Telling one school it's your top choice at interview when you're not 100% sure

[GreenCenter]

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So I have interviews two schools that are tied at the top of my list (I already got rejected from my true top choices 😛). I already had one interview, and I did NOT tell the school it was my top choice. I have the 2nd interview soon. Is it ok to tell that school it's my top choice, even though it's tied for top 2? Is a verbal comment like that legally binding if I get accepted?

 

[Robizzle]

Instead of worrying about this, why don't you explain to them WHY it's one of your top choices and follow up with how much you'd love to go there.

And for what it's worth, no it's not binding. I doubt they have a taperecorder/videocamera in there. And even if they did, who cares, it really is practically your top choice.

 

[tdd340]

Not only is it legally binding but if you break it then you will be sent to the gulag. In seriousness though I don't think saying a school is your top choice at an interview when it really is should be any problem at all.

 

[YupGypsy]

questions like this make me question the competence level of pre-meds

 

[nosugrefneb]

Definitely not legally-binding. You could tell them that, but to me, as an interviewer, it wouldn't mean much, simply because any school can be anyone's top choice on a given day, and this is especially so on interview day! Any interviewer will realize that, so while you may think it'd be helpful to express your interest in a given school that way, it's ultimately not all that useful. It's always better to express your interest in other ways, like knowing a lot about the school before arriving, asking thoughtful questions, and generally being an enthusiastic person.

 

[HumbleMD]

So I have interviews two schools that are tied at the top of my list (I already got rejected from my true top choices 😛). I already had one interview, and I did NOT tell the school it was my top choice. I have the 2nd interview soon. Is it ok to tell that school it's my top choice, even though it's tied for top 2? Is a verbal comment like that legally binding if I get accepted?

It's not a legal contract or anything, but depends on your moral compas or scruples. I told a school it was my top choice back in September, because it indeed was. Since September (and my subsequent acceptance), I feel guilty, but it actually has probably dropped to second or third after interviewing at other schools.

I have a hard time believing though, that the schools are perfectly tied. You may find on the interview day that the school rises to your top choice, after which, feel free to tell the interviewer that. If not, I wouldn't. Honesty is the best policy, as is maintaining one's integrity.

I commend you for considering the ramifications of this. There are plenty of folks on SDN who would lie, cheat, steal, or kill, do whatever it takes, to get an acceptance. 😱

 

[CardiacIntensivist]

So I have interviews two schools that are tied at the top of my list (I already got rejected from my true top choices 😛). I already had one interview, and I did NOT tell the school it was my top choice. I have the 2nd interview soon. Is it ok to tell that school it's my top choice, even though it's tied for top 2? Is a verbal comment like that legally binding if I get accepted?

A verbal comment is not legally binding. People's opinions change all the time. Luckily I was only asked at one school if it was my top choice and though it was definitely on top 5 for me, it was not my #1. I side stepped the question by telling them why it was one of my top choices without saying "Well it's one of my top choices..."

Interviewer - Is this school your first choice?
Me - Oh, I love it here. This school has proceed to list all the reasons why I liked it.

If you make an answer long enough, they'll probably forget or ignore that you didn't answer their question directly. So, don't lie and be diplomatic.

 

[Eric Lindros]

Seriously, don't sweat it. I doubt many people openly admit in an interview that that school is not their top choice.

 

[GreenCenter]

My advisor told me that telling your top choice actually does matter b/c schools like to accept students they know will matriculate. People agree with this?

 

[HumbleMD]

My advisor told me that telling your top choice actually does matter b/c schools like to accept students they know will matriculate. People agree with this?

IMHO as only an applicant, I'd think that it shows enthusiasm and intent to matriculate. Would it make up for you 27 MCAT? Doubt it, but it can't hurt.

 

[degoo_]

I commend you for considering the ramifications of this. There are plenty of folks on SDN who would lie, cheat, steal, or kill, do whatever it takes, to get an acceptance. 😱

Not to mention eating a poop dog 👍

 

[LastOneStanding]

My advisor told me that telling your top choice actually does matter b/c schools like to accept students they know will matriculate. People agree with this?

everyone wants to be loved... even big powerful med schools.

 

[kevster2001]

It's not legally binding. If ethically you feel conflicted about lying to the med schools you can always say it's one of your top choices but a lot depends on the financial package yadda yadda yadda