"What will you do , if you don't get in " question?

[arsenewenger]

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Who else got this mind numbling question and does it signify rejection?

any success story(ies) ?

 

[monkily_stealth]

Who else got this mind numbling question and does it signify rejection?

any success story(ies) ?

OK, well I didn't personally get this question, but at one of my interviews (UTH), an MS1 told us that he did get that question. His answer was "I have no idea, I guess I'll have to live on the streets." Obviously he got in. Also, why would the interviewer ask a question if he/she thought you were going to be rejected?

 

[theraball]

Who else got this mind numbling question and does it signify rejection?

any success story(ies) ?

It signifies an unimaginative interviewer who is wasting everyone's time.

I would say: If I don't get in, I'll fix whatever was wrong with my application and reapply. My goal is to become a physician and if it takes me one year or ten years I'm going to get there.

I would not say: I'm going to go into [some alternative field] instead. In fact I already have my application in to five pharmacy schools and six colleges of nursing and am getting pretty excited. So, take me now while I'm still available!

 

[nubbey24]

Tell the interviewer "I don't consider impossibilities. I am going to medical school next year." Then probably swear at them, and walk out the room with your pants down. That is what I did.

 

[LifetimeDoc]

Keep reapplying for the next two years, then goto the Caribbean.

 

[thedelicatessen]

They're just curious about how you have planned your life and thought realistically about the application process. It just seemed like one of the interviewer's standard questions when I was asked this question once, and I promptly got accepted by the school.

 

[arsenewenger]

Bumpity

 

[sunflwr85]

I got asked this at my last interview, and I responded honestly that I would pursue a masters degree in either health psychology or public health and apply to medical school again after finishing. He told me "you gave the right answer," for whatever that's worth. 🙂 I think he was just using it as a way to gauge my commitment to the field.

 

[alwaysaangel]

I've gotten this at all three interviews - I think its a pretty standard question. It has nothing to do with them planning to reject you, it has to do with them wanting to see if you are being realistic about your plans to enter medical school and if you are mature enough to have thought about what happens if you don't get in.

My answer is: "I won't reapply again. This process is too expensive and time consuming, and while I do believe I will make an excellent doctor, I will not be going though it again. I applied to 20 schools and if they all reject me, I'm gonna take their word for it that I shouldn't be a doctor (laugh). If I don't get in I will apply to an NP or PA program, since it wasn't that long ago that I was wavering between MD and NP anyway (the question is usually preceded by "why an MD?" to which I explain why a health career then tell them that I finally chose MD over NP or PA because I have nothing better to do with the next 7 years of my life and I will have more opportunities to work in and start free clinics if I'm an MD).

Yes, a lot of people will tell you that my answer is the fastest way to hell. They are wrong. Lying and being obvious is the fastest way to hell. I'm a bad liar and so I tell the truth, I won't apply again. Period. At the very least I stand out from all the "improve my application and apply again!!!!" which to me shows neither a realistic perspective nor a mature one. But to each their own. If you do choose to say "apply again" be prepared for the interviewer to follow up with "what if you NEVER get accepted to medical school." Interviewers have been known to do that.

I got accepted at all 3 schools I interviewed at - so it can't be that bad of an answer.

Sit down and be honest with yourself about what you'll be doing if you don't get into medical school. Once you find the answer - you'll know what to say when they ask you that question.

Oh, and good God in heaven, of all things DO NOT say "I've already been accepted to medical school so thats a non-issue." Its arrogant, rude, and you will probably be asked to answer the question anyway. Its a hypothetical question - the interviewer doesn't give a **** if you've already been accepted elsewhere, thats not why he's asking.

 

[notdeadyet]

At the very least I stand out from all the "improve my application and apply again!!!!" which to me shows neither a realistic perspective nor a mature one. But to each their own.

I think for most of us, the "improve my application and apply again" is the god's honest truth. But you're right: to each their own.

If you do choose to say "apply again" be prepared for the interviewer to follow up with "what if you NEVER get accepted to medical school." Interviewers have been known to do that.

Yeah, as well they should. The interviewer isn't really interested in finding out if you're willing to reapply. They're interested in what you'd do instead of medicine.

I think the only wrong answer is looking down, scuffing the sole of your shoe and saying, "I dunno..."

 

[Depakote]

I've always been curious how you're supposed to answer that question if you're already holding an acceptance.

 

[alwaysaangel]

I think for most of us, the "improve my application and apply again" is the god's honest truth. But you're right: to each their own.

Yeah and I realize that. That part of my post was harsher than I meant it to be. I just don't really understand that view, which is my own fault. I mean, it had never even occurred to me that people would apply more than once until I was talking to one of my MCAT students and when I asked her, what happens if you do poorly and don't get accepted. She said "reapply!" I was a bit taken aback, but still managed to convince her that one little test was not the end of the world.

 

[notdeadyet]

I mean, it had never even occurred to me that people would apply more than once until I was talking to one of my MCAT students and when I asked her, what happens if you do poorly and don't get accepted.

Yeah. I think it's healthy to consider reapplying if there are weak parts on your app you can improve upon. But if you've honestly given it your best shot and can't imagine how to make your app better, plan B probably should start shining brightly...

 

[alwaysaangel]

Yeah. I think it's healthy to consider reapplying if there are weak parts on your app you can improve upon. But if you've honestly given it your best shot and can't imagine how to make your app better, plan B probably should start shining brightly...

Very true. But yeah, I guess thats why I took my year off I didn't see a point in applying until I was at my strongest.

Anyway, the main advice to the OP is tell the truth, but be prepared to explain a plan B if they ask you to.

 

[prmdbeach17]

They talk about this in the book "Getting into Medical School" by Sanford J. Brown, M.D. To quote him, "This is not usually asked out of any genuine concern for your future but to assess the strength of your conviction to pursue medicine. Don't say 'There's always teaching biology or selling encyclopedias.' The person who really wants to become a doctor will outline specific plans to wait, perhaps do some more coursework, and reapply the next year....Or even more confidence can be shown and the student can say that all the other alternatives are second rate, no serious consideration had ever been given to being anything other than a physician, and he or she feels perfectly capable of completing the medical school curriculum."

Personally, I like the last answer...He goes on to say that it's a perfectly acceptable answer but not the most realistic way to go about it, that would be 1.another profession 2.reapply or 3.foreign schools.

Obviously they are not hinting that you will be rejected. I can't say from personal experience since I haven't applied yet, but hope this helps.🙂