Weakness?

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For this the ADCOMs want to also see how you've addressed the weakness, or shown initiative for it.

For me it was shyness. Growing up an only child, I definitely suffered from only child syndrome. For my application, I addressed it and also demonstrated how I had been working on it by involving myself in a variety of different leadership positions which cause me to take myself out of my comfort zone and learn to be vocal, assertive, and outgoing.
 
did you really make a new username slightly varied from your original to ask people to write your secondaries to you and really expect nobody to notice? nobody can answer this question for you. you have to look at yourself and think about your strengths and weaknesses. honestly, your secondaries will be so much better if you stop relying on people here to answer your prompts for you and if you just put a little effort into being sincere. and if you really need help, you should talk to people who know you well, not complete strangers. just a thought.
 
I would say my greatest weaknesses are being too self-conscious and not having enough confidence and being somewhat shy and quiet (until I get to know people well). I'm trying to work on pushing myself to be more outgoing. It's funny because when I was a little kid, I was SO outgoing and talkative and my parents called me a "social butterfly". I don't know why I'm so different now.
 
My greatest weakness would have to be that I hold others to the same standards I hold myself to and that I can be overly-critical when they don't meet my expectations. I'm also the quiet type, which is why I joined the speech and debate team the second I started college.
 
Oh, yeah, another weakness of mine is that I'm a perfectionist and I like things done in a certain way, so I tend to be somewhat of a control freak because I'm afraid that other people won't do things the way I like them to be done. I have to have everything just so.
 
I was asked this at my interview. I said I was sometimes a nag, such as incessantly trying to get my suitemates to contribute more to our quality of life in the dorms, etc. I linked it however to one of my strengths, which was that I have a good ability to recruit others.
 
AMedStud said:
What is your greatest weakness? How woul you answer that question. (Seriously please.)
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You changed your SN just to ask more secondary questions? :laugh:
Well to humor you, my personal weakness is that I often think too much about the expectations of others. For this type of question, you'd have to write about a weakness then how you've dealt/overcome it. But really AMedStud, you're a budding future physician; you should be able to tackle these on your own instead of continually using SDN to brainstorm for you.

Good luck on your essays :luck:
 
ahaydt said:
Because I almost said the same thing? (in my mind)
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I just like how there are serious answers in this thread. People are just indulging the OP's inability to have any self-reflection.

OP, if you have trouble figuring out a weakness, ask your parents. I'm sure they'll have some input.
 
zipmedic said:
A big weakness of mine is that I like doing my own work.
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yeah...I'm starting to realize there are alot of people in this forum who work best by stealing other peoples ideas.

To name a few: medstude (or whatever his/her name is), AMedStud,, etc...
 
riceman04 said:
yeah...I'm starting to realize there are alot of people in this forum who work best by stealing other peoples ideas.

To name a few: medstude (or whatever his/her name is), AMedStud,, etc...
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Makes me wonder how many people really don't have a clue when their interviewing.
 
TheRealMD said:
Makes me wonder how many people really don't have a clue when their interviewing.
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You'll find clueless people at all stages of this process.

I had a guy in my friend's lab tell me the other day that although he got a 23N on the MCAT, he was sure was going to get into medical school. He's in for a nasty surprise.
 
ssquared said:
You'll find clueless people at all stages of this process.

I had a guy in my friend's lab tell me the other day that although he got a 23N on the MCAT, he was sure was going to get into medical school. He's in for a nasty surprise.
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I shake my head. I wouldn't want to be the person that sets them straight. 😳
 
ekb1701 said:
My greatest weakness would have to be that I hold others to the same standards I hold myself to and that I can be overly-critical when they don't meet my expectations. I'm also the quiet type, which is why I joined the speech and debate team the second I started college.
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I'm glad I'm not the only one with that problem. 🙄
 
AMedStud said:
What is your greatest weakness? How woul you answer that question. (Seriously please.)
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As Eric Forman said on an episode of "That 70's Show" when he was at a job fair looking for employment, "My greatest weakness is that I just work too darn hard!" LOL

That was a joke so don't use that line. Also, stay away from that whole "My weakness is that I am a perfectionist" crap. No one will believe that because nobody is perfect and you will just sound unoriginal. I agree with the posters above. This is a question that you will have to answer for yourself. Come up with your own unique response and don't forget to mention how you overcame the weakness.
 
My greatest weakness is that I do not like pineapples.

It's kept me from a lot. 🙁
 
I have a weakness for ice cream and VH1's Rock of Love...:laugh:
 
My personal weakness:

40085_GE_8-23-4_104ccc.jpg


Cheesecake😀
 
I would say the OP's biggest weakness is immaturity. He/she doesn't know himself very well, or why s/he wants to go to med school or where. My advice is spend some time growing up before applying.
 
ahaydt said:
Over-ambition at times. But, like the 2nd reply states, you keep asking us for answers. Therefore, I don't think you're over-ambitious at all. Sorry I can't help.
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2nd reply states?

I have over-ambition as a weakness as well. I originally thought it was a strength, but when I got to college, I took on too many things at once b/c I wanted to do it all, and ended up neglecting some classes, some friends, some clubs, etc.

I really do think this is a real weakness, my GPA dropped drastically that semester and it took me a while to get back on track. When I say a while, I mean that my learning curve was practically nonexistent. >_>
 
ahaydt said:
Over-ambition at times. But, like the 2nd reply states, you keep asking us for answers. Therefore, I don't think you're over-ambitious at all. Sorry I can't help.
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Geez, did your mom beat you as a child? What is this forum for than to get advice from other pre-meds? Hearing other peoples' answers can help you come up with your own. You must have not seen that. Must be your "ambition" that got in the way.
 
AMedStud said:
Geez, did your mom beat you as a child? What is this forum for than to get advice from other pre-meds? Hearing other peoples' answers can help you come up with your own. You must have not seen that. Must be your "ambition" that got in the way.
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My mother isn't in prison for child brutality. So no, she did not beat me as a child. She's actually very supportive. The problem is you are asking us to answer your secondaries. If you cannot look at yourself and figure out whats wrong and right then how are we able to help you out. You need to do your own work on your secondaries. If you find a way to transfer your seat to me and have me avoid the hastle of the application process then I'll give you my answers.
 
I interviewed a candidate for a management position who once said his greatest weakness was that he had trouble getting along with his co-workers because he held them to such a high standard..." +pity+
 
I feel that my biggest weakness is that I have trouble communicating when I get nervous. I sometimes fumble with words...stutter. It just s*cks.🙁 I've taken a public speaking class. It helped some, but.... I have to fix this before interviews.
 
Just a little interview tip that I learned from my best class ever. My communications professor (who is well known and well paid for his work 😉) says you should use the following schematic for the best emphasis:
1. Tell them what you're going to tell them.
2. Tell them.
3. Tell them what you told them.

Ex: Drugs are bad

Due to decisions made while under the influence of drugs along with the legal crisis one may face if caught using drugs, drugs are bad for you. Many people make deicisions based off of drug induced highs that cause either bodily or emotional harm to one's self or other people. Additionally, if one is to choose drugs over legal recreations that person may find it nearly impossible to get a medical license in the future if tried and convicted of possesion/trafficking/using. Ill decisions and legal ramifications are why drugs are bad.

I know that's not well developed, but it has the most impact and your interviewer will remember you're most important points.
 
Hyperstudyosis said:
I would say my greatest weaknesses are being too self-conscious and not having enough confidence and being somewhat shy and quiet (until I get to know people well). I'm trying to work on pushing myself to be more outgoing. It's funny because when I was a little kid, I was SO outgoing and talkative and my parents called me a "social butterfly". I don't know why I'm so different now.
Click to expand...

aaahahahahhaaaa
 
ssquared said:
You'll find clueless people at all stages of this process.

I had a guy in my friend's lab tell me the other day that although he got a 23N on the MCAT, he was sure was going to get into medical school. He's in for a nasty surprise.
Click to expand...
does not = not getting into medical school. maybe your more clueless about the process?
 
Patel1268 said:
does not = not getting into medical school. maybe your more clueless about the process?
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Nah, I'd say though that if a person isn't aware of his score compared to the entire applicant pool, then they haven't done enough fact-finding to figure out "their chances".

Besides, anyone who says he/she is a shoe-in for med school are the REAL people who are clueless about this process. Being humble is necessary for survival!!
 
TheRealMD said:
Nah, I'd say though that if a person isn't aware of his score compared to the entire applicant pool, then they haven't done enough fact-finding to figure out "their chances".

Besides, anyone who says he/she is a shoe-in for med school are the REAL people who are clueless about this process. Being humble is necessary for survival!!
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Being confident in knowing you'll get into medical is also necessary for survival as well. The guy with a 23N will get into medical school if he desires. It is just how hard he will work for it with that score that is key.
 
AMedStud said:
Geez, did your mom beat you as a child? What is this forum for than to get advice from other pre-meds? Hearing other peoples' answers can help you come up with your own. You must have not seen that. Must be your "ambition" that got in the way.
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People are having a problem with the fact that you expect to simply ask the questions on your secondaries and take the answers of people on this forum and use them as your own. If there were some indication that you actually thought about your question, and had some work of your own to present, people might be more helpful.
 
RPedigo said:
Yet you quote yourself in your signature? :laugh:
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TheRealMD is kinda hot, imo, and he can get away with that sort of thing.

Unlike most of the rest of us.

Me, I just haven't said anything pithy enough.🙂
 
CS77479 said:
People are having a problem with the fact that you expect to simply ask the questions on your secondaries and take the answers of people on this forum and use them as your own. If there were some indication that you actually thought about your question, and had some work of your own to present, people might be more helpful.
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It is not for a secondary. I just though it would be a good thing to start thinging of interviews. I understand your point though. I still don't see how that validates making harsh judgements on a person's character, especially as that fool has never actually met me.
 
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