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Hate you guys in the best way possible. I finish this thread by reading two day straight.
most bizarre interview moment?
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Originally Posted by vbh61422
Alright so another one...This one is actually me being stupid and not someone in my group (as people are figuring out, I am all about being awkward...also, I am a guy, so keep that in mind)
So I am at Loyola (they rendered the decision today so whatever), and I absolutely loved the school! Everyone was so nice, and for the first time, my interviews actually went longer than the time allotted. I had a really good feeling about my chances, and I felt the day couldn't have gone any better. Because my interviews went late, however, I had to go on the campus tour by myself with the tour guide. It wasn't a big deal, and the guy that took me on the tour was a really cool guy. He had a great sense of humor and really tried to show me as much as he could. Eventually, the day came to a close, and we had to go back to the admissions office. While we were wrapping up, my tour guide reached his arm past my head to grab something. I didn't look behind me to see what he was grabbing, and instinctively acted by hugging him around the back. Before I realized what had happened, he was kind of hugging me back and we were awkwardly patting each other on the back and looking at one another sheepishly. I broke the awkwardness by saying something like, "I hope your wedding goes well." We finally release from this horribly contorted hug, and I turn around to see that he had been reaching for his jacket. I could feel my ears starting to burn, and I shook his hand, and told everyone I had to finish the rest of the paperwork. A few minutes passed, and I went to turn in my paperwork, and the secretary said to me, "So you really enjoyed yourself?"
I was so embarrassed! If you read this tour guide, I am so sorry...I am not gay (not that there is anything wrong with that).
This is by far the best thing I have read about interview days. Just awesome.....
So my interviewer asked my why I want to be a doctor and I described the details of my life and the path that led me to medicine.
He then proceeds on a 20 minute rant about how he doesn't have time to see his patients, he can't provide his best level of care, he has to call them to say he forgot things... He worries that one time he will not remember to call them about something important. Says that I will probably not feel fulfilled or satisfied as a doctor and that he doesn't see the profession improving any time soon.
Soooo was your question how will I deal with this frustration?
He then asked what if anything would make me want to stop practicing medicine if I went through school and became a doctor.
What gives?! Everyone else on this interview got asked questions like "Tell me about yourself" and such. I'm guessing he was trying to gauge how I deal with pressure and express the possible frustrations of being a doctor but at the time it felt more like I was being ambushed by a bullying/dissatisfied physician! 😕
He then proceeds on a 20 minute rant about how he doesn't have time to see his patients, he can't provide his best level of care, he has to call them to say he forgot things... He worries that one time he will not remember to call them about something important. Says that I will probably not feel fulfilled or satisfied as a doctor and that he doesn't see the profession improving any time soon.
Soooo was your question how will I deal with this frustration?
He then asked what if anything would make me want to stop practicing medicine if I went through school and became a doctor.
What gives?! Everyone else on this interview got asked questions like "Tell me about yourself" and such. I'm guessing he was trying to gauge how I deal with pressure and express the possible frustrations of being a doctor but at the time it felt more like I was being ambushed by a bullying/dissatisfied physician! 😕
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Sorry to hear that you had a bad experience. Just remember that everyone has their bad days and he could have just needed to vent. Sure, an interview isn't really necessarily the most appropriate place to do it, but it happens, and I can see how thinking "man this profession sucks" could turn into asking a premed "do you REALLY know what you're getting into?". I don't necessarily think that this will reflect negatively on your app - it may even turn out positive since a lot of times people feel better after they get to blow off some steam.
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after going through one interview where i didnt really get the chance to talk (my interviewee just rambled on for looooong periods of time as i sat and nodded my head), i had an over-energetic woman who proceeded to tell me: "This question is completely off limits, but when do you see yourself starting a family? Are you aware of the stressors on women in medicine? Would you go part-time?"
And about five more questions like this. I basically just answered them all by saying that i felt i was still young and have lots of time to think about those things when the come up..... awkward!
And about five more questions like this. I basically just answered them all by saying that i felt i was still young and have lots of time to think about those things when the come up..... awkward!
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When I reached out to shake the hand of my interviewer, my wrist became exposed and he noticed I didn't have a watch. He then proceeded to ask me if I was too poor to own a watch.
This same interviewer also tried to sell me some of the paintings that were hanging in his office. (but wait--how can i afford to buy his paintings if i cant even afford to own a watch?!)
And I kept getting asked, "why in the world do you want to do medicine?" I would supply a quick answer but would get interrupted with all the negatives of the profession. Then I would be asked the same question again. This process repeated itself countless times throughout the 45 minutes of the interview.
Oh...and one more of his quotes--"There's nothing to do around here but flirt with the nurses..."
and perhaps the most surprising part--during my second interview (that was being conducted in his office with another faculty member), he walked right back in and joined in on the interview!
Despite what it sounds like, this interview went tremendously well and the interviewer was very personable. 😀
This same interviewer also tried to sell me some of the paintings that were hanging in his office. (but wait--how can i afford to buy his paintings if i cant even afford to own a watch?!)
And I kept getting asked, "why in the world do you want to do medicine?" I would supply a quick answer but would get interrupted with all the negatives of the profession. Then I would be asked the same question again. This process repeated itself countless times throughout the 45 minutes of the interview.
Oh...and one more of his quotes--"There's nothing to do around here but flirt with the nurses..."
and perhaps the most surprising part--during my second interview (that was being conducted in his office with another faculty member), he walked right back in and joined in on the interview!
Despite what it sounds like, this interview went tremendously well and the interviewer was very personable. 😀
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Don't most people shake hands with their right hand and wear watches on their left? How would he notice? 😕
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awh! good catch 👍
I guess my memory is a bit fuzzy and I unintentionally filled in the blanks...
but the important point to note was that I was in the act of extending my arm to him (now I am hesitant to confidently state which arm) and my jacket cuff creeped up my forearm and thus exposing my watch-less wrist.
I don't know why my arm was extended to him anymore now that I think about it...but if I were to venture a guess, I would still say it precluded a handshake.
good detective skills, Holmes!
EDIT: Oh! Now I remember what it was--I was pointing at something on his desk that I admired and it was in this act that he noticed my naked left wrist! ...He later warned the second interviewer to keep a good eye on me because I might steal his things from his office since I seemed to like them so much. haha
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Or you could be left-handed and hence wear a watch on your right wrist.
It's hardly unheard of. Obama's a lefty!
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I'm right handed and for some reason wear my watch on my right hand...
I was at an interview in late October, and my interviewer was a very dead pan, slow-speaking, highly scrutinizing guy. After grilling me about what I liked best about that particular city, he suddenly changes topics.
He grabs his glasses and scoots his chair over to me and points out this crack in the lens. He then proceeds to tell me about how when you get older, you start to lose depth perception, and tend to walk into things more...like doors. After having me analyze the glasses myself, he asks me how I would repair a cracked lens. I was thinking to myself...wtf??? I blabber out some junk about replacing the lens momentarily and then perhaps recycling that particular lens and forming a new one later on. He seemed satisfied (or fed up) enough, and went back to grilling me about why I would choose this school over ones in my own state.
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I know, that's why I said, most.
I find it unusual when someone wears a watch on their right hand, and I notice it more often.
People notice when I'm not wearing a watch on my left hand because of my permanent watch tan. That and I keep looking at my wrist every 30s or so to see the watch, and it's not there. I look more often when I'm not wearing it.
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Matt, was this at MCW? I was looking through the papers they gave, and I saw your name on the list 😀.
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I have a few stories from my interviews.
First story:
I'm waiting outside this professor's office for my interview. The guy who is interviewing before me walks out of the office, shakes hands, etc... walks out to the elevator and is about to go down. Then the professor screams out "hey you forgot your folder". So, the guy starts getting out of the elevator as the elevator doors are closing, and the doors snatch his pant leg. He realizes he's stuck, and he drops the F-bomb really really loud. Then he looks at me with a face like 😱 and I'm like 😱 back to him. I wonder if he got in.
Second story:
It's early morning at this interview session where they're giving us the introduction and presentation about the school and stuff. We get to the Q&A section, and this one interviewee (from Florida I think?) raises his hand and asks, "what do those 'emergency snow route' signs you see on the street mean?" hahaha, i think all of us stared at him and laughed.
First story:
I'm waiting outside this professor's office for my interview. The guy who is interviewing before me walks out of the office, shakes hands, etc... walks out to the elevator and is about to go down. Then the professor screams out "hey you forgot your folder". So, the guy starts getting out of the elevator as the elevator doors are closing, and the doors snatch his pant leg. He realizes he's stuck, and he drops the F-bomb really really loud. Then he looks at me with a face like 😱 and I'm like 😱 back to him. I wonder if he got in.
Second story:
It's early morning at this interview session where they're giving us the introduction and presentation about the school and stuff. We get to the Q&A section, and this one interviewee (from Florida I think?) raises his hand and asks, "what do those 'emergency snow route' signs you see on the street mean?" hahaha, i think all of us stared at him and laughed.
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lol...so much for anonymity with a username like mine, huh?! 😳 jk--it doesn't bother me, otherwise I'd change it.
But, this didn't take place at MCW. My interviews at MCW were very normal. I had a physician and student interviewer. I thought they were both great and we managed to discuss items pertinent to my application, and those of the medical profession, without comedic fault for more than an hour.
BTW, did you hear back from MCW yet? I live in Cali and I am hoping to hear word by Wednesday...but will hold my breath until Saturday if need be.
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not sure if this belongs here as it wasn't a particular moment but just a strange interview....anyway, the interviewer just read me my entire application and all i said was "Yup. Mhm. Yes" etc. I would try to start talking about my activities and personal statement or whatever and she would just cut me off and move to the next thing on the application. She seriously read EVERYTHING to me, including course names, graduation date, parents occupation, etc. Also I could see her notes the whole time, and she had filled out everything before the interview! I even saw she had written "ACCEPT" at the bottom of the page before she even met me! I REALLY liked the school but my other interview was so-so (I don't think I convinced them I want to go there even though I really do!!) I haven't heard back yet...so weird.
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Well, sometimes you go on interviews where the interviewer knows that because of your stats/ECs/whatever you're a total shoe-in. Sounds like she was just going through the motions because she had too.
I wouldn't worry about it too much! You'll probably have a positive outcome regarding that school.
Interviewer: Can you explain your research to me?
Me: Sure. I'm creating this device that blah blah blah
*Gets up to draw on the whiteboard in the room*
It looks like this
*Draws some squiggly lines that look NOTHING like I had imagined it in my head*
And with this structure, it works like this
*Tries to draw some arrows showing how the device works, but they only add to the squiggly mess*
Um...you probably can't tell what I'm drawing, huh?
Interviewer: Uhh...
*Gad, I've really gotta take some art classes or something...who'd have known they'd help out in the sciences?*
Me: Sure. I'm creating this device that blah blah blah
*Gets up to draw on the whiteboard in the room*
It looks like this
*Draws some squiggly lines that look NOTHING like I had imagined it in my head*
And with this structure, it works like this
*Tries to draw some arrows showing how the device works, but they only add to the squiggly mess*
Um...you probably can't tell what I'm drawing, huh?
Interviewer: Uhh...
*Gad, I've really gotta take some art classes or something...who'd have known they'd help out in the sciences?*
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haha i love your username too...its like you had this big idea of illustrating a fantastic fireworks display but when you actually transferred the idea out of your head via your ability in art, all you got was a "fizzle."
if it is of any consequence--I can't draw for beans either.
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My interviews were the same with very typical questions. I actually talked with my student about baseball for half the time. I really liked the school too (except for the weather 😛) and the location is really good. I didn't hear back yet, but my letters are going out to Maryland, so I don't expect to hear until tomorrow with today being a holiday.
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My interviewer ended the interview by shifting in his chair, then proceeding to lean over the table, saying...
"So Gran Torino, is it true?"
We both got a good laugh. We had a good discussion of the movie.
"So Gran Torino, is it true?"
We both got a good laugh. We had a good discussion of the movie.
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At a recent interview, the applicants sat in a waiting room to be picked up by their interviewers. One of mine was a female professor who I'd guess was in her early 50's; we shook hands and started to walk back toward her office. On the way there, she turned toward me and said with a serious air, "I'm pressed for time, so there's something I'd like to clear up with you right away."
"Sure," I replied, a little worried about what it might be. "Go ahead."
"Quick: Pepe's or Sally's?"
I almost fell down laughing. These are the two iconic pizza places in New Haven, where I'd gone to college, and everyone is loyal to one or the other. (Kinda like Geno's and Pat's for you Philly cheesesteak fans.) This prof had done a grad fellowship there, so she knew all about New Haven pizza allegiances.
I'm a Pepe's fan myself, but she favored a place called Bar, which didn't even exist at the time I was there. All the same, it did start out the interview on a fun note.
"Sure," I replied, a little worried about what it might be. "Go ahead."
"Quick: Pepe's or Sally's?"
I almost fell down laughing. These are the two iconic pizza places in New Haven, where I'd gone to college, and everyone is loyal to one or the other. (Kinda like Geno's and Pat's for you Philly cheesesteak fans.) This prof had done a grad fellowship there, so she knew all about New Haven pizza allegiances.
I'm a Pepe's fan myself, but she favored a place called Bar, which didn't even exist at the time I was there. All the same, it did start out the interview on a fun note.
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Guess it's time to contribute...my interview season highlights:
School A: Interviewer and I discuss The Dark Knight for half an hour and I explain the scene where Batman arrives at Harvey's address instead of Rachel's. (The joker gave him the wrong address on purpose!)
School B: Interviewer accuses me of piracy when I inform him I didn't donate for Radiohead's In Rainbows album (best album ever)
School C: After discussing 50 Cent and the virtues of listening to every type of music imaginable with my interviewer, he cranks up his stereo and we proceed to conduct the rest of the interview with a dramatic and powerful symphony blaring in the background. The interview ends with a hug.
School D: My interviewer and I discuss the intricasies and differences between West Virginia and Chicago style hot dogs, because clearly the best answer to "What gets you up in the morning?" is "looking up and learning about random crap like hot dog styles."
School W: Right before my flight takes off, a military guy forgets some paperwork and forces our plane to return to the terminal. Our plane (already delayed) arrives really late and I miss the pizza party. I then proceed to spend five dollars on the vending machine for dinner, including some ill-advised beef / cheese packages. Diarrhea and insomnia ensue, and I go to my interview on three hours of sleep.
School A: Interviewer and I discuss The Dark Knight for half an hour and I explain the scene where Batman arrives at Harvey's address instead of Rachel's. (The joker gave him the wrong address on purpose!)
School B: Interviewer accuses me of piracy when I inform him I didn't donate for Radiohead's In Rainbows album (best album ever)
School C: After discussing 50 Cent and the virtues of listening to every type of music imaginable with my interviewer, he cranks up his stereo and we proceed to conduct the rest of the interview with a dramatic and powerful symphony blaring in the background. The interview ends with a hug.
School D: My interviewer and I discuss the intricasies and differences between West Virginia and Chicago style hot dogs, because clearly the best answer to "What gets you up in the morning?" is "looking up and learning about random crap like hot dog styles."
School W: Right before my flight takes off, a military guy forgets some paperwork and forces our plane to return to the terminal. Our plane (already delayed) arrives really late and I miss the pizza party. I then proceed to spend five dollars on the vending machine for dinner, including some ill-advised beef / cheese packages. Diarrhea and insomnia ensue, and I go to my interview on three hours of sleep.
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I was at an interview once. Everything was rolling as per usual. Simple conversational stuff. All of the sudden, my interviewer gets up, while continuing to talk, walks over to her closet and pulls out a 12-gauge shotgun from her closet. She points it strait at my face and says to me, 'What would be the last thing you would say to me if I were going to shoot you in the face ?' I had no idea what to say, so I said, 'I just saved a bunch of money on my car insurance by switching to GEICO'. We had a good laugh, she put the gun away, and the interview was over. Weirdest. Interview. Moment. Ever.
AtG
AtG
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WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A SHOTGUN!!!!! I hope you got in because thats ridiculous
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sorry... but i don't believe that one bit because it would be BEYOND unethical and therefore highly unlikely... an interviewer could get fired for doing something like that. similarly, an interviewee could sue for harassment, emotional distress, etc.
Interviewer: So tell me what I should say to the committee about you
Me: (blah blah blah).. my experience as a trained sexual assault counselor gives me a lot of experience with.. (blah blah blah)
Interviewer: Wait--you said you are a--tran..sexua....l...?
Me: (stare)
Interviewer: (stare)
Me: ................................right, a trained sexual assault counselor...
Me: (blah blah blah).. my experience as a trained sexual assault counselor gives me a lot of experience with.. (blah blah blah)
Interviewer: Wait--you said you are a--tran..sexua....l...?
Me: (stare)
Interviewer: (stare)
Me: ................................right, a trained sexual assault counselor...
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In Rainbows was my 2nd Radiohead album (Amnesiac being the first)...when I got it I wasn't the Radiohead fanatic that I am now...
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Of course it wasn't real. It was totally a (corny) joke. Somebody is quick on the uptake.
AtG
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Good Lord..... even fake (I'm sure you didn't know that right in the beginning) I just don't find that funny at all.
Glad you made it end on a funny note (good comeback by the way!) but I'm an avid shooter and that's one of the basic rules... NEVER point a gun at something you don't want to shoot/destroy.
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Sorry, let me make this more clear. The post was a joke. The entire scenario never happened.
AtG
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hahahaha! i love awkward stories like this. I love your last line.
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no effing way
This kind of attitude is exactly what is wrong with our country today. This is possibly the most excellent stress-test I've heard about; props to the interviewer and interviewee, and screw your law suits.
However, I still have a hard time believing this actually happened... I just can't imagine an interviewer being that awesome...
EDIT: And scrolling on, I see that it was fake...what a let-down. I was really gunning for the shot-gun doc to show up at my interview next week.
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I hope by West Virginia style you mean deep fried, I have had one (only once mind you) but let me tell you, it was an experience.
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I just saved 100% on my insurance by fleeing from the scene of the accident.
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.
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i hope you're not this weird in real life...
you make it sound like we're becoming militants... medicine is a freakin' job dude...nothing more...
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Oof. That's rough.
Yikes, that sucks.
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As a non-traditional student, I've gotten lots of unusual questions and comments, but the worst was probably the interviewer who told me halfway through the interview (in which I had been enthusiastically discussing a career change to medicine) that "at some point, you really need to stop being a student".
For what it's worth, I've been out of school and working for the past 8 years, which we had been discussing up to this point.
For what it's worth, I've been out of school and working for the past 8 years, which we had been discussing up to this point.
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getting a gun pointed at your face is "the most excellent stress-test" that you've heard about? if that's really true, I think you have a few screws loose. moving onto your second statement about "screw your law suits" - although litigation is abused quite regularly these days, it is still a necessary evil... otherwise, jacka**es like the one described in the aforementioned anecdote would get away with being perpetually unethical.
Cant say where this happened because I'm still waiting to hear from them
Interviewer: So It says in your file that you've worked as a personal trainer.
Me: Yes, yes I have.
Interviewer : Haha so you've worked with fat people like me?
Me:(thinking...dont say yes OH GOD DONT SAY YES) yes haha............
😕
Interviewer: So It says in your file that you've worked as a personal trainer.
Me: Yes, yes I have.
Interviewer : Haha so you've worked with fat people like me?
Me:(thinking...dont say yes OH GOD DONT SAY YES) yes haha............
😕
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booty bump.
