Tough Interview Experience

[pjc199]

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I interviewed somwhere today and will keep the name of the school anonymous. Somehow, I was lucky to have a panel consisting of both an MD and DO. Naturally, the "why DO" question arose. Keep in mind that it was a close MD (top notch Neurosurgeon) who told me that the DO degree was laughable and humiliating to have on the end of your name, which I resent to the fullest. Unfortunately, I just had to let my opinion fly and I blurted out "DO's tend to relate to their patients better and build healthier rapport". Should I have just ended it with that sentence and walked out of the school given the fact that my chances for acceptance are slim to none now?

 

[EMTLizzy]

Should I have just ended it with that sentence and walked out of the school given the fact that my chances for acceptance are slim to none now?

Not at all.

I don't think there is a right or wrong answer to that question.

If the MD was on the adcom then he must be working at/affiliated with the school. Obviously, he sees something good in the DO philosophy and their training of physicians or he wouldn't be there.

Just relax. You probably did fine. 😎

 

[docbill]

Not the end of the world. It may not even register. In general, don't put another profession down... especially not MDs. You can say that you observed that .... but ultimately it depends on the physician. Hands on approach to healing.


I would of reworded that statement to something like " because of the preventative and providing primary care phil of Osteopathy, DO build a better / long term rapport with patients.

 

[Richie Truxillo]

I think they were testing you to see how strongly you felt about osteopathic medicine. If you defended your personal beliefs under intense pressure, that is usually seen as a positive thing. 😉 So relax, I think you did fine.

-Richie

 

[UNE2009LMD]

Don't worry about it. I, myself, would have said the same freakin' thing. Why would he say something like that...that's rude. Anyway, he's probably just testing you so don't sweat the small stuff! 🙂

 

[Maxmuscle27]

Don't worry about it. I, myself, would have said the same freakin' thing. Why would he say something like that...that's rude. Anyway, he's probably just testing you so don't sweat the small stuff! 🙂

That MD was totally testing you to see how your belief in the DO philosophy was. I think you did fine with what you said.....it was better than agreeing or saying nothing......They were trying to intimidate you....oh yah baby....that's it...... In those situations, stand up and defend your stand to the death.... That's what they want to see....but do it in a professional manner of course

 

[cardiotonic]

For the most part, I agree with the above statements. However, to hell with being professional, since his/her question was somewhat unprofessional in the first place. I would have just said what was on my mind. Keep in mind this is coming from someone with an acceptance in the bag already, but I would have opened up a can of osteopathic whoopa**. 😎

 

[Sharon Lee]

In a recent interview I had the same question in front of MD's and DO's. Obviously I praised Osteopathy but then I said that MD's could be just as compassionate and communicable, blah blah as DOs but that DOs because of their philosphy are geared toward being that special kind of doctor.

The MD interviewer asked if he could stop right there for a second and he pointed out how many times he's listened to students bash MD's and that I was the first to acknowledge them...so try to keep in mind that MDs are doctors too and they have the flexibilty to practice as compassionately or not as they want, there are MDs with excellent hands on performance and there are DOs that just cannot relate to their patients.

To answer the first question though, relax, the doc most likely did not take it personally.

 

[Ypo.]

I interviewed somwhere today and will keep the name of the school anonymous. Somehow, I was lucky to have a panel consisting of both an MD and DO. Naturally, the "why DO" question arose. Keep in mind that it was a close MD (top notch Neurosurgeon) who told me that the DO degree was laughable and humiliating to have on the end of your name, which I resent to the fullest. Unfortunately, I just had to let my opinion fly and I blurted out "DO's tend to relate to their patients better and build healthier rapport". Should I have just ended it with that sentence and walked out of the school given the fact that my chances for acceptance are slim to none now?

Are you saying the MD who interviewed you said the DO degree was laughable-or are you saying it was another MD?

I think it would have been better to just say that you relate to the DO philosophy better than the MD one (or lack of one we should say) - and avoided making generalities about the practitioners of either form of medicine.

That being said, they know a lot of DO and pre-DO students have gung-ho and often naive feelings about their profession, and I think if anyone got offended, that they will just let it slide.

I don't think it will affect your acceptance chances.

 

[DrMom]

to hell with being professional, since his/her question was somewhat unprofessional in the first place.

How on earth is it unprofessional for an interviewer at an Osteopathic school to ask the interviewee "why DO?"




Back to the OP's issue: most of the time, they're just wanting to see that you have some idea that DO's are "supposed to be different" (which is what your answer addressed), some idea of what the Osteopathic philiosophy is, and/or show an interest in OMM. I think that your answer is fine and shouldn't be a make-or-break issue for your interview.

 

[Ypo.]

How on earth is it unprofessional for an interviewer at an Osteopathic school to ask the interviewee "why DO?"




Back to the OP's issue: most of the time, they're just wanting to see that you have some idea that DO's are "supposed to be different" (which is what your answer addressed), some idea of what the Osteopathic philiosophy is, and/or show an interest in OMM. I think that your answer is fine and shouldn't be a make-or-break issue for your interview.

I think cardiotonic is under the impression that the MD who interviewed OP stated that the DO degree is laughable.

 

[DrMom]

I think cardiotonic is under the impression that the MD who interviewed OP stated that the DO degree is laughable.

ah...

 

[pjc199]

The MD in the interview was NOT the MD who said negative things about osteopathic medicine. Also remember that most interviewees do NOT know the credentials of their interviewers prior to the interview. That being said, after I made that comment, it seemed that the DO made a follow up question that tried to releive any disrespect for the MD at the time. For one reason or another, I'm pretty sure I will recieve a rejection letter later this week. As I was being brought back to another room, one of the interviewers asked me where else I applied and finalized the exit with a good luck to you. To say the least, I was not impressed with this school. Then again, when you attend a world class type university for four years, it's very difficult to leave for a small campus that has nothing to offer but two years of medical education.

 

[docbill]

For the most part, I agree with the above statements. However, to hell with being professional, since his/her question was somewhat unprofessional in the first place. I would have just said what was on my mind. Keep in mind this is coming from someone with an acceptance in the bag already, but I would have opened up a can of osteopathic whoopa**. 😎

cardiotonic.. please don't open any cans of whoopa$$!

 

[Ypo.]

The MD in the interview was NOT the MD who said negative things about osteopathic medicine. Also remember that most interviewees do NOT know the credentials of their interviewers prior to the interview. That being said, after I made that comment, it seemed that the DO made a follow up question that tried to releive any disrespect for the MD at the time. For one reason or another, I'm pretty sure I will recieve a rejection letter later this week. As I was being brought back to another room, one of the interviewers asked me where else I applied and finalized the exit with a good luck to you. To say the least, I was not impressed with this school. Then again, when you attend a world class type university for four years, it's very difficult to leave for a small campus that has nothing to offer but two years of medical education.

Well, you'll have to keep us posted on whether you get accepted or not-now that our collective curiousities have been peaked. 😀

Yeah, I utterly detest when they ask you what other/how many schools you have applied to. I think its invasive, rude, none of their business, underhanded...But all four medical schools I have interviewed did ask me that question - so keep that in mind when considering this school for attendance.

Actually my interviewer at MSUCOM only asked me because he wanted to reassure me that the other schools I had applied to were good schools, and to encourage me to attend an osteopathic medical school, rather than an allopathic one...He was so sincere I had to believe him