Tell me about yourself.

[djeffreyt]

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So I was just wondering what people's opinions are on this question. It is probably one of the most common interview questions at any school. What do you all think the interviewer means or is getting at with this question? Do they want a life story, a short synopsis of your background, to hear about your interests and personal life outside dentistry, to hear why you chose dentistry?

I've heard lots of different opinions about what interviewers are getting at with a question like this...but no general agreement.

 

[dddsmack]

I agree, this is probably the hardest "easy" question out there.

At Case, they ask it up front. You know you have an hour with each interviewer, so you can expand on a lot of things.

At Nova, I had ten to fifteen minutes total and burned a ton of time on myself that I wish I wouldn't have.

With Creighton, I was to the point and felt it was perfect.

At AZ, I was bombarded with trivia and felt they didn't even care about me.

At Ohio State, they asked it, I resonded well, I geared it more towards dentistry because I only had 30 min total.

So it depends on the situation, I guess.

My upcoming interviews include Temple, UNLV, Marquette, NJ, Buffalo
What is this question like at these places? any help would be great...

 

[tissy]

a short synopsis of your background such as:
I was born in ........ and raised in ...... I have so and so borthers/sisters...Describe a little what it was like growing up..blah blah..you dated a lot, everybody thought you were cool, and you promise you were not a nerd j/k
Right after high school..blah blah blah.
Something unique you've done while in school such as research, study abroad, volunteering, humanitarian, something GREAT....
Throw in what sparked your interest in dentistry...blah blah.
And Whala...BAM here I am interviewing....LOL

So I was just wondering what people's opinions are on this question. It is probably one of the most common interview questions at any school. What do you all think the interviewer means or is getting at with this question? Do they want a life story, a short synopsis of your background, to hear about your interests and personal life outside dentistry, to hear why you chose dentistry?

I've heard lots of different opinions about what interviewers are getting at with a question like this...but no general agreement.

 

[Ething]

At Nova I began talking about where I went to highschool and how it was a really far drive from where i lived. I dont think i got much further than that when they popped the next question. I think most interviews just wasnt to see if you are normal. everyone goes nuts for interviews but i think it looks better if you are relaxed, show them you are normal and enjoy relaxing and having fun in your down time. if someone over prepares and has intricate answers to everything, i think that could turn them off.

 

[tissy]

Lucky they popped the next question...I heard at one interview the interviewer just kept quite so she had to ramble for at least 5 minutes..

At Nova I began talking about where I went to highschool and how it was a really far drive from where i lived. I dont think i got much further than that when they popped the next question. I think most interviews just wasnt to see if you are normal. everyone goes nuts for interviews but i think it looks better if you are relaxed, show them you are normal and enjoy relaxing and having fun in your down time. if someone over prepares and has intricate answers to everything, i think that could turn them off.

 

[reapply2007]

I agree with tissy. A short born, raised, school, etc in order for them to get a sense of your background experiences. It's not therapy, it's an abridged chronology of your life ending with you sitting in the chair you are in at the moment.

 

[fancymylotus]

hmmm...tell you about myself? im awesome,and heres why