PhD vs MD as your interviewer

[adokotala]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Does it make a difference?

 

[FlowLimited]

The only thing I can see is the potential difference in how they view research vs. clinical medicine. However, I doubt that any minor variations such as these would have any bearing on how you should approach the interview or on what you should say.

 

[DianaUT06]

Judging from past experience, most of my PhD interviewers were less amicable than the MD's. But maybe that was just my luck...which apparently wasn't very much last year! 🙄

 

[mordounhas]

The Ph D interviewer I had was also less friendly than the MDs I've interviewed with. That said, I'm a history major without any scientific research, which probably isn't his kind of thing in the first place.

 

[TheSky]

I've had better experiences with PhD's. THey're just soo much nicer in general!

 

[167649]

Keep in mind that good clinical physicians are natural interviewers, they interview patients everyday of their career. Most are pretty good at catching BS or lies etc. PhD's are good at this too though, and it really is more who (what type of person) interviews you and not their degree, but I would say that in general clinicians are better interviewers because they do it so often.

 

[MelnaisLacis]

The interviews I had with PhDs were horrible and the ones with MDs rocked.

 

[fitnesspremed]

The interviews I had with PhDs were horrible and the ones with MDs rocked.

wow, ditto completely. my phd guy picked at everything in my app and talked aout himself a lot. i still got in, but he gave me the impression i wasn't going to.

 

[SpartanBlueJay2]

I have generally had better experiences with MD interviewers as well. However, I think that my PhD interviewers may have a negative preconceived notion of me before I walk in the door just because I left a PhD program to go to medical school. You try telling a PhD why you left a PhD program... no matter how much you say that you greatly respect the work that basic scientists do, it has to be a little bit of a slap in the face to say that it wasn't the best career fit for me.

 

[VoiceofReason]

Yeah spartanjay I'd say your actions in that case speak louder than your words no matter how hard you try

 

[Bananas Foster]

Yeah, when I told the PI at the lab I did UG research at that I had soured on the notion of doing research for a career and was considering medicine more strongly, I could tell I was not the first person to do so. Yikes.

I actually almost said something implying a negative opinion about my research experience in one of my essays but thankfully I caught got it during a revision. Never forget who you might have in an interview I suppose.

 

[rickthetwinkie]

I have generally had better experiences with MD interviewers as well. However, I think that my PhD interviewers may have a negative preconceived notion of me before I walk in the door just because I left a PhD program to go to medical school. You try telling a PhD why you left a PhD program... no matter how much you say that you greatly respect the work that basic scientists do, it has to be a little bit of a slap in the face to say that it wasn't the best career fit for me.

Curious: I thought most medical schools required you complete the degree program you are enrolled in before medical school? (just curious: I'm in no way attacking you)

 

[45408]

Curious: I thought most medical schools required you complete the degree program you are enrolled in before medical school? (just curious: I'm in no way attacking you)

Uh, only if you said you were going to complete it. You can bail out of a masters or doctorate program and head to med school if you want, as long as your AMCAS doesn't say you expect to have the degree by matriculation. Virtually every school expects you to have your bachelor's, but there are a few exceptions.