Why do schools ask where else you have interviewed?

[hellofuturedentists]

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Couldn't find a thread on this already, but I've been asked this at most of my interviews. Does anyone know why? Has anyone heard from faculty if schools generally see it as a good thing or a bad thing if you have a lot of (or a few) interviews? I could see this going either way.
As always, this is SDN speculation, but I just figured it never hurts to ask 🙂

 

[hellofuturedentists]

Perhaps to gauge which schools they'll be competing with should they offer you a seat, with the assumption that you receive multiple offers.

Though that's the first question people ask me when I inform them I've applied to dental school. Maybe they're just curious.

Makes sense. I could also see where they'd say "ok, this dude got lots of interviews and clearly doesn't need an acceptance from us. he/she will be fine"
I'm probably paranoid though

 

[hellofuturedentists]

No, they just asked. Didn't mention why. If they did, I probably wouldn't have made this thread haha

Edit: ahh sorry misread the last question. No they didn't ask why I applied to the other schools

 

[doc toothache]

DS may not have Harold's machine, but you can bet they know every school of interest and interviewed. Asking the question may serve as a test of honesty as well as an affirmation they made the right decision by granting an interview.

 

[hellofuturedentists]

DS may not have Harold's machine, but you can bet they know every school of interest and interviewed. Asking the question may serve as a test of honesty as well as an affirmation they made the right decision by granting an interview.

Interesting. Didn't think of that. Thank you!

 

[Ali786512]

Honestly speaking, I have heard a guy tell an admissions officer he applied to 5 schools and the admissions officer said I don't know your stats but in my opinion, that's too risky. If I were you, I'd make your list to at least 8. So then the kid added three more.

 

[BYU4you]

I was asked the same at every one of my interviews, it was awkward for my Upenn interview followed by Columbia the next day haha.

"Where else have you interviewed?

University of Pennsylvania

"When was that? How was it?"

"Uh....yesterday. It was cool...not as cool as here though"
(Give or take a few words)

 

[dentist32721]

So to people who have asked this kind of question.

So far I've got 9 interviews (after applied 12 schools in total), should I say the truth? Or less??

 

[BYU4you]

So to people who have asked this kind of question.

So far I've got 9 interviews (after applied 12 schools in total), should I say the truth? Or less??

I'd take the guy with 9 interviews over the guy with 4

 

[hoppingpre]

I've been asked this question a few times too, it was rather awkward.

I'd take the guy with 9 interviews over the guy with 4

Well obviously that number must be relative... what if the guy who has 4 interviews only applied to 4, whereas the guy with 9 applied to 20? Or what if the guy with 4 only applied to state schools whereas the guy with 9 applied to private?

 

[BobbyBeavis]

I hate even speaking about my interviews because I feel like I'm bragging. So I just try not to mention it. Many of my friends still think I'm backpacking across America

I have been asked a few times at interviews though so I mainly just mention the schools that have my utmost interest

 

[dentist32721]

I hate even speaking about my interviews because I feel like I'm bragging. So I just try not to mention it. Many of my friends still think I'm backpacking across America

I have been asked a few times at interviews though so I mainly just mention the schools that have my utmost interest

So names few like 3-4ish?
Thanks!

 

[Rambunctious]

-

 

[hellofuturedentists]

I was asked the same at every one of my interviews, it was awkward for my Upenn interview followed by Columbia the next day haha.

"Where else have you interviewed?

University of Pennsylvania

"When was that? How was it?"

"Uh....yesterday. It was cool...not as cool as here though"
(Give or take a few words)

niiiiiiiiiice

 

[480640]

.

 

[Rambunctious]

I interviewed with a prosthodontist at NYU too and he didn't seem to be very knowledgeable on the current state of dental school applications.

We might have had the same guy. He asked me geography questions too. I was like what does this have to do with anything?

 

[BobbyBeavis]

So names few like 3-4ish?
Thanks!

Yeah I named 3. Two I am very interested in as well as mentioning my state school. Then I said how their school has impressed me so far so I'd have to sit down and do a comparison to see how it matches up with the others

 

[yolo1234]

So is it bad that I applied to 25 school?

My application was complete in October so I had no choice