Musicians and interviews

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Enthalpy430

Enthalpy430

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I'm wondering if any applicants who are musicians were asked by the interviewer to perform or were told "it's a shame you don't have your instrument with you." Or if any musicians brought their instruments with them and performed for the interviewer during or after their interview.

I ask because I've studied progessive/classical/flamenco guitar for 14 years, and play both right-handed and left-handed. I think that it would demonstrate that I'm proficient in areas other than the sciences and that I'm very dedicated to my interests.

The only downsides I can see are the adcoms thinking that it's too presumptuous to bring an instrument with you to an interview and that it may detract from you emphasizing your interest in medicine. But, you could state that you brought it with you, but it's at your hotel or whatever and if they'd like to hear you play, you could arrange it later.

Thoughts?
 
Yes, I was asked to perform (vocally) at an interview this year. I found it a bit strange, but I happily obliged. Don't bring an instrument with you though, it's clunky and looks presumptuous.
 
I also graduated from a conservatory with a degree in music and play guitar. But I would not bring my guitar with me. I am, unfortunately, way out of practice, which I think is understandable considering my current focus on med school admissions. I don't think they would look poorly on you for not playing something for them, after all, it's med school and instruments are clunky. I schlepped that guitar all over europe and the US already. Not bringing it with me on interviews. It's not end of semester juries, thank god (any conservatory students will know what those were like). I also put down my degree in German and that I am fluent. It may be more likely that I am asked to speak German a little, thought my German medical vocab sucks. Although I think it is unlikely that an adcom will be conversant enough in the language to actually test my fluency.
 
Here's my suggestion. If you mention that you play something and they say "Oh, I'd love to hear it", they're probably being honest but not literally wanting to here it right now (It'd be odd to say "Hold on! I got my guitar and amp in the hallway!". Whta'd probably work is uploading some samples of your performance on a personal website (make sure it's tasteful and the next section isn't you boozing with your buds while two chicks make out in the background) and giving the website to the interviewer.
 
don't do that. it suggests talent and valuable extracurriculars, sure, but it also would make you seem a little weird, which is a big interview no-no. plus, it would be a giant pain to lug around all day (as you probably already know).

i'm a violinist myself though, and hope that i will be able to play a bit in med school 🙂
 
I'll echo the above sentiments--I'm a guitarist (hey, unique like everyone else...) but my voice is my primary instrument. I was a member of a well-known collegiate ensemble, and it looks like having the rare opportunity where you're asked to sing something is about the only chance (this hasn't happened to me; still waiting on an interview).
 
don't expect them to ask. i've been in over 20 separate interviews (not that many schools--i'm applying MSTP and i've been at 2 schools, and you usually have at least 10 distinct interviews at each school), and i listed vocal performance all over my application. even some weird stuff, slavic singing, etc, but no one has really brought it up or asked to hear.
 
I don't expect at all. I just said vocal is much more likely than "hey man, got your axe/violin/trombone in your suitcase?"
 
Thought: if you bring your instrument to a medical school interview, your interviewers will likely think you're a weirdo, just fyi.
 
I am a violinist and would not bring my violin with me. It is on my application and everybody asked me about music and music/medicine questions but I have not been asked to play. I have a CD of one of my last recitals with me and if an interviewer seems to be really interested then I'd give it to him/her.
Otherwise I won't bring it up. I was happy to hear some schools (in Philly at least) have a professors/students orchestra which performs for the school and such.
 
Both the website and the CD are great ideas for intrumentalists.
 
Enthalpy430 said:
I think that it would demonstrate that I'm proficient in areas other than the sciences and that I'm very dedicated to my interests.
Click to expand...

I assume they will see that you are dedicated to outside interests from reading your application. Vocalists might be asked to sing, because they can't go anywhere without their instrument. Anything else, though, just...don't bring it. You are interviewing for medical school. They will see how active you have been with music and will talk to you about it if they are interested (I play a fairly unique instrument and a few interviewers wanted to know how it works). Once you are in the actual interview room, you will realize how little time you have to get all your points across.
 
Yea, I certainly wouldn't walk into an interview with my guitar in hand. Like everyone said, it would just be weird.

If the interviewer expresses and interest in hearing a performance, extending an offer for a later time or if music was available online wouldn't be a bad idea, unless they insisted on hearing it that instant.

The interviewer would certainly remember the interview, just hopefully not for the wrong reasons.
 
I've never seen anyone bring an instrument with them to a MEDICAL school interview. That would be really strange. They would immediately imagine you as the liberal hippie type who doesn't cut his hair and walks around his undergrad campus barefoot strumming simple chords in first position while singing anti-authority songs.

Don't do it.
 
if your interviewer takes interest in your musical ability, maybe it would be a good idea to attach a file to a thank you email.
 
I like Dave's idea a LOT.

Although I would definitely be a MEMORABLE applicant if I brought my piano to interviews :laugh:.
 
I was asked about the type of music I like to play, do i write my own stuff all that.

If you were asked to sing they were probably more or less looking at your personality to how u handled the absurd request, not that you can actually sing
 
I resolved this problem by putting harp on my application. I had a friend that said he dabbled in the skin flute. He didn't get any interviews.
 
Disinence2 said:
I was asked about the type of music I like to play, do i write my own stuff all that.

If you were asked to sing they were probably more or less looking at your personality to how u handled the absurd request, not that you can actually sing
Click to expand...

i did a little performance as per request during one of my interviews. i'll let you guys know if i get in about 11 days. 😀
 
It's a med school interview, not a talent show. If you want to impress adcoms, impress them with your answers to the "why medicine" and "why our school" questions, not by playing a musical instrument with both hands.
 
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