What in the world is a fellowship interview like?

[MirkoCrocop]

Starting a round of surgical pathology fellowship interviews and I feel like I'm rusty in terms of interviewing -- by the end of residency interviews I was calm, confident, and could sell myself without appearing arrogant or conceited.

I feel apprehensive about fellowship interviews and have NO IDEA what to expect! Are they one and the same as residency interviews? Do they throw slides in front of you? Do they ask you your opinion on frozens? Do they make you CUT frozens? Does it totally depend on where you're interviewing?

Anyone's general experience/tips will be helpful. I know it will vary from place to place.

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[KCShaw]

I think it will vary a lot. I only interviewed for forensic fellowships, so take the following as you will. My fellowship interviews were similar to residency interviews in that there was a tour, there was 15-30 minutes with individual available faculty, there was some informal time with any available fellow(s), and there were a lot of similar discussions -- workload, volume of cases, why I wanted to do that subspecialty, relevant past experience, etc. It was dissimilar to residency interviews in that I was always the only fellow applicant interviewing that day, and the discussions about the program were more specific because I knew more about pathology and about forensic pathology than I did when interviewing for residency. At one interview there were a couple of questions thrown out at the end of the morning preview of cases, and later in the day when I was hanging out with the fellows one or two attendings popped in and asked us a question or two as a group, as a sort of teaching-test -- that was as close as it got to being "tested" or put on the spot, that I recall.

I have heard that some programs in other subspecialties do have you spend time at the microscope, either interviewing while the attending is signing out, or whatever, and at least one place had an actual written exam on a group interview day. I can't imagine you being asked to actually cut anything, because of medical licensing & insurance issues. But, YMMV.

Personally I would suggest reading up on programs you interview at as best you can (website, etc.), developing a handful of general and program-specific questions, and going over in your head why you're interested in that program and why you're interested in that type of fellowship for when someone asks. The rest should pretty much work itself out.

 

[Autopsy101]

It depends on the program where you are applying. The majority of my interviews in forensic programs were very similar to the experience above. I did apply to one program that gave me a slide test and a written test, but the test seemed very fair.

 

[gschl1234]

Starting a round of surgical pathology fellowship interviews and I feel like I'm rusty in terms of interviewing -- by the end of residency interviews I was calm, confident, and could sell myself without appearing arrogant or conceited.

I feel apprehensive about fellowship interviews and have NO IDEA what to expect! Are they one and the same as residency interviews? Do they throw slides in front of you? Do they ask you your opinion on frozens? Do they make you CUT frozens? Does it totally depend on where you're interviewing?

Anyone's general experience/tips will be helpful. I know it will vary from place to place.

On my interviews they asked predictable questions such as:
1. What are your plans after fellowship?
2. What are your plans after you've finished training altogether? (I think b/c I'm planning on 2 fellowships)
3. What area do you want to specialize in? (most people expected some kind of subspecialty interest outside of general SP)
4. Specific questions about papers in my CV. (i.e. what were the conclusions of your study? Are you going to do follow-up work?)
5. Do you have any questions about our fellowship?
6. Why do you think more and more residents are choosing to by-pass a general surg path fellowship and jumping straight into subspecialty fellowship?
7. Why do you want to do this fellowship? (i.e. why SP and why here?)
8. What are you hoping to get out of this fellowship?

No one had me look at slides, frozens, or do a frozen. Although someone asked me whether I got a lot of experience cutting forzens in residency.

 

[Pathologee]

Fellowship interviews are a bit different because you get a little more respect than you would as a med student interviewing for a residency. Also remember, if you find that they are talking about the program and what it has to offer, and they are not asking you any questions, it may be a sign that they already like you. Don't feel the urge to freak out because you are not being asked questions like you were in previous interviews.

 

[KeratinPearls]

Fellowship interviews are a bit different because you get a little more respect than you would as a med student interviewing for a residency. Also remember, if you find that they are talking about the program and what it has to offer, and they are not asking you any questions, it may be a sign that they already like you. Don't feel the urge to freak out because you are not being asked questions like you were in previous interviews.

Are programs looking for academically oriented candidates? If you tell them during an interview, you want to do private would that be a bad thing?

 

[MirkoCrocop]

Are programs looking for academically oriented candidates? If you tell them during an interview, you want to do private would that be a bad thing?

I kinda have a similar question -- the "best" programs are academic programs, but what if you want to train there, yet work in a community practice?

What if you don't mind doing research at the fellowship level, but don't intend on doing any afterward? I want to be upfront with everyone, but I don't want to hurt my chances vs. the guy who wants to run a research lab.

 

[Pathologee]

Are programs looking for academically oriented candidates? If you tell them during an interview, you want to do private would that be a bad thing?

It really depends on the place. Of course everyone wants the next big thing who will write 20 papers, but they know that is not true. Also, if you are a fellow there, and you go to private, you may be highly likely to send your cases back to the place you did fellowship. If you are interested in community you could say that your goals are "To become an excellent anatomic pathologist and to leave your institution ready to contribute to patient care and remaining up to date with the current literature." Something along those lines.

 

[icpshootyz]

I think you have to at least feign interest in academia. Remember, a fellowship is generally taking place at an academic institution under the guidance of academic attendings. Do they really want to hear that you're not interested in academia, their chosen career path, even if they know more people will go into private/community practice? No. They want to hear that you're interested in what they're interested in. I'm not saying BS them completely and say you want to run a research lab, but I wouldn't say you have no interest in research or academia either.

 

[KCShaw]

Unfortunately I kinda agree -- it seems to me that faculty at academic centers lean towards preferring academically oriented applicants even though they KNOW hardly any will EVER write a successful grant, write a textbook, or publish a groundbreaking study... much less do so while still at their institution. They would still love to squeeze a couple of typical low class papers out of you during your short stint there, because that's simply what one does as part of one's job description at an academic center. I'd be honest with them if they flat out ask you, but I'd also encourage you to be willing to help out with local research interests at least while you're there.

 

[2121115]

They would still love to squeeze a couple of typical low class papers out of you during your short stint there, because that's simply what one does as part of one's job description at an academic center.

This.


BOOM.

 

[gschl1234]

Are programs looking for academically oriented candidates? If you tell them during an interview, you want to do private would that be a bad thing?

I didn't get that feeling at my interviews. They didn't seem to much care either way, although I'm more interested in academia and told them so. I did have interviewers say that if I changed my mind, plenty of their former fellows had gone into the community etc etc...so if my plans were to change, I'd be able to find a good job either way, which is what made me think they didn't care. I think they don't care because it's general SP and not something specialized (like GI or something). Also, they realize that the amount of service work required of you is a full-time job.

 

[TMZ2007]

How frequently were you asked/required to give a talk or presentation at the interview?

 

[2121115]

How frequently were you asked/required to give a talk or presentation at the interview?

Wow.

This makes me glad that I got my fellowship based on a handshake and talking to my program director. If I had to do the match and apply to multiple programs that required a talk I would probably explode.
😱

 

[KCShaw]

In fellowship interviews, never. In job interviews only once, at an academic center (the only academic place I interviewed at).

 

[icpshootyz]

How frequently were you asked/required to give a talk or presentation at the interview?

I've never heard of this happening at a fellowship interview. It certainly has not happened at any I've been on, or any at my institution. Is there anywhere that actually does this???

 

[TMZ2007]

A couple seniors at my program have had to give talks when interviewing for transfusion fellowships the last few years. Was wondering if that was commonplace or unusual.

 

[2121115]

Be careful what you ask for, fellowship-match wishers.

 

[yaah]

There are some fellowship interviews that might have you present something (sometimes it's an interesting case). It isn't that common from what I can tell though.