Racial matching for interviews

[E'01]

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For those of you who are URMs, have you been matched according by race in terms of your interviewer? For instance, I don't think it was by coincidence that I and another Black male applicant were the only ones that were interviewed by 2 Black interviewers yesterday. I just wanted to know what people's personal experence with the above was like.

 

[THE instiGATOR]

I'm not a URM (white male). To date, however, all of my interviewers have been white men (i've had 7 so far). What's up!?! I wish I could interview with a woman! Then I could use my smooooooth southern charm. 😉 😀 😛

Don't puke, ladies. He he

 

[reesie0726]

I think that they do try to match you with other minority students at some schools. At three of the nine schools where I interviewed, I had an interview with at least one minority.

 

[mma]

Interesting...

I've been matched as well. Although, as there are so few Hispanic faculty members/med students, I was always interviewed by whichever URM interviewer was available.

Personally, after my intial disappointment and indignation, I liked being matched. My interviews with URM interviewers were much more health services-oriented, which is great because health services is what I do and want to continue doing. (Really, talking about my ECs from 6 years ago is not as relevant as talking about what I do and have done since I decided to study medicine!) My most challenging interview was with a URM interviewer--he wanted to know how I really, I mean, REALLY felt about everything from human interest in history to human supersition to health disparities among minorities (even when treated by minority physicians).

How were everyone else's experiences?

mma

 

[E'01]

Thanks for writing about your experiences guys. Well I have mixed feelings. I have had 3 black interviewers and it was clear that they matched races because they did not interview the other caucasian students. Rather then feeling more comfortable - which I think that's what the goal was - I felt like I had to prove myself even more to them. Particularly since I was greeted very formally by them and not at all like the other interviewers who seemed very warm (the interviewers would come to the waiting room and get us). I think that racial matching placed them in a rather difficult position - for in fear of seeming partial, I believe that my interviewers assumed a very sort of posh (I'm not saying that I expected them to act ghetto -but they could of toned down the uppity behavior a bit) and formal manner of tone and behavior with me and did not at all seem to act normal and relaxed. They did not portray any sense of emotion whatsoever and I believe that they use that as a guise to remain as completely objective as they can. I am not blaming my interviewers for the way I perceive them to be, but I can empathize with the tough position that they're in. I can imagine that when they're presenting a minority applicant to the admisions committee that they will feel they'll be doubted by their peers as to whether they truly remained objective throughout the interview. I feel that if they're too enthusiastic about an applicant, they will unfortunately run the risk of appearing to be biased towards the URM applicant solely because of race. Oh and come to think of it, I was asked harder questions from all my minority interviewers. What do you all think?

Swampman sorry to hear about your plight 😀

 

[mma]

I guess my experience is different--the URM interviewers all interviewed Caucasian applicants as well, so I don't think they felt the need to be formal. (I can see how that can happen--unfortunately, we URMs often have to be on the defensive...) But, definitely, the questions were harder from some of my URM interviewers (see above--although, that is, apparently, how his non-URM interview was conducted as well)--but for me they were just more in-depth about my knowledge health services and health disparities. My guess is that this is because they had their own research experience in the field and knew what to ask. In general, I appreciate being asked harder questions--it shows that the interviewer expects a great deal from you and that the interviewer respects you. Greater expectations lead to better outcomes.

I am sorry your experiences were not as comfortable, E'01. Just remember not to repeat their behavior when you are on the other side of the interviewing desk! No one should be ashamed of himself/herself or his/her opinions because of the color of his/her skin.

mma

 

[Nikki]

This has definately happened to me. In fact, at the two schools that I have had student interviewers (one at school X and two at schoool Y), all three of my interviewers were URMs. Other than that I have had only one other URM faculty interviewer.

 

[SMW]

I've already been told I'm being matched at my OHSU interview next month, because I'm of Hispanic background (although not disadvantaged. So am I URM? I don't even know!). Just hope I'm not judged on my Spanish!! This is the first time it's happened but I have more interviews ahead of me than I've had so far, so it'll be interesting to see if it happens again.

 

[willbeMD]

I've also been interviewed by a URM. Although, it wasn't an exact match (i'm Hispanic and the interviewer was African American). This school has very few Hispanics to begin with. I think that one of the many reasons they might do this is b/c they think it might "sell" the school more.

Remember, they want you to go to the school if you get in. Maybe they think this is a way of showing you that they do have minorities and that they feel comfortable at the school...Just another way to look at it. 🙂

 

[E'01]

Hmm that's a good point willbeMD. But the interviewer and I both knew the truth. I mean they were telling me of the great diversity at the school. 10% of 105 is not an awesome number to me. I mean thats 10 students who are Black, Latino, etc. Thats not braging material. But I guess they're working on it.

Also, mma thank you for helping me to view the situation in a positive light ("In general, I appreciate being asked harder questions--it shows that the interviewer expects a great deal from you and that the interviewer respects you. Greater expectations lead to better outcomes"). I like that. You stated that very nicely.

SMW I think you would be considered a URM - disadvantaged status is completely different though. You can be the former without being disadvantaged.

Has having a minority interviewer affected you guys in any positive way (i.e. been a deciding factor in whether you would attend the school).

 

[Aria111]

Hmmm...I haven't been matched at all...
I'm a female hispanic (but not disadvantaged) and so far I've had 5 interviews: One white woman, one Indian male, and three white males...so, as far as I can tell, no matching for me...

 

[sandflea]

Originally posted by SMW:
•I'm of Hispanic background (although not disadvantaged. So am I URM? I don't even know.•••

URM status refers to hispanics specifically of mexican american or mainland puerto rican descent. so if you are one of the two, then you are considered a URM. other hispanic ethnicities (venezuelan, chilean, etc, etc) aren't considered URMs. being 'disadvantaged' is an entirely separate issue and, for these purposes, is independent of heritage.

 

[Aria111]

Are Cubans or Dominicans considered URMs? If not, do you know why their status is different from that of Puerto Ricans?

 

[sandflea]

Originally posted by aria111:
•Are Cubans or Dominicans considered URMs? If not, do you know why their status is different from that of Puerto Ricans?•••

no, they're not. only mexicans and puerto ricans. 'underrepresented minority' refers to those specific minority ethnicities that are underrepresented in the general population. what this means is that their numbers in the medical profession are drastically underrepresentative of their numbers in the general population, and this is why they are so heavily recruited. so it's based on the *proportion* of those in medicine to the population as a whole. mexicans and puerto ricans (along with african americans and native americans) are in far fewer numbers in the medical field than in the US as a whole, but cubans and dominicans are not. therefore they're not considered '*underrepresented*' minorities, just 'plain' minorities.

 

[tiger007]

<img src="graemlins/lovey.gif" border="0" alt="[Lovey]" /> Nikki <img src="graemlins/lovey.gif" border="0" alt="[Lovey]" />

 

[mpp]

Originally posted by SMW:
•I've already been told I'm being matched at my OHSU interview next month, because I'm of Hispanic background (although not disadvantaged. So am I URM? I don't even know!). Just hope I'm not judged on my Spanish!! This is the first time it's happened but I have more interviews ahead of me than I've had so far, so it'll be interesting to see if it happens again.•••

Tu eres latina? I can't believe it. What are the chances of two hispanic-Alaskans applying to similar sets of schools. So why won't Vermont and OHSU give ME an interview? Cheers!

P.S. When did you get the OHSU invitiation? I remember you had called a little while ago and they hadn't reviewed you yet...

 

[luckyduck]

I am not a URM, but at two of my interviews, I have been placed with a URM. I think it is just the preference of idea of whichever school and probably who is available when, as a URM friend of mine has had white interviewers at both of his interviews so far.