Post-Interview Nerves

[Dr. Anonymouss]

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Does anyone have any subjective experiences on post-interview 'gut feelings' ??? My gut says I did good, my brain says 'I have no f*****g clue'. It was an MMI interview so it was essentially impossible to gauge my performance and what the interviewers were thinking. Just looking to hear back from other interviewees and what their 'gut feeling' outcomes were. I already have an acceptance to my number 2 school, but this is my number 1 so I am being extra neurotic.

 

[Moko]

Does anyone have any subjective experiences on post-interview 'gut feelings' ??? My gut says I did good, my brain says 'I have no f*****g clue'. It was an MMI interview so it was essentially impossible to gauge my performance and what the interviewers were thinking. Just looking to hear back from other interviewees and what their 'gut feeling' outcomes were. I already have an acceptance to my number 2 school, but this is my number 1 so I am being extra neurotic.

- Interviewees are not usually good judges of their own performance.
- The interview is over. There's nothing else to do apart from waiting for the decision. Worrying and ruminating will not affect the outcome, so enjoy this time before starting medical school. Congratulations, you're on the first step of becoming a physician.

 

[Goro]

Does anyone have any subjective experiences on post-interview 'gut feelings' ??? My gut says I did good, my brain says 'I have no f*****g clue'. It was an MMI interview so it was essentially impossible to gauge my performance and what the interviewers were thinking. Just looking to hear back from other interviewees and what their 'gut feeling' outcomes were. I already have an acceptance to my number 2 school, but this is my number 1 so I am being extra neurotic.

Why bother worrying about something you can no longer change?

I suggest that you work on the coping skills needed to deal with this, as med school will be far more stressful.

And do keep in mind that most people are very poor judges of their interview performance.

 

[paradoxic_toxic]

I felt like I completely bombed my first interview. It started off with me being unable to answer a simple question. Luckly I got it together and continued forward, but it left me feeling distraught. Afterwards I had trouble forming well-thought out answers, and I second guessed myself every chance I could. It left me feeling incredibly discourged throughout the rest of the interview day, and I thought there was no way I would get an acceptance. I couldn't sleep for days.

On my second interview, I felt incredibly confident and I had a delightful conversation with my interviewers. I walked out thinking I had it in the bag.

Guess which school accepted me?

It goes to show that we all suck at judging our own performance.

 

[Skarl]

I never really bought the notion that “interviewees are horrible judges of their own performance.” Of course you cannot 100% know what your interviewer is thinking, but an interview where you hit many points you want to talk about, have well-positioned answers for questions, and connect with your interviewer feels perceptibly different from a subpar interview. I think a more accurate characterization is that the interview is only one factor amongst many in the final decision to admit/waitlist/reject—a strong interview does not guarantee acceptance if other aspects of your application are weaker and vice versa.

 

[Dr. Anonymouss]

I never really bought the notion that “interviewees are horrible judges of their own performance.” Of course you cannot 100% know what your interviewer is thinking, but an interview where you hit many points you want to talk about, have well-positioned answers for questions, and connect with your interviewer feels perceptibly different from a subpar interview. I think a more accurate characterization is that the interview is only one factor amongst many in the final decision to admit/waitlist/reject—a strong interview does not guarantee acceptance if other aspects of your application are weaker and vice versa.

but if other aspects of your application were weaker why would get an interview to begin with??? I'd make the assumption that a great interview would save a lower than perfect application while a crap interview would ruin a stellar application.

 

[Angus Avagadro]

I never really bought the notion that “interviewees are horrible judges of their own performance.” Of course you cannot 100% know what your interviewer is thinking, but an interview where you hit many points you want to talk about, have well-positioned answers for questions, and connect with your interviewer feels perceptibly different from a subpar interview. I think a more accurate characterization is that the interview is only one factor amongst many in the final decision to admit/waitlist/reject—a strong interview does not guarantee acceptance if other aspects of your application are weaker and vice versa.

You may have thought you said everything you wanted to say. I may have been waiting to hear much more. This is why interviewees have a hard time judging their performance.

 

[paradoxic_toxic]

but if other aspects of your application were weaker why would get an interview to begin with??? I'd make the assumption that a great interview would save a lower than perfect application while a crap interview would ruin a stellar application.

An interview invite can be given for many reasons. It can due to a compelling PS, a unique EC, etc.

Yes a great interview can help salvage an application, but the interviewer must advocate on your behalf to a committee. And if the committee still thinks your app is lacklustre, then you'll still receive an R.

 

[Dr. Anonymouss]

Thanks for the responses everyone. I will let you know if my 'gut feeling' was right or wrong when I hear back. I will be attending medical school in the fall so no matter the outcome with this specific school, I have already won 🙂