Student interviewing

[TheMightyAngus]

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I interview applicants for my med school, but I dont get any access to the applicants' files (closed interview).

I hate it because I always feel like I'm just shooting the breeze during the interview since I don't know much about the applicants other than what they tell me. So, ultimately, my recommendation for acceptance is based solely on the quality of our conversation, whether or not I like you, and whether I can tell if you're bull$hitting me or not.

My recommendation goes straight to committee and directly influences whether you get accepted, waitlisted, or rejected.

Basically, you have a 20 min audition to impress me. Unfair? Maybe. But it's the truth.

How are interviews done at your school? Do you have access to applicant files? Does it make any difference for whom you recommend for acceptance?

 

[turkleton]

Thats insane. In our school, student interviewers have the entire file to review and have to submit a one page summary of the applicant and their recommendation after the interview. I've had residency interviews where one was "closed" like you described. However, I think for something as important as medical school admissions, you want to have all the data. It's a shame they make such huge decisions based just on if you get along with kid- being those 20 minutes are completely artificial anyway.

 

[soeagerun2or]

We get the file and have to submit a report. Some people neglect to look at the file first to get a better sense of who the person is and how he/she reacts to the situation. Either way it is an audition to our class.

 

[Bertelman]

Ours is considered "closed file", but the interviewers receive some demographics, i.e. which undergrad school, hometown, etc. as well as the essays they submitted. It's just enough for me. If you can't find 25 min. of conversation from someone's essay, it's probably a crappy essay or a boring person.

We use this system because the presumption is that the student would not have been granted an interview if their academic stats indicated they couldn't handle the load. As an interviewer, using GPA to judge a candidate is a crutch, and does a disservice to the candidate. Someone else on the admin committee can do that much easier without sending an invitation to interview.

We then submit our recommendations, but I assure you no decision is based solely on a 25 minute conversation. Two interviewers submit separate evals, and each of these are considered in the ultimate decision, along with grades, extracurricular, MCAT, etc.

As for the session being artificial, I would disagree. A prepared, astute interviewer can spot personality issues and character flaws pretty quickly. To me, that's what the interview is about. Getting to know what's real, and what's inflated on that person's app. You can get someone else to write your essay, but no one else can step into that interview room for you. With the right questions, I can figure out as much in 30 minutes as I could in 3 hours.

Having voiced my opinion, though, it seems this discussion is about true "closed files". I don't know what I would do in that situation. It does seem that you should get some info.

 

[Random]

We get the AMCAS file sans transcript and then we have a two page form to complete. Like Bertelman's case, I can't think any decision's been made based on my recommendation alone but judging from who's gotten in and who hasn't, it's probably made the difference a few times.

As for coming up with 20 minutes worth of interviewing, I think the only time that I did an interview that short was with a guy who I thought was wasting my time. This was a guy who was caught plagarizing - twice. Most of the time, my interviews are more like 45 minutes because it's more of a conversation but I've got a bunch of questions to fall back on.

That said, having access to the file has changed my opinion on a couple of occasions. I'd say what's happened more is that I came in with an impression of the person and was pleasantly surprised. However, I can't say that someone who I've recommended be accepted would have been rejected if I didn't have the file or vice versa. It's important to how I do my interviews but I can't say I couldn't do them without it.

Oh, and for what it's worth, my first question to an interviewee is always "Tell me about yourself."

 

[crazy_cavalier]

I hate it because I always feel like I'm just shooting the breeze during the interview since I don't know much about the applicants other than what they tell me. So, ultimately, my recommendation for acceptance is based solely on the quality of our conversation, whether or not I like you, and whether I can tell if you're bull$hitting me or not.

Don't underestimate the accuracy of those qualities... maybe that's exactly what the adcom had in mind in terms of considering your recommendation? I mean there's still something to be said of not knowing a person and being able to have a good convo with them and trust them (exactly the skills doctors need in the future) 👍

At my school, student interviews are closed file as well, but we tend to give at least 30 mins up to 1 hour for a student interview, and our recommendation is equally weighted with the faculty's interview.

I tend to start by telling them that it's closed file and then asking them to "tell me more about yourself"... I usually ask about extracurriculars, but generally ignore the mcat/gpa since they were granted an interview, i assume those to no longer be an issue. I also like to throw out novel questions, since I know everyone tends to rehearse and practice, but I like to see how people think so you ask them something they haven't thought about yet. Also I hate contrived answers... it seems so artificial and it irks me.