What if you were on an adcom?

[monopolova]

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If you were on an adcom, would you lean toward the student with more grades than experience or more experience than grades? What question(s) would you definately ask? What would you look for in an applicant? Would you care what major the applicant declared?

(These are actual interview questions by the way, which is primarily why I ask them.)

Thanks!! 👍

 

[PMED99]

I would be looking for a certain charisma and overall attitude that successful physicians have. Most of it is gained in residency, but some is noticable in an interview.
I would put a lot of emphasis upon volunteer work and experiences. A lot can be said about a person by what they put their free time into.
I feel that anyone with a science major with grades above 3.5 and MCAT 28 has the ability to become a successful physician. It is bedside manner, experiences, drive and determination that will make them into that successful physician.

Of course it is difficult to tell this from an hour interview and a file. Hence, grades are very important in applying.

 

[velo]

If you were on an adcom, would you lean toward the student with more grades than experience or more experience than grades? What question(s) would you definately ask? What would you look for in an applicant? Would you care what major the applicant declared?

(These are excellent interview questions by the way, which is primarily why I ask them.)

Thanks!! 👍

I don't think I completly understand the point of this thread. It really doesn't matter what questions we would ask or what answers we think are good....we're not on an adcom. If you just want to hear everyone's thoughts for fun, that's cool, have a ball! 🙂 , but your OP made it sound like you think this information might be useful in an interview...and not being in charge of med school admissions anywhere, I think our bullsh*t opinions (my own included) are just that...

If this is just for fun though I'm game...lets see, I'd ask them if they thought they could take me in an armwrestling match...they'd try to play it off politly, but I would pursue the issue aggressivly, and taunt them with juvinille personal attacks "what's the matter? don't want to wrestle?! wait...you're not a ***** are you? we don't allow *****'s in this med school" When they finally agreed to wrestle me I would make sure to lose, slam my fist on the desk and curse loudly for at least 30 sec. Then I would stare off into the distance for about a minute, and finally ask them to leave. If they survive this....they're in.

 

[brynn7]

i would give me a full scholarship plus lots of spending money every semester, oh- and a big friendly polar bear pet. 👍 👍 🙂

 

[monopolova]

I don't think I completly understand the point of this thread. It really doesn't matter what questions we would ask or what answers we think are good....we're not on an adcom. If you just want to hear everyone's thoughts for fun, that's cool, have a ball! 🙂 , but your OP made it sound like you think this information might be useful in an interview...and not being in charge of med school admissions anywhere, I think our bullsh*t opinions (my own included) are just that...

Wow.

Um, yeah these are actually real interview questions; and I wanted serious answers to them if you don't mind. Some interviewers will ask you, "what makes a good candidate?" "What questions would you ask?" This is why I asked them; I was hoping for some real insights and ideas. Apparently, you have none. Thanks for playing anyway.

 

[velo]

Wow.

Um, yeah these are actually real interview questions; and I wanted serious answers to them if you don't mind. Some interviewers will ask you, "what makes a good candidate?" "What questions would you ask?" This is why I asked them; I was hoping for some real insights and ideas. Apparently, you have none. Thanks for playing anyway.

Ok, I'm sorry if I offended you...the way you worded your OP made it sound as though you wanted people to speculate as though they were on an adcom, which is of course pointless (to see examples of SDNers acting like they're on an adcom see every "what are my chances" post)

I also considered the possibility that you thought considering these questions would be good interview prep...but having already gone through the app proccess and doing all those interviews, this just doesn't strike me as useful. I never got asked any questions like that, and in general I don't think its a good idea to think about questions in advance (with the acception of "why medicine?" and "why school X?") I think spontaneous answers are usually best.

Finally, what do you mean i have no ideas?! did you read the second half of my post?! That wasn't the idea you were looking for, but I think it was a darn good one! 😀

Good luck with your apps...don't stress out too much about interviews 🙂

 

[monopolova]

Ok, I'm sorry if I offended you...the way you worded your OP made it sound as though you wanted people to speculate as though they were on an adcom, which is of course pointless (to see examples of SDNers acting like they're on an adcom see every "what are my chances" post)

I also considered the possibility that you thought considering these questions would be good interview prep...but having already gone through the app proccess and doing all those interviews, this just doesn't strike me as useful. I never got asked any questions like that, and in general I don't think its a good idea to think about questions in advance (with the acception of "why medicine?" and "why school X?") I think spontaneous answers are usually best.

Finally, what do you mean i have no ideas?! did you read the second half of my post?! That wasn't the idea you were looking for, but I think it was a darn good one! 😀

Good luck with your apps...don't stress out too much about interviews 🙂

Yeah, it's ok. Sorry for getting testy. I agree with you that spontaneous answers are best, but some questions come out of left field. And, they do seem deceptively simple. If someone asked, "what question would you definately ask an applicant?" I think I'd be sitting there for about an hour smiling and twiddling my thumbs. Plus, it's hard to come up with answers that are less than cliche especially when a question seems especially obvious (like those above).

Anyway, I appreciate your good humor and your best wishes. Thanks!! 👍

 

[OnMyWayThere]

Sharon Stone while being interrogated in Basic Instinct would definately result in an acceptance...

Otherwise, I'd ask what the applicant, " what would do if your patient with AIDS tells you they are having unprotected sex with partners and without informing them about his/her disease? " (i heard that was asked before or I dreamt it)

 

[MoosePilot]

If you were on an adcom, would you lean toward the student with more grades than experience or more experience than grades? What question(s) would you definately ask? What would you look for in an applicant? Would you care what major the applicant declared?

(These are actual interview questions by the way, which is primarily why I ask them.)

Thanks!! 👍

I'd lean towards more experience than grades, but would need some proof of academic ability (good grades or MCAT).

I'd definitely ask, "So tell me about yourself.". I think this question tells a lot about the candidate in both the answer and how he responds to such an open ended question. Plus it ensures that the applicant gets to tell me the top things he wants to hear, so no excuses later.

I'd look for an applicant that meets the criteria, seems sincere, can communicate well, actually listens to me vs. trying to anticipate what I'm going to ask (if he does it to me, he'll do the same to patients), and is motivated to go to my school.

I wouldn't care what major as long as pre-reqs are complete.

 

[IndyZX]

i award velocitypedalist with the title of "most confrontational SDNer of the week"

 

[velo]

i award velocitypedalist with the title of "most confrontational SDNer of the week"

haha, thanks...just tellin' it like (i think) it is. You could say I'm a fairly confrontational person...I think its good to engage people in dialouge, and when I do that I'm going to share my honest opinion and expect them to be just as forthright...oh and also I act like a complete a$$ for a cheap laugh (ussually my own) about half the time 🙂 .

Anyway, hope you did mean it as a compliment...if not, I'm afraid you can expect more of the same until august or so...I've got too much free time on my hands during the summer of sloth right now!

 

[IndyZX]

lord. maybe, there was a chance that he didnt mean any offense and was just innocently generalizing? sheesh.

 

[IndyZX]

oh, mosdef. i love being in liberal arts. i enjoy telling people im a history major and seeing the pity in their eyes.

 

[SpiritiualDuck]

If I was interviewing, I would want to do a closed file interview. i would want to draw my own conclusions about this applicant.

 

[W222]

I would give more people like me a chance. I would pick the interesting folks who can carry on a conversation, there are too many that cant even relate to human beings. Funny Story: A surgeon I know is the surgical residency director for a university hospital system and he interviewed a fourth year for a residency spot who had already been published seven times in surgical journals, was top of his class, and had a near perfect score on his boards. He got to the end of the interview and asked what NCAA team won the basketball tourney and the guy had no idea. The surgeon just said "thank you for your time" and didnt give the guy a spot. He said he was more machine than human, that made me laugh.

 

[PMED99]

Oh, I'm sorry. I was speaking of those who are science majors with 3.5 and 28. I didnt mean to leave out the others. With the others it can be different. I have known people who were history majors who were more capable than myself and had a great resume of experiences and science classes. But, I have known others that have taken the minimum in the field and done poorly in it.

I suppose to be fair I should have said BCPM, but it doesnt really matter because being outside the sciences can only help a candiate show being well rounded and stand out.

Sorry, didnt mean to ruffle any fears.

 

[MoosePilot]

I would give more people like me a chance. I would pick the interesting folks who can carry on a conversation, there are too many that cant even relate to human beings. Funny Story: A surgeon I know is the surgical residency director for a university hospital system and he interviewed a fourth year for a residency spot who had already been published seven times in surgical journals, was top of his class, and had a near perfect score on his boards. He got to the end of the interview and asked what NCAA team won the basketball tourney and the guy had no idea. The surgeon just said "thank you for your time" and didnt give the guy a spot. He said he was more machine than human, that made me laugh.

That's sick. Not being into basketball is ground for being labelled a robot? 😡

 

[Catalyst]

That's sick. Not being into basketball is ground for being labelled a robot? 😡

If you must know, yes. 😀

 

[MEG@COOL]

If you were on an adcom, would you lean toward the student with more grades than experience or more experience than grades? What question(s) would you definately ask? What would you look for in an applicant? Would you care what major the applicant declared?

(These are actual interview questions by the way, which is primarily why I ask them.)

Thanks!! 👍

Major: Bonus points for rigorous majors. Negative points for easy majors.
Grades vs Experience: Grades. Anyone can get experience, but not everyone can get grades.

Look For: Grades, MCAT, The ability to carry on an interesting conversation, nice personality. For those with scores above the schools median grades/MCAT would be less of a factor in differentiating applicants.

 

[W222]

I know and the guy was coming from U of Cinnci. Which has a damn good basketball program. Whoops, looks like someone never left the library.

I personally would conduct all my interviews on the Golf course or at the beach, I feel less confined there.

 

[MoosePilot]

If you must know, yes. 😀

That would be like me asking an applicant if he's seen the most recent "Fear Factor" episode. No? Well, you must be a robot. "But I was watching the NCAA tournament." Nope, you must have been in the library. Good day! 🙂

Basketball is not for everyone. I'd have to pick up a book to keep me entertained 😀

 

[i61164]

That's sick. Not being into basketball is ground for being labelled a robot? 😡

I agree. I don't know who won the stupid NCAA tourny, but I spend every Sunday during the football season drinking beer and watching the Steelers (the more they lose, the more beer I am forced to drink).

To be fair, the guy could have asked "What are your hobbies or interests?"

 

[W222]

Well, I think that the year he asked this U of Cinnci went very far in the NCAA. It would seem like if you were on campus and your head was out of your @ss, you probably knew who beat your team and won.

 

[velo]

Well, I think that the year he asked this U of Cinnci went very far in the NCAA. It would seem like if you were on campus and your head was out of your @ss, you probably knew who beat your team and won.

No that's still a horrifying story, some people just don't care about basketball and your interest/or lack thereof in the NCAA tournement should not, in anyway, influence your ability to land a residency. I HOPE your surgeon friend had already decided he didn't want to accept this guy and told you the NCAA reason for a laugh...I wouldn't read anything into it.

 

[PMED99]

If I am reading it right, I think it was more about his way of answering not that he didnt know who won. In fact, I watched the game and I am struggling to think of who won. I just remember they beat tech badly, not fun to watch.

If he had answered with an answer more human like. You can always turn that question into something that you are into. If you dont follow basketball, then mention that you are not and say that you are into soccer, football, or whatever.

I think we all knew the type of "robots" that he is referring to.

 

[IndyZX]

uconn, i believe. all of this could of course be confirmed in seconds, but id rather not

 

[monopolova]

That's sick. Not being into basketball is ground for being labelled a robot? 😡

I agree, that is a load of crap. A giant stinking load. Like a mountain even.