Worst/Funniest Interview Experiences

[Conflagration]

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Edited for spelling.

Alternatively, you find something off about those two sentences and I am comically missing the point.

I think his incredulous response is because of how idealistic your statements are- and that you don't see how swearing (whether you agree with how they are empowered or not) could offend someone's sensibilities.

I'm hoping to interview next year, and I'm terrified of how I'm going to respond to some questions. I have a really dark sense of humor, and I'm worried I'm going to look like a jackass.

 

[Rogert]

I think his incredulous response is because of how idealistic your statements are- and that you don't see how swearing (whether you agree with how they are empowered or not) could offend someone's sensibilities.

I'm hoping to interview next year, and I'm terrified of how I'm going to respond to some questions. I have a really dark sense of humor, and I'm worried I'm going to look like a jackass.

I know it offends some people. I actually choose not to use some words due to negative emotional conditioning. I'm just pointing out that it's absurd to reject an applicant based solely on swearing.

 

[Sandmeezy]

Dude, just create a thread about naughty words. I miss the stories.

 

[cactus8910]

I know it offends some people. I actually choose not to use some words due to negative emotional conditioning. I'm just pointing out that it's absurd to reject an applicant based solely on swearing.

While I have no problem with swearing in my day to day life, I think choosing to swear in an interview indicates a lack of professionalism. If someone swears in an interview, it seems likely they'd swear in front of patients too, and that could undermine the patients' trust in their physician. Rejecting an applicant based *solely* on swearing may be a bit extreme, but why would an applicant who can't recognize when it is and is not appropriate to swear be chosen over someone who can?

 

[Rogert]

While I have no problem with swearing in my day to day life, I think choosing to swear in an interview indicates a lack of professionalism. If someone swears in an interview, it seems likely they'd swear in front of patients too, and that could undermine the patients' trust in their physician. Rejecting an applicant based *solely* on swearing may be a bit extreme, but why would an applicant who can't recognize when it is and is not appropriate to swear be chosen over someone who can?

Swearing is not a concept foreign to patients. Nor is it foreign to doctors. And, in my experience, its not foreign for doctors to swear infront of/with patients. It builds trust, not undermines it. The video sat0ri posted calls it idiomatic swearing.

 

[breakintheroof]

Swearing is not a concept foreign to patients. Nor is it foreign to doctors. And, in my experience, its not foreign for doctors to swear infront of/with patients. It builds trust, not undermines it. The video sat0ri posted calls it idiomatic swearing.

I am sure most agree that, in the context of an appropriate relationship, some doctors can swear in front of some patients. I think others are saying that it is very unlikely that an interviewee who chooses to swear in front of their interviewer will be making an appropriate, informed choice based on the context of the situation.

To try to get this excellent thread back on track, I submit a story from @nemo123 about swearing.

While sitting in the waiting area, one of the applicants and I were talking about random life things, and I swore midway (twice) through our conversation. Little did I know, the director of admissions was standing right behind us and listening to our conversation...

Her result: Accepted.

 

[FFH]

I am sure most agree that, in the context of an appropriate relationship, some doctors can swear in front of some patients. I think others are saying that it is very unlikely that an interviewee who chooses to swear in front of their interviewer will be making an appropriate, informed choice based on the context of the situation.

To try to get this excellent thread back on track, I submit a story from @nemo123 about swearing.

Her result: Accepted.

Let me pick it up from here:

After a great first half of the interview during which I have some solid answers and had really positive response from the interviewer (who was the new dean of admission)

Interviewer: "so what makes you choose our school?"

Me "I like the students a lot, there must be something your office you did to create such a harmonious class, I love how there were xx pairs of couples among the M3 and yy pairs among M2 and zz among M1! So amazing!

Interviewer: "oh really, I don't know that. Do I want to know that? How do you know that?"

Me: (already start to panic): I heard it from the med students with whom I went out drinking with last night.

Interviewer (raised her eyebrow): oh you did?

Me (start to cursing heavily internally and feel like I should be burnt in hell):........just a little beer, like 30cc...

For the next month: Felt like dying inside. It's one of my dream schools.

Results: accepted! By a phone call from the dean!

 

[Conflagration]

This isn't an interview, but a tour- and a story I shared in pre-DO. I can share it here too, I guess.

So my undergrad has a medical school. I was a bored sophomore, and I had some time to kill, so I drove to the campus to look around for myself.

After a good amount of curiously poking around, I saw the offices of the admissions staff. I walked up to the secretary, commented how nice the building was, and she told me that she was getting another girl that was going to come in for a tour, and I was welcome to join them. I thanked her and waited by her office. We see this rather lanky high school senior girl with sharper features saunter over to us self-assuredly, and her short and stout mother plodded behind her, carrying all of her things. She tells us that she's here because "there isn't a medical school in Pennsylvania" ( ) and she wanted to check out a medical school in person.

It was a rather informative tour, and one of the last things on the tour trail was the anatomy lab. At the mention of this, the girl commands her mother to give her some Vick's vapor rub, and starts rubbing it under her nose vigorously. I roll my eyes and look at the guide- who, if I had to guess, felt like I did. The room itself was large, and well-ventilated. The formaldehyde smell was quaint, but still hung in the room.

I then made the mistake of trying to talk with this girl:

Me: You know, I'm handling this better than I thought I would. I mean, being in a room full of cadavers.
Her: THOSE BAGS ARE DEAD PEOPLE?!
Guide: Well, yes, and there's 28 of them-

This girl is off like a shot, actively retching as she runs to a restroom. Her mother exclaims "Poor dear!" repeatedly, and the guide and I are just so incredulous about the whole thing that we couldn't manage to say words to each other.

 

[Lucca]

This isn't an interview, but a tour- and a story I shared in pre-DO. I can share it here too, I guess.

So my undergrad has a medical school. I was a bored sophomore, and I had some time to kill, so I drove to the campus to look around for myself.

After a good amount of curiously poking around, I saw the offices of the admissions staff. I walked up to the secretary, commented how nice the building was, and she told me that she was getting another girl that was going to come in for a tour, and I was welcome to join them. I thanked her and waited by her office. We see this rather lanky high school senior girl with sharper features saunter over to us self-assuredly, and her short and stout mother plodded behind her, carrying all of her things. She tells us that she's here because "there isn't a medical school in Pennsylvania" ( ) and she wanted to check out a medical school in person.

It was a rather informative tour, and one of the last things on the tour trail was the anatomy lab. At the mention of this, the girl commands her mother to give her some Vick's vapor rub, and starts rubbing it under her nose vigorously. I roll my eyes and look at the guide- who, if I had to guess, felt like I did. The room itself was large, and well-ventilated. The formaldehyde smell was quaint, but still hung in the room.

I then made the mistake of trying to talk with this girl:

Me: You know, I'm handling this better than I thought I would. I mean, being in a room full of cadavers.
Her: THOSE BAGS ARE DEAD PEOPLE?!
Guide: Well, yes, and there's 28 of them-

This girl is off like a shot, actively retching as she runs to a restroom. Her mother exclaims "Poor dear!" repeatedly, and the guide and I are just so incredulous about the whole thing that we couldn't manage to say words to each other.

Omg this is hilarious. I have no words for this.

 

[Conflagration]

Omg this is hilarious. I have no words for this.

What killed me about the whole situation was that, she acted like a super smart-aleck the whole time up until that point. I was floored when she was running while retching. I honestly thought she knew.

 

[Dr Van Helsing]

This isn't an interview, but a tour- and a story I shared in pre-DO. I can share it here too, I guess.

So my undergrad has a medical school. I was a bored sophomore, and I had some time to kill, so I drove to the campus to look around for myself.

After a good amount of curiously poking around, I saw the offices of the admissions staff. I walked up to the secretary, commented how nice the building was, and she told me that she was getting another girl that was going to come in for a tour, and I was welcome to join them. I thanked her and waited by her office. We see this rather lanky high school senior girl with sharper features saunter over to us self-assuredly, and her short and stout mother plodded behind her, carrying all of her things. She tells us that she's here because "there isn't a medical school in Pennsylvania" ( ) and she wanted to check out a medical school in person.

It was a rather informative tour, and one of the last things on the tour trail was the anatomy lab. At the mention of this, the girl commands her mother to give her some Vick's vapor rub, and starts rubbing it under her nose vigorously. I roll my eyes and look at the guide- who, if I had to guess, felt like I did. The room itself was large, and well-ventilated. The formaldehyde smell was quaint, but still hung in the room.

I then made the mistake of trying to talk with this girl:

Me: You know, I'm handling this better than I thought I would. I mean, being in a room full of cadavers.
Her: THOSE BAGS ARE DEAD PEOPLE?!
Guide: Well, yes, and there's 28 of them-

This girl is off like a shot, actively retching as she runs to a restroom. Her mother exclaims "Poor dear!" repeatedly, and the guide and I are just so incredulous about the whole thing that we couldn't manage to say words to each other.

If that is true, LOL.

 

[Conflagration]

If that is true, LOL.

I couldn't make that up if I tried.

 

[Dr Van Helsing]

I'll share a short story about myself,which I am not proud of.

About four months ago I had a moving-out party. After about four hours of excessive drinking, I spotted a cutie. I don't remember her name, but she had blonde hair, tan skin, big breasts, she was stunning. I walked over to where she was sitting and we started flirting a bit. In my drunken stupor, I thought it appropriate to ask her to make out. She politely responded, "I don't make out with people I don't know." Persistently, I assured her that I was a good guy, no, I was the guy. Again, she told me that she doesn't know me well enough. (Once again, keep in mind I am really drunk when you read my next plead to her.) I am on the last straw here, I was trying to think of anything that could convince her, so I implore her in a self-important voice, "You know.. I'm going to be a doctor someday."
Right after I said this to her, I realized about 5 of my friends were eve's dropping in and they rightfully called me out on being a douche.

Needless to say, I didn't get laid by her that night.
This was easily a top 5 dorkiest/douchiest/regrettable moments of my youth.

 

[Whatsinthebox]

Not too bad but I thought it was funny. Me and an interviewer had been talking about important inventions.

Interviewer: Is there anything recently created that you feel we might be better without?
Me: (I could think of absolutely nothing so I half jokingly said) Twitter
Interviewer: Oh, I invested in that.
Me: 0_0
I explained my answer pretty well and was accepted.

 

[Doug Underhill]

It turns out that capitation is not, in fact, a fracture of the capitate bone.


They didn't think it was humerus.

Also, joint replacement is not the standard of care for a patient who is psychologically dependent on cannabis.

 

[FFH]

Most of my interview proceedings were really normal and smooth. However at this one school, things are very different with really random interludes that were so random it's unreal. One of such interludes:

It was part of the conversation about my plan for the future.

Me: ....over 10million pap smear was done on women who have their cervix removed...
Interviewer (Male attending): where do you read this?
Me: ugh...a book written by xxx
Interviewer: you've got to be very careful about some of these claims.

Before I could find something to say the interviewer pulled out his phone and started to dial numbers.

Me: @_@

The interviewer put up a finger to signal me to keep quiet while waiting for the other party to pick up

Me:#_# (sitting there among the deafening silence and suffocating awkwardness)

It went into voice mail. The interviewer left a voice mail something like it's urgent, need a call back ASAP

Interviewer: I am calling my daughter. She's a gynecologist and she would have something to say about this. She knows everything.
Me:*_*
Then I don't remember what I mumbled afterwards. Then the interview soon ended.
I went to the bathroom and when I came back to the admission office, people are asking me if I lost my phone. And they told me to go get my phone from my interviewer who has been looking for me everywhere wanting to give me a phone...

Me: ?_?

I ran into him at the waiting area.
The interviewer: My daughter just texted back.
He enthusiastically showed me the phone. It said something like if a women only have her endometrial part of something something (can't remember whether it was cervix or ovary) removed she could still get cervical cancer so Pap smear would still be needed.

I don't really remember how I ended all this.


Result: Accepted

 

[cactus8910]

I'm applying MD and DO next cycle but I interviewed at a naturopathic medical school this past month. I attended a class on homeopathy before my interview and when they asked if I had any questions for them I said "Actually yes. I can understand that some of the treatment methods you endorse are criticized because they haven't been proven through clinical trials and I can deal with that and work to get clinical acceptance for these practices. However, after researching homeopathy, I can't see how you can possibly endorse it as a form of medicine. If you call it medicine, I want you to explain a biochemical pathway that is affected by a homeopathic medication".

they responded with blank stares and said "it work's off the energetics of the formula".

Somehow I was accepted.

What on earth were you doing interviewing at a naturopathic school, especially if you know it's BS?

 

[rugger4]

My interviewee happened to be the chaplain at the medical school and asked me about my research experience.

Me: I worked in a drug discovery lab for new chemotherapy treatments... bunch of yadda yadda about the specifics.

Interviewer: Interesting.... did you do much of your drug discovery inside the lab or on your own time?

Me: 😵 ... excuse me

Interviewer: yeah I know all about you college students and your "drug discoveries"

Me: (WTF he cannot be asking me stuff like this) hahha no I'm afraid I did not partake on that side of things

Interviewer: But you were in a fraternity so I'm sure you knew how to find it

Me: constant babbling with nervous laughter

Interviewer: long stare..... eventually started laughing

Still waiting on my decision.....

 

[Goro]

And if you called them on that one, they would have responded with something about quantum physics!

I'm applying MD and DO next cycle but I interviewed at a naturopathic medical school this past month. I attended a class on homeopathy before my interview and when they asked if I had any questions for them I said "Actually yes. I can understand that some of the treatment methods you endorse are criticized because they haven't been proven through clinical trials and I can deal with that and work to get clinical acceptance for these practices. However, after researching homeopathy, I can't see how you can possibly endorse it as a form of medicine. If you call it medicine, I want you to explain a biochemical pathway that is affected by a homeopathic medication".

they responded with blank stares and said "it work's off the energetics of the formula".

Somehow I was accepted.

 

[PreciousHamburgers]

I'm applying MD and DO next cycle but I interviewed at a naturopathic medical school this past month. I attended a class on homeopathy before my interview and when they asked if I had any questions for them I said "Actually yes. I can understand that some of the treatment methods you endorse are criticized because they haven't been proven through clinical trials and I can deal with that and work to get clinical acceptance for these practices. However, after researching homeopathy, I can't see how you can possibly endorse it as a form of medicine. If you call it medicine, I want you to explain a biochemical pathway that is affected by a homeopathic medication".

they responded with blank stares and said "it work's off the energetics of the formula".

Somehow I was accepted.

They hold interviews? I figured there would just be a place to sign up at the mall.

 

[tea guzzling traveler]

Bump (this glorious thread is probably one of my new favorites, and definitely deserves to be on the front page)
Also, I read through it all this weekend, chalked it up to interview prep. I laughed out loud many times.

 

[Funke]

.

 

[jqueb29]

They hold interviews? I figured there would just be a place to sign up at the mall.

I didn't even realize until now that naturopathic medical schools were actually a real thing. I thought you just read a couple blogs by crazy moms, do a little bit of research on Yahoo Answers, and then make sure to watch Dr. Oz consistently to keep your credentials up to date.

 

[hueso]

Interviewer: What is something that you think you might find difficult about med school?
Me: ::tells way too detailed a story about when I was shadowing and I almost fainted observing a circumcision when the doc said that it was important to cut off all the "niblets" or else they would turn black and fall off in a week::...So yeah, I think i might be squeamish about some stuff.
Interviewer: Gotcha. Well. Vomit still makes me gag, so don't worry too much.

 

[taina]

interviewer: if you could change something about this school, what would it be
me: lower stats so i had a better chance

 

[WinslowPringle]

[Just had long, detailed discussion of my future career plans, of which the interviewer apparently didn't approve...]
Interviewer: So.....you have no goals in life.
Me (Confused): No.....?
Interviewer: Let's move on. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Me: Being outdoors, hiking, camping...
Interviewer: Well, you won't have time to do that here.

 

[ridethecliche]

[Just had long, detailed discussion of my future career plans, of which the interviewer apparently didn't approve...]
Interviewer: So.....you have no goals in life.
Me (Confused): No.....?
Interviewer: Let's move on. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Me: Being outdoors, hiking, camping...
Interviewer: Well, you won't have time to do that here.

Response: You must be great at parties.

 

[Crito]

"niblets"

 

[hueso]

"niblets"

I can feel myself getting lightheaded again

 

[samac]

My interviewer asked me what my hardest class was.
I'm 90% sure I responded with "My organic chemistry crap...."
Still waiting to hear back from that school, but at least I was accepted somewhere!

 

[RedPhys]

Interviewer: So, would you say you are an organized person?
Me: ...uh... yeah. I use, um, binders. You know, with the dividers? They keep papers organized.
Interviewer: [blank stare] ... How about time management? Would you say you're good at managing your time?
Me: Well, yeah. If I need to get something done, I get it done, you know?
Interviewer: [blank stare] ...I mean, do you use an agenda or...?
Me: I make lists.
Interviewer: Oh, I hate lists. Our school has an online interactive calendar to keep track of your activities.
Me: [scrambling] I use a calendar as well! You know, where you draw an X after the day is over!!

 

[Ace Khalifa]

Interviewer: So, would you say you are an organized person?
Me: ...uh... yeah. I use, um, binders. You know, with the dividers? They keep papers organized.
Interviewer: [blank stare] ... How about time management? Would you say you're good at managing your time?
Me: Well, yeah. If I need to get something done, I get it done, you know?
Interviewer: [blank stare] ...I mean, do you use an agenda or...?
Me: I make lists.
Interviewer: Oh, I hate lists. Our school has an online interactive calendar to keep track of your activities.
Me: [scrambling] I use a calendar as well! You know, where you draw an X after the day is over!!

You couldn't BS better answers than that?

 

[CardiacLion]

This was at an interview I attended (it was a group interview), it was someone else who answered and I honestly (no joke) started cracking up before she was done.

• Interviewer: Tell us something about yourself that not even your closest friends would know about you?

• Applicant: *she's nervous as hell, and you can tell she is not at all a good interviewer* "Well.... ummmm..... *she's frantically scrambling for answer at this point* most people don't know that I have two personalities, most of my friends don't know that I'm a Barbie inside, and am a super perfectionist, I do have a split personality and I think it works well especially with patients I shadowed"

I honestly lost it, and could not stop laughing, I felt so bad at the end of the interview, because she seemed like a sweet girl, but the interviewers reaction in the room was f*ing priceless.

Don't know how it turned out for her lol.

 

[mehc012]

You couldn't BS better answers than that?

Probably they could, but the decent answers don't qualify for entry in the 'Worst Interview Answers' thread

 

[Ace Khalifa]

This was at an interview I attended (it was a group interview), it was someone else who answered and I honestly (no joke) started cracking up before she was done.

• Interviewer: Tell us something about yourself that not even your closest friends would know about you?

• Applicant: *she's nervous as hell, and you can tell she is not at all a good interviewer* "Well.... ummmm..... *she's frantically scrambling for answer at this point* most people don't know that I have two personalities, most of my friends don't know that I'm a Barbie inside, and am a super perfectionist, I do have a split personality and I think it works well especially with patients I shadowed"

I honestly lost it, and could not stop laughing, I felt so bad at the end of the interview, because she seemed like a sweet girl, but the interviewers reaction in the room was f*ing priceless.

Don't know how it turned out for her lol.

You could have lost points too for laughing at the other candidate...that's not entirely professional.

 

[CardiacLion]

You could have lost points too for laughing at the other candidate...that's not entirely professional.

Yeah I 100% knew that from the start, and everyone else who commenced to laugh as well probably did also, but it was hilarious. Didn't end up wanting to go that school anyways, so no harm no foul.

 

[RedPhys]

You couldn't BS better answers than that?

To be honest, I had no idea what to say regarding organization and time management. You just do it, yo.
I actually got accepted there.
The rest of the interview went pretty well and we clicked really well.

 

[caffeinemia]

So wayyy back in the day...

"Say you and your classmates flying to Africa on a medical mission and the plane starts having engine trouble, what would you do..."

"Take the last parachute. Automatic AOA."

Got in.

 

[nih15hopeful]

New or old stories, anyone?

 

[Supraspinatus]

I'll embarrass myself I suppose!


Interviewer and I had really gotten along and I was feeling very confident, up until this point:

Interviewer: "So it seems like you have an interest in surgery. In the OR, who is the most important person in the room?"

Me: "Well, let's see, you've got the surgeon, anesthesiologist, PA, nurse, surg. tech..."

Interviewer: "Supraspinatus, who is the most important person in the room??"

Me: "The surgeon."

Interviewer: "The patient."

Me: "Well, I botched that one!"


Result: Accepted!

 

[blueharbor]

Interviewer: Tell me about a time when you had to make a series of important decisions, and what you did along the way to make sure you were successful.

Me: Hmmm......
Hmmmmmm.....
Uhh...I'm just trying to think of a good example...

(One full minute goes by as I eventually start staring at a corner of the ceiling)

Interviewer: Ok, let's move on.


Result: Accepted, thank the Lord.

 

[Inventor of Post-Its]

I remember pretty much nothing else from this interview because I was so mortified by my response. I actually considered writing a letter to my interviewer to apologize/clarify...

Interviewer: How would your friends describe you?
Me: Uh, well, all my friends think I'm really smart. I was in a class with one of my friends and she actually told me she was intimidated by how smart I was.

It was a metric-blind interview, and I realized as I was saying it that it seemed like a desperate attempt to let her know my metrics. Also, the question is obviously designed to get a feel for how you are as a person outside of school. I tried to backtrack with a weak "uh, I guess they would also say I'm kind of goofy and funny..." but the damage was done.

 

[Whatsinthebox]

Interviewer: What do you think the biggest problem in the world today?

Me: Um.... (thinking for a minute...) Religion... there would be less wars.

Interviewer: ...

Result: Rejected.

Even if you had justified it better, speaking ill of religion in 'Merica is about the fastest way to turn people off🙄. I had to remind myself to never go down that road in interviews so I feel you.

 

[MaybeDr]

interviewer: if you could change something about this school, what would it be
me: lower stats so i had a better chance

I would've been like " The fact that I'm not a student here yet." then BAM put on my sunglasses and walk out.

 

[pandadawn]

Coming to the end of a really nice interview...

Interveiwer: So I am the one who presents your file to the admissions comittee; as your interviewer I'm basically your advocate. Is there anything that we haven't covered that you would like me to pass on to the comittee?
Me: Uh.. to admit me! Haha..
Interviewer: [Dead-pan stare]
Me: Haha, I'm just kidding--well not really but--I mean um, uh, no I suppose not.

 

[squidman]

Finally decided to share.

This interviewer was incredibly well prepared. She had combed through my application and she really wanted to get to know me.

Interviewer: You have taken some really interesting classes! Tell me a little bit about your History of Rock 'n Roll class.

Me: It was an interesting class! I really enjoyed learning where rock 'n roll came from and seeing its evolution from classical roots.

Interviewer: I see. Sounds interesting.

Me: (thinking "great! Easy question. No need to say anything else." Then I open my big, fat mouth) One of the most interesting things I learned was that the Beatles introduced Bob Dylan to the electric guitar and Bob Dylan introduced the Beatles to marijuana. (What did I just say? That's the most interesting thing you remember?)

Interviewer: Hmm...Well I can't believe he's still on tour!

And where can I pick up my rejection letter on the way out?

All-in-all I felt like it was a pretty good interview, we'll see when final decisions come out...

 

[TheWizard91]

------

 

[WinslowPringle]

Interviewer: Why do you want to be a doctor, specifically? As opposed to, say, a nurse or paramedic, etc. ?
Applicant: I want to be the one giving orders. I like being in control; guess you could say I'm a control-freak.

..........................
Interviewer: You have good grades and have done some good research. But I've noticed your volunteer hours - why haven't you done more?
Applicant: I want to be a doctor, not a social worker.


.................................
(Disclaimer: neither of these came from me as an applicant so I can't vouch for their being verbatim. One I overheard, the other was repeated to me.)

 

[Whatsinthebox]

Interviewer: Why do you want to be a doctor, specifically? As opposed to, say, a nurse or paramedic, etc. ?
Applicant: I want to be the one giving orders. I like being in control; guess you could say I'm a control-freak.

..........................
Interviewer: You have good grades and have done some good research. But I've noticed your volunteer hours - why haven't you done more?
Applicant: I want to be a doctor, not a social worker.


.................................
(Disclaimer: neither of these came from me as an applicant so I can't vouch for their being verbatim. One I overheard, the other was repeated to me.)

That second one is so bad it made me laugh.

 

[CannedPineapple]

Interviewer: (slightly out of the blue) How many people in Africa are starving?
Me (thinking): WHAT...WHERE DID THAT COME FROM...Uh, uh, oh god, think of something you might have learned in your global health courses...Ok, ok, just do a ballpark number, it should be fine. Just don't act like you know it if you don't.
Me: Honestly, I can't say that I remember the exact number, but I believe it's in the hundred millions.

Later, I checked, and I got the right ballpark, even though I gave a large one. But he asked me other specific global health questions, such as the mechanisms of transmission for some diseases, which I all answered ok -- barring the fact that I didn't answer immediately all the time, and the random series of questions were throwing me off.

Result: Rejected xD. I think it was meant to see how I would do under stress...but I was focusing my energy not on stress management but literally just blank asking myself "WTF ARE THESE QUESTIONS."