will you rub an interviewer the wrong way if your views aren't "mainstream"

[patel2]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I did a few summer internships at the Cato Institute, a conservative/libertarian think tank in D.C.. A lot of my views on health care reform are drawn from these experiences...I feel strongly about market-solutions like expanding and changing rules on health savings accounts, and the flaws of managed care/the HMO Act of 1973. But a lot of things I learned aren't really talked about by either the Republican/Democratic party, and so I fear this could make interviewers think I am "extreme" or something. Is it best to try to take "moderate" stances on issues or to just be able to defend your own views during interviews? `

 

[jm192]

I didn't read it.

I don't think they care what your opinions are, as long as you have an opinion on current/important issues.

But, if they disagree, don't turn it into an argument. It's probably rare, but I could imagine an interviewer throwing a curveball in there just to see how you handle it. People that lose their emotions in that situation raise a red flag---doctors are going to get yelled at/disagreed with plenty. Be able to handle it.

 

[BigRedder]

I wouldn't bring it up, but if asked I would express my true opinions, especially if I could back them up. Many physicians are actually quite conservative, and even if they aren't they would be interested in a discussion of market-based solutions with evidence to back it up. As long as you don't start saying "obamacare death panels whaaargarble!!1!!!11!" they won't think you are too extreme.

 

[rbnsafsadgf]

Don't be dogmatic about your views and be ready to have answers to counter-arguments. Be ready to agree to disagree. I think they just want to see that you've given health care reform some deep thought and as long as you can articulate your views and reasoning well, you should be fine.

Don't set yourself up to hung for your views when you just aren't prepared to back-them up well.

 

[jm192]

I wouldn't bring it up, but if asked I would express my true opinions, especially if I could back them up. Many physicians are actually quite conservative, and even if they aren't they would be interested in a discussion of market-based solutions with evidence to back it up. As long as you don't start saying "obamacare death panels whaaargarble!!1!!!11!" they won't think you are too extreme.

Great point! If you go in there with an opinion you can't back up looking silly and or ignorant.

 

[LizzyM]

Well, I hope that you listed those internships on your application. Some will be impressed, some will not, some may not be familiar with it at all.

No doubt you are able to think dispassionately about this and clearly articulate your position. This is a plus. If you can articulate where the other side is coming from and why their strategies will not, in your opinion, be successful in achieving their goals, all the better.

Pulling a paragraph from the Institute's web site I don't know how you could be faulted for being in this camp:

" We reject the bashing of gays, China, rich people, and immigrants that contemporary liberals and conservatives seem to think addresses society's problems. We applaud the liberation of blacks and women from the statist restrictions that for so long kept them out of the economic mainstream. Our greatest challenge today is to extend the promise of political freedom and economic opportunity to those who are still denied it, in our own country and around the world. "

 

[Lokhtar]

Yes, you should say what you think.

With the following caveats:

1. Many people on either side fall into stereotypes about communism/corporatism/fascism, etc. Don't.
2. Can you give actual data to support your positions? If you did an internship, you need to be able to.
3. You should be prepared to answer why the US, for example, should be the only first world country without a socialized healthcare system when everyone else has one and pay less and no one wants to get rid of universal coverage.

You do have an uphill battle because your views are not something that any country has implemented, but if you can be eloquent and have facts, I would be impressed.

For the record, I support a full universal healthcare system. But I would not hold it against someone who didn't. I would ask both sides to give me examples, hard data, and ask them to defend their position from the most common attacks.

If you can do that, I'd personally have no issues, and I'm sure no one else would as well.

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

Don't bring it up unless it has something to do with why you want to go to med school... personally, I'd stick to pretty non-confrontational answers if at all possible, like "clearly there needs to be reform, but exactly how and what needs to be done isn't as easily answered" something like that... then, you're not offending anyone, not saying anything untruthful, not causing problems... just my thought...

 

[LizzyM]

Don't bring it up unless it has something to do with why you want to go to med school... personally, I'd stick to pretty non-confrontational answers if at all possible, like "clearly there needs to be reform, but exactly how and what needs to be done isn't as easily answered" something like that... then, you're not offending anyone, not saying anything untruthful, not causing problems... just my thought...

That would be totally inadequate if the OP has listed the internships among his ECs. Being wishy-washy in an attempt not to offend just comes off as shallow and dull.

A poli sci major who has interned at a think-tank in D.C. should be very articulate and able to state a position, explore counterarguments to that position and respond to them and do it with sincerity and humility with a willingness to listen to the other side but not to waffle. (it is ok to waffle when presented with a case and then more information or a slightly different case is presented but don't flip-flop on principles).

You do have an uphill battle because your views are not something that any country has implemented, but if you can be eloquent and have facts, I would be impressed.

As someone might have told Mr. Jefferson.

 

[Musclemass]

I was a poli-sci major in college and did a few summer internships at the Cato Institute, a conservative/libertarian think tank in D.C.. A lot of my views on health care reform are drawn from these experiences...I feel strongly about market-solutions like expanding and changing rules on health savings accounts, and the flaws of managed care/the HMO Act of 1973. But a lot of things I learned aren't really talked about by either the Republican/Democratic party, and so I fear this could make interviewers think I am "extreme" or something. Is it best to try to take "moderate" stances on issues or to just be able to defend your own views during interviews? `

On the presumption that your objective for the interview is to gain admission to med school and not to make a political speech, I'd keep your comments low key and vanilla. AKA being PC.

Interviewers consciously or subconsciously are looking for "fit" and, to a lesser extent, diversity. Being a political wonk doesn't contribute much to either. I'd keep it under your hat. Unless you think this is the highlight of your application (and I hope for your sake it's not), be ready to make a short comment in case questioned so that it you can move on quickly to something more relevant and likely more interesting to your interviewer.

 

[ronaldo23]

On the presumption that your objective for the interview is to gain admission to med school and not to make a political speech, I'd keep your comments low key and vanilla. AKA being PC.

Interviewers consciously or subconsciously are looking for "fit" and, to a lesser extent, diversity. Being a political wonk doesn't contribute much to either. I'd keep it under your hat. Unless you think this is the highlight of your application (and I hope for your sake it's not), be ready to make a short comment in case questioned so that it you can move on quickly to something more relevant and likely more interesting to your interviewer.

edit: nvm

 

[sweetlife]

I was a poli-sci major in college and did a few summer internships at the Cato Institute, a conservative/libertarian think tank in D.C.. A lot of my views on health care reform are drawn from these experiences...I feel strongly about market-solutions like expanding and changing rules on health savings accounts, and the flaws of managed care/the HMO Act of 1973. But a lot of things I learned aren't really talked about by either the Republican/Democratic party, and so I fear this could make interviewers think I am "extreme" or something. Is it best to try to take "moderate" stances on issues or to just be able to defend your own views during interviews? `

LizzyM's advice is really good. You have had an interesting experience and I wouldn't doubt that someone will bring it up in an interview. Most academic docs are more liberal than the private practice docs. Actually, all of the doctors I have shadowed, anesthesiologist and surgeons, are adamantly against Obama Care. However, the people interviewing you will probably be toward the academic side. So the best advice, is know what you believe and stick to it. Don't waiver or seem wishy washy. As you know, politicians are unconvincing when they waiver, and you don't want to seem unconvincing to the ADCOM? Right?

 

[Kevin Baker]

I think this all depends on how you frame your experience and your views.

Saying you worked at a libertarian thinktank that wants to replace NIH grants with private funding is much different from saying you worked for an institute dedicated to minimizing coercion in policy, and using market solutions to address common problems.

For example, I am about to start work at planned parenthood, but you better believe I am putting that I work at a sexual health clinic and not a pro choice clinic.

But regardless of how you frame it, have rational, uncontroversial, points to debate why you think as you do. People say ADCOMS are politically neutral which is a lie. Humans are influenced by other's beliefs and we tend to align with those whose beliefs align well with ours. If you are tactful and respectful, differing viewpoints won't be a negative, and if you can articulate your positions coherently and uncontroversially, that may even be a plus. But going in all "holier than thou, I have Milton Friedman on my side, all you have is fascist George W or socialist Obama*" wouldn't be a good route towards acceptance.

It's nice to see a fellow libertarian applying though and best of luck 🙂
We're too underrepresented in medicine.

Also, one thing a friend told me is that he was asked once whether he agreed with Friedman's characterization of the AAMC. That could be a sore point, so I'd come up with a good response.

*Note: I don't believe George W is a fascist or Obama is a socialist.

 

[teenmachinery1]

I was a poli-sci major in college and did a few summer internships at the Cato Institute, a conservative/libertarian think tank in D.C.. A lot of my views on health care reform are drawn from these experiences...I feel strongly about market-solutions like expanding and changing rules on health savings accounts, and the flaws of managed care/the HMO Act of 1973. But a lot of things I learned aren't really talked about by either the Republican/Democratic party, and so I fear this could make interviewers think I am "extreme" or something. Is it best to try to take "moderate" stances on issues or to just be able to defend your own views during interviews? `

im pretty liberal so the Cato institute has very negative connotations for me and I might be a bit biased against you for this.

When espousing your views, whatever they are, just don't sound like you're not open to other views and don't come off so sure. Confident, of course, and articulate, passionate, whatever- but not dogmatic like someone mentioned earlier.

edit: oh, and you better have responses to counterpoints or flaws in our views.

 

[morning]

I would definitely list it, and be prepared to back it up without being argumentative. The thing with libertarianism is that it's not really "liberal" or "conservative", so you might not get a lot of sympathy from either one. However, I doubt they'd care enough to really hit you with animosity, either. They'd probably be more curious than anything else.

I'm really progressive and rarely agree with anything the Cato Institute has to say, but one of my favorite famous persons (Penn Jillette) is a Cato Institute Fellow. They really espouse political philosophy that spans the gamut and challenges the dualistic, black-and-white way we look at politics.

 

[Lokhtar]

Saying you worked at a libertarian thinktank that wants to replace NIH grants with private funding is much different from saying you worked for an institute dedicated to minimizing coercion in policy, and using market solutions to address common problems.

Haha, that would be....an interesting conversation to have with a panel full of researchers.

If I was on the panel, my question would be "You realize we do a drug tests here, right?"