What was the strangest interview question you got?

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

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Sorry for misunderstanding. That's why I asked if you could clarify your point.
Thank you.

I know my English is not the best, but it's not something I would feel ashamed or embarrassed about. I take steps to improve it all the time. It is a skill that I am working on and for the most part I understand people and they understand me.
I am thankful to God that I am here and have ability to learn another language.

You are doing great! 🙂

 

[eternelle]

One of my interviewers asked me if I had a best friend. She then proceeded to ask me questions about my best friend for at least 10 minutes despite my attempts to redirect her. To this day, I have no idea what she was getting at. I was promptly rejected.

 

[calivianya]

Describe the perfect death.

Considering the disconnect between most people saying they'd rather die at home peacefully and the fact that many people now die in the hospital after some degree of suffering instead, that's a great question to ask.

I got "If you could play any Olympic sport, what would it be?" and "What sports figure is your role model?" Both of those were terrible questions for me, because I don't watch sports, don't care about sports, and know nothing about any sports figure outside of the fact that they play sports. I literally refused to name anyone for the second question, on the grounds that if all I knew about a person was his name and maybe what sport he played, if I even guessed that correctly, I still wouldn't know a thing about what kind of person he was outside of sports.

Rejected from that school.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Considering the disconnect between most people saying they'd rather die at home peacefully and the fact that many people now die in the hospital after some degree of suffering instead, that's a great question to ask.

I got "If you could play any Olympic sport, what would it be?" and "What sports figure is your role model?" Both of those were terrible questions for me, because I don't watch sports, don't care about sports, and know nothing about any sports figure outside of the fact that they play sports. I literally refused to name anyone for the second question, on the grounds that if all I knew about a person was his name and maybe what sport he played, if I even guessed that correctly, I still wouldn't know a thing about what kind of person he was outside of sports.

Rejected from that school.

You should have said dressage.

 

[Trollest]

PH.D. emeritus asked, "What is ED?"

*I wrote about my extensive emergency department volunteering in my PS. Had to explain to him I used the abbreviation because of character count. He was not impressed.

**This school said it matched my interviewers to my app. Yet with little or no research experience, but mucho clinical experience, both my interviewers were PH.Ds. Go figure??

Acceptance: Not promising

lol i seriously thought that you were asked about erectile dysfunction.

 

[lol_new_user]

Considering the disconnect between most people saying they'd rather die at home peacefully and the fact that many people now die in the hospital after some degree of suffering instead, that's a great question to ask.

I got "If you could play any Olympic sport, what would it be?" and "What sports figure is your role model?" Both of those were terrible questions for me, because I don't watch sports, don't care about sports, and know nothing about any sports figure outside of the fact that they play sports. I literally refused to name anyone for the second question, on the grounds that if all I knew about a person was his name and maybe what sport he played, if I even guessed that correctly, I still wouldn't know a thing about what kind of person he was outside of sports.

Rejected from that school.

yeah mom is in palliative care, but still didn't expect that question. I said something generic really, something like "when both the mind and the body are ready to let go" sprinkled with "a painless death, preferably".

 

[SpoiledMilk]

lol i seriously thought that you were asked about erectile dysfunction.

You might have a point. Maybe that's why I couldn't get a head. 😛

 

[goinggray]

I was asked “How will the advancements in technology affect dermatology?” I didn’t put on my application anything about derm, and I dont really know anything about the specialty except the very general definition. Definitely caught me off guard. Will know what the decision is in about 6 weeks.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

I was asked “How will the advancements in technology affect dermatology?” I didn’t put on my application anything about derm, and I dont really know anything about the specialty except the very general definition. Definitely caught me off guard. Will know what the decision is in about 6 weeks.

You could say teledermatology if you get asked again. Apps like Figure 1 are already letting PCPs consult derms through the app by taking a few pics and providing an H&P.

 

[radiculating spines]

"You majored in physics in college. Did you choose that because you struggle to interact with others?" She may as well have said: "I assume you have the social skills of Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory." I kept my cool and gave a strong answer but I was irked inwardly. I actually got virtually the same question again at another interview.

 

[goinggray]

You could say teledermatology if you get asked again. Apps like Figure 1 are already letting PCPs consult derms through the app by taking a few pics and providing an H&P.

I actually said something like that. I knew for psychiatry, they are bringing in monitors to patients and use something like Skype to communicate with each other. I said that could possibly be applied to derm if the issue was topical and easily diagnosed. I’m happy my answer wasn’t too off then because she just kind of nodded and said “hmmm”.

 

[begoood95]

"You majored in physics in college. Did you choose that because you struggle to interact with others?" She may as well have said: "I assume you have the social skills of Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory." I kept my cool and gave a strong answer but I was irked inwardly. I actually got virtually the same question again at another interview.

Sounds like they struggle to interact with others and make unscrupulous assumptions👎 I mean, maybe that question is used to gauge your response to such things, which may happen in the real world (for example patients assuming doctors are in cahoots with "Big Pharma"), but still, pretty sh*tty question if you ask me.

 

[radiculating spines]

Sounds like they struggle to interact with others and make unscrupulous assumptions👎 I mean, maybe that question is used to gauge your response to such things, which may happen in the real world (for example patients assuming doctors are in cahoots with "Big Pharma"), but still, pretty sh*tty question if you ask me.

Yeah...ultimately what concerned me most was that if I've gotten that question at 2 out of 4 interviews perhaps such prejudices in other adcom meetings have helped tip my app into the "no interview offered" pile. When I got the question at a second school I felt like I was taking crazy pills.

 

[number9]

"You majored in physics in college. Did you choose that because you struggle to interact with others?" She may as well have said: "I assume you have the social skills of Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory." I kept my cool and gave a strong answer but I was irked inwardly. I actually got virtually the same question again at another interview.

Fellow physics major here! I never got anything like that, but I wonder if that's a gender thing because I have gotten several variations of "wow, a physics major! you must be so smart! what was it like to keep up with the boys?". I have noticed that in general, people react to finding out I'm a physics major with surprise/disbelief, whereas my male classmates are assumed to be Sheldon-like. Both are pretty frustrating, but in the interview setting I guess you just have to smile it off

 

[docchocolate]

Not so much strange, because I mentioned loving baked goods during my interview, but my interviewer asked where I had the best chocolate chip cookie of my life. Best part of the interview.

 

[Terps1011]

I was legit asked how many drinks I had in a week....
his justification for asking was my family history of drug/alc use & he stated outloud "well you know that sort of thing runs in families".

It is the only reason I did not go to that school...

 

[PreMedTexan]

What's your favorite band?

*plays my favorite band during the whole interview*

 

[chemdoctor]

Considering the disconnect between most people saying they'd rather die at home peacefully and the fact that many people now die in the hospital after some degree of suffering instead, that's a great question to ask.

I got "If you could play any Olympic sport, what would it be?" and "What sports figure is your role model?" Both of those were terrible questions for me, because I don't watch sports, don't care about sports, and know nothing about any sports figure outside of the fact that they play sports. I literally refused to name anyone for the second question, on the grounds that if all I knew about a person was his name and maybe what sport he played, if I even guessed that correctly, I still wouldn't know a thing about what kind of person he was outside of sports.

Rejected from that school.

I don't think it's a good idea to not answer a question. Refusing to answer, is kinda a recipe for disaster. Maybe you should be accepted and named ANYBODY like Michael Phelps or Kobe Bryant. I'm sure you've heard of those.

 

[calivianya]

I don't think it's a good idea to not answer a question. Refusing to answer, is kinda a recipe for disaster. Maybe you should be accepted and named ANYBODY like Michael Phelps or Kobe Bryant. I'm sure you've heard of those.

I figured it was a bad idea, but I thought it would be a better idea than naming someone and not being able to say why. I just knew the guy would ask me a follow up question and then I'd be stuck - he'd asked me follow up questions about everything else I said.

All I know about those two is they're so famous that I don't know much about sports and I've heard their names. Saying they're my role models because I want to be such a good physician that I become so famous that people who don't know anything about medicine would still know my name is probably even more of a wrong answer than not saying anything at all.

Or worse, I'd probably name one of those guys that beat up a woman in an elevator or something. I think I heard that a sports figure did that... maybe a football player? Shows you how much I know.

 

[Goro]

"You majored in physics in college. Did you choose that because you struggle to interact with others?" She may as well have said: "I assume you have the social skills of Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory." I kept my cool and gave a strong answer but I was irked inwardly. I actually got virtually the same question again at another interview.

Once is happenstance, but twice is deliberate. I suspect that something in your app is triggering those questions, and it's not Physics as a choice for a major. My hunch is that a LOR writer made a comment that was concerning.

 

[krukshanks]

I got a bunch of trivia questions on one of my interviews last cycle. I forgot how many there were in total, but the hardest one was "define the term exo-planet, and describe the general process of discovering/finding one."
Happened to know the answer since I followed Kepler-452b news for a little bit, but I was in no way an astronomy enthusiast, took zero classes in astrophysics, and did not put down anything related to astronomy on my application.
I got in eventually, but I have no idea what would have happened had I not known the answers to those trivia questions (or why they were asked in the first place).

 

[begoood95]

I got a bunch of trivia questions on one of my interviews last cycle. I forgot how many there were in total, but the hardest one was "define the term exo-planet, and describe the general process of discovering/finding one."
Happened to know the answer since I followed Kepler-452b news for a little bit, but I was in no way an astronomy enthusiast, took zero classes in astrophysics, and did not put down anything related to astronomy on my application.
I got in eventually, but I have no idea what would have happened had I not known the answers to those trivia questions (or why they were asked in the first place).

Lol I think this is actually one of the strangest so far🤣

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

I got a bunch of trivia questions on one of my interviews last cycle. I forgot how many there were in total, but the hardest one was "define the term exo-planet, and describe the general process of discovering/finding one."
Happened to know the answer since I followed Kepler-452b news for a little bit, but I was in no way an astronomy enthusiast, took zero classes in astrophysics, and did not put down anything related to astronomy on my application.
I got in eventually, but I have no idea what would have happened had I not known the answers to those trivia questions (or why they were asked in the first place).

Nice username btw.

 

[chemdoctor]

You might have a point. Maybe that's why I couldn't get a head. 😛

... Lol "a head".

 

[ProspectivePostPreDent]

"If you were an animal, what kind of animal would you be"

If Gyarados is an option, it's tempting.

 

[abisho15]

"In 100 years when you are dead, what do you want your tombstone to say?"
And, the weirdest:
"What are you looking for in a future spouse?"
Asked to me by a middle aged man. Seriously. I've never been more thrown off about why that is even relevant.
I got waitlisted, will find out if they take me in the spring.

 

[radiculating spines]

Once is happenstance, but twice is deliberate. I suspect that something in your app is triggering those questions, and it's not Physics as a choice for a major. My hunch is that a LOR writer made a comment that was concerning.

Perhaps, but probably not in the way you're thinking. I definitely slanted my selection of letter writers to those who could comment positively on my character, personality, thoughtfulness etc., as opposed to intellectual abilities. There is one letter that may have been problematic, however, and that is my former PI in graduate school. Unfortunately, he actually was the stereotype of a physicist--Sheldon and then some, basically a savant. Very awkward communication skills and affect. I was very wary of using a letter from him (even though he thought highly of me) but I have a lot of research experience and I think it would have been an obvious red flag if I didn't use him for a letter writer and multiple pre-health advisors told me it would look terrible not to use him since we worked together for so long. It's quite possible he said some downright weird stuff that rubbed off on me, perception-wise. But for what it's worth, one interviewer I had at another school commented at one point that my letters "were all glowing" so who knows.

 

[SpoiledMilk]

Physics PhD asked:

"How would you feel working with prisoners?"---> The school provides health services to a county jail.

And

"Would you ever compromise your morals when treating patients?"

 

[Goro]

Perhaps, but probably not in the way you're thinking. I definitely slanted my selection of letter writers to those who could comment positively on my character, personality, thoughtfulness etc., as opposed to intellectual abilities. There is one letter that may have been problematic, however, and that is my former PI in graduate school. Unfortunately, he actually was the stereotype of a physicist--Sheldon and then some, basically a savant. Very awkward communication skills and affect. I was very wary of using a letter from him (even though he thought highly of me) but I have a lot of research experience and I think it would have been an obvious red flag if I didn't use him for a letter writer and multiple pre-health advisors told me it would look terrible not to use him since we worked together for so long. It's quite possible he said some downright weird stuff that rubbed off on me, perception-wise. But for what it's worth, one interviewer I had at another school commented at one point that my letters "were all glowing" so who knows.

Out of curiosity, does the screen name have anything to do with the Roman generals Sulla and Marius?

 

[Piglet2020]

I would be a fortune cookie. Your fortune reads: Accept me & you'll have luck for you, your family & your lucky cow.

 

[radiculating spines]

Out of curiosity, does the screen name have anything to do with the Roman generals Sulla and Marius?

Good catch, I was listening to Mike Duncan's history of Rome podcast episode on that era when I made my SDN account. He has a new book out on their conflict if you're interested.

 

[Goro]

Good catch, I was listening to Mike Duncan's history of Rome podcast episode on that era when I made my SDN account. He has a new book out on their conflict if you're interested.

If you interview at my school, I'm giving you an auto-accept!

Sulla was a particularly nasty character. He made himself dictator of the Roman Republic and managed to end up dying in bed (no mean feat). But on his deathbed, a criminal who was caught in the act was brought before him. Sulla had him strangled right before his eyes.

 

[de Ribas]

"In 100 years when you are dead, what do you want your tombstone to say?"
And, the weirdest:
"What are you looking for in a future spouse?"
Asked to me by a middle aged man. Seriously. I've never been more thrown off about why that is even relevant.
I got waitlisted, will find out if they take me in the spring.

very relevant. because these questions can actually make you say your actual believes and principles in life.

 

[radiculating spines]

If you interview at my school, I'm giving you an auto-accept!

Sulla was a particularly nasty character. He made himself dictator of the Roman Republic and managed to end up dying in bed (no mean feat). But on his deathbed, a criminal who was caught in the act was brought before him. Sulla had him strangled right before his eyes.

Agreed, ancient Rome had more than its fair share of brutal figures but Sulla really did stand out for his ruthlessness AND the fact that he managed to die a natural death. A terrible but fascinating human.

In other news, unfortunately I did not apply to any schools west of St. Louis due to concerns over the cost of flying. But...how can I convince you to write a letter of rec for me emphasizing that whole "auto-accept" thing signed "Goro, Adcom and Certified SDN Legend" lol?

 

[LizzyM]

We used to have someone who liked to ask "what will your obituary say?". I objected as I felt it was a sneaky way to get at whether you wanted to marry and have kids which would not be an appropriate question. The interviewer didn't see it that way at all but that's the difference between small town obituaries and those of VIPs.

Tongue in cheek, I'd like to say, "she bequeathed a large fortune to the school of medicine where she earned her degree". 😉

 

[enchantediris]

Fellow physics major here! I never got anything like that, but I wonder if that's a gender thing because I have gotten several variations of "wow, a physics major! you must be so smart! what was it like to keep up with the boys?". I have noticed that in general, people react to finding out I'm a physics major with surprise/disbelief, whereas my male classmates are assumed to be Sheldon-like. Both are pretty frustrating, but in the interview setting I guess you just have to smile it off

There are dozens of us! 😀 In my experience, the main time physics is brought up in interviews is when I talk about my journey to applying to medical school. Sometimes interviewers will comment on my GPA. It could be a gender thing, but I suppose it could also be an application thing? For example, I definitely sought out one of my volunteer coordinators to write me a letter that would say that I was sociable and good at working on teams, etc. to avoid the Sheldon stigma.

@twentyeightmiles I definitely got asked about the two B+'s I recieved as well! I was surprised because this only happened at one school... I think I shrugged and said they weren't my thing 😛

 

[SouthernGent]

Had a prominent guy from a good school pull a [random office supply] from his pocket and tell me to make stuff out of it, using only it.

Same. After saying I like thinking on my feet my interviewer asked me for 10 facts about his pen. Me and my big mouth.

 

[radiculating spines]

There are dozens of us! 😀 In my experience, the main time physics is brought up in interviews is when I talk about my journey to applying to medical school. Sometimes interviewers will comment on my GPA. It could be a gender thing, but I suppose it could also be an application thing? For example, I definitely sought out one of my volunteer coordinators to write me a letter that would say that I was sociable and good at working on teams, etc. to avoid the Sheldon stigma.

@twentyeightmiles I definitely got asked about the two B+'s I recieved as well! I was surprised because this only happened at one school... I think I shrugged and said they weren't my thing 😛

I agree with @number9 's assessment of the unfortunate stereotypes based on gender. Female physics majors can get treated as oddities because they're comparatively rare and male physics majors can get treated as oddities because, well, people assume they're odd. Some females may have the misfortune of experiencing both.

I also chose my letter writers to emphasize my non-intellectual side and social skills. But though I said previously that I had two interviews where my interviewer asked me point-blank, essentially, if I was a Sheldon because I majored in physics, in my two other interviews to date my interviewers seemed genuinely intrigued by my journey from physics and kept asking enthusiastic follow-up questions drawn from my personal statement and "diversity" essay. Then one asked me what I thought about "going faster than the speed of light" and "going back in time." Hopefully my Debbie Downer answer on the plausibility of those doesn't scupper me lol.

 

[IWillMakeIt1]

"How did you prepare for this interview?"

 

[asrw77]

I agree with @number9 's assessment of the unfortunate stereotypes based on gender. Female physics majors can get treated as oddities because they're comparatively rare and male physics majors can get treated as oddities because, well, people assume they're odd. Some females may have the misfortune of experiencing both.

Hahaha you know what they say, for straight girls studying physics, the odds are good but the goods are odd 😛

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

I agree with @number9 's assessment of the unfortunate stereotypes based on gender. Female physics majors can get treated as oddities because they're comparatively rare and male physics majors can get treated as oddities because, well, people assume they're odd. Some females may have the misfortune of experiencing both.

I get the same thing in math. When people find out I have a math degree, they immediately assume I'm both very smart and probably super weird.

 

[Ohiogirl]

I had an intetviewer bring up my parents lack of education as listed on my primary. He continued to probe into their background and I had to admit that they were unemployed on and off for a few years until recently. About 15 minutes later he asked me where I would go for a steak dinner. Then proceeded to suggest I go to a very nice local place, and reminded me to bring cash since thats all they accept. Very uncomfortable situation overall.

 

[radiculating spines]

I had an intetviewer bring up my parents lack of education as listed on my primary. He continued to probe into their background and I had to admit that they were unemployed on and off for a few years until recently. About 15 minutes later he asked me where I would go for a steak dinner. Then proceeded to suggest I go to a very nice local place, and reminded me to bring cash since thats all they accept. Very uncomfortable situation overall.

WUT

 

[bananafish94]

I didn't get anything overtly strange...the ones that stick in my mind today are "teach me something," and "if God told you that you could never be a doctor, what would you do," which I interpreted as a more finite version of the classic "If not medicine, then what?" phrased in such a way that you can't wriggle out of it by saying that you'll keep applying to medical school. Then of course the political questions are always a little bit uncomfortable because you don't want to alienate anyone and you also don't want to say what you think they want to hear and be a suck-up. Of course things were less volatile then. But overall most of my interviews didn't even feel like interviews per se, more like long conversations.

 

[DJ Khaled's Pet Tiger]

I didn't get anything overtly strange...the ones that stick in my mind today are "teach me something," and "if God told you that you could never be a doctor, what would you do," which I interpreted as a more finite version of the classic "If not medicine, then what?" phrased in such a way that you can't wriggle out of it by saying that you'll keep applying to medical school. Then of course the political questions are always a little bit uncomfortable because you don't want to alienate anyone and you also don't want to say what you think they want to hear and be a suck-up. Of course things were less volatile then. But overall most of my interviews didn't even feel like interviews per se, more like long conversations.

I also got "teach me something." Good times 😀

 

[tiramisucheese]

I also got "teach me something." Good times 😀

Haha same. My music education degree was particularly useful for this question.

 

[MCATISEZ]

Once is happenstance, but twice is deliberate. I suspect that something in your app is triggering those questions, and it's not Physics as a choice for a major. My hunch is that a LOR writer made a comment that was concerning.

Interesting spin. I would not have thought about that. But I doubt any letter writer would make a concerning comment in relation to ones major. Why would both interviewers make that connection?

I am sure you have seen your share of damaging letters. I always wondered why professors, as educators, would be willing to write a letter with negative comments without sharing his/her concerns with the student. Making the students aware of the concerns is the best way for them to improve upon them. Ultimately wouldn’t the professor want the best for the student, while also maintaining a sense of integrity and fairness? LORs are the most mysterious part of this process for me as an applicant.

Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[DJ Khaled's Pet Tiger]

Interesting spin. I would not have thought about that. But I doubt any letter writer would make a concerning comment in relation to ones major. Why would both interviewers make that connection?

I am sure you have seen your share of damaging letters. I always wondered why professors, as educators, would be willing to write a letter with negative comments without sharing his/her concerns with the student. Making the students aware of the concerns is the best way for them to improve upon them. Ultimately wouldn’t the professor want the best for the student, while also maintaining a sense of integrity and fairness? LORs are the most mysterious part of this process for me as an applicant.

Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

Good question. For this exact reason, a bad LOR can be incredibly damaging - it takes a lot of reservations about someone to write negative things in their letter.

 

[Goro]

You are correct in that almost all of the time, let it writers want the best for their students. However in the big picture letter writers also have to be honest. That's their obligation. In fact that obligation supersedes the obligation to have the students succeed.

Letters of recommendation are in reality, letters of evaluation.

There are occasions where we have people (speaking from my own experience) who you do not want to see go to medical school. Or in fact, and this is super duper rare, you want to stick the knife in!

Interesting spin. I would not have thought about that. But I doubt any letter writer would make a concerning comment in relation to ones major. Why would both interviewers make that connection?

I am sure you have seen your share of damaging letters. I always wondered why professors, as educators, would be willing to write a letter with negative comments without sharing his/her concerns with the student. Making the students aware of the concerns is the best way for them to improve upon them. Ultimately wouldn’t the professor want the best for the student, while also maintaining a sense of integrity and fairness? LORs are the most mysterious part of this process for me as an applicant.

Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

Good question. For this exact reason, a bad LOR can be incredibly damaging - it takes a lot of reservations about someone to write negative things in their letter.

 

[willow84]

My general chemistry professor used to brag about the horrible letters he wrote some students. I ran into him about a year after finishing his course, and he asked me why I didn't get a letter from him.