The interview - what to do with tricky subject matter

[Manarola]

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So I need some advice on this issue since I think the topic is too personal for me to be objective. During the interview I know there are certain topics that are off-limits (race/ethnicity, religion, family planning, sexual orientation). However, suppose I'm to get a general question, such as:

"Describe a challenging situation, difficult decision or obstacle you encountered, and how you dealt with it./ What has been difficult for you in college or in your life?"

My honest answer to that is: "Coming to terms with my sexuality, dealing with rejection (and support) from friends and family, discrimination from strangers and perhaps most tragically having to live outside of the U.S. for the last 10 years because my partner is not American and U.S. immigration laws don't allow same sex partners to immigrate"

Now I realize that answer is like a soap opera but that's the truth. Personally, my sexuality isn't something I like to discuss openly and i'd prefer not to be categorized along the lines of straight or gay. My home state and my med school of choice is in the Midwest. What should I do in this case? On one hand, I feel the honest answer is the best explanation to account for my time abroad and why I haven't attended medical school in the U.S. sooner. But I realize this may not be something I want to reveal.

Thanks for your input!

 

[OpalOnyx]

well - you obviously want to be smart about it and gage whether to give this particular response based on your interviewer. Also, based on where you interview.

In an ideal world, you would be able to bring this up at every interview without concerns. BUT the world isn't ideal - so pick/choose wisely.

Have a few answers to the question. Surely, you've had other personal challenges. Then - choose an answer among the pool based on what perception/vibe you get from the interviewer. my 2 cents.

 

[Chuck's Right Foot]

Find out how gay friendly the school is by trying to get in touch with current students.

 

[bannie22]

ooh. ia cutally talked about race tho 🙂 hahahahaha. brave me. i dunt really care man. i talk about waht i believe in. to me its about finding the fit. a school that appreciates me for who i am, and what i believe, just as much as i love the school

 

[nuneyah]

You can have an interview at "Deep South Mississippi School of Medicine," and I would bet that 99% of the time, the interviewers will be respectful, open-minded, and admire your honesty. Med schools should be like a bubble of equality, where the sole purpose is for scholarly pursuit, in even the most backwards and/or conservative areas possible. If you get any sense of repulsion from the people you incounter there because of your sexual orientation or your circumstance, then that is obviously a place you do not what to attend, and you should be grateful you found out before it is too late.

But yes, be honest. Besides the points above, a heart-felt answer will always get you more brownie points and face-time.

 

[greatnt249]

Med schools should be like a bubble of equality, where the sole purpose is for scholarly pursuit, in even the most backwards and/or conservative areas possible.

Desire doesn't necessarily dictate reality; however, you're right that if the vibe you get is unwelcoming, then it's most likely a school you don't want to be at.

 

[OpalOnyx]

Desire doesn't necessarily dictate reality; however, you're right that if the vibe you get is unwelcoming, then it's most likely a school you don't want to be at.

Well what if it's only that particular interviewer's vibe that is unwelcoming? You can't judge the whole school by the interviewer. I say - play it safe. You can decide if you wanna go after getting accepted. Lay low and decide what to say based on who you're saying it to.

 

[LizzyM]

If you bring up race, marital status, sexual orientation, etc, you open the door to further questions. You can't be discriminated on the basis of age, race, sex, etc etc but it can always be said that you are immature, have poor motivation for medicine, poor communication skills, etc and then it is hard to prove discrimination.

Have you had any challenges that didn't involve your sexual orientation? You aren't being judged by how difficult your life has been but how creative, mature, flexible, and healthy you have been in overcoming the difficulty.