Worst/Funniest Interview Experiences

BU Medical Sciences
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Members do not see this ad.
cardiology88 said:
The end wasn't pretty. My initial reaction was to laugh. As I was doing that my interviewer had a completely serious look on his face. So I thought to myself who knows maybe this guy is gay. So I said "no ofcourse not, not that anything is wrong with being gay though." He then changed the subject. The rest of the interview was a little awkward. I ended up getting waitlisted.
Click to expand...

I think that's a REALLY inappropriate question to ask.

So much so that I'd probably have told the admissions office that I was asked it.
 
So this wasn't a terrible answer so much as a bad situation...I am Indian and my mom is a doctor, so I often get asked in interviews if she pressured me to go into medicine and obviously I need to have a good answer for that.

Interviewer (A Korean lady): Tell me about your family.
Me: Oh, my mom is the best. I actually used to want to be a novelist and while I"m sure she was freaking out inside, she just told me that I'd better start writing. I did - I wrote 200 pages of a really terrible novel and realized that I hated it! And later I got into science and I guess I ended up wanting to be a doctor after all.
Interviewer: really?
Me: Yes - and I really appreciated that she let me find my own path. It made me feel like she respected me to make my own decision - telling me to start writing was the best advice she ever gave me.
Interviewer: That's what I told my son. He's an English major.

Result: rejected.
 
You forgot to add "I really respect novelists and writers in general because they have the persistence and creativity to do what I never can. However, I know what I can do: Become a great doctor."

Remember to defuse ;p
 
LadyLightning20 said:
So this wasn't a terrible answer so much as a bad situation...I am Indian and my mom is a doctor, so I often get asked in interviews if she pressured me to go into medicine and obviously I need to have a good answer for that.

Interviewer (A Korean lady): Tell me about your family.
Me: Oh, my mom is the best. I actually used to want to be a novelist and while I"m sure she was freaking out inside, she just told me that I'd better start writing. I did - I wrote 200 pages of a really terrible novel and realized that I hated it! And later I got into science and I guess I ended up wanting to be a doctor after all.
Interviewer: really?
Me: Yes - and I really appreciated that she let me find my own path. It made me feel like she respected me to make my own decision - telling me to start writing was the best advice she ever gave me.
Interviewer: That's what I told my son. He's an English major.

Result: rejected.
Click to expand...

I get the feeling you weren't rejected for that conversation -- it reads perfectly to me.
 
Interviewer: "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?"
Me: (Don't say "doing your wife," don't say "doing your wife...")
 
This was a while ago (2007) when I applied to an international medical school as a HS student:

Interviewer: Tell me about yourself:

Poox: "Well, I am a male..[rest of information]"

O RLY? EPIC FAIL. I have NO idea why I even said that.
 
Not as funny as yalls.. but this has nothing to do with a medical interview but now that I look back on it, it was pretty weird and awkward. My first interview ever (Scholarship Interview) :

I: Was it fun volunteering with the court system

Me:yes,yes,yes,yes,yes it was (a billion times, I couldn't breath ..gulp) 😱:scared:
They just stared at me and started to laugh 😡
(My other answers weren't as as bad as this)
 
interviewer: So, what do you do for fun? Oh, I see here on your application that you are a marathon runner. I don't understand why anyone would run a marathon. Why do you do it?

me: (thinking that my answer should include something about determination, stamina, setting a goal and working toward it)...Well, I like to eat doughnuts
 
kia ora said:
interviewer: So, what do you do for fun? Oh, I see here on your application that you are a marathon runner. I don't understand why anyone would run a marathon. Why do you do it?

me: (thinking that my answer should include something about determination, stamina, setting a goal and working toward it)...Well, I like to eat doughnuts
Click to expand...


this made me lol. sounds like my kind of answer.
 
lol. not. it's an actual question I'm asking you guys. I hope by the time I get an interview I will know what it is...
 
wannabedoc2 said:
lol. not. it's an actual question I'm asking you guys. I hope by the time I get an interview I will know what it is...
Click to expand...

the waitlist is what you do NOT want to find yourself on post interview. it means you sit and wait until someone that they accepted decides to go to another school, and so that open spot means that some poor, worried soul from the waitlist gets to be accepted. then again, a waitlist is a million times better than a rejection!
 
My first med school interview:

I was very nervous and my first interviewer kept telling me to stop talking so fast and to relax.

Second interview of the day:

Me and the interviewer introduces

Interviewer: What are you doing here? You are at the wrong place.

me: oh damn it

Interviewer: Oh no no no. You are a music major correct, I meant why from music to medicine.

me: oh ummmm, will I like music, It helps me to relax and ummmmmm (She threw me me off, so my mind was blank, I couldn't answer why from music to medicine

Interviewer: (she felt sorry for me, so said its good to have something that helps me to relax, and she starts talk about her story of becoming a doctor.

Later in the interview I had the feeling that I might get a rejection letter from this school

Interviewer: I personally had to apply twice to get into med school and my brother three times, so don't give up keep reapplying. (WTF lady?)

Interviewer: Go home and play some music to help you relax. (smiles)

me: Ok thanks.

Guess what?
I got rejected from this school.
 
xwu74 said:
My first med school interview:

I was very nervous and my first interviewer kept telling me to stop talking so fast and to relax.

Second interview of the day:

Me and the interviewer introduces

Interviewer: What are you doing here? You are at the wrong place.

me: oh damn it

Interviewer: Oh no no no. You are a music major correct, I meant why from music to medicine.

me: oh ummmm, will I like music, It helps me to relax and ummmmmm (She threw me me off, so my mind was blank, I couldn't answer why from music to medicine

Interviewer: (she felt sorry for me, so said its good to have something that helps me to relax, and she starts talk about her story of becoming a doctor.

Later in the interview I had the feeling that I might get a rejection letter from this school

Interviewer: I personally had to apply twice to get into med school and my brother three times, so don't give up keep reapplying. (WTF lady?)

Interviewer: Go home and play some music to help you relax. (smiles)

me: Ok thanks.

Guess what?
I got rejected from this school.
Click to expand...

Aw that sucks. 🙁 Sounds like nerves really got to you. Understandable though as it was your first interview. Hopefully the rest of your cycle went a little bit more smoothly!
 
Last year, I had an interview close to home, so I drove the morning of. People where I live can't drive in the rain, so my 40 minute drive took 2 hours. I got there 10 minutes late, and soaked, and the lady who helped me turned out to be my first interviewer. She seemed annoyed to have to deal with me (and the other students in the waiting area).

Interviewer: What are your strengths?
Me: (list of three I had prepared, with explanations)
Interviewer: And???
Me: (makes one up)
Interviewer: And???
Me: (awkward pause as I make up another one)
This continues until she moves on to weaknesses and she starts again. After 5 or so:
Interviewer: And???
Me: Sometimes I make jokes in stressful situations
Her: (Pause, stares at me) Is this stressful for you?
Me: Well it is rather important in determining my future, I would be more concerned if it wasn't

At a different interview:

The interviewer looks at my transcripts and letters, and very concerned looks back at me: Has anything in your undergrad been a challenge for you?
Me: Well writing the application essays was pretty challenging
Interviewer: (looks confused)
 
xwu74 said:
My first med school interview:

I was very nervous and my first interviewer kept telling me to stop talking so fast and to relax.

Second interview of the day:

Me and the interviewer introduces

Interviewer: What are you doing here? You are at the wrong place.

me: oh damn it

Interviewer: Oh no no no. You are a music major correct, I meant why from music to medicine.

me: oh ummmm, will I like music, It helps me to relax and ummmmmm (She threw me me off, so my mind was blank, I couldn't answer why from music to medicine

Interviewer: (she felt sorry for me, so said its good to have something that helps me to relax, and she starts talk about her story of becoming a doctor.

Later in the interview I had the feeling that I might get a rejection letter from this school

Interviewer: I personally had to apply twice to get into med school and my brother three times, so don't give up keep reapplying. (WTF lady?)

Interviewer: Go home and play some music to help you relax. (smiles)

me: Ok thanks.

Guess what?
I got rejected from this school.
Click to expand...

wow sounds like your interviewer had it in for you and just didn't like you or had a pissy day and took out on you.
 
MiniMoo said:
Aw that sucks. 🙁 Sounds like nerves really got to you. Understandable though as it was your first interview. Hopefully the rest of your cycle went a little bit more smoothly!
Click to expand...

Thank god this school was not my number one choice, so this experience helped me a lot for my second interview, which was my top choice.
 
gujuDoc said:
wow sounds like your interviewer had it in for you and just didn't like you or had a pissy day and took out on you.
Click to expand...

Yeah I guess so, b/c when I introduced myself she didn't even look up or tried to shake my hand. Before the interview, two of the ad office staff said you are lucky to have her as a interviewer. What a BS.
 
xwu74 said:
Yeah I guess so, b/c when I introduced myself she didn't even look up or tried to shake my hand. Before the interview, two of the ad office staff said you are lucky to have her as a interviewer. What a BS.
Click to expand...

yeah. well good thing you got in your top choice. 🙂
 
neuronal said:
2 days before my first interview, I was locked out of my house and as I was trying to open the window to my house, the window shattered and a piece of glass left a huge gash on my left wrist. To this day, I have big fat scar on my left wrist.

On the day of my interview, my student interviewer noticed the cut (now all scabbed up) on my left wrist and asked me what had happened. As a joke I said, "I cut myself b/c I didn't get an A+ in organic chem, hehe." She didn't smile at all, and started taking notes right after I said that...I told her it was a joke and she replied, "Oh, that's a joke? thank God."

Result: accepted. haha.
Click to expand...

suicide isn't funny :scared:. the truth, that you were trying to break into your own house, would've been much funnier.
 
My first interview. I am sitting in the hall with fellow interviewees waiting on my interviewer to come get me. When he finally makes it:

I: time md?

I stand up.

I: Hello, time md I'm Dr. so and so.
Me:Hello, Dr. so and so I'm time md.
Me: To myself, "crap he just said my name."
I:Chuckles to his self.

Rest of interview went well. Interviewer actually grew up in a town close to mine. Accepted.
 
Last edited:
time md said:
My first interview. I am sitting in the hall with fellow interviewees waiting on my interviewer to come get me. When he finally makes it:

I: time md?

I stand up.

I: Hello, time md I'm Dr. so and so.
Me:Hello, Dr. so and so I'm time md.
Me: To myself, "crap he just said me name."
I:Chuckles to his self.

Rest of interview went well. Interviewer actually grew up in a town close to mine. Accepted.
Click to expand...
lol niiice! All's well that ends well.
 
Not medical school related, so maybe I shouldn't post it, but here is one of my more awkward interview moments. I was interviewing for a job as a developer of test programs. My agency sent me to interview for a job that required extensive knowledge of C++ (programming language), which I had learned in school but had never used in industry. I told them I wasn't qualified, but they insisted my resume was great and that I should interview. Here is approximately how my scheduled-to-be-two-hour interview went:

HIRING MANAGER: Welcome! So you are good with C++, huh?

BLEG: Uh, well, I used it in school, but I haven't used it since.

MANAGER: (confused) The job description specified someone who was very fluent in C++ development.

BLEG: Yes, I know. I, uh, told the agency that I didn't think I qualified for this position, but they seemed to think that you, uh (what do I say? don't say "overstated the qualifications"!), maybe didn't really need someone with five years of C++ experience.

MANAGER: (somewhat put off) Well, okay, let's see how you do. (Shows a screen of code.) What does this function do?

BLEG: Uh...(studies screen for about a minute, without having a clue what it does)...can you tell me what this line here is?

MANAGER: (looking) That's a macro for a function call.

BLEG: Oh! Yeah! I guess that makes sense! Hey, that's pretty clever.

(more time passes)

BLEG: I have no idea what that code is doing.

MANAGER: It's passing a database call to the back end to get information.

BLEG: Oh.

MANAGER: You know what? I don't think this position is for you.

BLEG: I think you're right.

MANGER: Thanks for coming in.

BLEG: (Now what am I supposed to do for the next hour and fifty-five minutes?)
 
I don't think that's a bad interview answer at all, actually. You were hopelessly unqualified, knew it, and said so. If I were the interviewer, I'd be glad you didn't waste my 2 hours. 😛
 
wasnt for med school but as a freshmen in college i interviewed at some place to volunteer....I was asked

Interviewer: so if you were stuck on an island whats the one food you would take...

me: ummm......ummm...umm.....(long awkard silent pause where everyone looks at me like im ******ed).

Interviewer: ok well just move on

me: umm ok...wait....uhh..... rice plant....(me thinking wait wtf rice plant wtf was i thinking).

Interviewer: *very awkward stare and gaze * ok then.........

i didnt get into that volunteer program ahha....i guess thank god i really worked on my interview skills pre med school interviews. This interview was literally my 1st one ever and i was so scared and nervous idk what i was doing. I had several other good ones during that interview but i cant remember them all. I just remember the girl LOLOLOL at me after i left the room and feeling horrible:laugh::laugh:. Looking back though it was kinda funny how awkward i must have been.
 
Elijah05 said:
wasnt for med school but as a freshmen in college i interviewed at some place to volunteer....I was asked

Interviewer: so if you were stuck on an island whats the one food you would take...

me: ummm......ummm...umm.....(long awkard silent pause where everyone looks at me like im ******ed).

Interviewer: ok well just move on

me: umm ok...wait..i guess a rice plant....(me thinking wait wtf rice plant wtf was i thinking).

Interviewer: *very awkward stare and gaze * ok then.........

i didnt get into that volunteer program ahha....i guess thank god i really worked on my interview skills pre med school interviews. This interview was literally my 1st one ever and i was so scared and nervous idk what i was doing. I had several other good ones during that interview but i cant remember them all. I just remember the girl LOLOLOL at me after i left the room and feeling horrible:laugh::laugh:. Looking back though it was kinda funny how awkward i must have been.
Click to expand...

That's hilarious. Always answer: Pizza Supreme, b/c it covers all of the food groups 👍
 
Elijah05 said:
wasnt for med school but as a freshmen in college i interviewed at some place to volunteer....I was asked

Interviewer: so if you were stuck on an island whats the one food you would take...

me: ummm......ummm...umm.....(long awkard silent pause where everyone looks at me like im ******ed).

Interviewer: ok well just move on

me: umm ok...wait....uhh..... rice plant....(me thinking wait wtf rice plant wtf was i thinking).

Interviewer: *very awkward stare and gaze * ok then.........

i didnt get into that volunteer program ahha....i guess thank god i really worked on my interview skills pre med school interviews. This interview was literally my 1st one ever and i was so scared and nervous idk what i was doing. I had several other good ones during that interview but i cant remember them all. I just remember the girl LOLOLOL at me after i left the room and feeling horrible:laugh::laugh:. Looking back though it was kinda funny how awkward i must have been.
Click to expand...
Plants a good idea, though I might just say potato, cause they're easier to grow.

Alternatively, hamburger 😛
 
Hahaha, "rice plant". :laugh::laugh::laugh:

My worst answer was at U of Minnesota. They do these bizarro "behavioral interviews", where they basically ask you horrifically open-ended questions that all start with "tell me about a time when" and then you're supposed to come up with an engaging and interesting anecdote and discuss it casually with them.

So I was chugging along with this fine, "Tell me about a time when you failed to keep up your end of an agreement," "tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult coworker", "TMAATW you had to deal with change", "TMAATW you had to deal with cultural difference", then all of a sudden, BAM!, "So, why do you think you'd make an excellent veterinarian".

It's supposed to be the easy question! But I totally panicked because it was sandwiched in all those TMAATW questions, so I locked up. I had just finished saying how happy I was that I had gotten to do volunteer work that gave me large/food animal experience, because I only had a few hours before that and had never had any other real interaction with large animals.

Interviewer: So, why do you think you'd make an excellent veterinarian?
Me: Um, uh, um (chugs water), well because of my extensive background in large animal medicine (thinking:**** **** damn I meant "medical research") - um, uh.... You know what, just stop right here. I don't want to say that, that's wrong. That's not what I meant to say. May I have a minute to collect my thoughts? I got off track.
I (looking totally nonplussed): Yeah, sure, that's fine.
Me: (Sips water, stares at clock willing it to move faster through the next half-hour)
I: Are you okay? Do you need to skip this question and come back to it?
Me: No, no, I'm good now... (proceeds to give a good answer).

Accepted, but scared the hell outta me.

Edit: Thinking back, I might have actually made a swear out loud during that point of my interview. Yikes.
 
Last edited:
Oh, crap, another gem from the UMN interview:

I: What would you do if you didn't get into UMN?
Me: Well, I already have an acceptance at a school I like less, so I would be disappointed, but still going to veterinary school.
I: Oh.
Me: Well, hypothetically, if I hadn't gotten in anywhere (why am I saying this? They didn't ask!) and never got in, I would probably get my MFA.
I: What would you do with the MFA?
Me: Teach, write, and regret it for the rest of my life.
 
Tiktaalik said:
Oh, crap, another gem from the UMN interview:

I: What would you do if you didn't get into UMN?
Me: Well, I already have an acceptance at a school I like less, so I would be disappointed, but still going to veterinary school.
I: Oh.
Me: Well, hypothetically, if I hadn't gotten in anywhere (why am I saying this? They didn't ask!) and never got in, I would probably get my MFA.
I: What would you do with the MFA?
Me: Teach, write, and regret it for the rest of my life.
Click to expand...

Brilliant.
 
Interview at my dream school:

I: "So, I was looking at your transcript before you came in. It was *pause* interesting. So, um, what happened there."

Me: "You mean in college in general."

I: "Yes."

Me: "Yeah, about that.... umm...how exactly did I get an interview here?"

I: Laughing....

Accepted! (wtf !?!?) There is no method to this med school admissions madness.
 
Int: You'll have to pardon the mess on my desk.

Me: (laughing) Oh, that's fine, I've found that the best scientists have messy desks.

Int: ....I'm a doctor.

Me: uhhhhhhh😕

I specifically said "scientists" because that, IMO, applies to MDs as well...Guess not.

This interview surprisingly went very well after this.
 
This wasn't a school interview but I wanted to post it. The interviewer told me to tell him about myself, and it turned out I had a lot in common with his dad (grew up in same neighborhood, went to same high school, etc)

Me: Wow sounds like I have a lot in common with your father.
Him: I hated my father
Me: Uh...sorry

:scared:
 
So this was an awkward moment at my first interview of the season...

The interview was half-over, and had been going pretty well. It seemed more like a relaxed conversation than a structured interview, which is a good thing... except, I think it made me too comfortable. We were talking about support systems, and I mentioned that I grew up in a large family in a rural area, and I somehow managed to bring up the fact that my parents are very open-minded, free-thinking people which helped shape me into the person I am today... except as an example I talked about how they "were both raised in extremely religious families (different religions), but decided to raise their kids with no religion and let us form our own world views". At this moment the interviewer had a shocked look on his face and replied "no religion???". I realized that we had previously talked about how he grew up in them middle east (in what I can only presume to be a very religious family). I was like "why did I say that, why did I say that?". I brushed it off, and changed the topic.

Result: Accepted.
 
Him: What is professionalism?
Me wearing a deep red tie and a blue shirt: Well part of professionalism is how you present yourself, how you choose your words and what you wear. Like today, I decided to wear this red tie and blue shirt saying who doesn't want superman to be their doctor.

Result: ACCEPTED!
 
JmanDO said:
My last interview, I was describing my research and I was asked a question I thought was completely unrelated which threw me off (he might as well have asked if I thought my lab coat being blue affected the rsch outcome...srsly)
but I recooped by drawing a picture to explain a concept.

I've used a drawing before, since our intvw packet contained a pad of paper, and it went over well, I hope so this time also. Anyone ever use something unexpected during an interview?
Click to expand...

Chalk, and I asked the interviewer to borrow his pencil so I could draw out how I study
 
My Harvard HST interview:

Q: "What do you do for fun on your own?"
A: "My friends and I lowered my car by installing a new suspension. We then added some sweet rims."

Result: Rejected ; )

At least I was myself.
 
Interviewer: If you were not going to get in this year, what would you do?

Me: I most likely would retake my MCAT and work in a hospital to strengthen my credentials for the next year I would apply.

Interviewer: Wow, that's a great answer. You would be surprised at how many people just say that they would probably just apply to law school!

Result: Accepted (#1 choice!)
 
yoman786 said:
Him: What is professionalism?
Me wearing a deep red tie and a blue shirt: Well part of professionalism is how you present yourself, how you choose your words and what you wear. Like today, I decided to wear this red tie and blue shirt saying who doesn't want superman to be their doctor.

Result: ACCEPTED!
Click to expand...

I LOVE THIS. great answer 👍
 
Tiktaalik said:
My worst answer was at U of Minnesota. They do these bizarro "behavioral interviews", where they basically ask you horrifically open-ended questions that all start with "tell me about a time when" and then you're supposed to come up with an engaging and interesting anecdote and discuss it casually with them.

So I was chugging along with this fine, "Tell me about a time when you failed to keep up your end of an agreement," "tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult coworker", "TMAATW you had to deal with change", "TMAATW you had to deal with cultural difference", then all of a sudden, BAM!, "So, why do you think you'd make an excellent veterinarian".

It's supposed to be the easy question! But I totally panicked because it was sandwiched in all those TMAATW questions, so I locked up. I had just finished saying how happy I was that I had gotten to do volunteer work that gave me large/food animal experience, because I only had a few hours before that and had never had any other real interaction with large animals.

Interviewer: So, why do you think you'd make an excellent veterinarian?
Me: Um, uh, um (chugs water), well because of my extensive background in large animal medicine (thinking:**** **** damn I meant "medical research") - um, uh.... You know what, just stop right here. I don't want to say that, that's wrong. That's not what I meant to say. May I have a minute to collect my thoughts? I got off track.
I (looking totally nonplussed): Yeah, sure, that's fine.
Me: (Sips water, stares at clock willing it to move faster through the next half-hour)
I: Are you okay? Do you need to skip this question and come back to it?
Me: No, no, I'm good now... (proceeds to give a good answer).

Accepted, but scared the hell outta me.

Edit: Thinking back, I might have actually made a swear out loud during that point of my interview. Yikes.
Click to expand...

:laugh: I had actually the same thing happen at my Western interview! The behavioral based questions were going well and I was feeling quite good about my interview and then all of a sudden, "Tell me one thing about yourself." Uhh...Umm..One thing? Umm...Hold On..****!...Ok. One thing about myself....finally came up with a good answer after thinking for what seemed like 2-3 minutes (it was probably only 30 seconds or so.) I don't think I cursed out loud though.

Result: waitlist 🙄
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
Most Meaningful Experiences
Replies
2
Views
582
Mr.Smile12
Mr.Smile12
M
Other Impactful Experiences?
Replies
4
Views
1K
maybefuturedoctor7
M
R
Types of Clinical Experiences
Replies
6
Views
467
LizzyM
LizzyM
S
Other Impactful Experiences
Replies
1
Views
621
LunaOri
LunaOri
T
Length of Nonclinical Volunteering Experiences
Replies
2
Views
699
candbgirl
C
Top