Stress Interviews

[LizardKing]

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Let's compile a list of all the schools that people had the infamous stress-type of interview at...you know, ethical question after ethical question, inappropriate questions and remarks, badgering, facing a panel of interviewers, etc.

I've only heard of two so far:
Stanford
Columbia

 

[hellojed]

Add University of Washington to that list! They told me it wouldn't be a stress interview, but that is what it ended up being, in my opinion! (no offense to anyone who didn't have that experience!)

So:
Stanford
Columbia
UWashington

 

[UCMonkey]

I'll tack on Ohio State. Maybe it was just because it was my first one, but it sure wasn't conversational by any means. Oh, and I'll alphabetize the list, such as it is.

Columbia
Ohio State
Stanford
UWashington

 

[Wahoo]

I'll second that for Stanford...

Columbia
Ohio State
Stanford x 2
UWashington

 

[rebelins]

Though most interviewees said their interviews were cool, I had a "pull your pants down" interview at USC.

Columbia
Ohio State
Stanford x 2
UWashington
USC

 

[hellojed]

Oh man rebelins, that's how I totally felt at UW!!!! <img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" />

 

[idiot]

Well, they're done interviewing now, but I had a guy at TXTech who asked:

"Why is your generation amoral? What will you do to change that (i.e. how will you build moral character in your generation?)?" Not a lite conversation.

One interviewer at Baylor proposed three "ethical dilemmas" and asked how I would handle each.

 

[Mossjoh]

I know many don't feel this way..but I'm adding in Indiana..wouldn't wish that place on my worst enemy.

Columbia
Ohio State
Stanford x 2
UWashington
USC
Indiana University

 

[ccryder]

UW was far and beyond the most stressful interview I've had. It was far from being enjoyable or even remotely comfortable. I'll second hellojed's sentiments.

Columbia
Ohio State
Stanford x 2
UWashington x 2
USC
Indiana University

 

[El Jefe]

I also got bombarded with ethical questions at Baylor. Probably ended up being my 2 worst faculty interviews.

Baylor
Columbia
Ohio State
Stanford x 2
UWashington x 2
USC
Indiana University

 

[Doctora Foxy]

Boston University..you can PM me for the interviewer if you are about to go there. I was told by the tour guide that he gives stress interviews...I didn't know it at the time because it was my first one, but he asked hard questions on many issues to test my thinking-on-my-feet ability. He didn't ask me anything about where I'm from, family, personal traits, etc. He's the only one there that I know of that interviews this way.

Baylor
Boston University, depends on interviewer
Columbia
Ohio State
Stanford x 2
UWashington x 2
USC
Indiana University

 

[A. Caveman]

at one school my interviewer basically attacked me and my application. he didn't say anything derogatory, but he would ask me "oh yeah, what have you done to prove that" or "what makes you think that" or "did you really do that" but with a facial expression like a pissed off bulldog. if i hadn't known about stress interviews I would have been tempted to ask "is everything OK, you seem upset with me" which would have been an incredibly stupid thing to say. everything he asked about and that we talked about was in my application, but he acted like he hadn't read it or like he's read it but thought it was bull**** and wanted to hear ME say it. very tough. about 15-20 minutes of that ****, but i didn't sweat a drop, and i kept my composure and professionalism. at the end he asked me if there was anything else i wanted to ask him (by now he'd calmed down for about 10 mins) and I was done asking questions and asked him if there was anything else he wanted to know about me. he said no also. then he shook my hand, leaned forward and said "it was a pleasure to meet you, sir."

so it felt like i got on his good side for a while and then like i earned his respect at the end. maybe i was just being optimistic. what do yall thank?

 

[imtiaz]

I don't know what it is, but the way you wrote about your experience in this interview made me laugh. <img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" />

What an @$$hole that guy was. I probably would've laughed in that situation, just because I'd know that it was all an act on the interviewer's part.

•••quote:•••Originally posted by A. Caveman:
•at one school my interviewer basically attacked me and my application. he didn't say anything derogatory, but he would ask me "oh yeah, what have you done to prove that" or "what makes you think that" or "did you really do that" but with a facial expression like a pissed off bulldog. if i hadn't known about stress interviews I would have been tempted to ask "is everything OK, you seem upset with me" which would have been an incredibly stupid thing to say. everything he asked about and that we talked about was in my application, but he acted like he hadn't read it or like he's read it but thought it was bull**** and wanted to hear ME say it. very tough. about 15-20 minutes of that ****, but i didn't sweat a drop, and i kept my composure and professionalism. at the end he asked me if there was anything else i wanted to ask him (by now he'd calmed down for about 10 mins) and I was done asking questions and asked him if there was anything else he wanted to know about me. he said no also. then he shook my hand, leaned forward and said "it was a pleasure to meet you, sir."

so it felt like i got on his good side for a while and then like i earned his respect at the end. maybe i was just being optimistic. what do yall thank?•••••

 

[Mr. Furious]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by A. Caveman:
• if i hadn't known about stress interviews I would have been tempted to ask "is everything OK, you seem upset with me" which would have been an incredibly stupid thing to say. •••••Not necessarily. Not as stupid as what I'd have said, which would be, "Oh hang on, is this the stress type of interview? Ok, I'll play along." But I understand that after spending money to attend an interview one doesn't want to risk getting rejected over some dolt's attitude.

Maybe he did want to see how you'd react to a "My LEG is NUMB!!!" type of patient.

Mr.

Poor Jay Bonnar! <img border="0" alt="[Pity]" title="" src="graemlins/pity.gif" />

 

[MorningLight2100]

Caveman, sounds like you handled that dilemma beautifully. These stress interviewers seem to want to rile you up, get you to crack and show some flaw that you might be hiding. Good for you for holding your own!!!!

Although I haven't talked to a single person with a similar experience at this school...I had a stress interview at NYU. I didn't identify it as such at the time, I just thought the guy was an enormous jerk bent on undermining everything I'd ever said or done. His charm was such that he found nothing unusual with staring me straight in the eyes, his lips curled into a smirk, and asking if my father, who's been sick with kidney disease for years, had died yet. He made me furious...so furious that I refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing me uncomfortable. Must have worked, b/c, much to my surprise, they actually accepted me. Urgh.

 

[matthew0126]

my one and only stress interview was @ ucla. ethical questions left and right, and questioning of my stances....

hope i did okay.