Stumped on an Interview Question

[johncalvin]

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"Have you ever *seriously* [his emphasis] considered a career other than medicine?"

I said I have considered grad. school, but I don't know if that was the right answer, since later on the interviewer asked me "Why didn't you apply to MD/PhD?"

 

[BlueElmo]

"Have you ever *seriously* [his emphasis] considered a career other than medicine?"

I said I have considered grad. school, but I don't know if that was the right answer, since later on the interviewer asked me "Why didn't you apply to MD/PhD?"

I would answer honestly. If you did seriously consider something other than medicine, then tell him so. Otherwise, then say medicine is your sole focus.

 

[chman]

I think that if you said no they would think you were lying. I mean who does not at least consider something else, especially with all of the tangible and intangible things that go into becoming a MD.

 

[brooklynblunder]

i definitely considered everything.

 

[johncalvin]

Maybe I'm focusing too much on the word "seriously?"

I just don't want them to think that I arrived at medicine via a process of elimination. Especially because I've shadowed lawyers and entrepreneurs too, back in freshman year of college.

My career choices wen like this:-

H.S. = Medicine
Early college = exploring, second thoughts about medicine
Late college = MCAT, applying, and waiting for Oct. 15!

 

[URHere]

I just don't want them to think that I arrived at medicine via a process of elimination.

Unless you're simultaneously applying to grad school, dental school, law school, business school, and medical school, I doubt your interviewer would think that you are applying on a whim (especially if you've already jumped through all of the pre-med hoops).

Honestly, they probably just want to get a better idea of who you are, and whether or not you have really thought about your decision to enter medicine. If you can talk about other careers you've considered and discuss why medicine is a better fit for you, you'll be just fine.

PS - the best conversation I had during an interview focused on my switch from pre-vet, to theatre, to grad school, and then to pre-med.

 

[marele86]

While of course you should answer honestly, I'd bet money that this question is meant to see if you arrived at the choice of medicine from a rational, informed process ("I thought about X or Y, but there's not enough hands-on work in X and not enough science in Y") versus a more "I have wanted to be a doctor since I was 2; it is my destiny" route.

... Although that second answer could be pretty entertaining. ("Considered.. other.. careers? 😕 I can't, I'm pre-med!")

 

[chman]

While of course you should answer honestly, I'd bet money that this question is meant to see if you arrived at the choice of medicine from a rational, informed process ("I thought about X or Y, but there's not enough hands-on work in X and not enough science in Y") versus a more "I have wanted to be a doctor since I was 2; it is my destiny" route.

... Although that second answer could be pretty entertaining. ("Considered.. other.. careers? 😕 I can't, I'm pre-med!")

I would agree with this.

I think they are watching out for, "Well, may Dad is a doctor so I thought I should be one too," or "I was not sure what to do after undergrad and I had all the pre-reqs," or "I want a career that will be very lucrative," or "I really like the show Greys Anatomy." You get the idea.