Not answering illegal interview questions: possibly a bad move?

[theWUbear]

---

Members do not see this ad.

If an interviewer starts to ask me about my marital status, my future plans for a family, sexuality, etc. or even religion or a related illegal topic, do I jeopardize the interview (risk scoring poorly) if I point out that it is illegal and decline answering it? Certainly you'd come off a bit off from the average applicant if you said "title VII of the Civil Rights act of 1964 and subsequently legislation have ensured that this question is not valid in job or school interviews".
For the record, I'm a pretty bland average applicant with these responses, but I believe in the ideals behind the illegality of these questions and do not wish to support their being asked by responding. Is it common to be asked illegal questions? Should I suck it up and respond?

 

[YH5]

Dial 911 immediately.

 

[jsh52]

If an interviewer starts to ask me about my marital status, my future plans for a family, sexuality, etc. or even religion or a related illegal topic, do I jeopardize the interview (risk scoring poorly) if I point out that it is illegal and decline answering it? Certainly you'd come off a bit off from the average applicant if you said "title VII of the Civil Rights act of 1964 and subsequently legislation have ensured that this question is not valid in job or school interviews".
For the record, I'm a pretty bland average applicant with these responses, but I believe in the ideals behind the illegality of these questions and do not wish to support their being asked by responding. Is it common to be asked illegal questions? Should I suck it up and respond?

I don't know. I think it depends on how they're asking it. If the interviewer seems friendly, I would answer it. That said, I went on one medical school interview and got asked why I didn't marry a doctor, my future family plans, types of guys I would date, who was going to take care of my future children, etc etc. I should have pulled the plug on the interview and walked out, but I answered them as maturely and calmly as I possibly could. I don't think there is a right answer here. I'm quite sure neither was a good option in my case. They're not SUPPOSED to ask that, but it depends on their motives for asking.

 

[glasshalfMD]

I don't know. I think it depends on how they're asking it. If the interviewer seems friendly, I would answer it. That said, I went on one medical school interview and got asked why I didn't marry a doctor, my future family plans, types of guys I would date, who was going to take care of my future children, etc etc. I should have pulled the plug on the interview and walked out, but I answered them as maturely and calmly as I possibly could. I don't think there is a right answer here. I'm quite sure neither was a good option in my case. They're not SUPPOSED to ask that, but it depends on their motives for asking.

I agree with this. I've had both - when interviewing for my present job, I got asked a few questions about my personal life, but it was in a lighthearted, just making conversation kind of way - not threatening. On the other hand, I had a medical school interview (at school Y) during which I got asked about my significant other, told the interviewer that the boyfriend is a current second year at X medical school, thinking he would just be like 'oh that's cute, they both like medicine' or something harmless like that. Instead, he lashed out and said 'well, I'm just going to consider this interview over - clearly you're going to school X since boyfriend is there, so you're clearly not interested in our school.' My immediate though: yes, sir... If this is how you do business, I DO have no interest in your school.

Fail.

 

[Avoidthetiger]

Female here. 10 interviews, and I was never asked anything about of this. Never even mentioned my long-time SO in any of my interviews either -- just talked about my immediate family.

I would say the chances may be slim of even being asked anything illegal... especially if you are currently a single, young individual. It sounds like JSH is married, so you might be at more risk of asked personal family questions then... but I would probably say I am not too comfortable with those types of questions or try to steer the convo away from personal information like that.

Appbuddy -- How did the interviewer know about your SO? I honestly probably would say that I don't have a bf/serious relationship to the interview (I know it's a lie)... but it's not serious or worth mentioning to an interviewer until you are engaged/married imo. I like keeping my life personal -- so I would rather give a white lie. But seriously, that sucks about School Y. Many long distance relationships do exist. A year ago I found an article about two physicians who meet in undergrad and started dating, went to different medical schools and residencies, and then go married and actually lived in the same city.

 

[BadHorse]

If an interviewer starts to ask me about my marital status, my future plans for a family, sexuality, etc. or even religion or a related illegal topic, do I jeopardize the interview (risk scoring poorly) if I point out that it is illegal and decline answering it? Certainly you'd come off a bit off from the average applicant if you said "title VII of the Civil Rights act of 1964 and subsequently legislation have ensured that this question is not valid in job or school interviews".
For the record, I'm a pretty bland average applicant with these responses, but I believe in the ideals behind the illegality of these questions and do not wish to support their being asked by responding. Is it common to be asked illegal questions? Should I suck it up and respond?

Two interviewers asked me if I was married. I don't wear a ring and it didn't really come up very organically, either, but I answered. It depends on how you feel when and if it comes up, but I wouldn't turn it into a criticism of the interviewer, just say you're not really comfortable answering questions of that nature. If they press you on the matter you can always cite the relevant laws and explain your feelings, but don't turn it into an attack on an interviewer who was probably just ignorant of the letter of the law and trying to be friendly or exploring your commitments outside of medicine.

 

[theWUbear]

I have a couple thoughts.

So many examples exist of interviewers doing the wrong thing - there really must not be enough awareness of this. It is really unfortunate. I guess they just aren't being trained thoroughly to know what is not allowed to be asked in the interview setting.

Secondly, I feel that people in my situation (straight, male, for example) are in a small way aiding and abetting the practice of asking discriminating/illegal questions if we allow interviewers to ask us these questions instead of objecting.

 

[jsh52]

I agree with this. I've had both - when interviewing for my present job, I got asked a few questions about my personal life, but it was in a lighthearted, just making conversation kind of way - not threatening. On the other hand, I had a medical school interview (at school Y) during which I got asked about my significant other, told the interviewer that the boyfriend is a current second year at X medical school, thinking he would just be like 'oh that's cute, they both like medicine' or something harmless like that. Instead, he lashed out and said 'well, I'm just going to consider this interview over - clearly you're going to school X since boyfriend is there, so you're clearly not interested in our school.' My immediate though: yes, sir... If this is how you do business, I DO have no interest in your school.

Fail.

Glad I'm not the only one who had a jerk interviewer. 😉 Frankly, the whole experienced turned me off of medicine for a long time (6 years). When I went to interviews for doctoral programs (and I went to 9), they were much more straightforward and couldn't have given two craps about my personal life. Anyways, I digress. I think you just have to be careful. I think my case, like I said, it was a no-win situation. If you get asked something like that, assess the interviewer.

Avoidthetiger-I'm married now, but I was 18 and not married/no kids for that interview! It happens. I'm anticipating even more illegal questions this time.

 

[deleted357625]

I don't know. I think it depends on how they're asking it. If the interviewer seems friendly, I would answer it. That said, I went on one medical school interview and got asked why I didn't marry a doctor, my future family plans, types of guys I would date, who was going to take care of my future children, etc etc. I should have pulled the plug on the interview and walked out, but I answered them as maturely and calmly as I possibly could. I don't think there is a right answer here. I'm quite sure neither was a good option in my case. They're not SUPPOSED to ask that, but it depends on their motives for asking.

👍

 

[alwaysaangel]

When I interviewed a few years ago I was asked at all 4 of the interviews I attended (sometimes by multiple interviewers). When I interviewed for residency it probably came up 15-20 times in my 10 interviews (with 3-4 interviews each). While I realize its illegal, a lot of interviewers want to see if you've thought about how your family and medicine will intertwine/work out.

No there isn't a lot of awareness of what is illegal and what isn't and there likely never will be. People interviewing for medical school (and residency for that matter) are attendings pulled out of work for an hour or two - donating their time to interview you. They usually aren't trained.

Frankly, I think its a big risk to refuse to answer. Right or wrong, if you snap at someone that the question is illegal you will likely create an awkward interview and they will likely no longer like you (human nature) and you risk a bad evaluation. Is that really worth it? You could just give short answers that make it clear you don't want to talk about that and then move the conversation in another direction.

 

[orthomyxo]

Reminds me of this lol

[YOUTUBE]B6A5QnnQAUc[/YOUTUBE]

 

[motomed]

If you open the door to these questions, I don't believe there's anything that prevents them from walking through that door and following up on something you've said or offered in your application.

I've always felt these laws were a bit silly. interviews are about getting to know people, but you aren't allowed to ask certain things that are an integral part of who someone is. how does that make sense? asking questions and gathering information does not equal discrimination.

 

[cowme]

When I interviewed a few years ago I was asked at all 4 of the interviews I attended (sometimes by multiple interviewers). When I interviewed for residency it probably came up 15-20 times in my 10 interviews (with 3-4 interviews each). While I realize its illegal, a lot of interviewers want to see if you've thought about how your family and medicine will intertwine/work out.

99/100 times, they are just making conversation. You are speaking to grown up people, who are married, and their entire lives outside of the hospital revolves around their families. They really don't have much to talk about other than medicine and their families, so they are just looking for a topic to connect on. Or they are trying to sell you on the location. "Oh, NYC is the BEST for a single 25 year old." Or, "Oh, Madison is a GREAT place to raise a family."

They're not "testing you" to see if you're going to get pregnant during med school or be worn down by family life. They're just talking to you. To the OP, you would be a f@#$ing idiot to refuse to answer and bring up the civil rights act.

 

[synthase]

One of my interviewers asked if I was in a relationship. When I said yes, he quizzed me on the failure rate of relationships for medical students. I said I didn't know the number. He said I should and that the number is high. When I asked what it was, he obviously didn't know and just said probably around 50%.

That's about the national divorce rate, so not a very significant med school question - don't know why he felt like challenging my relationship, but that was definitely his goal.... He seemed like a nice guy and then went down this road and I was totally unimpressed.

 

[Avoidthetiger]

Avoidthetiger-I'm married now, but I was 18 and not married/no kids for that interview! It happens. I'm anticipating even more illegal questions this time.

I apologize. The way you phrased the interview, it sounded like you were married to someone who wasn't a doctor. I imagine it does happen, it just didn't happen in my anecdotal experience where i meet with 20+ interviewers.

 

[alwaysaangel]

One of my interviewers asked if I was in a relationship. When I said yes, he quizzed me on the failure rate of relationships for medical students. I said I didn't know the number. He said I should and that the number is high. When I asked what it was, he obviously didn't know and just said probably around 50%.

That's about the national divorce rate, so not a very significant med school question - don't know why he felt like challenging my relationship, but that was definitely his goal.... He seemed like a nice guy and then went down this road and I was totally unimpressed.

I really think stuff like this is really just an interviewer trying to make conversation. And it just comes across wrong. Most people aren't trying to be mean (with a few exceptions).

And from my class and friends of mine at other schools its closer to 90% failure rate during the first year. Ones that start after med school tend to do better.

 

[LizzyM]

If you are a white male who has not listed HIV/AIDS or gay rights activities on your application, it is highly unlikely that you'll be asked any questions about your sexuality. Unless you've opened the door by discussing your girlfriend or wife or your religious activities, it is unlikely that you'll be asked about marriage or a future family or religion. If you are asked what you invision your life to be like in 10 years or what your obituary will say, consider the question only from the professional point of view, not the personal. In all likelihood, that's why the interviewer is asking.

It isn't so much that the questions are "illegal" as it is illegal to discriminate on the basis of a bunch of things. That said, some of the things one can not discriminate against are asked on the AMCAS 😱 , partly so that schools can prove that they don't discriminate.

If you can answer the question pleasantly but not really giving any information, you'll be fine. You can always say about almost anything, "I'm up for the challenge." or "That's far off in the future. " or "This ring has a lot of sentimental value to me."

 

[BadHorse]

If you are a white male who has not listed HIV/AIDS or gay rights activities on your application, it is highly unlikely that you'll be asked any questions about your sexuality. Unless you've opened the door by discussing your girlfriend or wife or your religious activities, it is unlikely that you'll be asked about marriage or a future family or religion.

White male who is not listed as a gay rights activist and didn't "open the door" here. Two interviewers broached the subject. Just sayin'.

 

[synthase]

I really think stuff like this is really just an interviewer trying to make conversation. And it just comes across wrong. Most people aren't trying to be mean (with a few exceptions).

And from my class and friends of mine at other schools its closer to 90% failure rate during the first year. Ones that start after med school tend to do better.

I disagree. If he was just trying to connect, we could have talked about how my significant other is and will continue to be an amazing support system or the fun things we do together or anything normal, not quiz an applicant on something that hasn't even been studied and has purely negative connotations.
I’m realistic about the additional stress medical school will put on my time and my relationship… but I’m not willing to accept your experience that 90% of relationships fail as fact. Long-term, serious relationships that started before medical school have just as much chance as those out in the non-medical world. There are people with demanding jobs in medicine and beyond who have fulfilling relationships and not all of them waited until after college, med school, residency, and fellowship to start them.

 

[LizzyM]

White male who is not listed as a gay rights activist and didn't "open the door" here. Two interviewers broached the subject. Just sayin'.

The subject of being gay??? 😱 Even asking about marriage rather surprises me, it wouldn't occur to me, ever, but if an applicant says, "my husband/wife/partner and I live in [neighborhood] and we love the area" I might go there and ask follow-up about what drew you to the area, do either of you have family and close friends nearby (assessing support network), etc.

 

[jsh52]

I apologize. The way you phrased the interview, it sounded like you were married to someone who wasn't a doctor. I imagine it does happen, it just didn't happen in my anecdotal experience where i meet with 20+ interviewers.

No worries. 🙂 I only went on one interview for medical school (it was an early admission program). I realize I'm likely to get more family-related questions now because I do have a husband and 7 month old baby. They are both part of my PS. I don't mind being asked some of those questions... I just hope they would ask those same questions to a dude. 😉 This guy sounded more like he was trying to gauge what kind of guys I liked to date, if you catch my drift. I DID know him before the interview (because I did summer research there)...and he was always saying I should dump my boyfriend-now husband- because he was a lawyer (jokingly, I thought). Yeah, so a bit more complicated history there. Still, inappropriate.

Even though there is 0% chance I would go there (it's too far from home)-I am REALLY tempted to reapply there.

 

[alwaysaangel]

I'm realistic about the additional stress medical school will put on my time and my relationship… but I'm not willing to accept your experience that 90% of relationships fail as fact. Long-term, serious relationships that started before medical school have just as much chance as those out in the non-medical world. There are people with demanding jobs in medicine and beyond who have fulfilling relationships and not all of them waited until after college, med school, residency, and fellowship to start them.

No one is saying its fact. I said based on experience. Myself and two old college classmates discussed this. Each of our classes were 100-120 students. They started with about 40-50ish people in relationships (we're talking long-term relationships-most through college, several since high school) and by the end of first year the vast majority had ended. Its now the end of med school. 2 people in my class married the people they dated before med school and one is still dating their SO. All the others ended for one reason or another. My friends schools' had similar stats.

But for a bunch of 20-somethings who's lives are changing so much that probably is comparable to the average person.

 

[LizzyM]

I disagree. If he was just trying to connect, we could have talked about how my significant other is and will continue to be an amazing support system or the fun things we do together or anything normal, not quiz an applicant on something that hasn't even been studied and has purely negative connotations.
I’m realistic about the additional stress medical school will put on my time and my relationship… but I’m not willing to accept your experience that 90% of relationships fail as fact. Long-term, serious relationships that started before medical school have just as much chance as those out in the non-medical world. There are people with demanding jobs in medicine and beyond who have fulfilling relationships and not all of them waited until after college, med school, residency, and fellowship to start them.

Not sure if you have evidence to back up your statement but here's an interesting study:

The Hopkins team assessed the specialty choices, marriage histories, psychological characteristics, and other career and personal factors of 1,118 physicians who graduated from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine from 1948 through 1964.

Over 30 years of follow-up, the divorce rate was 51 percent for psychiatrists, 33 percent for surgeons, 24 percent for internists, 22 percent for pediatricians and pathologists, and 31 percent for other specialties. The overall divorce rate was 29 percent after three decades of follow-up and 32 percent after nearly four decades of follow-up.

Physicians who married before medical school graduation had a higher divorce rate than those who waited until after graduation (33 percent versus 23 percent). The year of first marriage was linked with divorce rates: 11 percent for marriages before 1953, 17 percent for those from 1953 to 1957, 24 percent for those from 1958 to 1962 and 21 percent for those after 1962. Those who had a parent die before medical school graduation had a lower divorce rate.


http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/press/1997/MARCH/199703.HTM

Do note that this study was of people living at a time when divorce was less socially acceptable than it is now.

 

[glasshalfMD]

Appbuddy -- How did the interviewer know about your SO? I honestly probably would say that I don't have a bf/serious relationship to the interview (I know it's a lie)... but it's not serious or worth mentioning to an interviewer until you are engaged/married imo. I like keeping my life personal -- so I would rather give a white lie. But seriously, that sucks about School Y. Many long distance relationships do exist. A year ago I found an article about two physicians who meet in undergrad and started dating, went to different medical schools and residencies, and then go married and actually lived in the same city.

The conversation went a little like this:
I: how does your family feel about your applying to medical school outside of your home state?
Me: oh, they're super supportive no matter where I go... etc.
I: how about your boyfriend? do you have a boyfriend?
Me: (pause) yes, I do. he's a medical student, too, so obviously he's supportive of my decision to enter this career...
I: is he a student here?
Me: no, he's at a school in my home state.
I: ...end of conversation... [he actually DID say "you won't attend our school anyway, so I'll consider our conversation over"]

Ooof. I should have just told a little white-lie. I think I was so flustered for two reasons: (1) my first interviewer didn't show up - just straight up wasn't there. This jerk was a last-minute fill-in. (2) it was an interview for something more important - the truth was the easiest thing to say, ya know?

In the long run though, it's okay, because he was right: I wouldn't have attended his school (OOS tuition = sucks, among other things).

 

[tlaloc87]

In discussing one of my volunteer experience and what I enjoyed about it, I may have stated that "I really like kids." Somehow my interviewer interpreted that to mean "I want children ASAP", and he asked me how I was going handle med school and raising a family. That caught me completely off-guard because I'm a single (not married) guy with no children and had not mentioned anything about a GF/wife/SO... so I just said "Ooooh, you mean hypothetically?", and that was that.

Does being asked out by an interviewer count as an illegal question? Maybe interview foul at the least? That was a funny experience.

 

[theWUbear]

LizzyM, how would you (or if you are not in a role similar to dean of admissions, how do you believe someone in that position would) react to an email from an applicant stating that during the interview they were questioned regarding their marital status, sex ("why don't you marry a doctor?" and related questions), or sexuality (a category in which I am throwing the "do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend"? line of questions)?

How would you react if the applicant went on to say that this line of questioning comprised a large portion of the interview and he or she would like to request another interview in which his or her credentials and passion for the medical field were further discussed?

 

[synthase]

Not sure if you have evidence to back up your statement but here's an interesting study:

The Hopkins team assessed the specialty choices, marriage histories, psychological characteristics, and other career and personal factors of 1,118 physicians who graduated from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine from 1948 through 1964.

Over 30 years of follow-up, the divorce rate was 51 percent for psychiatrists, 33 percent for surgeons, 24 percent for internists, 22 percent for pediatricians and pathologists, and 31 percent for other specialties. The overall divorce rate was 29 percent after three decades of follow-up and 32 percent after nearly four decades of follow-up.

Physicians who married before medical school graduation had a higher divorce rate than those who waited until after graduation (33 percent versus 23 percent). The year of first marriage was linked with divorce rates: 11 percent for marriages before 1953, 17 percent for those from 1953 to 1957, 24 percent for those from 1958 to 1962 and 21 percent for those after 1962. Those who had a parent die before medical school graduation had a lower divorce rate.


http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/press/1997/MARCH/199703.HTM

Do note that this study was of people living at a time when divorce was less socially acceptable than it is now.

Thanks for providing that reference.
I would say this supports my argument that the medical school population has similar relationship success rates to the rest of the population. Assuming the divorce rate around the time of this study was around 20%. "Of the first marriages for women from 1955 to 1959, about 79 percent marked their 15th anniversary, compared with only 57 percent for women who married for the first time from 1985 to 1989" (from Wiki page but is cited as from the US Census Bureau). I appreciate alwaysaangel's experience and thank you for sharing, but I still don't agree with 90%...

 

[RogueUnicorn]

Where the heck are you guys having these interviews? All of mine were very pleasant and professional

LizzyM, how would you (or if you are not in a role similar to dean of admissions, how do you believe someone in that position would) react to an email from an applicant stating that during the interview they were questioned regarding their marital status, sex ("why don't you marry a doctor?" and related questions), or sexuality (a category in which I am throwing the "do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend"? line of questions)?

How would you react if the applicant went on to say that this line of questioning comprised a large portion of the interview and he or she would like to request another interview in which his or her credentials and passion for the medical field were further discussed?

Why are you so concerned about something that hasn't yet happened to you and is unlikely to happen in the future?

 

[juliedi]

I realize this wasn't the original topic of the thread, I wanted to respond to the discussion between LizzyM/alwaysaangel/synthase about med school and relationships. While statistics don't lie, none of the statistics out there tell you exactly what the chances are that your specific relationship will last or fail. You could definitely be that couple that makes it the whole way through. I think it is important to realistically look at the difficulties of med school and life as a physician and think about how that will impact your relationship, but try not to feel doomed that your relationship will end just because of the statistics. Just my two cents.

Now back to the issue at hand.

 

[Dr McSexy]

I just wanted to pop in here and say that I don't think it's illegal for anyone to be asked those questions by an interviewer.

Using those type of questions in order to discriminate is certainly illegal. If you feel like you received a rejection letter because of discrimination regarding these factors, you would have to file suit and take the school to court.

HOWEVER, asking these types of questions can be utilized to serve a different purpose on the whole. If the school is wanting to have a diverse student body, they are within their right to ask various types of questions that will garner information from applicants and use that information to fulfill their needs of a diverse student body. I mean that's pretty much what affirmative action is.

 

[synthase]

I realize this wasn't the original topic of the thread, I wanted to respond to the discussion between LizzyM/alwaysaangel/synthase about med school and relationships. While statistics don't lie, none of the statistics out there tell you exactly what the chances are that your specific relationship will last or fail. You could definitely be that couple that makes it the whole way through. I think it is important to realistically look at the difficulties of med school and life as a physician and think about how that will impact your relationship, but try not to feel doomed that your relationship will end just because of the statistics. Just my two cents.

Now back to the issue at hand.

Thanks for the comment. In no way do I look to statistics to doom or justify my relationship. Though you may think it naive, I'm not worried at all about how my SO and I will fare. This is simply an interesting debate on a subject that has few studies to support either side.

 

[LizzyM]

The conversation went a little like this:
I: how does your family feel about your applying to medical school outside of your home state?
Me: oh, they're super supportive no matter where I go... etc.
I: how about your boyfriend? do you have a boyfriend?
Me: (pause) yes, I do. he's a medical student, too, so obviously he's supportive of my decision to enter this career...
I: is he a student here?
Me: no, he's at a school in my home state.
I: ...end of conversation... [he actually DID say "you won't attend our school anyway, so I'll consider our conversation over"]

Ooof. I should have just told a little white-lie. I think I was so flustered for two reasons: (1) my first interviewer didn't show up - just straight up wasn't there. This jerk was a last-minute fill-in. (2) it was an interview for something more important - the truth was the easiest thing to say, ya know?

In the long run though, it's okay, because he was right: I wouldn't have attended his school (OOS tuition = sucks, among other things).

This sounds like getting information to determine how likely you were to matriculate at this OOS school, not to discriminate against you on the basis of marital status, etc. And it seems that the school made the right call. Some schools want to protect their yield and not make offers to applicants who will not, in the end, matriculate there.

 

[BadHorse]

The subject of being gay??? 😱 Even asking about marriage rather surprises me, it wouldn't occur to me, ever, but if an applicant says, "my husband/wife/partner and I live in [neighborhood] and we love the area" I might go there and ask follow-up about what drew you to the area, do either of you have family and close friends nearby (assessing support network), etc.

nonono, the subject of marriage, sorry if that was unclear.

 

[Geekchick921]

I realize this wasn't the original topic of the thread, I wanted to respond to the discussion between LizzyM/alwaysaangel/synthase about med school and relationships. While statistics don't lie, none of the statistics out there tell you exactly what the chances are that your specific relationship will last or fail. You could definitely be that couple that makes it the whole way through. I think it is important to realistically look at the difficulties of med school and life as a physician and think about how that will impact your relationship, but try not to feel doomed that your relationship will end just because of the statistics. Just my two cents.

Now back to the issue at hand.

+1

Also, regarding the study LizzyM posted, the 51% divorce rate for psychiatrists doesn't surprise me at all. Firstly, all the psychiatrists I've known at my job have been a little off themselves. Secondly, can you imagine having an argument with your psychiatrist spouse? Dear Lord.

 

[synthase]

+1

Also, regarding the study LizzyM posted, the 51% divorce rate for psychiatrists doesn't surprise me at all. Firstly, all the psychiatrists I've known at my job have been a little off themselves. Secondly, can you imagine having an argument with your psychiatrist spouse? Dear Lord.

True. and hilarious bunny sig... nice.

 

[LizzyM]

LizzyM, how would you (or if you are not in a role similar to dean of admissions, how do you believe someone in that position would) react to an email from an applicant stating that during the interview they were questioned regarding their marital status, sex ("why don't you marry a doctor?" and related questions), or sexuality (a category in which I am throwing the "do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend"? line of questions)?

How would you react if the applicant went on to say that this line of questioning comprised a large portion of the interview and he or she would like to request another interview in which his or her credentials and passion for the medical field were further discussed?

Hmmm... I'm not the dean of admissions but I can imagine the situation. I think that the dean would thank you for your call and promise to get back to you. I think the dean would then look at the write up of your interview to see if there were any clues to the questions asked and your responses. The dean might contact the interviewer and have a chat about the type of questions that interviewer typically asks. The dean might ask if the interviewer remembers this applicant and the jist of the discussion. At that point, if the adcom has not already made an official decision to deny you an offer (that decision is firm and can't be recinded), and if the dean thinks that you didn't get a fair shake, then the dean might invite you to come in for a second interview.

There are rare instances where a interviewer becomes flaky over the course of a season and has to be "retired". With one-on-one interviews, no one but the applicant may know that the interviewer is asking inappropriate questions. (We have mandatory training sessions every year, even for veteran interviewers, to let us know what not to do.)

 

[DoctwoB]

This sounds like getting information to determine how likely you were to matriculate at this OOS school, not to discriminate against you on the basis of marital status, etc. And it seems that the school made the right call. Some schools want to protect their yield and not make offers to applicants who will not, in the end, matriculate there.

I always hated this line of reasoning. Shouldn't the fact that I spent $400 on the plane ticket, took time off from school/work, slept on a med student's couch/floor/bean bag, and spent all day being chipper and answering questions (when really its still 4:00 a.m. in Pacific time) tell you that I am clearly interested in your school? If I wasn't interested I wouldn't have gone through the trouble.

Its also a major turn off for a school when an interviewer assumes you'd go somewhere else if you got in. This happened at later interviews when interviewers asked what schools I had been accepted to, and then tuned out b/c they clearly expected me not to attend. If I wasn't considering attending the school when I'm already holding other acceptances, why would I go through the trouble? Yes your school may not be Harvard, but if your not excited about your own institution then why should I be?

/End rant.

 

[Geekchick921]

I always hated this line of reasoning. Shouldn't the fact that I spent $400 on the plane ticket, took time off from school/work, slept on a med student's couch/floor/bean bag, and spent all day being chipper and answering questions (when really its still 4:00 a.m. in Pacific time) tell you that I am clearly interested in your school? If I wasn't interested I wouldn't have gone through the trouble.

Its also a major turn off for a school when an interviewer assumes you'd go somewhere else if you got in. This happened at later interviews when interviewers asked what schools I had been accepted to, and then tuned out b/c they clearly expected me not to attend. If I wasn't considering attending the school when I'm already holding other acceptances, why would I go through the trouble? Yes your school may not be Harvard, but if your not excited about your own institution then why should I be?

/End rant.

True story, at my last interview, "Well, you know, we're not Harvard," was said to me/us by a few different people at the school during the interview, students and faculty alike.

Um... really awkward. And a major turn-off. Could you imagine being on a first date while the other person kept making self-deprecating comments? 👎

 

[glasshalfMD]

I always hated this line of reasoning. Shouldn't the fact that I spent $400 on the plane ticket, took time off from school/work, slept on a med student's couch/floor/bean bag, and spent all day being chipper and answering questions (when really its still 4:00 a.m. in Pacific time) tell you that I am clearly interested in your school? If I wasn't interested I wouldn't have gone through the trouble.

Its also a major turn off for a school when an interviewer assumes you'd go somewhere else if you got in. This happened at later interviews when interviewers asked what schools I had been accepted to, and then tuned out b/c they clearly expected me not to attend. If I wasn't considering attending the school when I'm already holding other acceptances, why would I go through the trouble? Yes your school may not be Harvard, but if your not excited about your own institution then why should I be?

/End rant.

Agreed. This was a school that required 'significant ties' to their state in order to get an interview. They sent me an email saying "we want you to know, we're going to reject you unless you explain your ties to our state," to which I sent a well thought-out, lengthy response regarding those ties. If I didn't want to go to their school, I wouldn't have needed to interview - therefore, I wouldn't have taken the time to send that response. I would have just said 🙄 and moved on with the acceptance at another school I already had at the time.

 

[LizzyM]

I always hated this line of reasoning. Shouldn't the fact that I spent $400 on the plane ticket, took time off from school/work, slept on a med student's couch/floor/bean bag, and spent all day being chipper and answering questions (when really its still 4:00 a.m. in Pacific time) tell you that I am clearly interested in your school? If I wasn't interested I wouldn't have gone through the trouble.

Its also a major turn off for a school when an interviewer assumes you'd go somewhere else if you got in. This happened at later interviews when interviewers asked what schools I had been accepted to, and then tuned out b/c they clearly expected me not to attend. If I wasn't considering attending the school when I'm already holding other acceptances, why would I go through the trouble? Yes your school may not be Harvard, but if your not excited about your own institution then why should I be?

/End rant.

I've heard it said that people come to interview because they want to visit our city or because they are collecting offer letters just to brag. In some cases, the applicant doesn't seem to have an interest but there might be some family pressure to interview here (although the applicant wants to go elsewhere).

On the other hand, I operate under the assumption that the person has a genuine interest in this school and has thus made an effort to be there.

 

[n3xa]

Um... really awkward. And a major turn-off. Could you imagine being on a first date while the other person kept making self-deprecating comments? 👎

WELCOME TO MY DATING WORLD 🙁

foreveralone.jpg

 

[juliedi]

I always hated this line of reasoning. Shouldn't the fact that I spent $400 on the plane ticket, took time off from school/work, slept on a med student's couch/floor/bean bag, and spent all day being chipper and answering questions (when really its still 4:00 a.m. in Pacific time) tell you that I am clearly interested in your school? If I wasn't interested I wouldn't have gone through the trouble.

Its also a major turn off for a school when an interviewer assumes you'd go somewhere else if you got in. This happened at later interviews when interviewers asked what schools I had been accepted to, and then tuned out b/c they clearly expected me not to attend. If I wasn't considering attending the school when I'm already holding other acceptances, why would I go through the trouble? Yes your school may not be Harvard, but if your not excited about your own institution then why should I be?

/End rant.

True story, at my last interview, "Well, you know, we're not Harvard," was said to me/us by a few different people at the school during the interview, students and faculty alike.

Um... really awkward. And a major turn-off. Could you imagine being on a first date while the other person kept making self-deprecating comments? 👎

Agreed. This was a school that required 'significant ties' to their state in order to get an interview. They sent me an email saying "we want you to know, we're going to reject you unless you explain your ties to our state," to which I sent a well thought-out, lengthy response regarding those ties. If I didn't want to go to their school, I wouldn't have needed to interview - therefore, I wouldn't have taken the time to send that response. I would have just said 🙄 and moved on with the acceptance at another school I already had at the time.

I guess since this thread's already been hijacked I'll continue... yeah I agree with all the above! I recently withdrew my spot on the waitlist of a school I really loved in the beginning. It's in a great city across the country from where I'm from. I spent a lot of time in my interview (and update letters) truthfully explaining that I want to branch out and live in another part of the country, and that this city would be perfect for me because of X, Y, and Z reasons. Apparently they didn't believe me, because when I withdrew, I got an email back from an admissions lady saying "Good luck at [In-State School] next year." Gah! I never said I wanted to stay in the same state, in fact I made it pretty darn clear that the opposite was true!

/rant

 

[LizzyM]

Going back to the marriage, girlfriend/boyfriend issue. In defense of those who do ask, interviewers are there to sell you on the school & the area as much as they are tasked with finding out if you are a good fit.

If someone is going to sell you on the area and the school, they might take a different aproach if you are single and looking, attached, or married with kids. The kind of housing you might be interested in, the entertainment and social outlets that might interest you, etc might be predicated on your "lifestyle". Just like real estate, you shouldn't be penalized for your answer but it might be legit to ask in order to provide you with useful information.

That said, I usually let the applicant bring it up (e.g. to ask about married couple housing, etc).

 

[ridethecliche]

If you are a white male who has not listed HIV/AIDS or gay rights activities on your application, it is highly unlikely that you'll be asked any questions about your sexuality. Unless you've opened the door by discussing your girlfriend or wife or your religious activities, it is unlikely that you'll be asked about marriage or a future family or religion. If you are asked what you invision your life to be like in 10 years or what your obituary will say, consider the question only from the professional point of view, not the personal. In all likelihood, that's why the interviewer is asking.

It isn't so much that the questions are "illegal" as it is illegal to discriminate on the basis of a bunch of things. That said, some of the things one can not discriminate against are asked on the AMCAS 😱 , partly so that schools can prove that they don't discriminate.

If you can answer the question pleasantly but not really giving any information, you'll be fine. You can always say about almost anything, "I'm up for the challenge." or "That's far off in the future. " or "This ring has a lot of sentimental value to me."

Haha, I'm totally going to get asked this at some point given that my work experience and volunteer experience has revolved around HIV/AIDS and I'm a non white male.

 

[LizzyM]

Haha, I'm totally going to get asked this at some point given that my work experience and volunteer experience has revolved around HIV/AIDS and I'm a non white male.

If part of the reason you want to go into medicine is to serve people with HIV/AIDS or other underserved populations (and you have some history with those groups) then you have a selling point.... make the most of it!

 

[lisi326]

I always hated this line of reasoning. Shouldn't the fact that I spent $400 on the plane ticket, took time off from school/work, slept on a med student's couch/floor/bean bag, and spent all day being chipper and answering questions (when really its still 4:00 a.m. in Pacific time) tell you that I am clearly interested in your school? If I wasn't interested I wouldn't have gone through the trouble.

Its also a major turn off for a school when an interviewer assumes you'd go somewhere else if you got in. This happened at later interviews when interviewers asked what schools I had been accepted to, and then tuned out b/c they clearly expected me not to attend. If I wasn't considering attending the school when I'm already holding other acceptances, why would I go through the trouble? Yes your school may not be Harvard, but if your not excited about your own institution then why should I be?

/End rant.

Truth. My interviewer at a top 20 school told me that I should just go to the top 20 school I was at for undergrad/grad 'cause it was better anyway. Granted, he had taught at my school for a significant period of time and clearly loved it... but it was still weird. Why interview at your school if you're just gonna tell me to go somewhere "better"?

 

[eli20]

I got asked about significant other/marriage a few times and there's nothing on my app to indicate anything about this (I'm personally of the opinion that it's ridiculous to be married at age 21 in 2011 but that's another story...)

Most of the time I wrote it off as a school trying to sell a certain type of environment. For me it was helpful because it pointed to the demographics of a school. As a young single I'd prefer not to go somewhere where 1/4 of the class is already married.

Note: I also have to admit I only applied/interviewed in Texas, and so geography probably has a lot to do with this. Southerners still get married weirdly early, I've been to no fewer than 10 weddings of people I graduated high school with...

 

[Wermz]

Dial 911 immediately.

lulz

 

[DrBowtie]

Sensitive people being overly sensitive.

 

[drizzt3117]

If an interviewer starts to ask me about my marital status, my future plans for a family, sexuality, etc. or even religion or a related illegal topic, do I jeopardize the interview (risk scoring poorly) if I point out that it is illegal and decline answering it? Certainly you'd come off a bit off from the average applicant if you said "title VII of the Civil Rights act of 1964 and subsequently legislation have ensured that this question is not valid in job or school interviews".
For the record, I'm a pretty bland average applicant with these responses, but I believe in the ideals behind the illegality of these questions and do not wish to support their being asked by responding. Is it common to be asked illegal questions? Should I suck it up and respond?

Id just answer the question. Tbh if someone refused to answer what I thought was an innocuous question, i'd make the assumption they'd be difficult to get along with.