Saying during an interview that you might defer

[farf]

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Is it a bad idea to tell an interviewer that you might defer acceptance, if you are accepted? I know that a lot of schools are receptive to deferrals after you get in, but at that point, they've already offered you a spot. Is it a bad idea to tell them that you might defer before you are accepted? Would this incline them to just say "let's not worry about this guy screwing up our yield and confusing our system and whatnot, and accept this other guy that's just as good?"

I am currently a finalist for two fellowships (on the order of Rhodes/Marshall/Churchill/Gates/Cambridge/etc.). If I got one of them (I'll find out within the next 2 weeks), I'd probably go to the UK for a year before med school. I told my interviewers about this at my top choice yesterday, so I'm a little worried that I screwed up...They said congrats and seemed happy, but who knows what the main committee will think later. I have my 2nd and 3rd choice interviews coming up in the next week, so I want to know not to do it again if it's bad.

Thoughts?

 

[flip26]

Very stupid to tell an interviewer this.

Why tell him? He has nothing to do with that decision, but he may have a ton of sway in your gaining admission. They are trying to fill next year's class, not the one beginning in 2011 or beyond...

 

[Sammich117]

I personally wouldn't say anything. I'm not sure it would hurt, but it wouldn't be a positive thing.

 

[GoSpursGo]

I don't know that it was "stupid," but I don't think I personally would have mentioned it.

 

[flip26]

I don't know that it was "stupid," but I don't think I personally would have mentioned it.

Volunteering information in an interview that can't possibly help you, but may hurt you, is "stupid" to me.

The interview process is already stacked against us - we have no idea exactly what they are trying to learn about us, or why they ask us some of the crap they do. So I think it is pretty stupid to offer them a piece of information that can be twisted in all sorts of different ways, none of them favorable to gaining acceptance in this med school starting next year.

 

[farf]

Volunteering information in an interview that can't possibly help you, but may hurt you, is "stupid" to me.

The interview process is already stacked against us - we have no idea exactly what they are trying to learn about us, or why they ask us some of the crap they do. So I think it is pretty stupid to offer them a piece of information that can be twisted in all sorts of different ways, none of them favorable to gaining acceptance in this med school starting next year.

Well the only thing is that being a finalist for these fellowships is prestigious and looks good (almost like a sort of award...I've seen being a finalist for these things on resumes of professionals). So it was a way to work an update to my application into my interview. Still a bad idea? It wasn't like I was telling the interviewer I was just going to defer for the hell of it though...Damn though this seems bad...this was really my top choice by a long shot.

 

[GoSpursGo]

Volunteering information in an interview that can't possibly help you, but may hurt you, is "stupid" to me.

The interview process is already stacked against us - we have no idea exactly what they are trying to learn about us, or why they ask us some of the crap they do. So I think it is pretty stupid to offer them a piece of information that can be twisted in all sorts of different ways, none of them favorable to gaining acceptance in this med school starting next year.

I'm also sure a school would love to have a Rhodes' scholar attend their school. It's definitely risky to say that you might defer for a year in your interview, but we can't really know what any specific school is looking for. I wouldn't have probably said it, but I can't say for sure that it would hurt the OP.

 

[bannie22]

i wouldnt worry too much about it, as long as you explained the reason, and it wasnt a crap one, interviewers are looking for honest people, at least i hope they are...
and uve already said it, so just keep praying that the interviewer who interviewed u was a wise one !!!

 

[Stratego]

I wouldn't do it again.

 

[123165]

Definitely will not help you, and may hurt you in the end. Why risk it?

 

[J ROD]

Here's a better question!

Switch roles....you are the admin

Would you want a student that does not want to come now and is wasting your time with all these other apps that may be just as qualified? Your are busy and trying to get through things.....

Think about it!!! 🙄

Epic fail!!!!

 

[bobsmith]

Contrary to what other people are saying on this thread, I'm going to say that I don't think it hurt you much at all. I think you DO gain something by talking about it if it's a well-known fellowship, as I imagine it would stand out if the interviewer writes in his report, "farf is also a a finalist for <insert name of fellowship here>"

I think the only way it actually hurts you is if you came off as not committed to going to medical school in general. At one of my interviews, someone asked about deferrals and the director of admissions said that schools have a handful of people every year who decide to defer, so it's really not a huge deal from the admissions committee's standpoint. Basically, the number of people who defer stay around the same every year, so it all evens out.

They're going to accept who they like. And, if knowing that you're being considered for these fellowships makes them like you better, you should bring it up.

 

[J ROD]

Contrary to what other people are saying on this thread, I'm going to say that I don't think it hurt you much at all. I think you DO gain something by talking about it if it's a well-known fellowship, as I imagine it would stand out if the interviewer writes in his report, "farf is also a a finalist for <insert name of fellowship here>"

I think the only way it actually hurts you is if you came off as not committed to going to medical school in general. At one of my interviews, someone asked about deferrals and the director of admissions said that schools have a handful of people every year who decide to defer, so it's really not a huge deal from the admissions committee's standpoint. Basically, the number of people who defer stay around the same every year, so it all evens out.

They're going to accept who they like. And, if knowing that you're being considered for these fellowships makes them like you better, you should bring it up.

Could be true but why even say it?

Epic Fail!!

 

[zogoto]

Could be true but why even say it?

Epic Fail!!

So does this mean if you won the Rhodes scholarship, you wouldn't tell a medical school? Seems like something you would tell a med school about, but I do see what everyone is saying about complicating things for them regarding the deferral.

Secondly, what to do at this point? My interview is over, but I'll find out about the fellowships within the next 2 weeks. Most likely, I won't get either of them. It seems weird to update the admissions committee on NOT getting an award, but I haven't formally let them know that I'm even a finalist, so maybe I could phrase it that way when I update them? That way it looks good (being a finalist) but saves me from all the potential problems (with actually deferring).

Thoughts?

 

[J ROD]

So does this mean if you won the Rhodes scholarship, you wouldn't tell a medical school? Seems like something you would tell a med school about, but I do see what everyone is saying about complicating things for them regarding the deferral.


Thoughts?

I would tell them if I won and decided to do it. But, would not give out the info before then.

You want everyone to think that they are #1....

 

[rjsmit2]

I don't know why everybody's giving you so much flack. Depending on the context of the interview, it could definitely be reflected as a positive. If you've advanced that far in the application process for two extremely prestigious, competitive awards, then you obviously have many characteristics that medical schools are looking for in future physicians. It's not like you're deferring a year to 'babysit' or 'find yourself'. And besides, many adcoms prefer that you have some kind of life experience after college before matriculating. Congratulations! Be proud of your accomplishments, and keep sharing them!

 

[afugazzi]

Tell them after they've accepted you, and they'll offer you tons of $ in scholarships because they want a Rhodes scholar.

 

[bobsmith]

Could be true but why even say it?

Because (like I said in my post) it's impressive, and I don't think you're losing much.

I guess we just disagree on how much the admissions committee will actually care about the possibility that someone might defer a year. I honestly don't imagine the committee sitting around and thinking "Well, this person is a great applicant, a good fit for our school...but he might take a year off. That's a deal breaker." I think they admit who they want and worry about deferrals if and when they happen later.

I think this hypothetical scenario where there's two applicants that the committee has to choose between and it chooses to take one person over another because one of them might choose to take a year off is absurd...there's more important things that they can use to distinguish applicants

 

[J ROD]

Tell them after they've accepted you, and they'll offer you tons of $ in scholarships because they want a Rhodes scholar.

qft

 

[J ROD]

Because (like I said in my post) it's impressive, and I don't think you're losing much.

I guess we just disagree on how much the admissions committee will actually care about the possibility that someone might defer a year. I honestly don't imagine the committee sitting around and thinking "Well, this person is a great applicant, a good fit for our school...but he might take a year off. That's a deal breaker." I think they admit who they want and worry about deferrals if and when they happen later.

I think this hypothetical scenario where there's two applicants that the committee has to choose between and it chooses to take one person over another because one of them might choose to take a year off is absurd...there's more important things that they can use to distinguish applicants

I think they would care...maybe not keep you out but certainly not help.

 

[zinki949]

Is it a bad idea to tell an interviewer that you might defer acceptance, if you are accepted? I know that a lot of schools are receptive to deferrals after you get in, but at that point, they've already offered you a spot. Is it a bad idea to tell them that you might defer before you are accepted? Would this incline them to just say "let's not worry about this guy screwing up our yield and confusing our system and whatnot, and accept this other guy that's just as good?"

I am currently a finalist for two fellowships (on the order of Rhodes/Marshall/Churchill/Gates/Cambridge/etc.). If I got one of them (I'll find out within the next 2 weeks), I'd probably go to the UK for a year before med school. I told my interviewers about this at my top choice yesterday, so I'm a little worried that I screwed up...They said congrats and seemed happy, but who knows what the main committee will think later. I have my 2nd and 3rd choice interviews coming up in the next week, so I want to know not to do it again if it's bad.

Thoughts?

you telling them you want to defer is like telling them you can give my spot to someone else... don't do it... don't give them info they don't ask for.

 

[kami333]

You could also look at it from a paperwork perspective.

If they accept and OP defers, they have to review his deferal application, defer him, and then make an offer to someone on the waiting list, then a year later review the OP's application again (it might be a formality but it's still another app to review).

 

[J ROD]

you telling them you want to defer is like telling them you can give my spot to someone else... don't do it... don't give them info they don't ask for.

exactly, it does not make sense to on your part......

 

[DoctorDeMan]

While on one hand it might not be great to mention, I have had friends who their year-off experience was the cornerstone of their application (before it happened) who got into some really stellar schools. If you get a Fullbright or whatever, schools will be fine with you deferring. Don't worry about it.

 

[MSSM2013]

I'm also sure a school would love to have a Rhodes' scholar attend their school. It's definitely risky to say that you might defer for a year in your interview, but we can't really know what any specific school is looking for. I wouldn't have probably said it, but I can't say for sure that it would hurt the OP.

our rhode/fullbright scholar dropped out after 3 anatomy session, and appearently is taking a year off or may not even return.

 

[J ROD]

our rhode/fullbright scholar dropped out after 3 anatomy session, and appearently is taking a year off or may not even return.

 

[JulyMorning]

Is it a bad idea to tell an interviewer that you might defer acceptance, if you are accepted? I know that a lot of schools are receptive to deferrals after you get in, but at that point, they've already offered you a spot. Is it a bad idea to tell them that you might defer before you are accepted? Would this incline them to just say "let's not worry about this guy screwing up our yield and confusing our system and whatnot, and accept this other guy that's just as good?"

I am currently a finalist for two fellowships (on the order of Rhodes/Marshall/Churchill/Gates/Cambridge/etc.). If I got one of them (I'll find out within the next 2 weeks), I'd probably go to the UK for a year before med school. I told my interviewers about this at my top choice yesterday, so I'm a little worried that I screwed up...They said congrats and seemed happy, but who knows what the main committee will think later. I have my 2nd and 3rd choice interviews coming up in the next week, so I want to know not to do it again if it's bad.

Thoughts?

I doubt this is such a huge screw up. While adcoms want to fill their spots for the upcoming year, they know that a few admits will defer, and do not mind having a few spots filled for the following year. Deferring for something so distinguished isn't a problem or a screw up in my book. Just my two cents.
By the way, congratulations! I hope you get it!

 

[surftheiop]

I feel like this would be the type of thing you should mention if you don't think you have a really good chance of getting into the school, so might as well roll the dice and hope they are impressed.

If your pretty sure you can get into a specific school then I wouldnt risk it b/c you dont have much to to gain.

(This probably applies to alot of things involving the interview, be more risky at longer shots and be conservative where you think your more qualified)