Okay. So I sent out my residency applications a week ago after getting my Step 2 CK results. In the past week, I've had two calls from residency committee members. One of them resulted in my getting an interview with the person on the other end telling me about dates and if I'd like to come in for an interview. The first call was very structured with interview questions. The second call was very vague. First, the interviewer asked if I had any questions for her about the residency program. I had to come up with questions on the spot. Now, this was definitely something I didn't think would come up in an pre-interview call. I did ask when was the latest that this program would send out interview invitations and she said I'm not allowed to say that. So that was awkward. Then she asked me if there was anything about my application I wanted to emphasize. The open-endedness of that question really threw me off so I had to pause for a bit. Then I began to explain why I chose that specialty and another point that I mentioned in my personal statement. She then went on to ask me about my interest in women's health. All throughout the call, she was very noncommittal and I guess that's how she's supposed to be. I couldn't get a read on her. She did begin telling me about the residency program and how it was great and all that and at the end she asked me if I had any more questions and said that we would be in touch. I asked when I might hear back about my application status and she again said I am not allowed to say that. I felt really stupid for asking two questions that she wasn't allowed to answer although I thought they were very neutral questions. Anyway, I couldn't get a read on her and I'm not sure if I'll get an interview from this program.
So my question is: are pre-residency interview calls a common thing? When do they decide to make these calls? Do the people on the other end usually say whether or not they'd like to interview you by the end of the call or can it go either way? I'm now stressed out because I couldn't get a read on her lol. These calls sort of throw me in for a loop because I'm not mentally prepared for them. UGH! I could kick myself for the awkwardness lol.
So my question is: are pre-residency interview calls a common thing? When do they decide to make these calls? Do the people on the other end usually say whether or not they'd like to interview you by the end of the call or can it go either way? I'm now stressed out because I couldn't get a read on her lol. These calls sort of throw me in for a loop because I'm not mentally prepared for them. UGH! I could kick myself for the awkwardness lol.
