New Idea: Official Interview Thread

[nomattic]

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I saw this in pre-med allopathic and was thinking this for some time beforehand.

We should have one official thread (tagged/with a sticky) where we can post what questions were asked at interviews for certain schools. Even a thread where we compile all of the interview questions we've encountered, heard about should be posted in one place. I think it would make prepping a lot easier if we started organizing or consolidating this.

If you guys agree, feel free to get it started. If not, I'll delete and pretend I never posted this.

 

[qtran]

UMB- first question to break the ice is, if you were to be on the front cover of a magazine, what magazine would it be and what would be the headline title?! i'll never forget this question.

 

[rlt]

Belmont: (Something to the effect of...)
-Share your most memorable experience while shadowing/volunteering and explain what you learned from that experience?
-Biggest strength/weakness question
-Explain the difference between PT and PTA?
-Situational Question: You are working in an outpatient clinic and about to see a new patient. This patient has already been seen by two other therapists and is upset that he/she has had to bounce around between therapists. How do you handle this situation?

 

[elmcd77]

I have to say, in my interview experience and talking with classmates, etc., that a rehearsed interview is really not going to go over well with admissions committees. For example, during interviews at my school, several people told me they had practiced interviews and did not get in. Those of us who went in confident, with solid knowledge of the field of PT, healthcare, and of themselves, were successful. Now that I am in school, how I see it is that the interviewer wants to know how you are going to respond off the cuff. In a clinic, patients will say some crazy things to you at times, and as a PT, you need to be able to respond with professionalism immediately. I see the interview almost as a way to see how you can respond quickly in a clinical setting and how you can adapt to your environment. Preparing and rehearsing interview questions really does not do this, and they have already read your prepared essay. The school truly wants to get to know you, and when people say to be yourself, it's true. The interview is the only opportunity for the committee to get to know the real you, and I guarantee they are not looking for a canned response.

I know you are all nervous, but I would suggest researching healthcare legislation and truly understanding how it affects you. "Research" yourself and recall all the amazing things you have done whether it relates to PT or not. And be prepared for some interesting questions, but by having done the two previous items, I think you will be able to relate it back to one of your strengths.

 

[Azimuthal]

If you sound rehearsed, you'll be thrown in with the cliche crowd. It's okay to pause as you gather your thoughts.

 

[nomattic]

Well, I wasn't necessarily suggesting some robotic, prepared speech or anything. I was thinking more of some general types of questions or topics that one should be knowledgable about. I know they want you to seem genuine in an interview but I also know they want you to sound like you know what you're talking about. From shadowing and other activities I feel like I've got a decent grasp on some of those things but a little research prior to interviewing wouldn't kill me, either. Sorry if I came across like I wanted specific questions so that I could memorize answers, as that definitely wasn't my intention.

elmcd77, this is awesome advice and a really helpful insight. It seems like there are so many different things to research and some direction on where to start is exactly what I was hoping to find.

rlt, those are some great questions and gave me some things to think about. Thanks for posting, both of you.