Thoughts on 'optional' post-interview Q&A sessions with current-students?

[NegativeMargin]

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My top 2 schools have both offered these optional student-run question type panels that are supposed to be more casual and a Q&A style, and for both schools they are happening before a decision is formally made, and after the initial interview.

I feel it'll be a great time to get questions answered that have not been answered yet and are appropriate to ask currently matriculating students . I also feel it's another type of situation where there is potentially very little up-side while being considerable downside if you were to make a fool of yourself. I'm personally not too worried about this as I tend to thrive in these sorts of environments and as a non-trad most people appear pleasantly surprised to speak with someone closer to their age.

I'd love to hear other people's thoughts on this. I'm likely going to approach it like another interview, will probably over-dress for it, and may not even actually get a chance to really say all that much. Another opportunity to show I'm truly interested in the school though, I feel, which is always appreciated.

 

[RNtoPhysician]

To me it sounds like you have the right approach. It is another chance for you to get a closer look at the schools too with the students that are currently enrolled in the curriculum!

 

[MyOdyssey]

My top 2 schools have both offered these optional student-run question type panels that are supposed to be more casual and a Q&A style, and for both schools they are happening before a decision is formally made, and after the initial interview.

I feel it'll be a great time to get questions answered that have not been answered yet and are appropriate to ask currently matriculating students . I also feel it's another type of situation where there is potentially very little up-side while being considerable downside if you were to make a fool of yourself. I'm personally not too worried about this as I tend to thrive in these sorts of environments and as a non-trad most people appear pleasantly surprised to speak with someone closer to their age.

I'd love to hear other people's thoughts on this. I'm likely going to approach it like another interview, will probably over-dress for it, and may not even actually get a chance to really say all that much. Another opportunity to show I'm truly interested in the school though, I feel, which is always appreciated.

Not showing will be interpreted as lack of interest. The students will probably prepare and submit evaluations.

Act accordingly.

 

[LizzyM]

I highly doubt that students will be asked to prepare and submit evaluations.

This did not happen back when we offered lunch and a tour with current students and I doubt it will happen in a Zoom chat room.

Act accordingly but don't be stupid or insulting or racist as that can come back to bite you.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Not showing will be interpreted as lack of interest. The students will probably prepare and submit evaluations.

Act accordingly.

I can tell you that my school does not care at all if you show up to something like that. It doesn’t factor into the decision even a little.

 

[MyOdyssey]

I can tell you that my school does not care at all if you show up to something like that. It doesn’t factor into the decision even a little.

That's very healthy. There was a thread from a couple of years ago where an applicant who'd work in healthcare consulting said that medical schools do commission studies into various factors that predict eventual matriculation - one of which was how quickly one turns in secondary essays. That gave me the impression that all sorts of seemingly trivial things would be looked at as evidence of interest or lack thereof.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

That's very healthy. There was a thread from a couple of years ago where an applicant who'd work in healthcare consulting said that medical schools do commission studies into various factors that predict eventual matriculation - one of which was how quickly one turns in secondary essays. That gave me the impression that all sorts of seemingly trivial things would be looked at as evidence of interest or lack thereof.

Yeah. I wouldn’t read too much into optional stuff. Optional means optional.

 

[NickNaylor]

Generally speaking, these kinds of things are really for your own benefit. As others mentioned, I highly doubt that students you interact with are submitting evaluations or any other kind of feedback as a routine matter to the admissions committee. That said, I'm sure that if you act grossly inappropriately or in a way that is seriously off-putting, that will make it back to the committee. Remember that you are still "on stage," even in optional sessions like this. That seems obvious, but the number of stories that I've heard of applicants to medical school or residency acting grossly inappropriately outside of formal interviews is striking.

Don't be paranoid about it, but don't misinterpret an "optional" part of the program as meaning "act casually like you're with a good friend."

 

[queenbeee]

I'm a current medical student who frequently volunteers for those sessions and we are 100% not evaluating you in any way (well, at my school at least). I don't even communicate with the admissions team, my participation is facilitated by a student-run group for admissions. It's truly just an opportunity to go to learn more about the school. You'd have to be really foul for me to go out of my way to tell the admissions team.

 

[TelemarketingEnigma]

I'm a current medical student who frequently volunteers for those sessions and we are 100% not evaluating you in any way (well, at my school at least). I don't even communicate with the admissions team, my participation is facilitated by a student-run group for admissions. It's truly just an opportunity to go to learn more about the school. You'd have to be really foul for me to go out of my way to tell the admissions team.

Seconding this, I did an interview day Q&A lunch recently (so not as optional, but we didn't care if applicants used it as a break time). Nobody asked me to evaluate anything at all. You'd have to try pretty hard to make a fool of yourself. Ask normal questions, let other people ask questions, don't be naked, don't post weird things in the zoom chat, and you'll be fine. Use it as a chance to get to know the school better!

 

[DigNewton]

Agree with most of what's already been said – go if you have time and are interested. It's a great chance to get a feel for how good of a fit the school is, and in a stress marathon like med school, you want the best fit you can get. You're *extremely* unlikely to be evaluated in any way, shape, or form... unless you do something awful. And if you're the kind of person who'd do something awful at one of these things (I don't get the sense that you are), there's probably not much we can do to save you.

 

[Blueprint Med School]

I generally recommend showing your face when able to, just generally being happy and making small talk. Like others have said, it is generally a neutral interaction, but you get a good chance to see the students interact with each other and you can get some clutch details (where to and where not to live, for example).

David D MD - USMLE and MCAT Tutor
Med School Tutors