What will you do if you're not accepted interview question

[Jillofalltrades]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I was asked this question recently and I answered it truthfully, though in retrospect I wondered if I should have used more tact.

I basically said I would continue to work in my research lab and gain more clinical experiences to help my application in following cycles. Then I went on to talk about how I would try for a couple of cycles but at some point, should I continue to not get into med school, I would want to move on and do other things with my life like explore a career in higher education or library sciences. This should speak more to my range in interests than detract from why medicine, but now I'm not sure if it was/will be taken that way.

In the future, is it a good idea to simply stop at "I'll work hard to improve my application next time"? What are interviewers looking for when they ask this question?

 

[gyngyn]

What are interviewers looking for when they ask this question?

Resilience and adaptability.

 

[sullen-burger]

I basically said I would continue to work in my research lab and gain more clinical experiences to help my application in following cycles.

Okay, good...starting out well...

Then I went on to talk about how I would try for a couple of cycles but at some point

...still good, they want to see persistence if this is your dream life. And this is a good place to stop!

should I continue to not get into med school, I would want to move on and do other things with my life

Ehh...No no no. Becoming a doctor to you should be, if you have put this much thought and effort in getting this far, the only thing you (think) you want in life at this point! Why would you move on?

Disclaimer: I hope my responses don't seem to trivialize your situation. I just wanted to juxtapose your question in pieces with individual responses for effect (I think I'm hilarious).

My point is that you are a candidate: not an application. If you work on helping anything, it is that you help yourself become a better candidate; not a better resume. It is my opinion that this answer better expresses your understanding of the type of committed person an adcom will want: persistent, enthusiastic, resilient, humble.

Answering that your ideal life's profession could be brushed aside just because of failure during an application season might bring into question your level of commitment, in my opinion.
And as tempting as it might seem that this question could be a segue into interests other than medicine, I really really really think it's as easy as telling and showing them how much you want to be a doctor.

Maybe an answer as simple as: "After reviewing my application with mentors and staff, I would take a hard look at what I could do to improve any personal or academic shortcomings and reapply."

The key here being "reapply." And that's where you could stop. Maybe say what you would do in the mean time would be fine, but I personally wouldn't even introduce the idea that there could be another mistress for your heart.

Because if this question is the only thing that came down to differentiating two candidates (which it probably doesn't usually come down to one question), then the other candidate who doesn't give up on their pursuit, might just take the cake.


Good luck to you!

 

[Optimist Prime]

Okay, good...starting out well...



...still good, they want to see persistence if this is your dream life. And this is a good place to stop!



Ehh...No no no. Becoming a doctor to you should be, if you have put this much thought and effort in getting this far, the only thing you (think) you want in life at this point! Why would you move on?

Disclaimer: I hope my responses don't seem to trivialize your situation. I just wanted to juxtapose your question in pieces with individual responses for effect (I think I'm hilarious).

My point is that you are a candidate: not an application. If you work on helping anything, it is that you help yourself become a better candidate; not a better resume. It is my opinion that this answer better expresses your understanding of the type of committed person an adcom will want: persistent, enthusiastic, resilient, humble.

Answering that your ideal life's profession could be brushed aside just because of failure during an application season might bring into question your level of commitment, in my opinion.
And as tempting as it might seem that this question could be a segue into interests other than medicine, I really really really think it's as easy as telling and showing them how much you want to be a doctor.

Maybe an answer as simple as: "After reviewing my application with mentors and staff, I would take a hard look at what I could do to improve any personal or academic shortcomings and reapply."

The key here being "reapply." And that's where you could stop. Maybe say what you would do in the mean time would be fine, but I personally wouldn't even introduce the idea that there could be another mistress for your heart.

Because if this question is the only thing that came down to differentiating two candidates (which it probably doesn't usually come down to one question), then the other candidate who doesn't give up on their pursuit, might just take the cake.


Good luck to you!

Just no lol. Adcoms want to see that you won't just give up easily and that you'll keep working on it. However they also want to see that you are a realistic person and have a backup plan. Your answer not only shows that you'll keep trying and working on your application. It also shows that you are responsible enough to have a back up plan. Your answer was text book perfect. At least thats what I've gathered from reading some of @Goro posts.

 

[Jillofalltrades]

Ehh...No no no. Becoming a doctor to you should be, if you have put this much thought and effort in getting this far, the only thing you (think) you want in life at this point! Why would you move on?

The key here being "reapply." And that's where you could stop. Maybe say what you would do in the mean time would be fine, but I personally wouldn't even introduce the idea that there could be another mistress for your heart.

Thank you for your advice! I will certainly be more careful with what I say in the future.

In the spirit of discussion... (and to answer your hypothetical question)

I'm probably part of a small minority on SDN (if I'm wrong about this, please forgive me) that doesn't just see doctor at the end of the tunnel. It's a career that attracts similar people and it's likely to be some combination of finding meaning in a service profession/wanting to help people, the intellectual/life long learning aspects, the teaching component, wanting to be at the forefront of research/medicine, etc etc. I chose medicine for a combination of these reasons, yet I also see that it's not the only profession offering these things. It would certainly be more difficult to find a career that is as fulfilling (both of those criteria and personally) as medicine, but it's not impossible and at the end of the day, I want to be in a position where I am making a difference in people's lives.

I also trust this process. I can only try to be the best candidate I can be, and I'm sure the interviewers are experienced enough to know who they're looking for. I would definitely ask for feedback to try improving myself for the following cycle(s). However, if the people I trust to pick/train me to be a doctor continue to say no cycle after cycle after cycle, I think it's certainly worth at least an evaluation of whether this is the right career path. I'm still the same person with the same experiences and set of skills, but perhaps they would be better utilized to help people elsewhere. I think there's a difference between being committed to a career choice (wanting to be a doctor) and being committed to the impact of that career (helping people, etc etc). All that being said, interviewers probably just want to know that I won't quit med school when I face failures along the way and I'm overthinking this.

 

[Optimist Prime]

I want to add that when I interview people, and they admit that they have no plan B, this is not an admission that they're determined to be a doctor, but that they are immature and do not think things through. Having a Plan B is a sign of maturity and foresight.

No surgeon only has a Plan A.
A contingency plan (or two) is part of every well-considered path.

to quote the wonderful adcoms that we have here. Your answer was perfect.

 

[sullen-burger]

Thank you for your advice! I will certainly be more careful with what I say in the future.

I appreciate that, thank you! As I hope I made it clear, most of what I said was my opinion. I am certainly by no means an expert. I can only speak to the experiences and perspectives of myself and my mentors.

All that being said, interviewers probably just want to know that I won't quit med school when I face failures along the way and I'm overthinking this.

I think that this is the crux of this question for interviewers. Can you handle setbacks, stubborn if need be, humbled when necessary, and yet still ready to keep going. I also believe the introspection within your post clearly demonstrates a higher level of reflectiveness than most in this process who truly do only see plan A. So I say that to say, you should be confident in whatever you pursue!

Just no lol. Adcoms want to see that you won't just give up easily and that you'll keep working on it. However they also want to see that you are a realistic person and have a backup plan.

In a childish attempt to defend what I said, I will say that I did mention that saying what you would do in the meantime would be fine, but that personally I would not make that the focus of my answer.

 

[Optimist Prime]

The key here being "reapply." And that's where you could stop. Maybe say what you would do in the mean time would be fine, but I personally wouldn't even introduce the idea that there could be another mistress for your heart.

I definitely understand that you were saying what you personally would do. However, with him/her not even having an account for a month I don't want him/her taking random peoples personal opinions as the golden rule when we have 2 adcoms on here that would argue against what you're saying. Thats why I quoted our adcoms because I wouldn't want him taking my personal opinion either because I have no credibility to it as a pre-med who has yet to go through the process.

 

[Goro]

👍

Just no lol. Adcoms want to see that you won't just give up easily and that you'll keep working on it. However they also want to see that you are a realistic person and have a backup plan. Your answer not only shows that you'll keep trying and working on your application. It also shows that you are responsible enough to have a back up plan. Your answer was text book perfect. At least thats what I've gathered from reading some of @Goro posts.

 

[vellez]

If you are asked this question, it is very important that you know that they don't think you are bad applicant or that you won't get in. They want to see if you are "resilient" and "adaptable" as @gyngyn said. This are critical traits for a physician, and there are only a few ways they can assess someone on these points. This question is one of them.