Thoughts from retiring student interviewer.

[ohioguy]

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Interview Tips


As my student interviewer role has just about ended, I wanted to share my experience which may hopefully be at least a little helpful or reiterate some things. I was one interviewer but feel like my comments may resonate with fellow student interviewers.



· You’d probably never say stuff like “This instilled in me a drive” in everyday conversation. So please don't BS. Personally, I'd rather have an applicant be honest and say that they'd spend 100K to buy something cool, pay off loans, go on vaca...instead of saying they'd donate it all to Africa.

· Try not to memorize. Interviewers volunteer their time. We like to have fun too. It’s no fun getting a memorized robotic response because we get to know some screen prompt, not you. I remember when I first started interviewing I’d also have the same problem with memorized responses. I got a lot better by practicing saying my answers in different ways.

· Be who you are. I’ve interviewed some really extroverted applicants and those who are more reserved. One of my best interviewees was more introverted and took the time to pause and think through their answers. In MS1 we had a clicker questionnaire…half the class was split evenly into extroverted and introverted while the class above us had a higher proportion of introverts.

· Clinical experiences matter. Kind of obvious but make sure you have some good reasons for going into medicine. I had one interviewee who told me one of their primary reasons was “to reach the top of the pyramid”.

· Talking really fast. One interviewee had perfect answers…said all the right things, but talked so fast that I had trouble following their train of thought and had to bring this up in the report to the committee.

· Whether student or faculty interviewer I think it really comes down to whether or not you like the interviewee and if you want to see them again. So just be you!

 

[Goro]

My young colleague has nailed this 1000%!

As an aside, while we appreciate honesty, this is an example of being too honest, if not outright stupid.
· Clinical experiences matter. Kind of obvious but make sure you have some good reasons for going into medicine. I had one interviewee who told me one of their primary reasons was “to reach the top of the pyramid”.

 

[LostinLift]

· You’d probably never say stuff like “This instilled in me a drive” in everyday conversation.

Don't be giving out lines from my PS. But really.

 

[Doctor Strange]

I've done quite a few student interviews, but I will never forget the applicant who told me that their favorite thing to do outside of school was "research." Rejected so hard.

 

[Psai]

I've done quite a few student interviews, but I will never forget the applicant who told me that their favorite thing to do outside of school was "research." Rejected so hard.

Whats wrong with liking research

 

[ProudMD]

Interview Tips


As my student interviewer role has just about ended, I wanted to share my experience which may hopefully be at least a little helpful or reiterate some things. I was one interviewer but feel like my comments may resonate with fellow student interviewers.



· You’d probably never say stuff like “This instilled in me a drive” in everyday conversation. So please don't BS. Personally, I'd rather have an applicant be honest and say that they'd spend 100K to buy something cool, pay off loans, go on vaca...instead of saying they'd donate it all to Africa.

· Try not to memorize. Interviewers volunteer their time. We like to have fun too. It’s no fun getting a memorized robotic response because we get to know some screen prompt, not you. I remember when I first started interviewing I’d also have the same problem with memorized responses. I got a lot better by practicing saying my answers in different ways.

· Be who you are. I’ve interviewed some really extroverted applicants and those who are more reserved. One of my best interviewees was more introverted and took the time to pause and think through their answers. In MS1 we had a clicker questionnaire…half the class was split evenly into extroverted and introverted while the class above us had a higher proportion of introverts.

· Clinical experiences matter. Kind of obvious but make sure you have some good reasons for going into medicine. I had one interviewee who told me one of their primary reasons was “to reach the top of the pyramid”.

· Talking really fast. One interviewee had perfect answers…said all the right things, but talked so fast that I had trouble following their train of thought and had to bring this up in the report to the committee.

· Whether student or faculty interviewer I think it really comes down to whether or not you like the interviewee and if you want to see them again. So just be you!

It shocks me that people who are smart enough to make it to the interview stage say such things openly.

 

[mimelim]

I've done quite a few student interviews, but I will never forget the applicant who told me that their favorite thing to do outside of school was "research." Rejected so hard.

What is wrong with enjoying doing research? Some of us actually do enjoy our jobs.

 

[Doctor Strange]

Whats wrong with liking research

What is wrong with enjoying doing research? Some of us actually do enjoy our jobs.

There's nothing wrong with liking research, but the question I'm asking is about hobbies outside of academics, which I guess I didn't make super clear in my first post. I thought the applicant had misinterpreted my question initially, but when I prodded further, I found out very quickly that this person didn't do anything outside of studying and research.

 

[Derivations]

There's nothing wrong with liking research, but the question I'm asking is about hobbies outside of academics, which I guess I didn't make super clear in my first post. I thought the applicant had misinterpreted my question initially, but when I prodded further, I found out very quickly that this person didn't do anything outside of studying and research.

Well if you worded it "outside of school" as in your previous post then you can't fault the person for saying research. Also, this is why so many people dread interviews, because of judgmental interviewers like you whose subjective opinions can be a determining factor in medical school admission.

 

[Doctor Strange]

Well if you worded it "outside of school" as in your previous post then you can't fault the person for saying research. Also, this is why so many people dread interviews, because of judgmental interviewers like you whose subjective opinions can be a determining factor in medical school admission.

I didn't just leave it at that; I definitely made an effort to clarify things and find out more, but the applicant wasn't giving me anything. I was in their shoes once, and I'm anything but judgmental when I interview students.