To ADCOMS: What's Your Interview Horror Story With an Applicant?

[BrainStorm12]

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To previous ADCOMS, what was the worst interview you've ever had with an applicant? (Bonus points if they were outstanding on paper but horrible in person)

 

[Mr.Smile12]

 

[Hollow Knight]

I’ve never interviewed a serial killer or anything. But I will say that it’s pretty obvious when applicants lie.

I know the whole “tell your state MD school you want to be a primary care physician” thing is a meme, but it actually reflects poorly on you if we can tell you’re just saying it to help yourself. If you tell me you want to do primary care, but you have only shadowed neurosurgeons……. Well, I’m going to recommend my school reject you. Of course, I’ll smile during the interview and give you plenty of rope to hang yourself if that’s your wish.

 

[Goro]

To previous ADCOMS, what was the worst interview you've ever had with an applicant? (Bonus points if they were outstanding on paper but horrible in person)

Very simple. The kid simply couldn't understand the questions we were asking them.

We would ask question A, and he would give a completely different answer as if we had asked him question B

They're also a non-native English speaker, so it was nearly impossible to understand them as well.

 

[Angus Avagadro]

I didn't interview this person, but was told to me by a colleague. We had an applicant whose Mother demanded to sit in on the interview. She melted down when we declined her supervision and had security escort her out of the building. I cannot comment on the outcome.

 

[Goro]

The wise @gyngyn has mentioned interviewees showing up in a matador suit, an ice skaters outfit and several others costumes that I cannot remember.

He also told us about a father who literally pushed his kid into the interview room.

 

[LizzyM]

I did not interview these two but one applicant asked the Dean of Admissions, "Have you been saved by Jesus Christ? If not, you can't understand me." Another propped his feet on her desk and said, "Tell me why I should come here."

One of the most memorable for me was someone who, when asked "do you have any questions for me?" produced several sheets of legal paper taped together that must have been 45" long.

 

[gyngyn]

Another propped his feet on her desk and said, "Tell me why I should come here."

When I asked what drew him to medicine, my worst foot prop answered "you know, the usual: make bank and be a hero." Later, when the student interviewer arrived, he told him that he didn't have time to waste talking to a "f***ing medical student" and promptly left.

 

[gyngyn]

The wise @gyngyn has mentioned interviewees showing up in a matador suit, an ice skaters outfit and several others costumes that I cannot remember.

He also told us about a father who literally pushed his kid into the interview room.

It was more of a charro suit, as I recall!
The ice skater went on to become an orthopedic surgeon at another fine school.

 

[Goro]

It was more of a charro suit, as I recall!
The ice skater went on to become an orthopedic surgeon at another fine school.

So, why Medicine?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

 

[Goro]

I did not interview these two but one applicant asked the Dean of Admissions, "Have you been saved by Jesus Christ? If not, you can't understand me." Another propped his feet on her desk and said, "Tell me why I should come here."

One of the most memorable for me was someone who, when asked "do you have any questions for me?" produced several sheets of legal paper taped together that must have been 45" long.

Wait a minute...this was like a scroll??????

 

[LizzyM]

Wait a minute...this was like a scroll??????

Almost! It looked like Santa's naughty and nice list.

 

[Goro]

Almost! It looked like Santa's naughty and nice list.

😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳
I take it this person was rejected?

 

[Goro]

It was more of a charro suit, as I recall!
The ice skater went on to become an orthopedic surgeon at another fine school.

Did you also get someone in a sheer vinyl or spandex cat suit, ie, like the Catwoman wears?

 

[gyngyn]

Did you also get someone in a sheer vinyl or spandex cat suit, ie, like the Catwoman wears?

That is the ice skater, I believe.
Her suit was crystalline white with a deep V neck. The V neck was sheer to the umbilicus.

 

[LizzyM]

😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳
I take it this person was rejected?

It was a big "thumbs down" on my part.

 

[LeaveNoTrace]

It was more of a charro suit, as I recall!
The ice skater went on to become an orthopedic surgeon at another fine school.

I am guessing that the ice skater was very much of the "swing for the fences" school of thought for fashion. Which isn't necessarily bad - variance is the poor man's (or woman's, in this case) self improvement. I'm thinking that at her other interviews she was still somewhat avant-garde and daring with her fashion choices. Memorable. But not an ice-skating uniform - that wouldn't work even if you were the Simone Biles of ice skating!

 

[gyngyn]

I am guessing that the ice skater was very much of the "swing for the fences" school of thought for fashion. Which isn't necessarily bad - variance is the poor man's (or woman's, in this case) self improvement. I'm thinking that at her other interviews she was still somewhat avant-garde and daring with her fashion choices. Memorable. But not an ice-skating uniform - that wouldn't work even if you were the Simone Biles of ice skating!

She did get into a very fine medical school. She was a very fine skater.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

With the remarkable popularity of women's sports and the breakthrough of women coaches, many women athletes know how to dress for interviews, social nights, and influencer photoshoots. They might even do a TikTok dance.