At the end of my interview I got the "do you have any questions for me" and I inquired about what characteristics that school thought was important for their medical school graduates to possess. The interviewer seemed taken aback, and, after a long period of silence the response was "I don't know." I asked one more basic question of that nature and got another blank stare and another "I don't know." It felt as though the questions were perceived as being from completely out of left field and I felt baaaaaad. I was just trying to get a feel for what type of student that school wants to produce...not ask hard hitting questions. Did I just totally mess up my chances by throwing my interviewer an apparent curve ball?
OK to stump interviewer?
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The information about the current students is available on the school's website. Asking it at an interview makes it appear you're not what they're looking for but trying to fit it anyway.
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I think a lot of times asking those types of questions that are so cookie-cutter kind of strike interviewees the wrong way. If the rest of the interview went well, I doubt that botched it, but I doubt it made a great impression. Sorry. I really don't think an interviewer is a good person to ask that type of question to, stick to students who are more relaxed and have a better idea.
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I don't think that you hurt your chances but that is an odd question from an applicant. The interviewer (and the adcom) is focused on what characteristics the incoming student should possess. Some of us who focus on admissions would really have to think about the desirable characteristics of the school's graduates. We are in our silos and admissions doesn't have much (any) say about curriculum, or "promotion and graduation" or how students "turn out" at the other end.
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i disagree. the interview is a two way street. you are seeing they are a good fit just as much as they are seeing if you are. I think it was a great question, and if they can't answer I don't think it reflects well on the schools choice of interviewees
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That is like saying information about the applicant is all in their application. What are interviews for then?
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Why does an applicant want to know what medical school graduates should possess?
I could see that asking what characteristics the successful applicant should have could be seen as being a way of conforming oneself to adcom expectations but I just don't see a motivation for asking this question. Would it be "what are the medical school 's educational goals?"
This certainly is outside of the realm of the frequently asked questions about a school. Was the interviewer an admissions office administrator, a faculty member (clinical faculty or basic sciences) or a student?
I could see that asking what characteristics the successful applicant should have could be seen as being a way of conforming oneself to adcom expectations but I just don't see a motivation for asking this question. Would it be "what are the medical school 's educational goals?"
This certainly is outside of the realm of the frequently asked questions about a school. Was the interviewer an admissions office administrator, a faculty member (clinical faculty or basic sciences) or a student?
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You asked an earnest question, albeit a more philosophical question. It was difficult for him to answer because it is a broad general philosophical question and unless he is the dean of medical education or on some educational committee, it is hard for him to speak for the school as a whole. While there are differences, all medical schools are similar in this respect: they want to put out clinically competent and humanistic physicians. In general, I think all schools want their graduates to possess clinical judgment, empathy, compassion, and integrity. Beyond these generalities, some schools orient their focus more towards primary care, others more toward producing physician-scientists, etc.
That said, if the rest of your interview went well, I don't think you hurt yourself. You are a thoughtful individual and it is a legitimate question, but perhaps in a different setting.
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If that was the goal, I think the question could have been better phrased so as not to stump. People have been known to ask about how the school prepares its students for rotations and then residency and which aspects of the program the interviewer feels are strongest in such preparation (Allowing them to launch into a discussion of early clinical exposure). Or specific questions about courses in ethics, or how the school readies its graduates for complex ethical situations (but only ask this if you are ready to discuss ethics). But you need to tie it to the school.
I think the interviewer could have come up with a better answer than "I don't know" in OPs situation, but the goal is really to get him talking about his school, not the profession at large, so I think you (OP) should better target it next time.
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I really don't know what the big deal is. I thought the question was pretty reasonable. Just based on the long pause and an "I don't know answer," I can take a wild guess and say that an important characteristic that is lacking in some of their students is the ability to think on their feet.
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The OP never said the interviewer was a graduate of that school, just an interviewer there. Many non-student interviewers are not homegrown talent.🙂
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It was a stupid question, the answer to which you probably already know, and you asked it because you have a big head, are socially inept, and like to hear yourself talk.
"What Qualities is it important for your graduates to possess." What a ******ed question.
"Gee, Msurodeo, we'd really like 'em to stop shouting racial epithets by the time they leave here...and if we could just get them to stop molesting the patients we would put them in the 'win' column."
Man. Must everyone be a tool? It is alright to make some polite conversation, maybe say, "So what's the nightlife like around here?" Instead you probably blew your shot at that school, at least as far as that interviewer is concerned.
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I have to agree with Panda. It sounds like you took a common interview question "What qualities do you think its important for a doctor to possess" and thought it would be clever to turn it around on the medical school. Well its not.
"Where do you see this school being 10 yrs from now?"
"What are the 3 greatest weaknesses of your school?"
🙄
They are poorly worded ambiguous questions, that we as interviewees hate. Why would you turn it around on the person who is going to present you to the admissions committee? Not a good idea. We all know what a pain in the ass it was to think through and come up with decent answers to all those questions. Even if the answers are true, they were hard to think of. I guarantee you your interviewer is already using up his valuable time to interview you at all and to read your file. He doesn't have time to come up with bull**** answers to bull**** questions.
Hopefully he took it well and doesn't hold it against you. But to think you "stumped" your interviewer is silly. You didn't stump him. You asked a dumb question and he returned with a dumb answer.
Next time stick with things about the curriculum, social life, board scores, research, etc. Something concrete you can ask about, avoid the abstracts.
"Where do you see this school being 10 yrs from now?"
"What are the 3 greatest weaknesses of your school?"
🙄
They are poorly worded ambiguous questions, that we as interviewees hate. Why would you turn it around on the person who is going to present you to the admissions committee? Not a good idea. We all know what a pain in the ass it was to think through and come up with decent answers to all those questions. Even if the answers are true, they were hard to think of. I guarantee you your interviewer is already using up his valuable time to interview you at all and to read your file. He doesn't have time to come up with bull**** answers to bull**** questions.
Hopefully he took it well and doesn't hold it against you. But to think you "stumped" your interviewer is silly. You didn't stump him. You asked a dumb question and he returned with a dumb answer.
Next time stick with things about the curriculum, social life, board scores, research, etc. Something concrete you can ask about, avoid the abstracts.
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👍 Right on. ZIINNG!!
OP: Do not worry to much, I asked one interviewer (because he annoyed me awfully much) "well we know what I think but what do you think about doctor compensation?" He got a blank look with the face that says (did you really just ask me that). But I still got accepted. IT proves to them that you have guts and will stand up for yourself. However I would not do those with a woman interviewer at all.
I was trying to be conversational and find out how they reconcile their primary care, rural setting with research goals. All stats (board scores, match stats) had been thoroughly addressed on the website, students had addressed living situations, and curriculum had been thoroughly discussed by this point. They have a homogenous, rural, population. How do they increase student's exposure to diverse patient populations (question number 2)? The intent was not to be intense, or show intellectual superiority (one must question people who are suspicious of this motivation...are they perhaps guilty of repeat offenses themselves?) but to ask about geniune issues that school faces. I appreciate all the feedback you guys have had for me, this was definitely a good learning opportunity.
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whoa, i thought this sounded like an innocuous question, albeit with the "tooly" pre-med feel. but i never thought that it would be questions like these that would be dealbreakers! but then again, at my first interview when asked "do you have any questions" i replied "not really...i think that all my questions have been answered by the website, the tour, and my conversations with other students and yourself." i guess no matter what you've got to come up with some potential questions.
I think your second questions is definately a legitemate one. That should be a concern of yours and the interviewer probably should have been able to give some type of answer. The first one was maybe a little more on the philosophical side, but still not totally unreasonable.
I agree with you too though, questions about nightlife or living arrangements are usually adressed by students and not the interviewers. Good luck to you.
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get this: i asked one of my student interviewers as a final question "where can i get a decent steak around here to celebrate completing my interview." she replied, sort of disgusted, that she was a strict vegan or something. so i guess any question is a potential landmine...
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haha, after reading what i just wrote above, i just realized that not only did i offend her non-carnivorosity, but it might as been construed as me hitting on her. smooth move, etf...
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Man...after reading so many of your posts on SDN and your personal blog, you must send your patients into sobbing fits after you are done with them. Do you have any compassion, or just bitterness?
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During one of my interviews (a successful one for that matter 🙂 ), I asked both my interviewers only one question.
"What would you say is the worst quality about this school?" Followed obligatorily by the opposite question.
One of my interviewers came up with an answer, while the other one said he/she couldn't think of anything. It's all good, sometimes you may catch them off guard with something they've never really thought of, and you realize these are people that are stumped with questions just like you are (regardless of how many PhD's and MD's they may have).
I asked that question because it's not something you can find posted on their website. I dare you to find a school with a website that includes a link that reads "Our Worst Qualities."
"What would you say is the worst quality about this school?" Followed obligatorily by the opposite question.
One of my interviewers came up with an answer, while the other one said he/she couldn't think of anything. It's all good, sometimes you may catch them off guard with something they've never really thought of, and you realize these are people that are stumped with questions just like you are (regardless of how many PhD's and MD's they may have).
I asked that question because it's not something you can find posted on their website. I dare you to find a school with a website that includes a link that reads "Our Worst Qualities."
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Most "How to Interview" books tell you that this isn't a particularly good questoin, because it isn't school/job specific, and so it sounds too canned.
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just end with shaking their hands and telling them again why you want to be there....
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Congrats, but that doesn't mean it will come off that well for most people.🙂 FWIW I used to use this kind of question too until I read that it was a bad idea. I did better without it.
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I agree. I'm not a fan either. I know he's trying to be sarcastic but there is such a thing as trying too hard.
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Thank you. 🙂
And I know that, but I find those books to be sort of bogus. The same comment I would give to all those "How to have the happiest baby" and "How to raise your child to be an Einstein" books.
I do not believe that asking a simple question will be the decisive factor in anyone's acceptance or rejection. The overall interview vibe and attitude, politeness, fakeness vs. sincerity, arrogance vs. humbleness, being well-spoken and articulate (please do not say "like" people, you are now in college), is much more important than that. Not to mention there's the rest of the application.
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Agreed. But it can show disinterest if your questions don't show any research on the school. Best to package this kind of generic question in with more school specific ones, in my opinion. But sure, you probably nailed the interview long before you got to the "any questions?" portion of the program.
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The guy asked a damn question and you are making it sound like he had a master plan to stump the interviewer. He was genuinely curious about the question. What characteristics should their students possess.It is probably rocket science to you but it is really not, let me sum it up for you. How does your school want to be represented by your former students? It is not his fault the interviewer didn't have adequate knowledge of the school they interview for.
I had 6 different admissions officers say that not asking any questions was a big strike against you. So how about you do a little research next time. Remember that you will be giving several years of your life and over 100K to this school, so no question is a bull**** or dumb question. He has the right to know how they want their students to turn out. Seems like you have the philosophy to not get the answers you want and kiss ass instead.
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No he asked a vague bull**** premed question. I honestly hope it turns out ok, but it wouldn't surprise me if its held against him.
And thats still a vague poorly worded question. If thats what he was getting at he should have asked directly about the curriculum, what types of ethics courses do they have, any kinds of preceptorships to let them see a primary care doctor in action, etc.
Where did I tell him not to ask questions? I said still with concrete questions instead of the bull**** abstracts the med schools throw at us.
I know its shocking but whether you like it or not, there are dumb questions and bull**** questions.
I get the answers to the questions I want without coming across as an idiot. Not only that but if "how they want their students to turn out' is all he wanted he could have read the mission statement.
But neither of us are going to budge on this so theres really no point. But please don't encourage other applicants to go around spouting reciprocals of the questions med schools ask us. Its not a good idea and could very easily bite them in the ass.
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The mission statement is marketing bull****, if you think it is anymore you are just naive. He wanted elaboration like the interviewers ask you to elaborate on your application. I agree trying to stump the interviewer is a bad idea but this wasn't this guys goal.
Let me put it this way. If I were the interviewer I would have been able to answer that question. Does the school want their students to be focused on patient care or research (what kind of research), primary care or specialties (if specialties which ones), this way of approaching a patient or this way, a preference for teamwork (no grades) or individualism (grades).
Instead this interviewer had their head up their ass. So don't blame him because the inteviewer didn't know the philosophies and concentrations of the school.
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There are also some bull**** posts.
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As always, thank you for reading my blog.
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I think you're majorly B.S.ing this poor guy. Most people who do med school interviews are, in fact, tools. The guy is applying to med school, and to do that you have to play the game. When you're nearing the end of your residency and especially when you're out in practice you can define your own path, but to say that someone applying to med school should ask an interviewer about the night life, when probably half of all people doing med school interviews don't have a night life, would be a guaranteed stupid question (at least if your goal is to get into the school).
What this thread really highlights is that the interview process can be extremely random and that a question one person might find interesting/insightful can piss off another person. Luckily, it's still mostly the numbers and paper application that most adcoms use to make their final decision.
On the other hand, to answer the OP's question-- it's possible the interviewer just wasn't all that aware of the school's agenda/background; it's possible he was on call the night before and not in the mood for thinking on his feet; or it's possible he just didn't like the applicant that much based on the interview and wanted to get out of there. If there is a point of improvement for future interviews to be found, it's probably to add a little more context/background/setup to your question so the interview knows where you're going with the question.
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Also, you didn't "stump" the interviewer. He or she just has better things to do than entertain a question that was asked just for the sake of having the record show that a question was asked at the end of the interview.
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Wow. That is totally a question I would have asked, but luckily(?) I haven't gotten interviews.
Maybe these very negative responses are just bouncing off my head and not sticking. Why exactly was the question so "show-off pre-med"? It speaks to the environment emphasis and the ideals of the institution. Why in the world would an interviewer have a problem coming up with an answer? Now I'm really worried about interviewing.
Maybe these very negative responses are just bouncing off my head and not sticking. Why exactly was the question so "show-off pre-med"? It speaks to the environment emphasis and the ideals of the institution. Why in the world would an interviewer have a problem coming up with an answer? Now I'm really worried about interviewing.
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Sweet smiling baby Jesus. I admit it. I must come from a different planet than a lot of you guys. Who actually thinks like that? Or cares about that kind of crap anyways?
Come on. 'fess up. If they offer you a spot you'll still have the envelope in your hand when you call and say, "Thank you, I will certainly come." All of that crap you mention above (and it is meaningless, irrelevant crap) won't matter a bit.
I weep for the youth of today. When I was in my early twenties I did normal things like chase girls, drink too much, and get in minor scrapes here and there. Somebody please tell your Uncle Panda that you kids still know how to do this kind of thing.
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I'm sure there are plenty of people who still do this. But thanks to more competitive admissions and higher numerical stats required for med school, they may be being weeded out of the applicant pool.
