what to bring to an interview

[hpets]

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Some med school websites highly recommend bringing a leather bound pad (for asking questions, writing answers, etc) with you to the interview. Are you guys doing this?...is this standard and i would look like an unprepared idiot without one? As for girls, are you guys bringing a nice (i.e. small black) purse with you? Sorry, i feel like i'm interview inept!

thanks.

 

[Dental07]

HEllo!

I'm bringing a decent sized purse to act as a briefcase and I bought a leatherbound legal pad note-taking thing to take with me to the interview. Mine has my school's logo on top of it and it looks really nice. I suggest you get one just incase. You will seem more serious if you take notes and such while they're talking. hope that helps!🙂

 

[toothfairy85]

I am bringing a leather bound "padfolio" to take notes in, and a small brown purse.

 

[laelialudisia]

i have a small briefcase that will hold my personal contents and a legal pad for note taking

i would HIGHLY siggest taking a bottle of water; carry a purse or briefcase large enough to fit a small bottle of water. i got this suggestion from a friend. she said often you talk and talk and talk and nobody offers you any water and your mouth is completely dry by the end of the first interview and you have 2-3 or so more to go through!!!

 

[Utes]

Yes, bring a notebook & pen, dress nicely, and be yourself. Other than that you should be fine, they usually provide lunch for you. My only advice would be to wear comfortable shoes. You tend to take lengthy tours at the schools and I ended up with blisters after all of them.

Good luck,
Utes

 

[Dr. Dai Phan]

Hi there Interviewee Inept...

I recommend putting your best front upfront. That means bringing your note book, highlighters and a recorder. Put down everything they say, highlighted it in yellow at once and ask them to clarify again and again. This will leave a lasty impression that " Wow... this kid wants to learn.. I am impressed!". DP

 

[bionerd]

😕 Are you guys really gonna put on that show? I hate doing that! And I hate it when I see people act all "prepared"! What's wrong with just listening to what they have to say? Wouldn't the info be obtainable on the brochure or somethin'?? God! the pretense!

 

[armorshell]

I don't see anything wrong with bringing a professional looking notepad and pen...

 

[bionerd]

I don't see anything wrong with bringing a professional looking notepad and pen...

What if they're talking and walking at the same time? Wouldn't it be hard to write and walk and pay attention at the same time?

 

[laelialudisia]

What if they're talking and walking at the same time? Wouldn't it be hard to write and walk and pay attention at the same time?

i don't think people are saying they will absolutely use the pad of paper, pen or whatever they bring, but i think it looks unprepared and unprofessional to not take out a legal pad that has some questions you would like to ask and to jot down any notes (if you are seated). obviously, if you are walking and talking during your interview trying to take notes would look a little odd 😛 , but i still think it would be appropriate to have the pad of paper with your questions on it. again, it demonstrates you are prepared and put some thought into the interview and didn't just hop on a plane, 😴 , and then "wing-it".

i am not about to memorize the questions i want to ask when i can just jot them down on a notepad and pull it out. a little common sense in any situation goes a long way 😉

 

[beannaithe]

Legal pad/portfolio and pen to take notes. One guy showed up to an interview and used the papers that we got and a pen he got off an admin. Totally unprofessional.

A purse (if you're a girl) to carry your cell phone (make sure it's on SILENT!), wallet, pens, etc.

Wear comfortable shoes. The tours are long and no one is going to rank you on the cuteness factor of your footwear. I wore really low 1" heels.

Wear a suit.

The two other most important things to bring is your smile and your enthuasim. Admins want to see you excited about being a dentist and excited about your school. If you're just like "eh....whatever.", they won't be very impressed. And also bring a couple of questions, admins love that.

 

[Chuck1441]

I've only been to one, but I brought a leather portfolio. And it came in handy because they gave about 20 loose papers, which I was able to store in a classy manner.

 

[laelialudisia]

Legal pad/portfolio and pen to take notes. One guy showed up to an interview and used the papers that we got and a pen he got off an admin. Totally unprofessional.

A purse (if you're a girl) to carry your cell phone (make sure it's on SILENT!), wallet, pens, etc.

Wear comfortable shoes. The tours are long and no one is going to rank you on the cuteness factor of your footwear. I wore really low 1" heels.

Wear a suit.

The two other most important things to bring is your smile and your enthuasim. Admins want to see you excited about being a dentist and excited about your school. If you're just like "eh....whatever.", they won't be very impressed. And also bring a couple of questions, admins love that.

that's not as bad as a friend of mine who saw someone take the paper napkins from the lunch that was provided to use as a note-taking device after seeing that everyone else showed up with a notepad 😱 and then the same person asked to borrow a pen 😛