OMG Video Secondary????

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SpoiledMilk

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Ok. Need opinions or reactions to video secondaries!!??

2 minutes to answer each of 3 questions. So I guess we must dress up, be presentable, and put aside any hidden Scopophobia. 😱
 
Make sure you have adequate lighting and a good microphone, be it on your computer, camera, or an actual microphone.
 
never heard of this! must be new??
 
Mad Jack said:
They're doing it at a few places. Also doing it for some residencies (all EM residencies requires a video this year as part of a pilot project).
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that's so cool!!!
 
In the age of youtube, snapchats, and instagram, I guess it was bound to happen. Must adapt to change and be pulled screaming into the 21st century!
 
Dell Medical School in Austin, TX is doing it this year. Got an admissions email from them saying the following:

"This year, Dell Medical School will be utilizing a unique secondary application, a video secondary. Our goal is to give a greater number of applicants an opportunity to present themselves to the selection committee in their own voice. This technology is widely used in industry and in the application processes of other professional graduate programs such as MBA and Law schools. Additionally, the video interview format has been introduced nationally by the AAMC as the first interview round for Emergency Medicine Resident applicants. It’s expected that other residency programs will begin adopting this method of evaluation in the future"
 
Mad Jack said:
They're doing it at a few places. Also doing it for some residencies (all EM residencies requires a video this year as part of a pilot project).
Click to expand...

Is it a replacement for traveling to the site for an interview or is it more like a secondary app for medical school?
 
Mad Jack said:
They're doing it at a few places. Also doing it for some residencies (all EM residencies requires a video this year as part of a pilot project).
Click to expand...
EM did not generate this pilot. They are the victims of it.
 
aaronrodgers said:
Ideally, I believe there should be 0 secondaries from any medical schools 🙂
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You would prefer just MCAT and gpa?!
That's basically all we get in the primary (along with an over-sanitized PS...)
 
I am really curious about the parameters on which they will base a decision to invite to an interview. Granted the answer to each question must be direct, concise, appropriate etc., but could other factors like appearance, attractiveness, likability etc. of the applicant also play an unspoken role in the determination to extend an invite?
 
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This is all I can think of
 
DV-T said:
Ok. Need opinions or reactions to video secondaries!!??

2 minutes to answer each of 3 questions. So I guess we must dress up, be presentable, and put aside any hidden Scopophobia. 😱
Click to expand...

So glad I don't have to deal with this BS trend. I am generally a very personable person when interacting with other folks, despite being an introvert at heart, but performing in front of a camera is a whole 'nother ball game.
 
libertyyne said:
Another boost to good looking applicants .
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That was my thought as well. I'm the least photogenic person I have ever met, and I have an, uh, distinctive voice. Having to submit a video secondary would probably tank my app.

Edit: apparently this was a reference to some thread that I missed...but still. Unconscious bias to favor attractive people is definitely real!
 
Lannister said:
That was my thought as well. I'm the least photogenic person I have ever met, and I have an, uh, distinctive voice. Having to submit a video secondary would probably tank my app.

Edit: apparently this was a reference to some thread that I missed...but still. Unconscious bias to favor attractive people is definitely real!
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I'm sad that it didn't catch on during my app season. Would have been going to HMS.
 
Are they surprise questions or will we be able to see them before we are recorded?
 
eljefemdfuturo said:
Are they surprise questions or will we be able to see them before we are recorded?
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Uncertain, but likely the later. I got the impression the 3 questions will be presented after logging into the video portal.
 
3 minutes is a long time when your mind goes blank. Fortunately our time limit will only be 2 minutes per question.
 
I don't understand why this would freak people out so much! Be a normal human being while you give a decent answer to a question for a couple minutes. If this is the end of the world, how on earth are you gonna survive interviewing?? It's the same thing just way longer (and expensive)!
 
efle said:
I don't understand why this would freak people out so much! Be a normal human being while you give a decent answer to a question for a couple minutes. If this is the end of the world, how on earth are you gonna survive interviewing?? It's the same thing just way longer (and expensive)!
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Dude there is just something about being on camera that is so much worse than interviewing. I can't even describe it.
 
DV-T said:
The distinction is that when you are interacting with a live person who is in front of you, you can read their reaction and react accordingly. In front of an inanimate object, no "bio-feedback."
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Lannister said:
Dude there is just something about being on camera that is so much worse than interviewing. I can't even describe it.
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Oh I see, I thought all the uproar was because suddenly it might matter what you look like or sound like or how well you can talk about a random topic. But that was already all true. If people are specifically upset about the camera/recording part I suppose I just can't relate, I would think having the adcom member right there in front of you would be a lot more stressful than recording an answer for them to review later.
 
It's becoming more popular. EM residency applications now require a video-interview.
 
iBS1972 said:
It's becoming more popular. EM residency applications now require a video-interview.
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There were a handful of ortho programs that did video interview this cycle too. They were beyond awkward. Especially if you try to do them post call and the laptop program doesn't work so you have to use the app on your phone because clicking on the link starts a 72 hour clock and your call shift took up a good part of that time... and then your phone falls on the ground while it's recording. Not that I speak from personal experience, or anything. Ha. Needless to say, I didn't get an interview at that place. 🙄
 
Unconfirmed, but the possibility of avoiding the video secondary might exist by allowing applicants who feel better represented by written secondaries to choose the option. :banana:
 
How are people already getting secondaries?? WTF I haven't even submitted my primary yet
 
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