"What is your weakness" question

[ilim01]

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during medical school interviews what is the proper answer to this question

"what is your weakness?"

what did you guys answer ?

I have an interview tomorow and dont know how to answer this one, I dont want to tell them anything that might give them a reason not to accept me.

thanks

 

[velo]

my weakness is hiding my anger about posts in allo that belong in pre-allo


I don't think you'll get this question, its a stupid question and I don't think its used nearly as frequently as you might think. If you do get it...you're interviewer is a tool...throw him/her some BS about a weakness that you've identified and are working to correct. Spend as little time as possible discussing the weakness and as much time as possible discussing the great things you've been doing to overcome it.

For example: "a weakness I've noticed is that I sometimes freak out and overprepare for interviews. So I've been getting my a$$ off of SDN and concentrating more on just relaxing and being myself so that the interview doesn't see right through me and gag on my typical premed answers."


*end slightly hostile, sarcastic, but also hopefully helpful rant*

 

[Hosehead]

during medical school interviews what is the proper answer to this question

"what is your weakness?"

what did you guys answer ?

I have an interview tomorow and dont know how to answer this one, I dont want to tell them anything that might give them a reason not to accept me.

thanks

Beer

 

[Amit1]

My extra 21st chromasome.

 

[peppy]

I have indeed been asked this question in several of my interviews, so I do think it's a good idea to prepare an answer for it. Just try to think of something minor that you can put a positive spin on.

 

[PMPMD]

I got it a few times in different interviews. I was just honest, and said my biggest weakness is time management. I didn't really want to say that, cause that's such an important skill in med school, but I got accepted so I guess honesty is good. I think they want you to say _something_, as opposed to "I'm perfect, I don't have any weaknesses." So whatever applies to you, say that.

 

[fourthyearmed]

Chocolate

 

[T-W]

Chocolate me too, and tuna fish

no seriously, I got that question on my interview? but I can?t remember what I told her. But I think you should just tell them the truth, everyone has a weakness. *agrees with PatDaddy* Don't try to lie to the interviewer, they can see thought your heart. Lie, and they will send you to h*ll.

Can't someone move this thread to premed?

 

[Stinger86]

"what is your weakness?"

Just say "dealing with people"

 

[SaltySqueegee]

Just say "dealing with people"

LOL... Office Space-->

"I'm a people person damn-it!!!"

... "I've got people skillz!" 😡

😀

 

[felipe5]

hmmmm, you could always say "I tend to overcommit myself...." Other funny options include "I tend to violently hallucinate after I eat a meal", or "I have a bad memory", "I can't function without sleep". Seriously though, I'd go with something like the first option

 

[ColoMD]

Having interviewed more med student applicants than I can count, I have heard some bad answers. The worst answers are the stock ones which apply to everyone and really tell nothing. And while I hate this question in general, some of the worst responses are:

"I'm a little bit too much of a perfectionist." (Hey *****, that's not necessarily a bad thing when dealing with people's lives.)

"I tend to overcommit myself..." (Welcome to the world of medicine.)

"I can't really think of anything off the top of my head." (I'm sorry, we can't admit you because it appears that you are already in line for beatification by the Pope.)

Just be honest and cough up whatever your REAL biggest weakness is. I promise, it won't sink you...but an ingenuine response will.

 

[Discobolus]

My bench press 😀

Seriously, I was asked this question at my interview. I think I answered with "procrastination, but I'm working on it with to do lists."

Well looks like I still have that "weakness" as I have a microbiology test tomorrow morning and I'm on SDN

 

[kate88]

I acutally got asked this question a few times, and my answer seemed to satisfy most of my interviewers.

I basically went with the fact that I tend to be very emotional/empathetic and am afraid that I will have difficulty keeping my cool as a doctor. Having and expressing empathy for your patients is very important for their care, so I would be actually better off in that respect. But I thought it would be difficult to keep my personal and professional life separate, expressed fears about my first patient dying, etc.

This was a totally genuine answer on my part, but I think if you feel the same way its a pretty good thing to say. I agree with the previous posters about concentrating as much as possible on the positive, but coming up with something that you actually believe is a weakness.

good luck

 

[T-W]

I basically went with the fact that I tend to be very emotional/empathetic...

I like empathetic doctors, they seem nicer.

 

[lattimer13]

my weakness?

prostitutes...definitely a soft spot in my heart for them. i feel obligated to give them work.

 

[azzarah]

I got this question once and I told them that I have a bad sense of direction. I really do...I can't go anywhere without a map, my cell phone, and/or good directions. My parallel parking totally sucks too!

 

[jaboy]

during medical school interviews what is the proper answer to this question

"what is your weakness?"

what did you guys answer ?

I have an interview tomorow and dont know how to answer this one, I dont want to tell them anything that might give them a reason not to accept me.

thanks

I answered my weakness is drugs.

 

[evajaclynn]

I got this question once and I told them that I have a bad sense of direction. I really do...I can't go anywhere without a map, my cell phone, and/or good directions. My parallel parking totally sucks too!

I'm terrible with directions too! That would have been the perfect answer for me. Instead, I mentioned that I am working on becoming more assertive. I tend to not like any situation that involves confrontation (who does), but when you have patients, its going to be important to stand your ground and intervene if there is a problem (such as patient being non-compliant, etc.).

 

[chameleonknight]

My weakness is my serve; I'm getting good power, but I still double fault way too much.

 

[lullaby]

WHAT DO U THINK DA AIM OF ASKING SUCH A QUESTION ?????

I GUESS THEY WANT TO SEE U'R SELF CONFIDENCE ??? 🙄

SOOO...... U CAN ANSWER ...: my weakness is that i forgive ppl even if they dont deserve mercy !!!!!!! 😀 😛

 

[Discobolus]

WHAT DO U THINK DA AIM OF ASKING SUCH A QUESTION ?????

I GUESS THEY WANT TO SEE U'R SELF CONFIDENCE ??? 🙄

SOOO...... U CAN ANSWER ...: my weakness is that i forgive ppl even if they dont deserve mercy !!!!!!! 😀 😛

You could always say your strength is a superior command of the cap locks key and an intricate knowledge of AOL instant messenger speak.

 

[toofache32]

My weakness is removing my prosthetic leg and beating others over the head with it when I'm angry.

 

[lattimer13]

high-speed internet and cable TV are definitely weaknesses for me.

 

[toofache32]

You could always say your strength is a superior command of the cap locks key and an intricate knowledge of AOL instant messenger speak.

👍