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Worst/Funniest Interview Experiences
- Thread starter monkily_stealth
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I'd have rejected you too, you sound like a dbag.
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Actually only 2 days! Talk about prompt!
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Initially I responded honestly when an interviewer asked me how I felt about my undergrad institution. Now I'm realizing this was a huge mistake. My top choice school was my second interview and looking back on it I'm fairly certain I completely blew it. Spoke negatively about my undergrad, and then proceeded to come off like a complete smug a-hole somehow-
I: "wow, your mcat score is great, how did you prepare for it"
Me: well, launch into long explanation about my strategy
I: so no prep courses or anything? that's very impressive
Me: well I've just always been really good at testing (trying to downplay it and sound humble, what am I saying, backpedal, noooooo I just sounded like a complete ass)
I: well it takes more than good test scores to be a doctor
me: turning bring red, and knowing I've just sunk my shot at my state school
Oh to take that back and just say, I couldn't afford a prep course so I worked hard on my own, thanks.
still waiting to hear back 9 weeks later but this interviewer has complete control over how my app is presented to the committee so I'm expecting at best a waitlist, possibly an outright rejection
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I was really, really tired during the interview and gave a lot of bad answers, but this is the only one that I remember right now:
I: What kinds of problems do you think you'll face as a physician?
Me: *long silence* Uhhh... can't think of anything....
I: Well that's really optimistic of you
Just could not think at all. Surprisingly, I was waitlisted -- I thought for sure I'd get rejected.
I: What kinds of problems do you think you'll face as a physician?
Me: *long silence* Uhhh... can't think of anything....
I: Well that's really optimistic of you
Just could not think at all. Surprisingly, I was waitlisted -- I thought for sure I'd get rejected.
Exactly. It's just better to make everything positive, even if negative. "Yeah the professors were hard, but I learned how to better study during the class." Stuff like that. Since life is gonna throw you tons of negatives, they wanna see how you deal with them.
Talking about the urinary tract:
Interviewer: So after urine forms in the kidney where does it travel to?
Me: Well it travels down the ureters and then drains into the bladder through two urethral openings.
Interviewer: Urethral? How many urethras do you have, son?
Me: died.
Same interview; talking about the gallbladder duct system:
Interviewer: So draw me the gallbladder and the bile's site of action.
Me: (drew one of the worst livers, gallbladders and small intestines. in the history of modern medicine.)
Interviewer: (takes the pen from my hand) I dont know about you, but my gallbladder looks like this...
Me: (earth please swallow me; RIP to any chance of an acceptance at this school)
I swear this really happened.
Interviewer: So after urine forms in the kidney where does it travel to?
Me: Well it travels down the ureters and then drains into the bladder through two urethral openings.
Interviewer: Urethral? How many urethras do you have, son?
Me: died.
Same interview; talking about the gallbladder duct system:
Interviewer: So draw me the gallbladder and the bile's site of action.
Me: (drew one of the worst livers, gallbladders and small intestines. in the history of modern medicine.)
Interviewer: (takes the pen from my hand) I dont know about you, but my gallbladder looks like this...
Me: (earth please swallow me; RIP to any chance of an acceptance at this school)
I swear this really happened.
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Wow. O.O Was this an MD/PhD interview? Or had you done research involving the gallbladder or urinary tract? Just trying to see if he actually had a reason to be asking this.
Nope. MD only.
No research at all whatsoever.
People told me he likes doing stress interviews and he likes seeing how applicants handle the stress and being incorrect. This is just a snippet of how the interviewer went, there were much worse things that happened. I just tried to laugh, humbly accept when I was wrong and continue to trudge on through.
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Just curious, was this at UT-H?
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Haha! Did you take A&P? Urologists can be neurotic.
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this is absolutely ridiculous and you are in no way at fault for not knowing this stuff. i would say this interview reflects very poorly on this school since the interviewer is obviously just trying to humiliate pre-meds for his own amusement. can't think of a better reason why he would ask you medical knowledge questions. knowing how to draw a gallbladder before you start med school in no way reflects your future success or your interest in becoming a doctor.
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That's good. I like interviews like that.
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(at a tippy-top tier research institution, with my med student interviewer)
MS: So, you're doing preclinical research now?
Me: Yeah, it's pretty interesting I guess. I really couldn't do it forever though, I can't wait to start med school.
MS: Really? What makes you say that?
Me: [talk about how I used to think I wanted to do MD/PhD until my first post-graduate job in a Drosophila genetics lab made me want to die, etc.]
MS: Interesting. I think I forgot to mention that I'm just starting the first year of my MSTP program...
Me: [backpedal backpedal backpedal]
Oops. I was a little off my game since I'd just gotten my first acceptance while waiting in the airport on my way to this interview, but either way, so stupid. I won't hear until next month, but I'm not expecting much, which I guess is alright since I didn't love the school.
MS: So, you're doing preclinical research now?
Me: Yeah, it's pretty interesting I guess. I really couldn't do it forever though, I can't wait to start med school.
MS: Really? What makes you say that?
Me: [talk about how I used to think I wanted to do MD/PhD until my first post-graduate job in a Drosophila genetics lab made me want to die, etc.]
MS: Interesting. I think I forgot to mention that I'm just starting the first year of my MSTP program...
Me: [backpedal backpedal backpedal]
Oops. I was a little off my game since I'd just gotten my first acceptance while waiting in the airport on my way to this interview, but either way, so stupid. I won't hear until next month, but I'm not expecting much, which I guess is alright since I didn't love the school.
No, it was not.
I'm sorry, I don't quite understand. You like interviews where you are stressed out? Or did you think my response and demeanor was appropriate? Not trying to be a d*ck, just didn't understand where you were coming from.
Yes I did take A&P but I mean it was just a regular course for my minor in Biology, it wasnt like I did extensive research in any particular area. A&P is not even required for most med schools so I doubt interviewers would expect us to know any of that stuff.
Thanks man I felt terrible after the interview but I spoke to some people and they said it sounded like I held my ground and performed relatively well given how stressed out and nervous I was. I'm pretty sure his sole purpose was to stress me out and see how I reacted. Because even when I got certain questions right, he would increase the difficulty of the questions until he made sure he stumped me. I dont think he cared for the answers at all.
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oh ok, I was just curious because I heard some stories about an interviewer who shows people a kidney stone asking them what it is and then asks them to draw how it forms and how it leaves the kidney.
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Interviewer: So tell me how your friends would describe you?
Me: Well, they would describe me as busy, hard working, intelligent, and also someone who likes to laugh, have a good time, and share jokes.
Interviewer: What kind of jokes?
Me: *What???? Totally caught me off guard... Is this real life? Did he just ask me that? I instantly start laughing for 10 seconds as I mentally go through all the disturbing and inappropriate jokes that my friends and I always share, particularly the drunk ones...at the same time I just can't believe he asked me that and if I answer this honestly I will instantly be rejected, so I replied: Ummmmm....well we sometimes joke about the woman we have dated in the past (WHAT DID I JUST SAY?? Omg I am doomed....I immediately try to change gears)....and uhhh...well we usually just tease each other, for example on the basketball court one of my friends has a funny looking jump shot and so we make fun of him (*again, what the hell... I gotta save myself.....)but....like..... most of my friends have funny personalities so it really depends on the moment......(hopefully I saved myself?? Dont really think so)
Interviewer nods his head like he agrees with me and says "oh okay", and looks down on his paper probably thinking what an idiot I am, and asks me another question he pulled out of the "Hardest interview questions" website.
Status: Still waiting lol. Had 2 other interviews that day and one of them went really good.
Thats why you need a variety of jokes in your arsenal. But Im sure you did fine 👍 Here is a high brow joke you could use next time at med school interview
Dr. Smith: My son passed calculus* but he wasn't at all happy about it.
Dr. Jones: Why not?
Dr. Smith: It was the size of a pea!
Dr. Jones: Hahaha-ha.
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(at a tippy-top tier research institution, with my med student interviewer)
MS: So, you're doing preclinical research now?
Me: Yeah, it's pretty interesting I guess. I really couldn't do it forever though, I can't wait to start med school.
MS: Really? What makes you say that?
Me: [talk about how I used to think I wanted to do MD/PhD until my first post-graduate job in a Drosophila genetics lab made me want to die, etc.]
MS: Interesting. I think I forgot to mention that I'm just starting the first year of my MSTP program...
Me: [backpedal backpedal backpedal]
Weird, I'm thinking about MD/PhD in the future and I'm starting my first ever research work tomorrow on a research project involving Drosophila; i'll be feeding Drosophila and putting them to sleep and in tubes. What did you hate about your work in the Drosophila lab?
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I just found that it bored me to death. My interest in research is its application to patients, Drosophila work was so far upstream of any patient care implications that I really just didn't care that much about the stuff we were exploring. You may love it, depending on your personality and interests. For me, realizing how little I enjoyed this lab work was a wake up call that I'd be miserable doing a PhD. I'm still considering a dual degree such as a Masters in clinical research, but to be honest it seems likely that I could do the level of research I'm interested in with just a straight MD degree.
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I don't think you're being a dick. I like interviews where they try to stress me out, because I enjoy being able to show I can handle that sort of thing. The interview won't be boring in lie of that. Asking mundane questions is less entertaining. Just preference. 🙂
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Ugh. I am usually not a nervous interviewer. Last cycle my interview at Reno went GREAT. I totally bombed my interview with WWAMI though. I got myself all worked up bc it was/is my top choice, and it was the only school that my SO and I both got an interview at. I was so ridiculously nervous, I had far too many foot-in-mouth moments.Such as when the interviewer asked why my thesis research is relevant to her. I immediately spurted "it's not." 
WTF?! I mean I hated the research, but I could have said something about the research being relevant in a round-about way. I immediately started fumbling to correct myself and talked in a circle that essentially ended in "so it is relevant to the environment, and while it may not be directly relevant to you personally (she was "pretending" to be my neighbor over the fence), it is very relevant to the ecosystem, which of course effects everyone...
I wasn't surprised at my rejection. Disappointed yes, but not surprised. Hopefully I keep my foot out of my mouth this time... (hopefully I GET another interview this time!)
🙁
WTF?! I mean I hated the research, but I could have said something about the research being relevant in a round-about way. I immediately started fumbling to correct myself and talked in a circle that essentially ended in "so it is relevant to the environment, and while it may not be directly relevant to you personally (she was "pretending" to be my neighbor over the fence), it is very relevant to the ecosystem, which of course effects everyone... I wasn't surprised at my rejection. Disappointed yes, but not surprised. Hopefully I keep my foot out of my mouth this time... (hopefully I GET another interview this time!)
🙁
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At the lunch for one interview, a student told me she was asked if she collected anything. I thought it was kind of an odd question but didn't think more about it, until, of course, my interviewer later that day asked me that exact same question. Already beating myself up mentally for not having an answer ready, I stalled for awhile. After kind of saying no, that I didn't collect anything, I figured I should say SOMETHING better than that. But when I thought about what I have a lot of, the only thing I could think of - and what I ended up saying - was that I was "sort of inadvertently collecting cats..."
And that's how I ended up prematurely identifying as a crazy cat lady. Result: waitlisted.
And that's how I ended up prematurely identifying as a crazy cat lady. Result: waitlisted.
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Interviewer: So I see you like to do musical theater. That takes up a lot of time. Would you be ready to give that up for medical school?
Me: Well... I think it's important to have hobbies and I wouldn't have to give everything up...
In my head I was screaming "YES, YES, YESSSSS". Le sigh.
Me: Well... I think it's important to have hobbies and I wouldn't have to give everything up...
In my head I was screaming "YES, YES, YESSSSS". Le sigh.
meh, a completely reasonable response
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not a med school interview but i have this fear that my brutal honesty (especially of myself) will be my doom:
interviewer: what's your greatest weakness?
me: i'm probably not the smartest guy you're going to interview. (what did i just say? 😱) in fact, i'd probably say i'm somewhere in the middle of the pack. (stop talking, say something else!)
i then spouted off some nonsense about how i'm hardworking blah blah blah. :cry:
How did this turn out for you? Maybe I'm crazy, but that's strikes me as a refreshingly honest answer that shows very good self-awareness. Not everyone can be the smartest, and realizing you have to rely on your other good qualities is pretty important...
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235009
yea, this seems like the right answer in my book. would've been even better if you followed it up with examples of how you've juggled ECs with school work and excelled at both then saying that you realize med school is more challenging but you're up for it
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Interviewer: What is your weakness?
Me: I think I tend to be a bit immersive- this goes for school, research, hobbies, or whatever happens to engage me at the the time. What I think I'm in search of is finding balance between the things that consume me and what is often more important - like family.
Interviewer: Well, a little OCD is sometimes a good thing...Some people are surgeons and some people aren't. I think you're a surgeon.
Me: (Thinking he meant "searching" and not "surgeon" because of his accent) I think your right, I really am.
...Was thinking about the conversation on the drive home when what he actually said had dawned on me.
Me: I think I tend to be a bit immersive- this goes for school, research, hobbies, or whatever happens to engage me at the the time. What I think I'm in search of is finding balance between the things that consume me and what is often more important - like family.
Interviewer: Well, a little OCD is sometimes a good thing...Some people are surgeons and some people aren't. I think you're a surgeon.
Me: (Thinking he meant "searching" and not "surgeon" because of his accent) I think your right, I really am.
...Was thinking about the conversation on the drive home when what he actually said had dawned on me.
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I was interviewing with the associate dean of admissions and I actually think the interview went really well. We found out that both of our moms teach the same subject which led into a great transition to talking about academic medicine and it continued on like that...
Then she asks the traditional med school questions, like: Give an example of when you helped someone and how it affected you.
I do clinical cardiology research and had recently (very recently) lost a patient that I was particularly close to. I decide to bring this up and explain how helping his wife through this was difficult for me, learning to deal with death as a professional, etc. Then I start to cry. I started to CRY in my med school interview. She had to get up and get me a box of tissues.
Status: pending. I really hope this didn't kill my chances, I loved the school...
Then she asks the traditional med school questions, like: Give an example of when you helped someone and how it affected you.
I do clinical cardiology research and had recently (very recently) lost a patient that I was particularly close to. I decide to bring this up and explain how helping his wife through this was difficult for me, learning to deal with death as a professional, etc. Then I start to cry. I started to CRY in my med school interview. She had to get up and get me a box of tissues.
Status: pending. I really hope this didn't kill my chances, I loved the school...
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Don't feel like giving the context, but I've said "****" at two of my interviews, but I think it was done... tastefully haha.
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You got it. Hope you had a better answer than I did. And I even could've said something way better, like how I used to have a collection of foreign coins... gah. I kinda figure it couldn't be the only reason I got wait listed though, tbh.
did you get in there?
Just got accepted here a few days ago
. whew, I guess he didn't think my foot-in-mouth disease was contagious
D
deleted103644
Just got accepted here a few days ago
Or he treated Al Pacino for syphilis...
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Interviewer: I see that you had below average grades in your first year. Would you like to explain why?
Me: Sure. It was my first year of college and I didn't take my classes too seriously because I was too busy doing freshman things.
Interviewer: Like what?
Me: Like getting drunk.
Outcome: Waitlisted
Me: Sure. It was my first year of college and I didn't take my classes too seriously because I was too busy doing freshman things.
Interviewer: Like what?
Me: Like getting drunk.
Outcome: Waitlisted
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What do they expect us to say? I was doing the same thing as a freshman.
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I am really sure it's not given how many people they interview... funny how much that question is recycled.
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I think the point is to not be so candid in your reply, even if it is true that you got low grades due to excessive partying.
