"Tell me about yourself."

[DoctorSaab]

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I see this question everywhere in the interview feedbacks.

What do you exactly tell them about you?

Where do you start? What do you mention? What kind of things do you refrain from?

 

[czanetti]

this is the hardest question to answer.

Write down a list of things before the interview that you feel are important to get across if asked the question, review it before hand, and try to cover as much as possible on that list as you can but do it in a conversational maner meaning don't just drone on and try to practice interviews by being able to "feel" if your responce needs to sum up and end so they can move on to the next question.

 

[Law2Doc]

this is the hardest question to answer.

You could always just go with Dr. Evil's answer -

"The details of my life are quite inconsequential.... Very well, where do I begin? My father was a relentlessly self-improving boulangerie owner from Belgium with low grade narcolepsy and a penchant for buggery. My mother was a 15-year-old French prostitute named Chloe with webbed feet. My father would womanize; he would drink. He would make outrageous claims like he invented the question mark. Sometimes, he would accuse chestnuts of being lazy. The sort of general malaise that only the genius possess and the insane lament... My childhood was typical: summers in Rangoon... luge lessons... In the spring, we'd make meat helmets... When I was insolent I was placed in a burlap bag and beaten with reeds — pretty standard, really. At the age of 12, I received my first scribe. At the age of 14, a Zoroastrian named Wilma ritualistically shaved my testicles — there really is nothing like a shorn scrotum — it's quite breathtaking... I suggest you try it."

 

[jkhamlin]

I see this question everywhere in the interview feedbacks.

What do you exactly tell them about you?

Where do you start? What do you mention? What kind of things do you refrain from?

I finally came to realize that there is no hidden message or agenda in this question. It is not a cryptic question at all. Your answer should be something like:

I am a student/graduate of __________ discipline at ____________ university. I have worked as ____________ (if you have relevant or important work or volunteer experience). I want to be a physician because _____________. I have interests in _____________ (doesn't have to be health care related, but could be).

For me, I state something like I hold bachelor's degrees in biology and psychology from Missouri State University. I am currently a master's degree candidate in biology and applied statistics at Missouri State studying with an emphasis in epidemiology. I am doing research on the environmental risks involved with fomites in a hospital environment and their relationship to antibiotic resistant bacteria as determined by odds ratios derived from logistic regression models. I have been interested in medicine all of my life since I grew up around my uncle's clinic in a small rural town in Missouri. I watched him do incredible things like sew a guy's finger back on after a saw mill accident and I just had to be able to do that. I am a very civically engaged person and I volunteer with Mothers Against Drunk Driving and have done so for the past nine years. I enjoy reading, spending time with my kids, gardening and fishing when I get time out from all of the things I am devoted to. I like to educate people on biomedical issues.

I could go on forever; the point is that the basic outline is the same for everyone, but the specifics are unique to you. They want those specifics. In all probability, when someone asks you this, they are looking for what to ask you. They will probably stop you and ask you to elaborate on a specific point such as "Tell me about the research you mentioned." Be ready to thoroughly answer this. The point is to thoroughly answer these questions. Don't stop until you have covered the subject well. Don't feel pressured to hurry. This is your time to let them know you, don't waste it.

If you haven't already, check out my tip from Yakov post. It will help you understand all of this.

 

[DoctorSaab]

law2doc, HILARIOUS

Jkhamlin, Thank you. That was VERY informative.

Should one mention the stories in his/her personal statement off the bat? Or should he/she wait until asked?

 

[nowooftickets]

1. brief background info
2. education
3. work/skills
4. other

 

[jkhamlin]

law2doc, HILARIOUS

Jkhamlin, Thank you. That was VERY informative.

Should one mention the stories in his/her personal statement off the bat? Or should he/she wait until asked?

If it seems relevant and natural, then sure. The thing about my uncle sewing the guy's finger back on was in my PS.

 

[amathew]

now that i have finally an interview, this question needs to be answered again. I have many things I could mention to answer the "tell us about yourself" But what would be the best topic to start this answer with - education or background? Should it be a chronological thing (I moved to the US when I was 11 and since then I have attended _______) or should it be a relevant thing moving towards the past (as in start with my current job and move back towards my education, sort of like what we do in resume)

Why does something so simple seem so confusing?

 

[Kuba]

I finally came to realize that there is no hidden message or agenda in this question. It is not a cryptic question at all. Your answer should be something like:

I am a student/graduate of __________ discipline at ____________ university. I have worked as ____________ (if you have relevant or important work or volunteer experience). I want to be a physician because _____________. I have interests in _____________ (doesn't have to be health care related, but could be).

I sort of disagree. They already know all that about you. I feel like this is an opportunity to say whatever you want to add to your file and make you stand out. Something that maybe isn't in your application. Those standard responses should be left for when you can't think of anything better.

 

[Orthodoc40]

now that i have finally an interview, this question needs to be answered again. I have many things I could mention to answer the "tell us about yourself" But what would be the best topic to start this answer with - education or background? Should it be a chronological thing (I moved to the US when I was 11 and since then I have attended _______) or should it be a relevant thing moving towards the past (as in start with my current job and move back towards my education, sort of like what we do in resume)

Why does something so simple seem so confusing?

LOL! I loved Law2Doc's answer, but it might be hard to pull off as genuine!!

Well, think about it, OP. What do you want them to know about you? What do you want to make sure they know about you? How would you answer that question if a friend introduced you to someone they knew? Like it has been said, this isn't a trick question. There is no "right answer". What will give them more info on who you are?

 

[Taty]

I was asked that question too, he asked me tell me about yourself, what kind of person are you and why medicine... I told my interviewer that from my childhood and up to age 21 I wanted to be.... a lawyer ( I started blog about it)...He asked me why I wanted to be a lawyer. We had a good laugh... because I had interest in medicine since I was a kid... I loved reading medical books ( I had many friends with cancer and I wanted to know all about it),I accidentually witnessed surgery, I saw woman giving birth (in real life), I saw an autopsy and got very fascinated with a human body...but I wanted to be a lawyer.


So I told him how I went from me preparing for LSAT to dropping my law and history classes, giving out LSAT books and becoming pre-med.

 

[Kuba]

I was asked that question too, he asked me tell me about yourself, what kind of person are you and why medicine... I told my interviewer that from my childhood and up to age 21 I wanted to be.... a lawyer ( I started blog about it)...He asked me why I wanted to be a lawyer. We had a good laugh... because I had interest in medicine since I was a kid... I loved reading medical books ( I had many friends with cancer and I wanted to know all about it),I accidentually witnessed surgery, I saw woman giving birth (in real life), I saw an autopsy and got very fascinated with a human body...but I wanted to be a lawyer.


So I told him how I went from me preparing for LSAT to dropping my law and history classes, giving out LSAT books and becoming pre-med.

thats a great answer! if you can answer with an engaging story, more power to you.

 

[Lfribble]

I've struggled with how to answer these questions as well and I have to agree with Kuba. I don't think the answer should sum up what they already know from your paper application. I think it should be something that gives more insight into you as a person. However, I also think that it should obviously be relevant to your interest in medicine and you should strive to get some points across that you think are very important.

 

[Halligan]

I think that you've got to get a "little" personal with them....where you live, parents, what you do for fun. Let them know about YOU - not just where you graduated from or what degree you hold...that stuff is already on paper. What makes you tick? Why is being a doctor going to fit into your lifestyle and your personal goals? A robot would spit that bland, statistical crap stuff out - I think they want to know that you're a human being, and you have a life outside of what you did in college just as much as they do (if not more) than your college major. Sure, include that stuff, reiterate it briefly...but I wouldnt go into too much detail. And I would reiterate in the way that explains to them how all of the pieces came together to make you pursue this career as a DO. I'm sure they want to know that you're intellectually competent, but at the same time, an emotionally sound person too. Afterall, you're going to be dealing with sick people, and there has to be some compassion there. Treating humans not just the injuries/body parts...right? I would suggest you starting off with a timeline, and picking out the KEY points that lead you to that particular interview ...that's probably a good way to get some ideas flowing.

That's just my two cents. Best of luck to you!!!!!

 

[amathew]

I think that you've got to get a "little" personal with them....where you live, parents, what you do for fun. Let them know about YOU - not just where you graduated from or what degree you hold...that stuff is already on paper. What makes you tick? Why is being a doctor going to fit into your lifestyle and your personal goals? A robot would spit that bland, statistical crap stuff out - I think they want to know that you're a human being, and you have a life outside of what you did in college just as much as they do (if not more) than your college major. Sure, include that stuff, reiterate it briefly...but I wouldnt go into too much detail. And I would reiterate in the way that explains to them how all of the pieces came together to make you pursue this career as a DO. I'm sure they want to know that you're intellectually competent, but at the same time, an emotionally sound person too. Afterall, you're going to be dealing with sick people, and there has to be some compassion there. Treating humans not just the injuries/body parts...right? I would suggest you starting off with a timeline, and picking out the KEY points that lead you to that particular interview ...that's probably a good way to get some ideas flowing.

That's just my two cents. Best of luck to you!!!!!

Thanks!! I think I'll follow your two cents 🙂

 

[Taty]

thats a great answer! if you can answer with an engaging story, more power to you.

He asked me why I chose CS to major than if I wanted law school that bad...I told him I needed money. I was taking some law classes as electives.
He asked why i did not mentioned law school in personal statement I told him that I was afraid that ADCOMS would look at me like on the person who does not know what she wants....He told me that he understands...

 

[VJWDO]

Do not overanalyze this question!! All you have to do is talk about yourself!
Where you are from, what you do now, who your parents are, brothers/sisters, sports, EC's husband/wife/Sig other, pets, what you like to do. They already know all the BS in your CV and application, they want to know who you are, not what you did to get there.

Residency interviews are similar except they want to get to know your better. So brush up on this because it will haunt you for years to come!!

Good luck!!

 

[fkhan3]

"I’m a modern man, a man for the millennium. Digital and smoke free. A diversified multi-cultural, post-modern deconstruction that is anatomically and ecologically incorrect. I’ve been up linked and downloaded, I’ve been inputted and outsourced, I know the upside of downsizing, I know the downside of upgrading. I’m a high-tech low-life. A cutting edge, state-of-the-art bi-coastal multi-tasker and I can give you a gigabyte in a nanosecond!
I’m new wave, but I’m old school and my inner child is outward bound. I’m a hot-wired, heat seeking, warm-hearted cool customer, voice activated and bio-degradable. I interface with my database, my database is in cyberspace, so I’m interactive, I’m hyperactive and from time to time I’m radioactive.

Behind the eight ball, ahead of the curve, ridin the wave, dodgin the bullet and pushin the envelope. I’m on-point, on-task, on-message and off drugs. I’ve got no need for coke and speed. I've got no urge to binge and purge. I’m in-the-moment, on-the-edge, over-the-top and under-the-radar. A high-concept, low-profile, medium-range ballistic missionary. A street-wise smart bomb. A top-gun bottom feeder. I wear power ties, I tell power lies, I take power naps and run victory laps. I’m a totally ongoing big-foot, slam-dunk, rainmaker with a pro-active outreach. A raging workaholic. A working rageaholic. Out of rehab and in denial!

I’ve got a personal trainer, a personal shopper, a personal assistant and a personal agenda. You can’t shut me up. You can’t dumb me down because I’m tireless and I’m wireless, I’m an alpha male on beta-blockers.

I’m a non-believer and an over-achiever, laid-back but fashion-forward. Up-front, down-home, low-rent, high-maintenance. Super-sized, long-lasting, high-definition, fast-acting, oven-ready and built-to-last! I’m a hands-on, foot-loose, knee-jerk head case pretty maturely post-traumatic and I’ve got a love-child that sends me hate mail.

But, I’m feeling, I’m caring, I’m healing, I’m sharing-- a supportive, bonding, nurturing primary care-giver. My output is down, but my income is up. I took a short position on the long bond and my revenue stream has its own cash-flow. I read junk mail, I eat junk food, I buy junk bonds and I watch trash sports! I’m gender specific, capital intensive, user-friendly and lactose intolerant.

I like rough sex. I like tough love. I use the “F” word in my emails and the software on my hard-drive is hardcore--no soft porn.

I bought a microwave at a mini-mall; I bought a mini-van at a mega-store. I eat fast-food in the slow lane. I’m toll-free, bite-sized, ready-to-wear and I come in all sizes. A fully-equipped, factory-authorized, hospital-tested, clinically-proven, scientifically- formulated medical miracle. I’ve been pre-wash, pre-cooked, pre-heated, pre-screened, pre-approved, pre-packaged, post-dated, freeze-dried, double-wrapped, vacuum-packed and, I have an unlimited broadband capacity.

I’m a rude dude, but I’m the real deal. Lean and mean! Cocked, locked and ready-to-rock. Rough, tough and hard to bluff. I take it slow, I go with the flow, I ride with the tide. I’ve got glide in my stride. Drivin and movin, sailin and spinin, jiving and groovin, wailin and winnin. I don’t snooze, so I don’t lose. I keep the pedal to the metal and the rubber on the road. I party hearty and lunch time is crunch time. I’m hangin in, there ain’t no doubt and I’m hangin tough, over and out!""I’m a modern man, a man for the millennium. Digital and smoke free. A diversified multi-cultural, post-modern deconstruction that is anatomically and ecologically incorrect. I’ve been up linked and downloaded, I’ve been inputted and outsourced, I know the upside of downsizing, I know the downside of upgrading. I’m a high-tech low-life. A cutting edge, state-of-the-art bi-coastal multi-tasker and I can give you a gigabyte in a nanosecond!

I’m new wave, but I’m old school and my inner child is outward bound. I’m a hot-wired, heat seeking, warm-hearted cool customer, voice activated and bio-degradable. I interface with my database, my database is in cyberspace, so I’m interactive, I’m hyperactive and from time to time I’m radioactive.

Behind the eight ball, ahead of the curve, ridin the wave, dodgin the bullet and pushin the envelope. I’m on-point, on-task, on-message and off drugs. I’ve got no need for coke and speed. I've got no urge to binge and purge. I’m in-the-moment, on-the-edge, over-the-top and under-the-radar. A high-concept, low-profile, medium-range ballistic missionary. A street-wise smart bomb. A top-gun bottom feeder. I wear power ties, I tell power lies, I take power naps and run victory laps. I’m a totally ongoing big-foot, slam-dunk, rainmaker with a pro-active outreach. A raging workaholic. A working rageaholic. Out of rehab and in denial!

I’ve got a personal trainer, a personal shopper, a personal assistant and a personal agenda. You can’t shut me up. You can’t dumb me down because I’m tireless and I’m wireless, I’m an alpha male on beta-blockers.

I’m a non-believer and an over-achiever, laid-back but fashion-forward. Up-front, down-home, low-rent, high-maintenance. Super-sized, long-lasting, high-definition, fast-acting, oven-ready and built-to-last! I’m a hands-on, foot-loose, knee-jerk head case pretty maturely post-traumatic and I’ve got a love-child that sends me hate mail.

But, I’m feeling, I’m caring, I’m healing, I’m sharing-- a supportive, bonding, nurturing primary care-giver. My output is down, but my income is up. I took a short position on the long bond and my revenue stream has its own cash-flow. I read junk mail, I eat junk food, I buy junk bonds and I watch trash sports! I’m gender specific, capital intensive, user-friendly and lactose intolerant.

I like rough sex. I like tough love. I use the “F” word in my emails and the software on my hard-drive is hardcore--no soft porn.

I bought a microwave at a mini-mall; I bought a mini-van at a mega-store. I eat fast-food in the slow lane. I’m toll-free, bite-sized, ready-to-wear and I come in all sizes. A fully-equipped, factory-authorized, hospital-tested, clinically-proven, scientifically- formulated medical miracle. I’ve been pre-wash, pre-cooked, pre-heated, pre-screened, pre-approved, pre-packaged, post-dated, freeze-dried, double-wrapped, vacuum-packed and, I have an unlimited broadband capacity.

I’m a rude dude, but I’m the real deal. Lean and mean! Cocked, locked and ready-to-rock. Rough, tough and hard to bluff. I take it slow, I go with the flow, I ride with the tide. I’ve got glide in my stride. Drivin and movin, sailin and spinin, jiving and groovin, wailin and winnin. I don’t snooze, so I don’t lose. I keep the pedal to the metal and the rubber on the road. I party hearty and lunch time is crunch time. I’m hangin in, there ain’t no doubt and I’m hangin tough, over and out!"

-George Carlin

 

[DoctorMom78]

I sort of disagree. They already know all that about you. I feel like this is an opportunity to say whatever you want to add to your file and make you stand out. Something that maybe isn't in your application. Those standard responses should be left for when you can't think of anything better.

I have to agree with you. I touched briefly on my education, interests, etc, but I used the opportunity to discuss things that weren't in my file or were not detailed in the information they already had about me. I also talked about some of my non-medicine/non-science interests. For example, at both DCOM and PCSOM, I mentioned how much I loved doing things outdoors and that I loved the country. I had to be a little bit more creative at my NYCOM interview because I am not a big fan of NYC or Long Island. 🙄 (No offense intended to anyone.) I do hate that question though, and I got it in all three of my interviews. It was definitely the hardest one to answer. I felt like I was rambling on and on and on... I am sure that you will be fine. They just want to get to know you as a person a bit more.

 

[Protease]

Tell me about yourself?

This is not so much as a hard question, but its just extremely general, it's open to anything related about you.

Just give them a quick rundown of things NOT, I repeat NOT, mentioned in your file.

Discuss sports you play, hobbies you have, number of siblings, books you like to read, movie genres you enjoy, do you write poetry, blogs, novels? Discuss your children or spouse, discuss what you do at work, where were you born, number of languages you speak.

Just pretend your on a date and you have to talk about yourself without making the person bored, that means limiting your response to under 1 minute. DO NOT attempt to flirt with your interviewer 🙄

 

[Stimulate]

Back when I was preparing for interviews I read a couple of books on how to interview. What I discovered was that the statement/question. "Tell me about yourself" is the first sign of an inexperienced/untrained interviewer. By reading books and preparing I found that this question became something that I actually looked forward to. As soon as those words leave the interviewer's lips, you have control of the interview.

Think about the fact that when interviewing for medical school you are going to be interviewed by people who have little to no experience or training in how to actually interview someone (hence the illegal questions that keep popping up in them!!!). These people do not have human resources experience and many of them are asking "canned" questions from an approved list. There is no flexibility for the interviewee if the interviewer sticks to their list of canned questions.

Learn to appreciate this question and look forward to it. This question is your opportunity to take control and "make the sale". Distinguish yourself from the other applicants. Bring in all the strong points about yourself that you may not have a chance to insert into the interview later. If you give them a blank stare and have no organized response it may significantly hurt your chances.

 

[tinker_rebel]

Hmm this question, I have to say, is the bane of my existance lol! Well not exactly, but it is hard to answer. I'm leaning towards mentioning things not on the application, and having a coherent asnwer that gives some info about how you decided medicine and also gets across why you'd be good at it without blatantly saying so. This question does matter and will kick you in the a## if you can't answer it in some way. I got asked it in my 2nd interview and had no idea how to handle it. I blabbered and stuttered...and sure enough it bit me. I had 2 interviews at that particular school and they had to do a 3rd one because my 2 interview scores were so vastly different (and I know my other interiview went great the guy basically said he would see me in fall). So practice this a little, because it IS ironically one of the hardest questions to answer because it is general and you have to know what you want to get across. I prepared for it, and got asked it in 2 interviews following that one and got asked it at an interview for a volunteer position.

 

[lilnoelle]

I hate this question. I have a tendency to start chronologically. I was born in Iowa, my parents were farmers, went to school in a small school, played sports, eventually went to college in Kansas City, got married in 2002, graduated in 2003, have since then had two kids, worked as a manager at a fast food restaurant and then as a technician at a chemical plant.

So the problem is.... "where does medicine fit in?" 😱 I did this more than once. And then I'm flustered. I've pretty much indicated that up to this point in my life, medicine has not been a major focus, or even a minor one.

Yes, I hate this question.

The good news is one of the interviews that the above situation occurred in ended up in an acceptance. I was able to pull it together, turn it around, and laugh about it later on in the interview.