underlying addiction to MMOs has never left and at times it grows quite strong again. I just have to keep myself busy. 🙂
 
Zolar Czakl said:
Your interviews won't go well when you shake hands and they see you have hairy palms, though.
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i dont think that your interviews should be your #1 concern if you were to hve hairy palms after masturbating
 
Nasrudin said:
This is won't win me any popularity contests, and I do like the funny responses here, but....

In light of all the studying and other things we're trying too cram into our schedules a serious videogame habit or on-line poker habit could effectively make you a smart premed who is basically illiterate.

I've noticed that many of my younger premed comrades who were raised on these types of activities may be apt partners for science classes but if you ask them about anything else they tend to be on a 1st grade level of literacy when it comes to history, literature, world affairs and this type of thing.

Call me old school, possibly ancient as my kid video gaming consisted of pong and atari 400--there's only some much time you put into moving a square around a maze running from primitive graphically contructed dragons--but I think these are possibly cultural or habit induced deficiencies and consider them good questions for an interview.
Click to expand...

you're way off. You have to understand that in order to get into medical school and become a good physician, you NEED to have a balanced life. That includes playing some video games, poker with buddies, going out, AND, being able to put all that aside and cram when the need arises.
Obviously the people who sit in front of the XBOX 16 hours a day won't go far in life, but the majority of us who play an hour here and there find it a great way to relax.

As for your 1st grade literacy comment, it makes no sense and I fail to see a connection. Just because someone often plays video games, it doesn't mean they don't read up on things or take an interest in world affairs. I bet I know just as much as you do about Gavrilo Princip or Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and I've logged many hours playing online poker or PS2.

Last but not least, don't compare the amount of thought, intelligence and coordination required to play PONG (a game a chimpanzee could master) vs a popular video games such as Command and Conquer or Madden Football.
 
artaxerxes said:
times have changed, and there is nothing primitive about today's graphics, and in some cases, you can make a legit case for the MMORPG world being more meaningful and engrossing than real life....
At least online everyone is equal and you could be born from a poor family and kicking the richest snots trust fund kids around like there is no tomorrow.

btw, I'm a demon at excite truck if anyone plays that on the Wii, great for improving hand skills and reaction time.
Click to expand...


I confess I do not know what you are talking about in the make believe world of video games.

But having just finished Gore Vidal's Inventing a Nation, what strikes me is that the architects of this republic were exceedingly well read on a wide array of topics from science to economics and from philosophy to the rise and fall of the Roman Empire. Also just as striking is how poor uneducated laborers, of which the majority of us are descended, had no time to learn to read and that these very same architects that we call the "Founding Fathers" had utter contempt for "democracy" by the masses and undertook drastic measures to assure that democracy would not make itself manifest at the hands of the uneducated masses. And so while they paid tutors or sent their sons to Europe most of our ancestors toiled endlessly and suffered tremendously for the birth of this republic and continue to do so.

My people come from the coal mines of Kentucky and the slums and farms of Ireland and England before that. The mind-numbing, back breaking work was done, and in the threat of starvation they united with black workers and slavic workers to give us things like the weekend. Here I am. Poised at the possibility of the opportunity to enter a profession that will secure for me and my family the future to do more. Where do your people come from? Whats the story behind the story we are told?

You will not find the answers by clicking the start button and tuning out. I suggest you consider your argument and who your talking to before you extol the egalitarian virtues of your $300 gizmo manufactured in the slums of China for your entertainment.
 
Yehosh said:
you're way off. You have to understand that in order to get into medical school and become a good physician, you NEED to have a balanced life. That includes playing some video games, poker with buddies, going out, AND, being able to put all that aside and cram when the need arises.
Obviously the people who sit in front of the XBOX 16 hours a day won't go far in life, but the majority of us who play an hour here and there find it a great way to relax.

As for your 1st grade literacy comment, it makes no sense and I fail to see a connection. Just because someone often plays video games, it doesn't mean they don't read up on things or take an interest in world affairs. I bet I know just as much as you do about Gavrilo Princip or Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and I've logged many hours playing online poker or PS2.

Last but not least, don't compare the amount of thought, intelligence and coordination required to play PONG (a game a chimpanzee could master) vs a popular video games such as Command and Conquer or Madden Football.
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Well then you are benefiting from the excessive free time afforded to you by your parents.
I made no concrete assertions, more posing an anecdote for discussion on the possible downsides of an entertainment addiction. Though you might be an exception, my experience is that we are getting dumber as a population. There could be absolutely no causal relationship between the habits we're talking about and this trend but I would speculate that there would at least be a correlation between those with hobbies such as these and people who cannot remember the last book they read.
 
neopentanol said:
As my avatar would say in Mario 64:

"Here we go!!!" 😀

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/Health/story?id=814080
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20050511/0331201_F.shtml
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2004-04-07-surgeons-video-games_x.htm

In short - Video gamers do better on intelligence tests than non-gamers, and gamer surgeons work faster and more accurately than non-gamer surgeons.
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Well...I'm not above being persuaded by data. I won't be giving up reading books for playing games anytime soon, but, I am now thinking that I hope my nuerosurgeon plays the **** out of some videogames, cause I'm going under the knife in couple of months. That's keeping quite real.

What I would speculate is if we are acutually talking about cultivating "the Todd" syndrome or sort of like an idiot-savant type of thing. Regardless it seems I might have to vent my distaste for ignorance in other venues. Game on.
 
There is a reason why they ask for your hobbies. They want to know what you do for relaxation. If video games is one of them, then by all means list it on the secondary. You already listed your important stuff on your primary. If you get rejected by a medical school because you put "video games" on your secondary under hobbies, well you can poll every medical student to see if they ever play video games and then post it on the door of each adcomm member.
 
Zolar Czakl said:
Your interviews won't go well when you shake hands and they see you have hairy palms, though.
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alright SOMEONE needs to pay attention in biology. everyone knows palms dont have hair roots and thus one cant have hairy palms. sticky fingertips, now thats a different issue. gosh, i thought premeds were smart. 👎
 
Uegis said:
I never brought it up during my interviews. I spent a lot of my free time in undergrad playing video games, and spent more time playing Gears of War online than I did studying for my pharmacology class this year. I wouldn't bring it up. Doctors hate video games and TV because they think it's the reason for childhood obesity, which is probably true. But I sure do love my video games.
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Hahaha, and the sad thing is, it probably didn't matter 'cause our pharm class was SO BAD! :laugh:

That said: video games are not so much a "hobby" as they are a pastime. Listing "playing video games" would be like listing "watching TV" as a hobby. It's relaxing and enjoyable, but it is pretty passive. I love video games, don't get me wrong. I'm particularly fond of the Command and Conquer series. But when someone asks me about my hobbies, I discuss my fondness for bicycling, floor hockey, knitting, and writing; not my desire to blow up pixels.
 
evade said:
Hahaha, and the sad thing is, it probably didn't matter 'cause our pharm class was SO BAD! :laugh:

That said: video games are not so much a "hobby" as they are a pastime. Listing "playing video games" would be like listing "watching TV" as a hobby. It's relaxing and enjoyable, but it is pretty passive. I love video games, don't get me wrong. I'm particularly fond of the Command and Conquer series. But when someone asks me about my hobbies, I discuss my fondness for bicycling, floor hockey, knitting, and writing; not my desire to blow up pixels.
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You worded that distinction pretty well.

Though in fairness, those "pixels" you blew up was the Temple of Nod. No small feat, y'know. Frankly, I'd be proud to tell adcoms of the beautiful victory I had over Kane and his zealots. Don't even get me started on Stalin.
 
I wouldn't mention it on an app or in an interview, but this Nasrudin guy needs to seriously chill out with the pretentious babble. I like how he has to mention that he read a Gore Vidal book.
 
wait, does this mean i shouldn't include my level 70 warlock on my list of accomplishments? even if i did it on a pvp server?

crap, back to the drawing board...
 
GreyBlueEyes said:
wait, does this mean i shouldn't include my level 70 warlock on my list of accomplishments? even if i did it on a pvp server?

crap, back to the drawing board...
Click to expand...

Mention you're lvl 70 on a PvP server and they might commit you to a mental hospital instead of a medical school because of your addiction.
 
TheRealMD said:
Mention you're lvl 70 on a PvP server and they might commit you to a mental hospital instead of a medical school because of your addiction.
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They can't lock him up! He has the Helm of Escape. All I need is the Ring of Admittance.
 
Jew Alcindor said:
I wouldn't mention it on an app or in an interview, but this Nasrudin guy needs to seriously chill out with the pretentious babble. I like how he has to mention that he read a Gore Vidal book.
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👍
 
Nasrudin said:
Well then you are benefiting from the excessive free time afforded to you by your parents.
Click to expand...

So I take it Gore Vidal's "Inventing a Nation" doesn't have anything about humility and mutual respect? That's too bad, cuz you need a serious dosage of both. Try "The Little Prince" and read up on the chapter on The Conceited Man, it might help you figure out a few things about yourself. You don't know anything about me, so your comment pretty much proves that despite being a (self proclaimed) literate individual, you still lack some of the qualities required for a career in medicine.

Back to the OP's post regarding the "What are your hobbies?" question, I think the purpose of it is simply to find out if the applicant is a well rounded individual who knows how to unwind from a stressful lifestyle. Writing down video games is probably not the greatest idea due to social preconceptions, but in the end, they are simply trying to figure out how you deal with stress and if lead a balanced lifestyle.
 
GreyBlueEyes said:
wait, does this mean i shouldn't include my level 70 warlock on my list of accomplishments? even if i did it on a pvp server?

crap, back to the drawing board...
Click to expand...

not unless your the first lvl 70 Warlock, done without Guildmates or tagging:laugh:
 
Nasrudin said:
I confess I do not know what you are talking about in the make believe world of video games.

But having just finished Gore Vidal's Inventing a Nation, what strikes me is that the architects of this republic were exceedingly well read on a wide array of topics from science to economics and from philosophy to the rise and fall of the Roman Empire. Also just as striking is how poor uneducated laborers, of which the majority of us are descended, had no time to learn to read and that these very same architects that we call the "Founding Fathers" had utter contempt for "democracy" by the masses and undertook drastic measures to assure that democracy would not make itself manifest at the hands of the uneducated masses. And so while they paid tutors or sent their sons to Europe most of our ancestors toiled endlessly and suffered tremendously for the birth of this republic and continue to do so.

My people come from the coal mines of Kentucky and the slums and farms of Ireland and England before that. The mind-numbing, back breaking work was done, and in the threat of starvation they united with black workers and slavic workers to give us things like the weekend. Here I am. Poised at the possibility of the opportunity to enter a profession that will secure for me and my family the future to do more. Where do your people come from? Whats the story behind the story we are told?

You will not find the answers by clicking the start button and tuning out. I suggest you consider your argument and who your talking to before you extol the egalitarian virtues of your $300 gizmo manufactured in the slums of China for your entertainment.
Click to expand...

The only thing I know about Gore Vidal is that he's gay and thats from the simpsons. Do YOUR people really come from these places? better yet, DO YOU come from a slum and have you ever lifted a pick or shovel? Have you faced starvation? Hell no, anyone reading Gore vidal never faced those challenges. I come from a lower middle class family, born in a third world country, never feared starvation, but have known poverty. So get over yourself before you start claiming YOUR PEOPLE once lived in caves and had to hide from saber tooth tigers.
 
Glad to inspire you all, if maliciously, into taking a stance. We share more in common than you might think from my tone. I value every chance I have to learn. I've been on my own for for almost 15 years now, nothing to write home about, but to answer the obvious disparity I read books and study hard and I've done it on an EMT's salary supporting myself and my wife who is an artist in one of the most expensive cities in the world. I don't know what station of life that puts me in. I speak of my ancestors because I was trying to make the point that they and as well as yours sacrificed greatly for us and that perhaps we could look at how we spend our time. I admit I pretentiously misjudged video gaming as a useless activity. Dismiss it as the rambling of bitter man and you wouldn't be far wrong.

But I meant no offense. Sorry to have been combatitive. That was inappropriate and spiteful.

I just like Gore Vidal cause he spits old school, rich language and he has an uncanny eye for bringing history to life. In my recent history class I saw a lot of young kids cheating with little texting thingies and I kind of flew off the handle with a judgement of your generation.

In any case, if there's anything at all I can contribute to the OP's original question is that for a lot of older folks who appreciate different if slower means of communication you should probably not talk about the video gaming thing in any serious way if for any reason than they might hold my prejudice as well.
 
ecking said:
You worded that distinction pretty well.

Though in fairness, those "pixels" you blew up was the Temple of Nod. No small feat, y'know. Frankly, I'd be proud to tell adcoms of the beautiful victory I had over Kane and his zealots. Don't even get me started on Stalin.
Click to expand...

All I gotta say is C&C Red Alert (first not the atrocious 2nd one) was probably one of the best (for its time) strategy games, if not the best, to ever grace the computers. 😀 although C&C Generals was pretty damn close. Nothing better than making 20+ nuke silos on Generals and lighting up the entire map.
 
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