Worst/Funniest Interview Experiences

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One of my favorites so far this cycle, almost mentally blocked it:

PMOD: *finishes asking final question to finish a rather quirky interview*
I: *Responds to final question* "Well, we'll get back to you in the next month or so. Thanks for coming and interviewing with us." *Stands up to shake hands*
PMOD: *Stand up, shake hand* "Thanks, Mr. Intervie... I'm sorry, Dr. Interviewer." *Mental and probably visual facepalm* "Have a wonderful winter break" *Basically bolt out of room, even left a couple papers in my haste*

So flustered.

Status: Pending
 
Interviewer: Describe genomic sequencing to a fifth grader
Me: Well, there are special molecules -
Interviewer (cuts me off): by the way, fifth graders don't know what molecules are
Me: Uh.. (and then I go on some flustered explanation using a Lego analogy, except they come in a box with instructions and the box can somehow build a tower out of the Legos by itself and how we wanted to be as smart as the box...)
 
JoshuaGuit said:
I spit while talking a few times at my last interview by accident lol, hoping neither of these impact their decision hahaha
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hahaha! I had an interview where I was so jittery that the water I drank spilled out of my mouth onto my suit! Then I said, "Oh s***!" and asked for some paper towels. so embarrassing.
I overdosed on caffeine because I was not used to east coast time. Haven't heard from them yet but honestly not expecting much.

I also had a different interview where my interviewer kept on doubting my background story. It was just the common part of the story too!
 
(The scene is one of those whole-day interview/tour experiences that start at sunrise and roll for hours without food)

(Enter the waiting room before my second interview, after a shaky first interview in which I visibly freaked my interviewer out with my fidgety, low-blood glucose demeanor)

receptionist: ...are you ok? Can I get you something, maybe coffee?
Me: Actually my blood sugar is tanking fast, coffee would be exceptional
receptionist: ok, I'll be right back!

(shortly thereafter)

interviewer: Hello! please, step into my office...

(into the office I go)

interviewer: Well, as you can tell, I'm buried in research right now and haven't had a chance to read your AMCAS packet, so start from the beginning... who are you?
Me: Well... I'm actually, uh, blah blah blah
Interviewer: well that's nice. Tell me about your volunteer experience

(knock at the door)

me: (jump up because I want to get this over with, answer door, accept coffee, thank receptionist, sit down in shame)

interviewer: ... well that's never happened before...

The interview was downhill from there, consisting of references to my coffee drinking and general shots at all the things I tried to say positively about my application. Total disaster. Waitlisted, then dumped, from my dadgum Alma Mater.
 
Hulk Smash said:
(The scene is one of those whole-day interview/tour experiences that start at sunrise and roll for hours without food)

(Enter the waiting room before my second interview, after a shaky first interview in which I visibly freaked my interviewer out with my fidgety, low-blood glucose demeanor)

receptionist: ...are you ok? Can I get you something, maybe coffee?
Me: Actually my blood sugar is tanking fast, coffee would be exceptional
receptionist: ok, I'll be right back!

(shortly thereafter)

interviewer: Hello! please, step into my office...

(into the office I go)

interviewer: Well, as you can tell, I'm buried in research right now and haven't had a chance to read your AMCAS packet, so start from the beginning... who are you?
Me: Well... I'm actually, uh, blah blah blah
Interviewer: well that's nice. Tell me about your volunteer experience

(knock at the door)

me: (jump up because I want to get this over with, answer door, accept coffee, thank receptionist, sit down in shame)

interviewer: ... well that's never happened before...

The interview was downhill from there, consisting of references to my coffee drinking and general shots at all the things I tried to say positively about my application. Total disaster. Waitlisted, then dumped, from my dadgum Alma Mater.
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Lol....the receptionist probably gave you some crazy eyes when you said that. Gotta make sure you eat before those interviews!
 
Geebeejay said:
Lol....the receptionist probably gave you some crazy eyes when you said that. Gotta make sure you eat before those interviews!
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I can totally relate to this though. I have made sure to eat before interviews, but sometimes my blood sugar has been scary low by the time I get to lunch...
 
first medical school interview.... ever... so unprepared

and I could have crushed that interview so easily, one of those experiences God gives you to assure you do it differently next time
 
Lol- my one and only interview, first one went well, second one, I made the following mistakes which led me to be nervous!

One lady asked me to follow her to the next interview, as I'm approaching her one guy before her reaches out his hand and introduces himself, this throws me off guard as he was my interviewer and didn't see it coming.

Dr "Hello, I'm Dr.X"

Me: "Hi! I'm Dr. Na... wait a minute... I'm not a doctor!! Sorry I'm a bit nervous, But I want to be a doctor if that counts!"

Dr. *Weird smirk...*

Me- *Sh** I'm screwed*

This happened later in the interview:

Dr. "So are you interested in pursuing research at Hofstra?"

Me "Absolutely! I've read a lot of good things about Feinberg research"

Dr- "It's actually Feinstein" *Weird smile*

Me- "Whoops!"

I feel like I'm screwed, my only interview and I came off as ******ed lol
 
DrTurf said:
Interviewer: "A patient recently informed me that she has to reach down and physically hold her vagina to keep her uterus from falling out every time she has a bowel movement."

Me: "Wow! That would suck! I don't want to get old!"

Accepted three weeks later! :laugh:
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just thinking about this makes my vagina hurt
 
I have one!

Interviewer: So, tell me. What are three words that your roommate would use to describe you?

Me: Well, my roommate actually isn't very pleased with me right now considering I pulled a huge prank on him involving 50 hotwheels cars hidden inside his room and closet... But it was well planned out. Each car is elaborately placed. And he loves hotwheels! So... um... Yeah!

Interviewer: So... great sense of humor? (jokingly)

Me: Yeah, that's a nice way to put it! Or just plain irritating (jokingly) 🙄

I proceeded to actually answer the question seriously afterward

Result: Accepted :soexcited:
 
idanny said:
Interviewing at an osteopathic medical school...

Interviewer: so how many schools have you applied to?
Me: about 13 MD and 12 DO schools [why was I so specific?! 🙁 ]
Interviewer: so, you really don't care where you go huh?
Me: [panics] well ummm... I do, Its just that... most CA schools are MD programs and [he cuts me off]
Interviewer: but you said earlier that you want to leave CA!
Me: well... my parents don't want me to leave CA... [voice trails off]
Interviewer: so just to appease your parents then. [next question]

🙁 That was my first interview of this cycle, hopefully I will be better prepared next time 🙁

Result: This still haunts me in my sleep... results posted when I find out :'(
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Only one school asked me this question.

Interviewer: Did you apply to other medical school programs?
Me: Yes.
Interviewer: Did you interview at these programs?
Me: Yes.

I don't like this question. I don't see why it's any of their business. To this question and this question only I am extremely vague, but honest. I never elaborate. It's none of your darned business what other schools I applied to. Med schools know darned well I am not putting all my eggs in one basket!

Is it fair for me to ask: Is your school interviewing other applicants?

*grumpy*


KineticChaos said:
Interview was with dean of admissions - he had been at that school for 30+ years and throughout the interview day kept up-selling the city and the benefits of living there (the city has kind of a bad reputation for crime, violence, etc.)

about 35 minutes into what should have been an hour interview:
I: so why did you apply to X SOM?
Me: rehearsed answer
I: And have you had a chance to explore our fine city?
Me: Well I flew in last night and I'm headed to the airport right after this interview...
I: offended look
Me: Oh **** I just told him I didn't care enough to see the city... ummm because I need to be back in lab tomorrow morning because... he cuts me off
I: Well I don't want to keep you waiting for your flight. He stands up and walks to the door. I'll pass your application over to the admissions committee
Me: panicking and desperately trying to save myself Oh last night I saw the __ (famous monument) from the taxi on my way to the hotel
I: That's nice. Good luck to you this application cycle.

RESULT: waitlisted
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1. I never stay at the city more than one night. I do not have that kind of finances in my pocket, and I don't have a method to travel.
2. That was really rude! You flew XYZ to get to this interview, and he just blew you off?

Don't blame yourself for this one. Even if I got accepted to that medical school, I'd be upset with the admissions committee. I wouldn't want to be treated like that for 4 years, would you?
 
Dean of Admissions: so tell me something interesting about yourself.
Me: well I really love Japanese culture so I've been reading about 30 chapters of manga a day ( WHY WHY would I say that, made me sound like a total greasy nerd )
Dean: 30 a day!! I think your school may have gone too easy on you
Me: awkward laugh
Dean: yea you won't have time for that in medical school

I don't think there is any way he doesn't remember this. My interviews themselves were alright but this one moment has haunted me for a while.
 
So I didn't find out my interviewers' identities in advance.

Interviewer: So, where do you see yourself in ten years?

Me: Well hopefully I'd have completed my family medicine residency and will be practicing....[etc. about how I want to work with underserved communities]

Interviewer: So you have a lot of experience with kids on your CV. Why don't you want to be a pediatrician?

Me (jokingly): I love kids too much to be a pediatrician.

Interviewer: [Awkward pause]

I looked at her nameplate just then and noticed it said "Dr. Interviewer: Director of Pediatrics".

Epic fail.

Result: Pending. Probably not good, unfortunately. Too bad because I loved the school, but man was that interview ever awkward!
 
Nahnia said:
Dean of Admissions: so tell me something interesting about yourself.
Me: well I really love Japanese culture so I've been reading about 30 chapters of manga a day ( WHY WHY would I say that, made me sound like a total greasy nerd )
Dean: 30 a day!! I think your school may have gone too easy on you
Me: awkward laugh
Dean: yea you won't have time for that in medical school

I don't think there is any way he doesn't remember this. My interviews themselves were alright but this one moment has haunted me for a while.
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LOL :naughty:
 
DrTurf said:
Interviewer: "A patient recently informed me that she has to reach down and physically hold her vagina to keep her uterus from falling out every time she has a bowel movement."

Me: "Wow! That would suck! I don't want to get old!"

Accepted three weeks later! :laugh:
Click to expand...

Wow, I'm so afraid of that clinical rotation.
 
Interviewer: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Me: Blah blah blah basically in a smaller/medium sized city or far out in the 'burbs. (What can I say, I want to have a nice yard, and space to go cycling.)

Interviewer: So how will you be happy here?

....It was a Chicago school.
 
KinesiologyNerd said:
Interviewer: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Me: Blah blah blah basically in a smaller/medium sized city or far out in the 'burbs. (What can I say, I want to have a nice yard, and space to go cycling.)

Interviewer: So how will you be happy here?

....It was a Chicago school.
Click to expand...

What does spending four years at a school to get an education have to do with your living arrangements another six years afterward?
 
KineticChaos said:
Interview was with dean of admissions - he had been at that school for 30+ years and throughout the interview day kept up-selling the city and the benefits of living there (the city has kind of a bad reputation for crime, violence, etc.)

about 35 minutes into what should have been an hour interview:
I: so why did you apply to X SOM?
Me: rehearsed answer
I: And have you had a chance to explore our fine city?
Me: Well I flew in last night and I'm headed to the airport right after this interview...
I: offended look
Me: Oh **** I just told him I didn't care enough to see the city... ummm because I need to be back in lab tomorrow morning because... he cuts me off
I: Well I don't want to keep you waiting for your flight. He stands up and walks to the door. I'll pass your application over to the admissions committee
Me: panicking and desperately trying to save myself Oh last night I saw the __ (famous monument) from the taxi on my way to the hotel
I: That's nice. Good luck to you this application cycle.

RESULT: waitlisted
Click to expand...

eatdrinkplay10s said:
Oh man. Was this by any chance at SLU?
Click to expand...

Oh my god. I had the exact same thought when looking at this. That same conversation happened to me with probably the same interviewer.

EDIT: Upon reading it again, we definitely did not have the same interviewer, but the conversation was creepily similar.
 
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Interviewer: Kobe or Lebron?
Me: uh... Lebron😕


Outcome: Waitlisted 🙁
 
He's just mad the LakeShow ain't going to the playoffs 😛
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by KineticChaos
Interview was with dean of admissions - he had been at that school for 30+ years and throughout the interview day kept up-selling the city and the benefits of living there (the city has kind of a bad reputation for crime, violence, etc.)

about 35 minutes into what should have been an hour interview:
I: so why did you apply to X SOM?
Me: rehearsed answer
I: And have you had a chance to explore our fine city?
Me: Well I flew in last night and I'm headed to the airport right after this interview...
I: offended look
Me: Oh **** I just told him I didn't care enough to see the city... ummm because I need to be back in lab tomorrow morning because... he cuts me off
I: Well I don't want to keep you waiting for your flight. He stands up and walks to the door. I'll pass your application over to the admissions committee
Me: panicking and desperately trying to save myself Oh last night I saw the __ (famous monument) from the taxi on my way to the hotel
I: That's nice. Good luck to you this application cycle.

RESULT: waitlisted
================================

Quote:
Originally Posted by eatdrinkplay10s
Oh man. Was this by any chance at SLU?

================================
Oh my god. I had the exact same thought when looking at this. That same conversation happened to me with probably the same interviewer.
Click to expand...


This does sound like SLU. They seem to really want to know if you like St. Louis. I guess they're trying to protect their yield. Luckily, I got to St. Louis early enough the day before my interview so that I could check out the Arch and the city. BTW, the arch looks pretty awesome at night and there's a pretty cool Downtown area as well.
 
first interview ever...

interviewer: walks in and introduces himself as 'first name/last name'
me: 'nice to meet you DOCTOR last name...'
interviewer: 'actually, i'm a JD and a state prosecuting attorney, so no need to call me doctor'
me: 'oh ****' (fortunately not out loud)

turned out to be the nicest guy ever. but honestly, a state prosecuting attorney? talk about intimidating.
 
The interview was just when I had quit psychology last summer-holiday and were looking for a job (I planned to have a job while I improved my grades for one year).

I'm usually horrible at interviews and really nervous. In addition I have such a hard time answering a lot of the questions because I find them so utterly stupid and irrelevant. I mean you hand in lots of references, a detailed CV and an application for a job of for example filing papers and some dude sits there and asks you what you think your friends think about you. Madness! Anyway, that was just some rant, on with the story.

So the thing was I had applied for this assistant-position at the local school through a temp-agency. But a day or two before the interview I received some more detailed information by e-mail and figured out that it actually was not a fixed time on the position I was applying for, it was "we call you if and when somebody is sick". Now that would not work for me since I needed a steady income obviously. But I thought that something is better than nothing so I'm still going to go to the interview. Since I did not really want the job that bad I thought that for once I might try to relax and not be a nervous-wreck at the interview. I might try to just be honest, and maybe it will actually go better. And if not, the job was not really that good anyways. Sounds like a good plan right? - Well, no.

It might have been a good plan for an extrovert who actually says smart things other extroverts like to hear when he/she speaks right off the top of his or her mind but it certainly was not a good plan for me. I got to the interview and everything was pretty standard. After stating my name and telling her some facts she asked about even though they were in the CV she already had, and I believe answering what my top qualities were she asked me what my friends thought of me. I did not tell her I only have one, but I said that she really had to ask them. Might not have been the best idea, but it actually went sort of well. Meaning she just moved on without looking neither shocked or surprised. But then she asked me to what my dream job was.

I told her the truth, that I planned on starting to study medicine in exactly one year and that I would really love to specialize in and work as a pathologist. I then went on to say that it was perfect for me because most of the time they work alone and have fairly set hours as compared to most doctors as they primary deal with tissue-samples and corpses. At this point I actually were a little excited so without a break I went on to say that I am really interested in the human body and that I have never had a problem with the grotesque, more of an interest in it. I finished by saying something a long the lines of "and as a pathologists all my patients are quiet and compliant, which is just the way I like it".

She looked quite shocked and said "WOW, I have asked A LOT of people that question and I have NEVER heard that answer before! And you think you are suited to work with children in a school? Hmmm, right, hmmm. I think I have everything I need. You will hear from us". So she finished the interview right there, and needless to say I never heard from her again :laugh:
 
psychegots said:
At this point I actually were a little excited so without a break I went on to say that I am really interested in the human body and that I have never had a problem with the grotesque, more of an interest in it. I finished by saying something a long the lines of "and as a pathologists all my patients are quiet and compliant, which is just the way I like it".
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seriously dude? what a creep. i wouldn't call you back either.

and aren't MEDICAL SCHOOL interviews supposed to be the real fodder for this thread???
 
psychegots said:
I told her the truth, that I planned on starting to study medicine in exactly one year and that I would really love to specialize in and work as a pathologist. I then went on to say that it was perfect for me because most of the time they work alone and have fairly set hours as compared to most doctors as they primary deal with tissue-samples and corpses. At this point I actually were a little excited so without a break I went on to say that I am really interested in the human body and that I have never had a problem with the grotesque, more of an interest in it. I finished by saying something a long the lines of "and as a pathologists all my patients are quiet and compliant, which is just the way I like it".

She looked quite shocked and said "WOW, I have asked A LOT of people that question and I have NEVER heard that answer before! And you think you are suited to work with children in a school? Hmmm, right, hmmm. I think I have everything I need. You will hear from us". So she finished the interview right there, and needless to say I never heard from her again :laugh:
Click to expand...

:laugh: I've been talking about how I want to go into pathology at all of my interviews and I gotta say, I actively fear that my filter will let that one slip one day.
 
mujaman said:
seriously dude? what a creep. i wouldn't call you back either.

and aren't MEDICAL SCHOOL interviews supposed to be the real fodder for this thread???
Click to expand...

Haha I obvioulst did not mean it like that, just that I prefer to work in silence as oppose to work in psychology with people talking none-stop :laugh: Nothing perverted!

Other people submitted some none medical school interviews as well and this was very related.
 
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Interviewer: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Me: ...hopefully alive...and I really hope my cat's still alive too...I love her...

Interviewer: ...anything else?

Me: Oh ya, well, I mean I hope I'm a practicing physician too...

I'm a young female and didn't want to say anything about marriage or kids and that's what I came up with... *facepalm*
 
Student interviewer: So what would you do if one of your patient's asked you on a date?

Me: Well if I'm a pediatrician I'd definitely say no!! Hahahah!

Student interviewer: *awkward smirk* ....and anything else?

Me: Uh, I would say no. To all of them. All of my patients. Even if I'm not a peds doc.
 
DrBarbie08 said:
Student interviewer: So what would you do if one of your patient's asked you on a date?

Me: Well if I'm a pediatrician I'd definitely say no!! Hahahah!

Student interviewer: *awkward smirk* ....and anything else?

Me: Uh, I would say no. To all of them. All of my patients. Even if I'm not a peds doc.
Click to expand...

That joke was in poor taste.
 
I just remembered an awful answer I gave at an interview. It was my very first interview at a school that I wasn't really interested in, so I wasn't too beat up about it... but I was very embarrassed!

We were talking about general surgeons for a good 10 minutes then right in the middle of it, she says:
Interviewer: If you were to become Surgeon General tomorrow, what is the first thing you would do?
Me: (Thinking she said general surgeon.. not surgeon general) ...*pause*... I guess I would work on my bedside manner? There are a lot of surgeons that I've encountered who have a pretty awful bedside manner, which is important to... blah blah blah (then I elaborated).

She gave me a puzzled look then moved on. I didn't even catch this mistake until I walked out the door. I really thought she said general surgeon and I thought that was such a bizarre question to ask. :smack: 🙄
 
My interviewer asked me "why did you choose your undergraduate school"

I immediately answered "because it was the highest ranked school I got into"

Idk if its a horrible answer, was truthful, but I should have stated/masked it better.

Oh also I forgot what the context was but I said the words "back acne" ...it had something to do with people running the doctor for little things or something but I did get into the school lol
 
MeGoodManIThink said:
My interviewer asked me "why did you choose your undergraduate school"

I immediately answered "because it was the highest ranked school I got into"

Idk if its a horrible answer, was truthful, but I should have stated/masked it better.

Oh also I forgot what the context was but I said the words "back acne" ...it had something to do with people running the doctor for little things or something but I did get into the school lol
Click to expand...

Brownie points for honesty, I guess?
 
What are your thought on euthanasia?

"I think they are probably a lot like the youth over here"
 
ostrich love said:
What are your thought on euthanasia?

"I think they are probably a lot like the youth over here"
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tumblr_ma3m55jkmr1qbw77k.gif




such a corny joke! 😛
 
lnphan said:
She also asked me what books I read, and I told her I read fantasy novels, like the Dresden Files. Then I proceeded to talk about how Dresden is an awesome wizard detective.
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Who rode a zombie T-rex into battle that one time. I love that series. 🙂
 
At the end of a one-on-one interview a 4th year student says to me, "Tell me a joke." I proceed to tell this joke:

So a prostitute goes to the doctor because she hasn't been feeling well for a couple of weeks.
The doctor says, "OK ma'am, we are going to do some standard tests so I will need blood, urine, and fecal samples."
The prostitute takes off her panties and gives them to the doctor.

Result: accepted
 
NickRiviera MD said:
At the end of a one-on-one interview a 4th year student says to me, "Tell me a joke." I proceed to tell this joke:

So a prostitute goes to the doctor because she hasn't been feeling well for a couple of weeks.
The doctor says, "OK ma'am, we are going to do some standard tests so I will need blood, urine, and fecal samples."
The prostitute takes off her panties and gives them to the doctor.

Result: accepted
Click to expand...

lol
 
At my last interview so you would think I would be better...

Interviewer: "So you are interested in primary care or serving underserved communities?"

Me: You mean like family medicine? Because I don't want to do that.

Interviewer: "well I don't blame you I'm not in primary care but I saw you checked the box on the application" (that asks if you are interested in primary/underserved)

Me: Yea. I think I am more interested in Emergency medicine because of xxx... and I am also interested in ob/gyn because I like that ob/gyn gets to do surgery but also have clinic and deliver babies blah blah"

Dunno why I said that at all. I have a good (and honest) answer about service in underserved communities based on multi-year healthcare work experience in underserved communities and I am interested in primary care as in ob/gyn or IM just not FP...

result: waitlisted
 
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