Panel Interviews

[stillsmilin]

Hey all, any advice on MSTP panel interviews? (Preparations, keeeping cool . . .)

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[b&ierstiefel]

What the hell? MSTP programs do panel interviews now? I know a few MD programs do panel interviews (e.g., Emory) but I wasn't aware of this.

I think panel interviews are a bad idea. However, if you do have to have one, have a few answers to each conceivable question. You would hate to be that last one fielding the same question and the other guys/gals have already given your answer. And it does sound silly to just say, "Yeah, I agree with that guy."

Worst interview experience? WashU-St.Louis. When I interviewed there, it was a 10-on-1 tag-team gangbang! Actually, it wasn't too terrible but it was a very intimidating 30 minutes. And oh did those 30 minutes go so slowly...

 

[stillsmilin]

Lol, it is the WashU that I'm preparing for . . . i guess it is hopeful that you made it through and are here to write about it. it will be my first interview of all time. Any suggestions for making it less intimidating?

 

[b&ierstiefel]

Lol, it is the WashU that I'm preparing for . . . i guess it is hopeful that you made it through and are here to write about it. it will be my first interview of all time. Any suggestions for making it less intimidating?


Keep cool and take your time in giving your answers. You will get interrupted; if that happens, don't get flustered. If you say something off, the committee may pounce on you (that's what happened to me). However, from hearing other stories, this experience may not be all that bad.

I made it through the interview and left with two new orifices...and after 4 months on their "high priority wait list" (which I think is a bullcrap term anyway), I got rejected. Oh well, that was 7 years ago...so the wounds, sores, and fistulas have all healed. 🙂

 

[Habari]

Lol, it is the WashU that I'm preparing for . . . i guess it is hopeful that you made it through and are here to write about it. it will be my first interview of all time. Any suggestions for making it less intimidating?

the panel interview at washU is quite benign. they aren't out to get you, and depending on your approach - it can be very interesting/satisfying. they start the interview with an open ended 'why md/phd' question. as long as you direct the conversation, and do most of the talking, it will go by very quickly.

i can't remember what the name of the prof is - 'picwana-worms' or something like that, but just look at her if you are nervous, she is a beacon of calm and encouragement. don't be upset if someone on the committee falls asleep, there is one guy that does so often apparently (if he is still on the panel). it isn't a big deal and it flies by.

the best part is that they call you one week after with the decision, no prolonged waiting/suffering. it's a great program, though i think it is too large for my liking. goodluck, they treat you extremely well.

 

[ManchotPi]

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[b&ierstiefel]

Also, I don't know what Ansy was talking about, as there is no waitlist.

When did you join the program? For me, this was about 7 years ago. WashU does call applicants approx. 1 week after the interview to let you know if you got in or not. In my case, they told me that I was on some "high priority wait list". I suspected it was a load of crap when they told me and I knew at that point I didn't get in...and in about 4 months after the interview, I got the confirmation letter that I was rejected.

Maybe they don't tell people about the high priority wait-list anymore. I think that is a good thing...programs who usually get who they want shouldn't mess around with this wait-list business. False reassurances are not cool. They should just be upfront and tell people, "We love you, you're in." or "You suck, you're rejected."

I guess to put some perspective to this, I must admit that WashU was my first choice, and I was disappointed when I was rejected. But considering they get a lot of top-notch applicants on a yearly basis, that's the nature of the beast.

I'm glad that the panel interview was benign for a lot of my friends who interviewed there and for a lot of you who went through the process within the last several years. That's cool and I'm happy for you. Nonetheless, my panel interview was not benign.

 

[ManchotPi]

When did you join the program? For me, this was about 7 years ago. WashU does call applicants approx. 1 week after the interview to let you know if you got in or not. In my case, they told me that I was on some "high priority wait list". I suspected it was a load of crap when they told me and I knew at that point I didn't get in...and in about 4 months after the interview, I got the confirmation letter that I was rejected.

Maybe they don't tell people about the high priority wait-list anymore. I think that is a good thing...programs who usually get who they want shouldn't mess around with this wait-list business. False reassurances are not cool. They should just be upfront and tell people, "We love you, you're in." or "You suck, you're rejected."

I guess to put some perspective to this, I must admit that WashU was my first choice, and I was disappointed when I was rejected. But considering they get a lot of top-notch applicants on a yearly basis, that's the nature of the beast.

I'm glad that the panel interview was benign for a lot of my friends who interviewed there and for a lot of you who went through the process within the last several years. That's cool and I'm happy for you. Nonetheless, my panel interview was not benign.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

Manchot,

That's cool that Brian (Sullivan?) is still there. He is a huge asset to your program. Andrew I never met, he must have been a recent addition to the staff there.
Anyways, I agree that Brian brings a sense of calm to the applicants when they first get to campus. As I mentioned in other threads, WashU gets the top prize in efforts to make you feel comfortable as possible (although Michigan comes at a close second, but I'm biased 🙂 ). I was very calm before the panel interview (out of the 6 of us, I went first)...maybe I was too calm.
Like yourself, I did my undergraduate research in an area they weren't used to seeing (plant research). When discussing my publications, there was this one guy who just took over the discussion and proceeded to drill me for the rest of the interview. I was totally sweatin at that point...I remember the back of my shirt being drenched in sweat. The other 9 members of the adcom was silent. The rest of the one-on-one interviews seemed chill. The program director (Goldberg I think was his name) was very comforting during the wrap-up session.
In any case, I would say that the majority of my visit to St. Louis was a good experience. I'm glad you're having a blast there and you are truly in a great program. The one little panel interview where a couple new orifices were created in me though...oh well that was 7 years ago and the scars have long healed 🙂

 

[itsaliger]

that emory thing was a NIGHTMARE in my opinion! they were like,

interviewer: so. tell me. what are you proud of?

me: um, i'm almost finished with my thesis? i'm a pretty nice person, too. i'm proud of that. and, uh, i'm proud of my good taste in shoes as well. yep, proud.

person next to me: i'm proud that i singlehandedly supported my family for several years while my mother was ill, by working two jobs. and i'm proud that i still had time for copious hours of charity work during that trying period. and i'm proud to have gotten this emory interview. thank you sir, for this opportunity.

person next to them: i'm proud that last year, i cured several diseases about to wipe out most of the developing world. here, i brought the papers from nature to prove it. also, sir, i'm proud of having gotten this interview. nice tie, by the way.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

yeah, the panel interview with multiple students at the same time is stupid. Did the other interviewees really say that? They're gonna get the big fat REJECTION because they seem a bit conceited and full of themselves.

When will people realize that conservative answers are the best answers...showing off during interviews is bad form.

 

[itsaliger]

andy, that was sort of an exaggeration. i mean, i was somewhat joking. but i do remember feeling like my answers were nowhere as 'good' as the others next to me. so what if i didn't have their life experience? i shouldn't have to sit there and listen to them spout it out so that i can feel guilty for coming right out of college. . .

it wasn't THAT bad. but i hope i never have to do any more of those!

 

[TJK]

Hi ManchotPi,

You mentioned that the interviews with the prospective mentors "don't really count." What does this mean? In this case, should I read some of their publications and how can I best maintain an intelligent conversation? Also, from my understanding, the panel interview is just the panel and myself and no other students are present or is it the panel and 2 or 3 students? Thanks.

 

[ManchotPi]

Hi ManchotPi,

You mentioned that the interviews with the prospective mentors "don't really count." What does this mean? In this case, should I read some of their publications and how can I best maintain an intelligent conversation? Also, from my understanding, the panel interview is just the panel and myself and no other students are present or is it the panel and 2 or 3 students? Thanks.

 

[leverp2000]

Correction, the faculty interviewers do sent their recommendations, so don't fall asleep during the faculty interviews. They don't count for much, but they may be held against you if the faculty interviewer reports that you would not be a good candidate. The major portion of the interview is the committee and the next most important is the wrap-up session, so don't sweat the faculty interviews.

The committee at WashU makes its decision based on its interview with you (as well as the wrap-up interview with a committee member) and little else. The interviews with researchers are meant to be for your benefit: looking at prospective labs and checking out the schools research. They're not supposed to send a report back to the committee. But looking up their research and possibly a few publications might make the conversation more useful for you.

The committee at WashU is just you and about ten professors. Northwestern and Emory have 3-on-3 panels, but at Northwestern (and I think Emory as well) those are med school interviews--not a research interview.

 

[ManchotPi]

Correction, the faculty interviewers do sent their recommendations, so don't fall asleep during the faculty interviews. They don't count for much, but they may be held against you if the faculty interviewer reports that you would not be a good candidate. The major portion of the interview is the committee and the next most important is the wrap-up session, so don't sweat the faculty interviews.

 

[TJK]

That makes sense. In general, no matter how little any interview is said to count (either by the admin at the school or here on SDN), you should take it as seriously as possible. (Of course, that probably goes without saying.)

Thanks ManchotPi and Leverp2000 for your advices. I'll keep them in mind.