optional student interview?!

[johndoe3344]

---

Members do not see this ad.

So I'm interviewing at UMDNJ ... and today they called me telling me there is an optional student interviewer, and asked me whether I would like to have just 1 interview with a faculty, or two interviews, 1 with faculty, 1 with student.

What do you guys think? Would it hurt if I just stuck with faculty? I tend to dislike student interviewers.

 

[bellakk]

Man, that is a tough call. If your faculty interview doesnt go as great as you wanted, a second student interview might help. Plus since the student has gone through the interview process recently, they might be more friendly and understanding of nerves. I dont think it would be a major hinderance to just do one, but it couldnt hurt to have two interviewers pulling for you in the committee meetings.

 

[FlowRate]

While it is optional and thus "can't hurt you," I would think that a chance for another advocate on the admissions comm is a good thing!

 

[Laryngophed]

While it is optional and thus "can't hurt you," I would think that a chance for another advocate on the admissions comm is a good thing!

x2

 

[shiftingmirage]

I would do the student interview. I think the student will give you much more info in terms of what the school is like, pros and cons, the student body, oppertunities available at the school. I think you will get a much more honest answer from the student. Could become a factor if/when you have several acceptances to choose from.

 

[turkeyjerky]

While it is optional and thus "can't hurt you," I would think that a chance for another advocate on the admissions comm is a good thing!

I disagree. While it should not hurt the applicant to opt out of the student interview, a poor interview is likely to be noted and will count against the applicant in the ultimate decision. So it is just as likely to hurt you as help you.

A good proportion of medical students tend to be pretty weird people. Student interviewers also don't receive much, if any, training on how to conduct an interview. Put the two together, and you get a bad interviewing experience. On the other hand, the student might be cool and it'd make for a good experience. A student might be more lenient on the applicant than a faculty interviewer, but they might also be more critical.

Probably most likely, though, is that the student interview is really just an opportunity to chat with and ask questions to a current student. In that case, I'd say skip it and get a beer instead.

 

[TexasPhysician]

I disagree. While it should not hurt the applicant to opt out of the student interview, a poor interview is likely to be noted and will count against the applicant in the ultimate decision. So it is just as likely to hurt you as help you.

A good proportion of medical students tend to be pretty weird people. Student interviewers also don't receive much, if any, training on how to conduct an interview. Put the two together, and you get a bad interviewing experience. On the other hand, the student might be cool and it'd make for a good experience. A student might be more lenient on the applicant than a faculty interviewer, but they might also be more critical.

Probably most likely, though, is that the student interview is really just an opportunity to chat with and ask questions to a current student. In that case, I'd say skip it and get a beer instead.

Most med students are weird? My your statement that would make this applicant likely to be ALSO weird. 😕

I would BEG for a student interviewer if it were an option. Usually those students are hand picked by the school as more social, academic, etc. and they would most likely give you the best information about the school. Most med students that would take the time to do this (voluntary) are really nice people and unlikely to hurt you in any way.

I had 1 student interviewer when I applied, and he gave me great information about a summer research program. He gave me his email and answered more questions I had through email. He sent me links to people and websites about fun summer opportunities, etc.

The student interviewer I had was probably the single most informative experience I ever had about medical school as a pre-med.

👍👍👍

 

[armybound]

I don't think I'd do it.

 

[Zona Pellucida]

I would do it.

If you are comfortable speaking with strangers and are confident in your ability to interview well, do it. If not, pass.

 

[FuturaDocta]

Yah, get one with the student.

 

[FlowRate]

I disagree. While it should not hurt the applicant to opt out of the student interview, a poor interview is likely to be noted and will count against the applicant in the ultimate decision. So it is just as likely to hurt you as help you.

A good proportion of medical students tend to be pretty weird people. Student interviewers also don't receive much, if any, training on how to conduct an interview. Put the two together, and you get a bad interviewing experience. On the other hand, the student might be cool and it'd make for a good experience. A student might be more lenient on the applicant than a faculty interviewer, but they might also be more critical.

Probably most likely, though, is that the student interview is really just an opportunity to chat with and ask questions to a current student. In that case, I'd say skip it and get a beer instead.

Split the difference and invite the med student to get a beer. =)

 

[doctor712]

cute response above. i would go for it. to me, its like a test, a little game. you have THE interview, you did good, show confidence, i wouldn't hesitated one single second, "absolutely, that sounds wonderful."

so, what did you choose?

GOOD LucK!!!

D712

 

[WaterBird]

So I'm interviewing at UMDNJ ... and today they called me telling me there is an optional student interviewer, and asked me whether I would like to have just 1 interview with a faculty, or two interviews, 1 with faculty, 1 with student.

What do you guys think? Would it hurt if I just stuck with faculty? I tend to dislike student interviewers.

I was told by one adcom prof that the students tend to have much more polarized reactions to candidates, ie they really go to bat for the people they like and also much more likely to really dislike someone. This makes sense to me - they have less perspective, have seen fewer generations of med students, and are imaging the applicant as a classmate, so they are psyched to be around people they clicked with and don't want anything to do with people they didn't.
I found my impression of my dynamic with a student interviewer to be just about the best predictor of whether or not I got into a school. You often can't tell what faculty think of you, but students are easier to read.

If you dislike student interviews because you're no good at student interviews, skip it. But if you dislike it for some other reason, you might want to consider it. It's a gamble and it could certainly work in your favor. I think having a second person who has met you can in and of itself have value, because if the faculty member spaces out and is vague about you to the committee, that certainly won't help you either.

Bottom line: I'm glad I didn't have to make this choice 🙂

 

[armybound]

I would do it.

If you are comfortable speaking with strangers and are confident in your ability to interview well, do it. If not, pass.

I would think you'd choose these options the other way around.

If you have a good interview, you should only need 1. If you have another, you're giving them more opportunity to find something they don't like about you.

If you're a poor interviewee, I'd give them 2 chances to find something they like about you.

 

[flip26]

I would not do it.

I don't have a specific reason, but I would rather focus on the one interview. Some of these interview days drag out for 4 or 5 hours. I like the ones that go faster.

My view is a little cynical, I guess. I am starting to think that interviews can hurt you more than they can help you in this process.

This is not sour grapes, btw. So far, my interviews have been great, but I have a very difficult time seeing exactly how the interview feeds the admissions process except fairly superficially or subjectively, depending on the interviewer.