why do you want to be a dentist? (do you think it's good to just summarize PS?)

[Smooth Operater]

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I bet many interviewers will start the interview with this question. I am wondering if it's a good idea to summarize what I wrote in the PS to the interviewer. After all, the reasons are in there. Or is it better to focus on talking about personal experiences that are not mentioned in the PS? Thnaks

 

[Montserrat]

I had a mock interview with the dentist I am currently shadowing, and he asked me the same question. Before I had the chance to open my mouth, he gave me a sharp piece of advice - "If you can't explain this in three sentences, you've already lost my attention."

 

[Smooth Operater]

yeah. That's what I am wondering about. Does interviewer want to hear my anecdotal stories or just few key points that drive me to become a dentist (i.e. love hand-on work, challenging, ability to improve ppl's health etc...)?

 

[wigglytooth]

I bet many interviewers will start the interview with this question. I am wondering if it's a good idea to summarize what I wrote in the PS to the interviewer. After all, the reasons are in there. Or is it better to focus on talking about personal experiences that are not mentioned in the PS? Thnaks

When I talked to my career services adviser about this, she said to keep it short. Pick the key points to your reason for why you want to be a dentist and don't tell any stories. Telling a story answers "how did you become interested in dentistry?" but not "why do you want to be a dentist?" The differences are subtle, but they're there.

 

[dental0903]

When I talked to my career services adviser about this, she said to keep it short. Pick the key points to your reason for why you want to be a dentist and don't tell any stories. Telling a story answers "how did you become interested in dentistry?" but not "why do you want to be a dentist?" The differences are subtle, but they're there.

I agree with you that there is a difference between those two questions and it is always a good idea to answer the question you were actually asked, but some people cannot explain why they want to become a dentist without telling how they became interested in dentistry. I also agree that answering the why you want to become a dentist question is not a time for story telling, but I think it is fine to reference a story you wrote about in your PS or give a very short version of a meaningful experience that influenced your decision. It is all in how you organize and convey your answer.

 

[NewMexDent]

I also agree that answering the why you want to become a dentist question is not a time for story telling, but I think it is fine to reference a story you wrote about in your PS or give a very short version of a meaningful experience that influenced your decision. quote]

I think I would be careful "referencing" your PS or anything in your application. It would probably be safer to assume the interviewer has not even read your application (which is the case at some schools).

 

[dental0903]

I think I would be careful "referencing" your PS or anything in your application. It would probably be safer to assume the interviewer has not even read your application (which is the case at some schools).

Yeah, that is a good point, and it brings up the issue of finding out whether your interview is open or closed file and if your interviewer has reviewed your file prior to your interview. I would think that you would want to approach the "why do you want to be a dentist" question (and all the other questions for that matter) differently if you had a closed file interview. I think the problem lies in interviews that are open file where the interviewer hasn't really read the applicant's file at all. The applicant has to walk a fine line between being able to get all relevant information out there and boring the interviewer by not adding anything new that isn't on their application. Unfortunately, applicants probably don't really find out how familiar the interviewer is with their application until they are in the interview.