That dreaded tell us about yourself q...

[GraceEuphoria]

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I don't know if anyone else hates this question as much as I do in an interview, but maybe there are some people out there who have mastered it! If so, share your secrets.

I have always believed in approaching this question more generally, but I have heard mixed opinions on doing so. Any thoughts? I really need my interview to set me apart, but I don't want to just spiel off some random facts/stories about myself in a desperate attempt to make myself memorable.

Also, the answer to this question might need to be adjusted if the interview is open vs. closed file, don't you think?

 

[Tekar]

Closed interviews - I spouted off my entire resume...and it isn't very short. It allowed me to fill in leadership experience (running for the state legislature) clinical experience (where I work now, what I do and why I love it) teaching experience (taught high school for two years) knowledge of the profession (working on an MPH) time spent serving (3 years in the Army, 6 in the national guard) and my being married with two boys that I laugh at every day. It eliminates those silly questions like "describe a time when you were a leader." It's long winded, but every time I've had this type of interview, my tell us about yourself quesiton, it turns the conversation onto my playing field where I am strongest. I know the answers to questions about me. They don't have to fill time with the run of the mill questions you here on SDN. It works.


Nearly Open Interview without grades and MCAT - (1) starts off with "So what did you do in the Army." The interview was already on my terms and it was a great experience.

IMHO - when you let the interviewer set the terms of the interview with their packaged questions because you don't see your own strengths, you're putting your fate in the hands of the overblown guidance counselor who probably looked up filler questions on SDN. You have to be a bit arrogant in them in the sense that you must stand out in a meaningful way and you must see all the strengths you possess and be willing to share them because they don't know they exist.

Good luck!!!

 

[Ari1584]

I received this as my first question at my interview at CCOM. It was closed-file there..but i dont really think it matters. I dont think this question is a place to talk about your gpa or grades UNLESS there is some huge problem or unfortunate event in your life that made your grades suffer etc etc. I basically talked about how my family came here from a different country, where I am from, my strong family values and that i live with my grandparents, that I have been figure skating since I was young and that I was a competitive dancer, and then i went into college years. I discussed my major change from business to pre-med and my work and shadowing experiences that lead me to where I am today. The question threw me off guard at first, but once I started talking, it was fine. I just summed up the unique things about me into a short story. They asked a lot of question about my major switch and my shadowing after that. Don't be intimidated by this question because it is not meant to scare you. Just pick some interesting things about you and discuss tid-bits of your life. They just want to make sure you can answer this open-ended question with a cohesive, thoughtful and interesting answer...no matter what it is. Good luck 🙂

 

[Limvostov]

This is the best question ever. I got it at three of my interviews and it allowed me to take the interview wherever I wanted it to go. Most of the conversation was then spent talking about skiing, hunting, fishing, college rowing, and running 10k's. Once on this topic there was no more talk about research, medical school, or stats.

I think people should enjoy this question and make the most of it. I guess if you're the type that never goes out or collects stamps this could be a hard question, but being able to talk to people and relate to them is part of medicine.

It's all part of being yourself and having a good time during your interview.

BTW: I was accepted to all three of those schools.

 

[GraceEuphoria]

Gah, I guess I just don't feel like I have THAT much interesting to say. Here's what I'm working with as far as potential topics:

1. I've always worked (which is why my free time/time to pursue other interests has been limited)...since I was 16, I got a job in order to pay for a car. I've mainly worked in food service, but I've also done other retail and a temporary summer job in upstate NY at a summer resort. It's obviously been valuable in many ways because I've basically supported my way through college unlike many.

2. Experiences prior to college: while I worked then too, I wasn't supporting myself of course, so I was able to do things. During high school I went on several trips with my church, a couple of which were to impoverished areas of Mexico to help build houses. I also had time to pursue other interests I have like photography.

3. I love traveling and have visited a lot of the 50 states already. In addition to the trips in high school to Mexico, I was able to study abroad in college. I got to go to England, Germany, and Ireland, which was AMAZING.

My family in general is small and nomadic in nature. After high school and up until now (1 year after graduating college), I have lived in 4 states and probably 7 zip codes.

4. I also could talk about my small family in general and the effects of growing up with older parents and siblings 13-14 years older than me. It's played a great role in who I am now.

I don't know...do any of those sound like worthwhile topics? Like I said I just don't want to dive into random stories and facts about myself, but I don't want to keep it too general so as not to be memorable later. I'm trying not to overthink this, but I really need my interview to stand out this year so I don't get waitlisted again.

Any other thoughts?

 

[Tekar]

Gah, I guess I just don't feel like I have THAT much interesting to say. Here's what I'm working with as far as potential topics:

How are they to feel your interesting if you can't at least fake it? EVERYONE has a story, no matter how boring we may all seem to ourselves. Some of our worst drunks in the ER have a story that would stun many. Or there's the frequent flyer heroin addict who told me she had been molested from the time she was a baby. It may be horrific, but we all have a story, and usually when you tell it to others, it's much more important.

1. I've always worked (which is why my free time/time to pursue other interests has been limited)...since I was 16, I got a job in order to pay for a car. I've mainly worked in food service, but I've also done other retail and a temporary summer job in upstate NY at a summer resort. It's obviously been valuable in many ways because I've basically supported my way through college unlike many.

I'd focus much more on developing the had to pay my own way through college. That is real and explains a great deal about a person's academic world.

2. Experiences prior to college: while I worked then too, I wasn't supporting myself of course, so I was able to do things. During high school I went on several trips with my church, a couple of which were to impoverished areas of Mexico to help build houses. I also had time to pursue other interests I have like photography.

This is huge. You've seen the world most see on a donation request commercial. It clearly impacted your perspective on the world. Perhaps consider if you would do it as a physician practicing internationally.

3. I love traveling and have visited a lot of the 50 states already. In addition to the trips in high school to Mexico, I was able to study abroad in college. I got to go to England, Germany, and Ireland, which was AMAZING.

Discuss what you did, what you learned, and how it affected you. I spent 3 years in Germany in the Army, and let me tell you, your time in foreign countries had a role in your development at a time when you were maturing into an adult and a student pursuing medical school.

4. I also could talk about my small family in general and the effects of growing up with older parents and siblings 13-14 years older than me. It's played a great role in who I am now.

This one strikes me personally. It's quite possible my wife and I would have more children while I'm in medical school and after. I certainly want more. Those children would be in exactly the same situation as my oldest will graduate high school at the end of my 2nd year of residency.

These are all personal experiences that are you. Don't dismiss and minimize them.

Hope that helps

 

[Daedra22]

It sounds like you actually have a lot to talk about! I encountered this question once, and my only advice is to practice it (but not to the point of "sounding practiced") so that your ideas flow from one to the other. If it sounds like a jumble of random facts it comes off kind of silly, but if you make it almost like a 1-minute story about your unique experiences, I think it works. Did for me, anyway. Good luck!

 

[bryce]

Just tell them the truth... That the reason I look so familiar is because you obviously have an intrigue into watching a show that I have been the star of several times now... 'Cops'.

Nothing quite sparks their interest than that, I've found.

 

[JaggerPlate]

I always feel like my answer to this question is way, way too short and basic. I dunno, I don't want to spend 20 minutes on it, reciting my CV, because that stuff always comes up in more interesting later questions, but I feel like I'm done 'talking about myself' in like 40 seconds. Hahaha. It's usually the opener though, so I wouldn't stress too much about it. The nitty gritty and details seem to spring from later, more complicated questions.

 

[TopQuark]

There's an article from 2/08 in the interview secrets section of sdn that addresses this very topic:

http://www.studentdoctor.net/2008/02/trick-question/

It describes a good format for shaping your answer, and might be a helpful read if you're still grasping for ideas.

 

[GraceEuphoria]

There's an article from 2/08 in the interview secrets section of sdn that addresses this very topic:

http://www.studentdoctor.net/2008/02/trick-question/

It describes a good format for shaping your answer, and might be a helpful read if you're still grasping for ideas.

THANKS! I have been searching for article just like that, but I was apparently looking in the wrong place.

I have a much better idea of how to shape my answer now. I struggle with questions like this for a couple of reasons. First, I know it will be the opener and I want to start the interview off with a solid answer, not a nerve-ridden hesitant response. Second, during college I have become plagued with humility to a detrimental degree. I am so uncompetitive when it comes to outward expressions that I have a hard time pushing myself out there. I just hate sounding proud and potentially arrogant. Trust me, I know it's a lousy quality to have when it comes to this whole application process. I've learned that firsthand. However, I am confident it will be hugely advantageous in my future practice. A humble physician seems to be a rarity at times.

Thank you all for all the feedback. I'm open to hearing any other suggestions!

 

[TopQuark]

Yeppers, I too was much more confident in myself before I started this pre-medical journey of mine oh so many years ago. Knowing this will be the first question asked, gives you the chance to really crush it and start the interview on good note=automatic confidence.

Don't sweat your humility too much, a lot of patients have told me arrogance must be a class that's taught in med school😎

 

[Biology101]

I don't know if anyone else hates this question as much as I do in an interview, but maybe there are some people out there who have mastered it! If so, share your secrets.

I have always believed in approaching this question more generally, but I have heard mixed opinions on doing so. Any thoughts? I really need my interview to set me apart, but I don't want to just spiel off some random facts/stories about myself in a desperate attempt to make myself memorable.

Also, the answer to this question might need to be adjusted if the interview is open vs. closed file, don't you think?

...

 

[GraceEuphoria]

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...?

 

[Mohammed1989]

For a closed file interview how would you start talking about yourself. What would be the opening line to make you sound like a good candidate but at the same time not make you sound cocky.

 

[Ari1584]

For a closed file interview how would you start talking about yourself. What would be the opening line to make you sound like a good candidate but at the same time not make you sound cocky.

I just started with where I was born/raised and that my family immigrated here from Russia....i basically started from the beginning for them to get to know a little more about where I came from.

 

[dudechiefboss]

If they are going to give you such an open-ended question then take the interview into your hands. Make bold points so that the interviewers ask predicted questions. Use them as a tool to ask you questions you have already reviewed.