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What would you say if you were asked this at an interview? What is the appropriate answer to this??
Why should we NOT accept you?
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"Because you want to die a horrible, painful death that cannot be told to you, only experienced."
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Because I'm considering suicide and keep wussing out. A rejection could be the exact push I need to achieve my goals.
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Great opportunity to express yourself!
Just say: "I am aware that I have some weaknesses like working to hard and having too many interests (or any weaknesses that are also a strengths). However, I don't think these are reasons why you shouldn't take me. My sensitivity and awareness of my shortcomings will allow me to succeed as a physician. Furthermore, I have XYZ qualities that make me qualified to attend your school. (Now you have a chance to talk about your strengths)."
Just say: "I am aware that I have some weaknesses like working to hard and having too many interests (or any weaknesses that are also a strengths). However, I don't think these are reasons why you shouldn't take me. My sensitivity and awareness of my shortcomings will allow me to succeed as a physician. Furthermore, I have XYZ qualities that make me qualified to attend your school. (Now you have a chance to talk about your strengths)."
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To me this question sounds like a convoluted "what's your greatest weakness" question. If I treated it as such, just list one or two weaknesses, how they've hindered you in the past, how they could hinder you in medical school, and what you are doing/have done to remedy this weakness.
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"You should not accept me if I do not have the quality you are looking for. Every school is looking for a certain intangible quality in their entering class and that quality varies from school to school. If you think I do not have that quality and would not fit in your entering class, you should not accept me."
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I think they might laugh at this. I would, if I were giving an interview. It's one of those answers that sounds nice but has no substance. And it's corny. You might want to just stick to "don't accept me if you don't think I'm the right fit for the school," rather than talking about "intangible qualities."
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I think you could express how you understand there are many qualified applicants (like yourself) but a limited number of seats. So that might be a reason you are not accepted. And then maybe briefly explain how you are a good fit for the school.
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Who asks this anyway? I've read through many of the interview pages, and gone to a bunch of my own, and I've never heard it. I think it's a lame question, but then again, I've had a few lame questions asked.
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What a strange question to ask. I'd be tempted to say:
"Personally, I think you SHOULD accept me. I'm a hard worker, a team player, and I go out of my way to help my classmates. I want to practice medicine one day and I feel that your school will help me become the kind of physician I want to be. I feel like I fit in here, so if you're looking for why you shouldn't accept me, I don't have an answer to that question."
"Personally, I think you SHOULD accept me. I'm a hard worker, a team player, and I go out of my way to help my classmates. I want to practice medicine one day and I feel that your school will help me become the kind of physician I want to be. I feel like I fit in here, so if you're looking for why you shouldn't accept me, I don't have an answer to that question."
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Why are so many people VOLUNTEERING reasons not to be accepted? If you get a question like that, sell yourself instead of cowering to suggestion. It's okay to disagree with an interviewer.
"You want reasons not to accept me? I can't think of one because from what I've seen and what I've heard, I like this environment and I think I'm a good fit here."
Believe me, they'll do a good enough job of searching for reasons not to accept you without you helping them do it!
I thought that was Communications 101.
"You want reasons not to accept me? I can't think of one because from what I've seen and what I've heard, I like this environment and I think I'm a good fit here."
Believe me, they'll do a good enough job of searching for reasons not to accept you without you helping them do it!
I thought that was Communications 101.
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do not EVER tell anyone in any type of interview (job, med school, etc) that you work too hard. everyone says it, no one means it, and it makes you look silly. when you're asked about a weakness, the correct answer is a weakness. not a strength that you pretend is a weakness. believe me, a lame contrived answer to this question is far more detrimental than a true weakness. it shows that you think your interviewer is too stupid to figure out that you're "tricking" him into thinking your weakness is actually a strength.
however, I will say that your notion of simply answering with "i don't think there's any reason you shouldn't accept me" might be a good idea.
if you're pushed to actually give a weakness, then give a real weakness. your addiction to coke and strippers might not be the best idea, but you can come up with something that will sound honest yet not completely destructive to a med student's life. For example, you can talk about how you have trouble with time management. You've been working on it, but it's still something you struggle with. Now, in addition to giving a genuine answer, you've planted the seed that your interviewer can say "wow, this guy got decent grades and held down a job while struggling with budgeting his time." additionally, you give him/her the opportunity to tell you a little about their tutoring center that helps students with time management...interviewers like talking about their school, and now your weakness is something that this particular school can actually help you solve as opposed to something that would keep you out of medical school.
otherwise, you may just be "working too hard" on your AMCAS...next year. 😉
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Nobody would ever ask it, although they do sometimes ask about your greatest weakness, which is probably a minor variation of the same question. But use it as an open question to talk about yourself -- your strengths, weaknesses, and all the cool things that distinguish you from the folks they presumably would accept if not you.
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Eh - worked for me.
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plead the fifth? 
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agreed. it's ok to say you work to hard as long as you say why you've changed or what you do in your spare time to make up for it, etc.
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"Because I'm DropkickMurphy."
I know what you're thinking. "Did he say he had six interviews or only five?" Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement I kind of lost track myself. But being as this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself a question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, Mr. Interviewer?
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This will seriously get you rejected. In concept its fine, but NEVER tell a interviewer your weakness is "working too hard" or "being a perfectionist" or "having too many interests" or "being too nice."
OP I suggest you come up with some honest weaknesses instead of bull**** ones. Interviewers see through BS answers.
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Agreed. DO NOT try to outsmart your interviewer. You can think up clever little ways to dodge a question that sound novel to you, but the interviewer has heard it a million times before.
If you're going to talk about weaknesses, give some honest ones (obviously avoiding the dealkillers like kleptomania, addiction tendencies, etc.).
I guarantee that any interviewer has heard the weakness-oh-actually-a-strength thing a hundred times. You will make a negative impression.
S
supernareg
i dunno
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Seriously - just be honest, I can't believe people can't think of a single negative thing about themself that is truly bad but won't knock them out of the running.
You're disorganized - your room is a disaster
You're stubborn - leads to some interesting debates
You're closed-minded. Working on it - but the way you were raised led to some shortsights that you have been working through since you got to college.
You're a gunner and find that your fellow classmates can't stand you.
You forget to eat when you're stressed and this sometimes leads to passing out during surgery.
FIND A WEAKNESS - you all have them!
4
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4
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I heard a girl say the oh-I-work-too-hard in my panel interview.
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Poor thing. She was probably very confused by her rejection letter.
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I got the biggest weakness question during and interview and I nearly biffed it. I was in a flow, promoting myself and then got hit with the greatest strength/weakness question
Even tho I had thought about it, I was drawing a blank, which is a REALLY bad question to draw a blank on b/c that slight pause makes you seem either A) conceeded and think you are perfect, or B) hiding something. For me I honestly was just completely blank.I went with the honesty route (as I have learned that's always your best bet). First I just blurted something about being a slow reader b/c i was desperate to break the 3 second silence (which seemed a lot longer). Then he was ready to move on but I said something like "wait, let me think of a better one for you..." I ended up getting accepted and my interviewer actually said it was something he considered a weakness of his own, kinda allowing us to connect.
Also, I may use that last one, angel. too true.
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I've never been asked why I shouldn't be accepted, but I tend to say my greatest flaws are ones that don't pertain to my professional life - that I tend to pick fights with my boyfriends, etc.
When one insisted on a flaw that pertains to medicine, I said I preferred to work individually than in a team. That was probably a mistake. But it's true.
When one insisted on a flaw that pertains to medicine, I said I preferred to work individually than in a team. That was probably a mistake. But it's true.
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whatever answer you give. make sure you illustrate what you doing to improve it in the future. dont end the answer like "I get emotional sometimes. Next!"
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I nominate this for the WORST answer EVER given! You seriously think someone should say that they're closed-minded when interviewing for medical school where they're likely to come in contact with patients from all walks of life from year one? Seriously? You think it's okay to imply that you're prejudiced, racist, or whatever else "closed-minded" suggests when you want a medical school to offer you a spot as a physician-in-training? Wow.
I don't understand why this thread has veered off course. The question was NOT "tell us your greatest weakness." It was "tell us why we shouldn't accept you." It's an entirely different question and if you don't treat it as such, you're going to shoot yourself in the foot. Seriously, why bother spending the money and the time to go to an interview just to tell them why they shouldn't accept you? You'll never catch anyone telling a potential employer why he/she shouldn't be hired. Why would you do it in this situation?
Am I alone here? Am I just that far out of it that no one else sees all the flaws with the answers in this thread?
P.S. FWIW, if you're asked the greatest weakness question, you should definitely come up with some REAL weaknesses. None of this "I work too hard" crap.
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Wow. Calm down. Fix your fuse and take a deep breath. It depends how it is given, once the basis behind it is explained its fine. I've said it at 3/3 interviews and have been accepted at 3/3. So you are welcome to your opinion, but it must be wrong.
So yes, based on my acceptances I do think its ok, if its true and you explain it.
The only reasons they shouldn't accept you would be weaknesses.
What do you suggest the appropriate answer is? From your demeanor I'm guessing you yell "**** YOU" and slap your interviewer in the face before walking out.
But to turn it around and say "You should accept me" like you suggested earlier is worse. Thats really dodging the question. It would be like them asking what your greatest weaknesses are and you saying, well I don't really have any - but these are my strengths. YOU'RE the one not answering the question.
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I'd definitely have to say there's no reason not to accept me, since I'm qualified to attend and certainly capable of handling the coursework and making a competent physician.
I'd probably add that I could potentially see them not wanting to accept me because of (_enter weakness here_), and they might find an applicant that they feel lacks that weakness and would be a better physician because of it.
It all comes to patient care, and they know that business better than I do.
I'd probably add that I could potentially see them not wanting to accept me because of (_enter weakness here_), and they might find an applicant that they feel lacks that weakness and would be a better physician because of it.
It all comes to patient care, and they know that business better than I do.
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Rule number one of interviews -- never give them a reason to say no to you. If you honestly think you're a good fit and you honestly think you have the scores and grades to be accepted (which you must if you got an interview), don't assume what you think they want to hear just so you have something to say. Tell the truth -- I'm a good fit and I can't think of a reason you shouldn't accept me. Add to it, "although I have some flaws, overall, I think I'm a good fit and I can't think of a reason you shouldn't accept me." If they want more, that gives them an opening to ask "tell me about your flaws." That's how you flow into that. This really isn't rocket science.
And by the way, I'm plenty calm. I just think your advice stinks. I also think that you got lucky and that some people wouldn't have been as receptive to "I'm closed-minded" coming from a potential doctor. Isn't that why med schools want us to work with a diverse population of people in our clinical/volunteer activities?
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To me thats like the BS weaknesses. Its BS and won't be received well. But neither of us can tell what an adcom would think, so there's no way of knowing which way is *really* better.
It was a couple of examples for people, they shouldn't use them if they don't like them or it isn't true. It was just to give an idea of the kinds of real weaknesses one should bring up.
And you don't know me so you can't tell how my close minded answer comes across. I work in a free clinic with a very diverse population so obviously I'm not racist. In fact, free clinics is one of my great passions so I doubt the racist thought ever crossed my interviewers minds. The close minded relates to other things and I discuss examples and how I've worked on it.
You should go with your weakness as "I jump to conclusion and assume the worst of people without knowing anything about them."
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Answer it as a strengths/weaknesses question and be honest if you don't think any of those weaknesses are reasons they shouldn't accept you.
I would then ask them, "If accepted, why should I NOT consider your school?"
I would then ask them, "If accepted, why should I NOT consider your school?"
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maybe they want to see if you have the balls to tell them something they don't like to hear.
we can't always be right.
we can't always be right.
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On a parallel note, I heard this story on one of my away rotations:
A student was interviewing for a residency position in Ortho. The PD asked him, "We have a lot of very qualified applicants. Why should we take you instead of one of them?"
He answered, completely serious and without smiling, "Because I'm better looking."
He got the spot.
A student was interviewing for a residency position in Ortho. The PD asked him, "We have a lot of very qualified applicants. Why should we take you instead of one of them?"
He answered, completely serious and without smiling, "Because I'm better looking."
He got the spot.
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Then answer me something. Do you honestly believe the places that accepted you had a reason not to accept you, that they made an error in accepting you? If yes, then that answers all my questions. If no, then why would you pretend there is a reason when there isn't? Have you not worked your a** off for this chance for years? Haven't you overcome all the obstacles of being a pre-med (the weed out classes, the large courseload, the MCAT, the committee letter) and made it to the other side to get an interview? Don't you think there were other pre-meds there with flaws parallel to or even worse than yours? What made any one of them any more worthy of that spot than you? Why them and not you?
If you don't believe you belong there, why should anyone else?
It shocks me to hear people try to sell the interviewer on someone else after they've done so much to end up in that room. By giving them reasons not to pick you, that's exactly what you're doing. Now if you honestly believe, in your heart, that you don't deserve to be there and that there's something about you that makes you a bad choice for the school, then offer that reason. But if you don't believe any of your flaws are justification for not accepting you, then don't pretend they are just to placate your interviewer!
In my opinion, the point of that question is to see if you have the nerve to own the interview - and by extension, own your spot in med school - , if you have what it takes to stand up for yourself and say, "hey, I know I'm not perfect. I know I have flaws, but I like your school and I think I fit in with the environment you've created. I worked hard to get here because this is what I want. I want to be a physician and I want to do it through your school, so if you're looking for reasons not to accept me, I'm not going to help you out because I just can't think of any."
It takes a great deal of self confidence to stand up and say you have what it takes to succeed at their school (as long as you don't cross the line into arrogance, of course). It takes someone with a lot self doubt to say anything less.
Just my opinion.
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45408
Eh, she was much better than the other guy in our panel, and I think she might have gotten in, based on what another SDNer mentioned later. I only got waitlisted.
4
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Please, med school isn't SDN. Most of your interviewers (physicians and researchers) are much more conservative than SDN. I kid you not, I heard several people say they now that they're in (I'm an M1), they don't have to be PC and can say <insert things you can't say in an interview>. Some of these guys crack ethnic jokes at each other (and themselves) all the time. Med schools aren't liberal social science professors.
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i think everyone is focusing too much on WHAT the answers are rather than the honesty behind the answers. interviewers are good at picking up on when people are lying.
for some people, though, working too hard IS a weakness. my best friend's sister is in vet school right now and is constantly doing work. she doesn't eat because she's always working and forgets. she barely sleeps. and last time i saw her, she looked like a skeleton. for her, i would definitely agree that her tendency to work too hard has turned into a weakness.
being too nice can be a weakness too if you can never say no to people or tell people what they need to hear.
interviewers will most likely be able to tell if you're just giving one of those answers because you have nothing to say. but if you can back it up, i think it's fine. i told my interviewers that i get too attached to patients (i.e. i care too much) and i backed it up with a story to show that it really was a problem. got accepted at all of those schools and actually had some conversations with my interviewers about their experiences with getting attached.
for some people, though, working too hard IS a weakness. my best friend's sister is in vet school right now and is constantly doing work. she doesn't eat because she's always working and forgets. she barely sleeps. and last time i saw her, she looked like a skeleton. for her, i would definitely agree that her tendency to work too hard has turned into a weakness.
being too nice can be a weakness too if you can never say no to people or tell people what they need to hear.
interviewers will most likely be able to tell if you're just giving one of those answers because you have nothing to say. but if you can back it up, i think it's fine. i told my interviewers that i get too attached to patients (i.e. i care too much) and i backed it up with a story to show that it really was a problem. got accepted at all of those schools and actually had some conversations with my interviewers about their experiences with getting attached.
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ME: Well you have got to be F***ing kidding me! Not accept me? Where is the hidden camera? If you are really asking me then you probably shouldnt be a doctor.....
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Imperfections are part of being human. Unless you are a robot you should have many. Not realizing our own shortcomings is an example of lack of introspection and maturity. I think we all have some sort of prejudice because it is the natural response to try to categorize our surroundings and people to create order. No matter how open-minded we may think we are, we all live in our own little world with our own perceptions of reality.
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Wait a minute, am I being Punk'd? Where's Ashton? Ashton? Oh my God, you totally got me!
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