Socially Awkward Premeds

[kingdomheart]

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I've always been curious how adcoms deal with socially awkward or antisocial premeds during interview season. I know this one guy who is a genius, he has a 3.95+ GPA, 90th percentile MCAT, and some stellar ECs (he mostly focused on research). I met him through a couple of classes we took together since we both majored in Biology, and I consider him kind of a friend? We were the only kids who sat in front of the classes, so I started sitting next to him and we would sometimes talk about the class. He is extremely awkward though, he keeps to himself, never talks to others (I never saw him talk to anyone else besides me), and comes off kind of condescending. I could not imagine him dealing with patients or showing empathy. This makes me question whether he could be a 'good' doctor. And I'm sure there are other premeds like this, who just study and focus solely on getting into med school and do not socialize. How do adcoms deal with such premeds during an interview?

 

[Phile98]

How do adcoms deal with such premeds during an interview?

Not accepting them.

 

[LizzyM]

I've always been curious how adcoms deal with socially awkward or antisocial premeds during interview season. I know this one guy who is a genius, he has a 3.95+ GPA, 90th percentile MCAT, and some stellar ECs (he mostly focused on research). I met him through a couple of classes we took together since we both majored in Biology, and I consider him kind of a friend? We were the only kids who sat in front of the classes, so I started sitting next to him and we would sometimes talk about the class. He is extremely awkward though, he keeps to himself, never talks to others (I never saw him talk to anyone else besides me), and comes off kind of condescending. I could not imagine him dealing with patients or showing empathy. This makes me question whether he could be a 'good' doctor. And I'm sure there are other premeds like this, who just study and focus solely on getting into med school and do not socialize. How do adcoms deal with such premeds during an interview?

Perhaps you've seen my staircase metaphor. Applicants are arrayed on a broad staircase with those at the top getting offers and those at the bottom being denied admission while the middle are waitlisted. After interview, the applicants you describe tend to cluster at the bottom of the staircase. Sometimes we have as many "exceptionally good on paper" applicants at the bottom of the stairs as we have at the top and none in the middle.

 

[Phile98]

Sometimes we have as many "exceptionally good on paper" applicants at the bottom of the stairs as we have at the top and none in the middle.

Interesting. How do you guys tell that someone is arrogant or not sociable? Are there really people that act this way in an interview? I would think that applicants would know not to act stupid in front of interviewers. Can you guys see through a facade?

 

[LizzyM]

Interesting. How do you guys tell that someone is arrogant or not sociable? Are there really people that act this way in an interview? I would think that applicants would know not to act stupid in front of interviewers. Can you guys see through a facade?

There are some who answer with single word answers. There are others who will talk non-stop for 10 minutes in response to a warm-up question and not catch the interviewer's signals that they've talked too long and it is time to move on. There are some who have no ability to speak to a lay person about a scientific or technical subject (a skill they must have as a health professional).

 

[Walter Raleigh]

There are some who answer with single word answers. There are others who will talk non-stop for 10 minutes in response to a warm-up question and not catch the interviewer's signals that they've talked too long and it is time to move on. There are some who have no ability to speak to a lay person about a scientific or technical subject (a skill they must have as a health professional).

On the other hand: have you ever met stellar interviewers who managed to dazzle with their charm? Former Hollywood actors, perhaps, or politicians?

 

[soillpremed]

There are some who answer with single word answers. There are others who will talk non-stop for 10 minutes in response to a warm-up question and not catch the interviewer's signals that they've talked too long and it is time to move on. There are some who have no ability to speak to a lay person about a scientific or technical subject (a skill they must have as a health professional).

How much stock do you take into LOR's when gauging an applicants personality? I found it quite odd when looking at the AMCAS report with the the most important factors for both interview offers/acceptance that the second highest factor for acceptance was LORs. The report is 7 years old now but still I would assume somewhat accurate.

 

[LizzyM]

On the other hand: have you ever met stellar interviewers who managed to dazzle with their charm? Former Hollywood actors, perhaps, or politicians?

Sometimes. I don't recall ever interviewing professional actors or politicians but I have interviewed applicants who did far better in person than I would have expected based on their application itself.

How much stock do you take into LOR's when gauging an applicants personality? I found it quite odd when looking at the AMCAS report with the the most important factors for both interview offers/acceptance that the second highest factor for acceptance was LORs. The report is 7 years old now but still I would assume somewhat accurate.

After I conduct an interview, or after I have the interview reports from two or more adcom members who have interviewed the candidate, I don't use the LORs at all as a factor in deciding to make an offer. I might use them to decide not to make an offer... if an interviewer picked up on X, we might see if there are any clues in the LORs that X is an issue with this student.

 

[Phile98]

I feel like when @LizzyM answers our questions, we're all cheating on our med school application process LMAO.

 

[stubblesmcgee]

Sounds like he could also just be a reserved introvert; be careful about conflating that with social awkwardness or condescension. Just because you haven't seen him socializing in class doesn't mean he's a robot or that he's incapable of professionally interacting with others.

While I'm certain the truly aloof and awkward genius premed exists, the above type is probably much more common. I feel like the "socially awkward premed" trope is more a way for the rest of us to protect our egos.

 

[ekmf27050]

I noticed with alarming frequency at my interviews that more common than the "socially awkward premed" was the "trying to be a cool kid premed". Particularly with larger interview groups, these interviewees lounged in the back acting like they were too cool to be nervous, gossiping with their little posse. I don't mean to come off super judgy, I'm sure I had my own nervous personality tics. But I found it funny that they were trying so hard to come off cool to people who knew exactly how much nerding they had to do to get there- we've done hours and hours and hours of science classes, we're not the cool kids, just make peace with it.

 

[Phile98]

we're not the cool kids,

Excuse me, that's .
Nerdy is the new cool. 😎.

 

[ekmf27050]

Excuse me, that's .
Nerdy is the new cool. 😎.

Next up: You can wear a leather jacket instead of a white coat

(FWIW, I enjoy spending time with people who embrace their inner nerd. Getting excited about learning, when you'll be doing it for the rest of your career, is certainly not a flaw)

 

[DocAdams]

I noticed with alarming frequency at my interviews that more common than the "socially awkward premed" was the "trying to be a cool kid premed". Particularly with larger interview groups, these interviewees lounged in the back acting like they were too cool to be nervous, gossiping with their little posse. I don't mean to come off super judgy, I'm sure I had my own nervous personality tics. But I found it funny that they were trying so hard to come off cool to people who knew exactly how much nerding they had to do to get there- we've done hours and hours and hours of science classes, we're not the cool kids, just make peace with it.

There have been a lot of smart, cool people (e.g. Apollo astronauts, Richard Feynman, Carl Sagan).

 

[Phile98]

@ekmf27050

 

[LizzyM]

I noticed with alarming frequency at my interviews that more common than the "socially awkward premed" was the "trying to be a cool kid premed". Particularly with larger interview groups, these interviewees lounged in the back acting like they were too cool to be nervous, gossiping with their little posse. I don't mean to come off super judgy, I'm sure I had my own nervous personality tics. But I found it funny that they were trying so hard to come off cool to people who knew exactly how much nerding they had to do to get there- we've done hours and hours and hours of science classes, we're not the cool kids, just make peace with it.

The socially awkward pre-med is not necessarily common but is commonly denied admission after interview.

 

[ekmf27050]

There have been a lot of smart, cool people (e.g. Apollo astronauts, Richard Feynman, Carl Sagan).

I mean, I have high goals, but I keep them reasonable...

I don't think reaching Carl Sagan level is within my wheelhouse

 

[DocAdams]

I mean, I have high goals, but I keep them reasonable...

I don't think reaching Carl Sagan level is within my wheelhouse

I don't see how that's related to my point. You seemed to imply that you cannot be both intelligent and genuinely cool as a cucumber.

 

[ekmf27050]

I don't see how that's related to my point. You seemed to imply that you cannot be both intelligent and genuinely cool as a cucumber.

I was more trying to make the point that to get all the way to medical school, unless one has an exceptional gift for the sciences, we're probably all a little nerdy. Also, that trying to "act cool" by way of gossip and social exclusion at an interview doesn't seem appropriate. 🙄 No offense intended to the genuine med school cool kids or cucumbers...

 

[DocAdams]

I was more trying to make the point that to get all the way to medical school, unless one has an exceptional gift for the sciences, we're probably all a little nerdy. Also, that trying to "act cool" by way of gossip and social exclusion at an interview doesn't seem appropriate. 🙄 No offense intended to the genuine med school cool kids or cucumbers...

I think the nerd stereotype was dreamed up by individuals who were jealous of those who achieved well academically. I wouldn't allow it to impose limitations on your life. Study when it's time to study. Socialize when its time to socialize (e.g. a medical school interview).

 

[ciestar]

The socially awkward pre-med is not necessarily common but is commonly denied admission after interview.

My four post-II rejects pretty much said exactly this. At least someone took a chance on me. I start my first clerkship Monday.

 

[LizzyM]

Particularly with larger interview groups, these interviewees lounged in the back acting like they were too cool to be nervous, gossiping with their little posse. ... they were trying so hard to come off cool to people who knew exactly how much nerding they had to do to get there- we've done hours and hours and hours of science classes, we're not the cool kids, just make peace with it.

Do you think that they knew each other from undergrad and /or from the interview trail? I think that sometimes toward the end of the interview cycle, it is like homecoming weekend in the interview room as people see people they've seen at several other schools in the past several months.

In terms of behavior, there are some applicants who are, as we say, "on the spectrum" and there is always some concern as to whether they can be trained to be good doctors or if other applicants are better choices.

 

[Rooster Booster]

I think the nerd stereotype was dreamed up by individuals who were jealous of those who achieved well academically. I wouldn't allow it to impose limitations on your life. Study when it's time to study. Socialize when its time to socialize (e.g. a medical school interview).

Oh no is a med school interview going to be my only chance to socialize :-( Lol

 

[DocAdams]

Oh no is a med school interview going to be my only chance to socialize :-( Lol

Okay, gang, let's see who this @Rooster Booster really is!

 

[Goro]

I've always been curious how adcoms deal with socially awkward or antisocial premeds during interview season. I know this one guy who is a genius, he has a 3.95+ GPA, 90th percentile MCAT, and some stellar ECs (he mostly focused on research). I met him through a couple of classes we took together since we both majored in Biology, and I consider him kind of a friend? We were the only kids who sat in front of the classes, so I started sitting next to him and we would sometimes talk about the class. He is extremely awkward though, he keeps to himself, never talks to others (I never saw him talk to anyone else besides me), and comes off kind of condescending. I could not imagine him dealing with patients or showing empathy. This makes me question whether he could be a 'good' doctor. And I'm sure there are other premeds like this, who just study and focus solely on getting into med school and do not socialize. How do adcoms deal with such premeds during an interview?

As per LizzyM's experience, we reject these people.

For some people, their whole purpose in life is to get into medical school, not to become a doctor.

 

[THEBACKANDFORTH]

I noticed with alarming frequency at my interviews that more common than the "socially awkward premed" was the "trying to be a cool kid premed". Particularly with larger interview groups, these interviewees lounged in the back acting like they were too cool to be nervous, gossiping with their little posse. I don't mean to come off super judgy, I'm sure I had my own nervous personality tics. But I found it funny that they were trying so hard to come off cool to people who knew exactly how much nerding they had to do to get there- we've done hours and hours and hours of science classes, we're not the cool kids, just make peace with it.

At my interviews, I talked happily, loudly, casually with about anyone I met. I'm gregarious--I know it helped me get into schools that were statistically dubious for me. I get nervous--of course I get nervous--, but you would never tell. I don't try to be cool. My diverse range of friends run the gamut in age, experience, hobbies, orientation. I believe deeply in being inclusive

Im confident about my ability to connect with most people. This will help me in medicine.