weird interview...?

[egil_skallagrimsson]

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So I had an interview somewhat recently at a school with two individuals and I've been thinking about it. I realized that not ONCE did either of them ask about my clinical experience or reasons for going into medicine. I found this really bizarre as I'm a career changer I was preparing for it to be the focus of my interview. It's making me paranoid that I was supposed to explain this elsewhere during the interview, but I don't really recall any opportunities except maybe during the "tell me about yourself" opening question. I was expecting to discuss my motivations explicitly elsewhere during the interview but it was never asked about. Pretty sure this isn't a good sign?

 

[Brawndo2016]

So I had an interview somewhat recently at a school with two individuals and I've been thinking about it. I realized that not ONCE did either of them ask about my clinical experience or reasons for going into medicine. I found this really bizarre as I'm a career changer I was preparing for it to be the focus of my interview. It's making me paranoid that I was supposed to explain this elsewhere during the interview, but I don't really recall any opportunities except maybe during the "tell me about yourself" opening question. I was expecting to discuss my motivations explicitly elsewhere during the interview but it was never asked about. Pretty sure this isn't a good sign?

Actually sounds about right to me. As a career changer myself, my interviews have been more about my hobbies than anything else. It's all worked out so far.

 

[egil_skallagrimsson]

Actually sounds about right to me. As a career changer myself, my interviews have been more about my hobbies than anything else. It's all worked out so far.

The problem is one of the interviews was closed file so they had no way of knowing that I was a career changer...The second interviewer kept saying things after my response like "this demonstrates your [insert positive quality here]" and I'm like...uh yeah I agree? Maybe I'm over thinking things. But it didn't feel like a medical school interview.

 

[radian313]

I had the same experience with my interview, well a few of them. All turned out to be great interviews. They cant ask "everything", I mean your motivation is surfaced during your primary and secondary applications. Primary = why a doctor, secondary = why a DO. The interview is more for, is this persona a robot? Or is this someone who will fit in our school. Thats it. They want to get to know YOU, not your motivation, or anything. They already know you are smart, motivated, and will do fine academically. Just need to make sure you will fit in the class they are trying to build. Im sure you did fine.

 

[Brawndo2016]

The problem is one of the interviews was closed file so they had no way of knowing that I was a career changer...The second interviewer kept saying things after my response like "this demonstrates your [insert positive quality here]" and I'm like...uh yeah I agree? Maybe I'm over thinking things. But it didn't feel like a medical school interview.

I would have to believe that this is a positive thing. You describe an interview that I would personally feel went rather well. Not so much a cookie cutter experience.

 

[NecrotizingFasciitis]

The problem is one of the interviews was closed file so they had no way of knowing that I was a career changer...The second interviewer kept saying things after my response like "this demonstrates your [insert positive quality here]" and I'm like...uh yeah I agree? Maybe I'm over thinking things. But it didn't feel like a medical school interview.

I had a similar experience at one of my interviews! I just went with it and expanded upon it.

Interviewer: That shows great leadership, something we need here

Me: I'm so glad you brought that up, because that's exactly what I was thinking.

*Goes on to talk about the importance of leadership in medicine*

lol


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[Alienman52]

So I had an interview somewhat recently at a school with two individuals and I've been thinking about it. I realized that not ONCE did either of them ask about my clinical experience or reasons for going into medicine. I found this really bizarre as I'm a career changer I was preparing for it to be the focus of my interview. It's making me paranoid that I was supposed to explain this elsewhere during the interview, but I don't really recall any opportunities except maybe during the "tell me about yourself" opening question. I was expecting to discuss my motivations explicitly elsewhere during the interview but it was never asked about. Pretty sure this isn't a good sign?

You're fine. Interviewers all have their own ways of getting to know you; because they don't ask you an expected question doesn't mean they don't want you in their class!


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[Atom612]

At one of my interviews, I had a panel that asked fairly traditional questions (why medicine, why DO, etc.) and it was super conversational and laid-back. However, a guy also had a laid-back interview but they asked him NOTHING about his motivations for medicine or DO or even their school. By his account, they talked predominately about sports during the first half and then lobbed some quasi-ethical scenarios his way. Others still were intensely grilled about everything. Obviously, they aren't only going to accept the ones that had the opportunity to answer "Why medicine?" Each school/interviewer has their own methods for getting to know you better, so I wouldn't sweat it too much.

 

[Goro]

Maybe you wrote about it so well that they didn't need to ask you about these??????

Quit fussing. Most interviewees are terrible judges about their interview performance.

So I had an interview somewhat recently at a school with two individuals and I've been thinking about it. I realized that not ONCE did either of them ask about my clinical experience or reasons for going into medicine. I found this really bizarre as I'm a career changer I was preparing for it to be the focus of my interview. It's making me paranoid that I was supposed to explain this elsewhere during the interview, but I don't really recall any opportunities except maybe during the "tell me about yourself" opening question. I was expecting to discuss my motivations explicitly elsewhere during the interview but it was never asked about. Pretty sure this isn't a good sign?

 

[mouster]

So I had an interview somewhat recently at a school with two individuals and I've been thinking about it. I realized that not ONCE did either of them ask about my clinical experience or reasons for going into medicine. I found this really bizarre as I'm a career changer I was preparing for it to be the focus of my interview. It's making me paranoid that I was supposed to explain this elsewhere during the interview, but I don't really recall any opportunities except maybe during the "tell me about yourself" opening question. I was expecting to discuss my motivations explicitly elsewhere during the interview but it was never asked about. Pretty sure this isn't a good sign?

I've had the same experience, and I've been lucky enough to get accepted at 2/3 of the interviews I've attended (still waiting to hear back from one). No one wants to talk about my clinical experience...but I have had rousing discussions about pig varieties, a super violent sport I played in college, and tiny houses. I think it's because they want to get to know what we're actually like, so just relax and be yourself! 🙂