most bizarre interview moment?

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jllander said:
I was asked this question a couple of times and I think that they are trying to figure out what else you'd be interested in doing. If I didn't get into med school, I'd like to teach. It is just another way of figuring out what kind of person you are.
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This may be too late to repsond to this, but I'm going to say what I've heard one of the main adcom chairs at USF COM say about the situation where you are asked what you don't do if you don't get in right away.............

He (Dr. Williams of USF COM) said the answer they are looking for is that you won't give up and that you will find a way to improve your application and do everything humanly possible to get in. They are looking for people who truly want it, rather then those who only are partially into medicine. He emphasized that they want people who would not give up easily, so this is a test of your committment when they ask you that question.
 
gbiz said:
I thought it was really odd when my second interviewer at UMich asked me what are my plans if I dont get into med school anywhere (practically saying he didnt think I would get in!). Im thinking, this is UMich, people who are being interviewed here are going to get in somewhere! I simply replied that I already have two acceptances, and he replied that it must be a burden lifted off my shoulders :/

I was waitlisted there. Despite this, it is still my top choice.
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Again, this is obviously way late, but as I said above........it isn't too strange when an interviewer asks what you do if you don't get in the first go around. The answer they are looking for is that they want to see that you are committed to med school and that if you didn't get in, you'd reapply and talk with admissions directors about what may have been flawed in your application so you can begin to improve upon it.

This is a commonly asked question, from what one of the Adcom chairs at USF COM has told in his annual premed workshops that he presents at.
 
Interviewer: I see you're part of the Men's Glee Club.
Me: Yes, I am.
I: care to sing a song?
Me: Excuse me?
I: Sing something.....anything.
Me: (The first song that popped in my head was the theme song to Fresh Prince of Bel Air.....then I remembered one of the songs from our Glee club concert)
Me: Uhhhh....ok, I haven't really warmed up or anything.
Me: (I sang for 2 minutes)
I: That was interesting. (He had tried really hard not to laugh)

It was a surreal experience! Fun...nonetheless. Hehehe.
Plus I got in!
 
ctv1116 said:
Most Bizarre Interview Movement: I walk into the interview, and sitting there is a Catholic priest, fully robed in his traditional clothing. I was a little flustered, but the interview went well, we talked mostly about the Church, just a little bit about medicine.
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Which school was this?
 
interviewer: "I remember when I interviewed for med schools, sometimes they would ask so many questions, and I would say to myself, "what the f*ck?"

me: feeling a little intimidated, I give an understanding nod

interviewer: "so I just want to let you talk about yourself. so, talk."

me: (sqeaking out a response) "well..."

just then the phone rings, and notifying him of an emergency down hall in one of the exam rooms. he had to go check on the patient, so I ended up following him around the rest of the hour while he got things in order.
definitely intimidating!
 
caffeine37 said:
interviewer: "I remember when I interviewed for med schools, sometimes they would ask so many questions, and I would say to myself, "what the f*ck?"

me: feeling a little intimidated, I give an understanding nod

interviewer: "so I just want to let you talk about yourself. so, talk."

me: (sqeaking out a response) "well..."

just then the phone rings, and notifying him of an emergency down hall in one of the exam rooms. he had to go check on the patient, so I ended up following him around the rest of the hour while he got things in order.
definitely intimidating!
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haha, I'd be thrilled that the interview was interrupted. Oh, and my voice squeaks out when I'm really nervous too. I must sound like I'm about 10-years old 🙄
 
My interviewer at Wayne State did the "close eyes, head down" nap thing briefly during one of my answers. I definitely noticed, but kept on talking. He was back with me by the end of my answer...

I chose to view it as a good thing - like he was so comfortable with me as a candidate that he could really relax during out interview! 😀

It was early on in the interview, so I couldn't have been that boring! :laugh:
 
"So when you become a doctor, are you going to divorce your wife and marry your nurse?"
 
My second interviewer at one of my top choice schools wouldn't give me his business card and didn't want me to have his email. He was really worried that I'd bug him about admissions questions that he didn't want to be bothered with and he didn't know anything about anyway. Well, at this school, all the faculty have email addresses of first letter of first name + last name + school address. Wild!
 
atrovariousg said:
"So when you become a doctor, are you going to divorce your wife and marry your nurse?"
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That sounds like an acceptance to me, dude! "When"...not "if"!!!

:laugh:
 
J'kwan said:
I had a weird one that I can't really get my head around.

The interview took place in an office with a desk, but my interviewer didn't sit behind the desk. Instead, he pulled up a chair and sat directly in front of me. It made me very uncomfortable. It's also relevant to add that I'm a foot or so taller than my interviewer and outweigh him by at least 80 pounds.

Interviewer: Do you think you could beat me in a fight?
Me: Huh?
Interviewer: Can you beat me in a fight?
Me: I don't fight.
Interviewer: If we got into a fight, do you think you'd win?
Me: I don't get into fights.

He stood up.

Interviewer: If we were to somehow get into a fist fight for some reason, would you "take me"?
Me: Are you going to attack me?

Then he backed off and went and sat behind the desk and didn't say anything.

Me: Am I interviewing for a job in security?

He laughed in a menacing way and that was that. He then asked typical interview questions. Why do you want to go to med school? Why this one? The usual. He was nice for the rest of interview. 😕

I have no clue what he was getting at. None.
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HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA

You should have taken him on. If worse came to worse, kick him in the balls and run!!!
 
J'kwan said:
I had a weird one that I can't really get my head around.

The interview took place in an office with a desk, but my interviewer didn't sit behind the desk. Instead, he pulled up a chair and sat directly in front of me. It made me very uncomfortable. It's also relevant to add that I'm a foot or so taller than my interviewer and outweigh him by at least 80 pounds.

Interviewer: Do you think you could beat me in a fight?
Me: Huh?
Interviewer: Can you beat me in a fight?
Me: I don't fight.
Interviewer: If we got into a fight, do you think you'd win?
Me: I don't get into fights.

He stood up.

Interviewer: If we were to somehow get into a fist fight for some reason, would you "take me"?
Me: Are you going to attack me?

Then he backed off and went and sat behind the desk and didn't say anything.

Me: Am I interviewing for a job in security?

He laughed in a menacing way and that was that. He then asked typical interview questions. Why do you want to go to med school? Why this one? The usual. He was nice for the rest of interview. 😕

I have no clue what he was getting at. None.
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That is extremely weird, and I really hope it doesn't happen to me. What is the point of that? I guess if it happens to me I will tell the truth
 
J'kwan said:
I had a weird one that I can't really get my head around.

The interview took place in an office with a desk, but my interviewer didn't sit behind the desk. Instead, he pulled up a chair and sat directly in front of me. It made me very uncomfortable. It's also relevant to add that I'm a foot or so taller than my interviewer and outweigh him by at least 80 pounds.

Interviewer: Do you think you could beat me in a fight?
Me: Huh?
Interviewer: Can you beat me in a fight?
Me: I don't fight.
Interviewer: If we got into a fight, do you think you'd win?
Me: I don't get into fights.

He stood up.

Interviewer: If we were to somehow get into a fist fight for some reason, would you "take me"?
Me: Are you going to attack me?

Then he backed off and went and sat behind the desk and didn't say anything.

Me: Am I interviewing for a job in security?

He laughed in a menacing way and that was that. He then asked typical interview questions. Why do you want to go to med school? Why this one? The usual. He was nice for the rest of interview. 😕

I have no clue what he was getting at. None.
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It sounds to me like he was trying to be funny. Still, kind of weird when you're going in there all dressed up in your suit and expecting a serious interview.
 
tacrum43 said:
It sounds to me like he was trying to be funny. Still, kind of weird when you're going in there all dressed up in your suit and expecting a serious interview.
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Could be. I couldn't read this guy at all. He just freaked me out. Plus, I was nervous to begin with.

If he was trying to be funny, he must think that I have no sense of humor at all because I just sat there looking like a clubbed fish. 🙂
 
J'kwan said:
Could be. I couldn't read this guy at all. He just freaked me out. Plus, I was nervous to begin with.

If he was trying to be funny, he must think that I have no sense of humor at all because I just sat there looking like a clubbed fish. 🙂
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What you should have said: "Let's find out..."

So he didn't say it sarcastically at all? Like, he wasn't smiling when he said it or anything? If not, maybe it was just to see how you'd react. Very bizarre.
 
WholeLottaGame7 said:
What you should have said: "Let's find out..."

So he didn't say it sarcastically at all? Like, he wasn't smiling when he said it or anything? If not, maybe it was just to see how you'd react. Very bizarre.
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He had a straight face and he didn't have a sarcastic tone as far as I could tell (but I was nervous). I don't know what he was looking for.

I wish I had said something like that because I sure didn't leave the interview feeling like I'd improved my chances of getting in very much. Oh well. Getting rejected won't be such a bad thing. At least I won't have to worry about this fool anymore. 🙂
 
tacrum43 said:
It sounds to me like he was trying to be funny. Still, kind of weird when you're going in there all dressed up in your suit and expecting a serious interview.
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or he could have been testin your confrontational skills and how you handle yourself in such a situation. If you become defensive or combative...in fact by sitting in front of you I beleive he was testing your personal space in order to see that you were comfortable enough with yourself to let him do stuff like that. Sounds like you did great.
 
Dr2010 said:
or he could have been testin your confrontational skills and how you handle yourself in such a situation. If you become defensive or combative...
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totally. my interviewer at one school started arguing with me that I didn't have enough clinical experience. I argued back and basically told him he was wrong.. guess I won... I got in 🙂
 
angietron3000 said:
totally. my interviewer at one school started arguing with me that I didn't have enough clinical experience. I argued back and basically told him he was wrong.. guess I won... I got in 🙂
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I just read this post, and it made me chuckle the way you said it. :laugh: :laugh:

Glad to hear that the interview didn't screw you over and that you got in.
 
J'kwan said:
I had a weird one that I can't really get my head around.

The interview took place in an office with a desk, but my interviewer didn't sit behind the desk. Instead, he pulled up a chair and sat directly in front of me. It made me very uncomfortable. It's also relevant to add that I'm a foot or so taller than my interviewer and outweigh him by at least 80 pounds.

Interviewer: Do you think you could beat me in a fight?
Me: Huh?
Interviewer: Can you beat me in a fight?
Me: I don't fight.
Interviewer: If we got into a fight, do you think you'd win?
Me: I don't get into fights.

He stood up.

Interviewer: If we were to somehow get into a fist fight for some reason, would you "take me"?
Me: Are you going to attack me?

Then he backed off and went and sat behind the desk and didn't say anything.

Me: Am I interviewing for a job in security?

He laughed in a menacing way and that was that. He then asked typical interview questions. Why do you want to go to med school? Why this one? The usual. He was nice for the rest of interview. 😕

I have no clue what he was getting at. None.
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I would say, if nothing else, submit it as an idea to a comedy show before some broke and desperate sdner does. I know it freaked you out, but man, it made me laugh.
 
J'kwan said:
Could be. I couldn't read this guy at all. He just freaked me out. Plus, I was nervous to begin with.

If he was trying to be funny, he must think that I have no sense of humor at all because I just sat there looking like a clubbed fish. 🙂
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you were the "straight-man" (or whatever they call it) in the skit. Why else would he have started laughing?
 
I was interviewing with a PhD and we were talking about sports. I was telling the guy about my experiences with track cycling and he said, "I would love to see your muscles."

I was kind of confused for a moment... I mean, should I have offered to show him my quads? 😉 I was wearing a skirt suit, so it wouldn't have been technically difficult 😛

I just kind of pretended he didn't say it, and the interview continued. Later on, though, he told me about his research, which required him to study tons of muscle biopsies. Maybe that's what he was talking about? The whole thing was so awkward! I'm still confused about it! 😱
 
cyclist05 said:
I was kind of confused for a moment... I mean, should I have offered to show him my quads? 😉 I was wearing a skirt suit, so it wouldn't have been technically difficult 😛
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Hahaha I need a cold shower
 
This interview wasn't so much bizarre, as exceedingly awkward...

Unlike most of my other interviews, which were very positive and rapport-building from the start, this one was very slow and uncomfortable. Then, my interviewer (an older man, professor emeritus for many years) asks me: "Why do you want to be a doctor?" I give all of my usual reasons, and end with "also, I think that I am an empathetic person." To which he responds: "Empathy is a horrible characteristic for a doctor to have -- it makes it impossible to treat patients objectively. In fact, I wrote an essay, published in a book, about why doctors should avoid empathy at all costs."

... 😱

So I quickly try to backtrack a little, saying "well, I do see your point -- I guess that's why doctors are discouraged from treating themselves and their family members, because it's hard for them to stay objective." To which he responds: "Why do you say that?!? I treated my wife for many many years, and still treat myself today!!"

... 😱 😱 😱

At which point, I mumbled "I'm sure your treatment of your wife was excellent" and tried to change the subject. *sigh*
 
:laugh: :laugh: I love this thread. My most bizarre moment so far was the guy who started the interview by saying "I think this is the place for you," but then spent the next 40 minuts telling me all of the reasons why I probably wouldn't get in. That was fun.




I haven't experienced anything truly funny yet though.
 
😱
I was interviewed be an 80 year old man who was a retired physician. As I was waiting outside the interviewers door, I heard him talking with another fellow applicant. He told her she is perfect for that school and he will ensure she receives an acceptance. I walked in thinking he was a kind person. My interview went as following:

I entered the room, enthusiastically introduced myself, and sat down. Uncomfortable SILENCE for about 5 minutes while he read my essays. He looked at me, extended his arm holding one of my essays, and told me to read the paper while he completes his review of my file. Confused, I reached for my essay he was holding because it looked like he was giving it to me. Here's where the fun starts:

Int: What are you doing? I want you to read the paper behind you. Do you know what a paper is? You read don't you? God. Do you even know how to read?

Me: (I turn around and see a newspaper on the table behind me.) Oh, I apologize, I misunderstood you. Yes, I read. (at this point, I am now really nervous)

SILENCE while I "read" the newspaper and he finishes reading my essays.

Int: What is your major?

Me: Biology.

Int: I don't like people who are biology majors. They can't hold conversations. They don't belong in medicine.

Me: Well, I attended a liberal arts college and actually have a BA not a BS. I took many non-science courses as an undergraduate. My favorite was Art History.

Int: Since you SAY you read, what type of books do you read?

Me: I enjoy memoirs and English literature written in the 1800's. I typically read everything but mysteries.

Int: Oh, you like mysteries, Me too!!! (He is excited)

Me: Oh, um I said I don't read mysteries. I can't ever figure out the ending before I read it.

He gives me a sour look and writes something down.

Int: What is your MCAT?

Me: (I tell him)

Int: That's too low. You need to retake it.

Me: Well hopefully I won't have to. I will take it if I don't get any acceptance anywhere. (I wanted to tell him I have 12 interviews and apparently my MCAT doesn't seem to be a problem, but I refrained).

Int: No, you NEED to retake it. Tell me the problems in medicine.

Me: Currently?

Int: No, I want the problems in the past. Or better yet, tell me the problems of the future. Of coarse I want the current problems.

Me: (I answer the question)

Int: Good answers. I'm impressed. (my confidence is a bit restored) Now, if you were the leader of our country, how would you fix those problems.

Me: If I were president or King. . .

Int: King, you mean QUEEN (I am female. Whops, there goes my ounce of confidence).

The interview continues and concludes something like this:

Me: Thank you so very much for taking the time to interview me. I know how busy you must be. It was a pleasure speaking with you and touring your lovely institution. I stand up to shake his hand.

Int: Good lord WOMAN, how tall are you???? You are SOOOOOO TALL!! (I am 5 feet 10 inches. Apparently some sort of freak!!!)

Me: UHHH, Thanks????!!! 😱


Well- I won't hold my breath for an acceptance to that school. Oh well, at least I have a story.

Best of luck to everyone and hopefully you all won't be posting horrible experiences on this thread! 😳
 
Sounds like the old "good cop, bad cop" routine. Unfortunately you got the bad cop.

If it makes you feel any better, I had a similar experience at one of my schools. The student before me told me the women talked his ear off and was as nice as can be, so I went in thinking another informal easy going interview. However, when I got in there the lady immediately began hammering me with questions about my ethical viewpoints and at one point even told me I wasn't fit for their school because of the "weakness" that I listed about myself (being outspoken even though it may step on some toes). Very uncomfortable situation to say the least, but I ended up getting an acceptance letter in the mail a week later.

I think in some cases they're really just checking if you can function under pressure. Seriously, who in their right mind would question if you can READ!
I wouldn't sweat that one.
 
lynn42 said:
😱
I was interviewed be an 80 year old man who was a retired physician. As I was waiting outside the interviewers door, I heard him talking with another fellow applicant. He told her she is perfect for that school and he will ensure she receives an acceptance. I walked in thinking he was a kind person. My interview went as following:

.....


Well- I won't hold my breath for an acceptance to that school. Oh well, at least I have a story.

Best of luck to everyone and hopefully you all won't be posting horrible experiences on this thread! 😳
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Wow, that's rough.

Where were you for this interview?!? 😱 (Same question to you Rjuza333)
 
SailCrazy said:
Wow, that's rough.

Where were you for this interview?!? 😱 (Same question to you Rjuza333)
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MCW--I don't want to give them a bad rap though, because other than that the entire interview day went great.
 
My interview at a school that will remain nameless was pretty interesting. I walked into a room where my interviewer was supposed to be.

Him: Hello, looks like we're both early.
Me: Suppose so, my name's Y, it's nice to meet you Dr. X.
Him: So, you're here for an interview, do you have anything for me, like a paper.
Me: No.
Him: I'll be right back, don't move (I remain standing where I was).
Him: Well, you can move, but don't go anywhere. <He leaves>
<He returns> Ok, so I don't have the paper, but I'll get it later. Let's go for a walk.
Him: So, what medical school do you attend?
Me: Um, I'd like to get into medical school.
Him: Oh, we've been doing a lot of residency interviews, I'm confused, forgive me. <Starts a few normal questions, we then walk into the ER>

He procedes to tell a few residents what they are doing wrong, then asks me another question, then speaks to someone in Spanish, and then disappears into an ER alcove. I don't follow, 30 sec. later he sticks his head out and says, "you can come in." I come in. He then procedes to fuss at a resident for fixing an ingrown toe-nail the wrong way. The interviewer then fixes it using only blunt scissors and some guaze, the resident had a whole table of supplies. The resident was clearly mortified (there were 2 other residents in there at the time). The interviewer then nods towards me and says "Don't worry about him, he'll never see you again anyway." We then walk to a dinning area where he fusses at more residents for taking a break to eat.

Him: What are you guys all doing here. Is there anyone watching the patients?

<Interview then procedes semi-normally, very few questions, mostly his thoughts on medical school finances, why he likes the area, etc>
 
I actually thought it was pretty cool . . . but definetly unusal. My primary interest (at the moment) is Emergency Med, so it was appropriate in a way, and the guy was def cool. He was heckling the residents a bit, but it seemed to be in good fun.
 
The interview begins by me waiting ten minutes for the previous interviewee to finish up. The door opens and the interviewer and interviewee are laughing, smiling, she even gets a hug before they part. "Great" I think to myself. After their farewell, Dr. X motions me in with his hand. I sit down and we exchange pleasentries, he then proceeds to pick up one of the scattered application files on his desk.

"So, David, tell me about yourself."

My name isn't David. And mind you, I had just introduced myself literally 30 seconds before.

After informing him of my real name, again, I launch into my speil. I notice that in-between Dr. X's glances at the clock behind me, he has a rather confused look on his face. He proceeds to ask a couple other general/usual questions then stops and begins frantically moving the pages forward and back on my file.

"Hold on a sec here," he says.

He does this page flipping thing for literally another 2 minutes before I finally break and look at the papers he has in front of him. On the top, I can see what I think to be my AMCAS application. Except something doesn't make sense: it has the name "David Bryant" on it. Holy ****. I stew for another minute watching amazed while he tries to figure out why nothing is matching up. Finally, I can't wait anymore,

"Yeah, you don't have my file there. That's David Bryant"

The interviewer turns beet red.

He squeeks out, "Oh... yes, okay.. um, continue."

Needless to say, I had little hopes of being remembered, much less accepted after I left his office.
 
I had an experience similar to ExtraAverage

Interviewer: so, you graduated in 2002.

Me: yes

Interviewer: and you did a double major in economics and art history?

Me: no, i was a microbiology major

Interviewer: oh, sorry. so you went to UConn?

Me: no, i went to xxxx

Interviewer: sorry, i actually have no idea who the hell you are right now. give me a minute. (rustles papers) oh, ok, i think i know who you are now...

the rest of the interview was pretty akward and needless to say, i don't think i had a chance of leaving any sort of impression of who i actually was!! unfortunately, i liked the school quite a bit. *sigh*
 
i wish i'd had more interviews just for the kicks of encountering such truly bizarre moments... but for now...

BUMP!
 
lynn42 said:
😱
I was interviewed be an 80 year old man who was a retired physician. As I was waiting outside the interviewers door, I heard him talking with another fellow applicant. He told her she is perfect for that school and he will ensure she receives an acceptance. I walked in thinking he was a kind person. My interview went as following:......
😳
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Lynn, this is hilarious. I am sorry it was so stressful for you, but it's just funny.
You know what I hate though about bloody doctors, especially old ones, they all seem to forget that they were us about 100 years ago and how nervous they were, and how mucht they hated the nasty interviewer. Why do that to us?
But in your situation, I think he was just trying to see how you wound hold up under pressure. He sounds too comical to be true.
Btw, how tall was he: midget size or normal.
 
sorry but my story is actually a good one, my interviewer actually got up after I answered a question and started clapping, he went on to tell me he has been interviewing for a long time and had never gotten such unique and insightful answers to questions, I was a little nervous becuase it was wierd but I got accepted with an offer of a full ride to the school even though I am out of state and it is a state school. 👍
 
This isn't bizarre so much as horrible-

Interviewer:What is your greatest weakness?

Me: I worry too much about what other people think

Interviewer: I would have thought you would have matured past that sort of thing by your age; I guess not. You know that's a sign of major insecurities and a lack of self-confidence.

Me: (nervous giggle) Well, we can't become perfect all at once...
 
one of my interviewers launched into a 10 minute long diatribe about the racist administration in his department and the lack of diversity. I was pretty shocked. He thought I was Hispanic too (which I'm not), so much of his rant was in Spanish.

Good thing it was the end of the interview because I didn't know what to say after that.
 
At one of my interviews, this Doctor had brought her newborn child to the interview. The baby was crying maybe half of the time while i was talking, and the last half, she was BREASTFEEDING right infront of me. I paused for a seccond right when she started but continued like nothing was happening. I wonder if it was a test?
 
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