Worst/Funniest Interview Experiences

BU Medical Sciences
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chad5871 said:
So, what was your answer? That's a really difficult question. First of all you must consider the legal consequences. If abortion is illegal at the time you become a doctor, then I would say you need to remove yourself from the situation before you get caught in a mess. Secondly, there are a lot of ethical and moral dilemmas with this situation. What are your personal beliefs regarding abortion? What are the girl's parents' personal beliefs regarding abortion? Did she become pregnant because of her own fault or was she raped (I am assuming he is asking this question from the standpoint that it was her own fault)? You must also bring up the point of treating people that you know personally. I know that some doctors feel this gets in the way of objectivity and ultimately may alter the physician's treatment of the patient. Either way, I would sit down with her and talk with her. I would advise her strongly to consult her parents before making any decisions. They are most likely going to find out anyway, and the more you try to hide something or lie about it, the worse the situation becomes. Also, since this decision possibly affects the overall health of the patient, and because the patient is a minor, her parents have a right to know. Personally, I would have a very difficult time telling the parents if it were against the daughter's will, but I am guessing that some physicians would do this. Finally, I would refer her to a clinic for young, pregnant women who are in a situation similar to hers. I am not referring to an abortion clinic, but a clinic where she could get the help she needs and be able to talk to people that will help her make an advised decision. Overall, my feelings on abortion are that, unless the mother's physical or mental health is at risk, other alternatives must be considered and ruled at as impossibilities before abortion can be considered. In this circumstance, I feel that as a physician I would be unable to refer her directly to a clinic where she could obtain an abortion.

How's that for a long-winded answer? :laugh:
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the legal age to access confidential reproductive health care is age 12 in california..
so.. in california, we can't tell parents about it.
but we could urge her to get counseling or even help her to make an appointment.
 
I interviewed about 3 weeks ago at an out of state school, outside CA. Interview went something like this..

Doc: So what would you say are your future goals in medicine..

Me: Well I want to pursue academic medicine blah blah, research, blah blah and become a leader yada yada yada

Doc: Well, thats very interesting. But our school is not the best place to study if you plan to become the Dean of an IVY League medical school..

Me: Yea, well I recognize that.

Anyways, it was a very interesting interview. She ended up telling me I had the strongest interviewing skills of almost anybody she has seen in 15 years!! 😱

Result: Accepted! (a few days ago)
 
This thread succeeded in causing me to waste an entire day of productivity at work. I wish I could contribute a story to this thread, which would mean that I received an interview. Alas, I suck. 🙁
 
after reading some of these posts, I feel a little better now.

I still think it could of gone better and that I was so nervous during my first interview. I was so scared that I might screw up that it caused me to occasionally mis-pronouncing words or misspeaking phrases with incorrect grammar, and I spoke kinda fast 🙁
 
ButImLETired said:
I was asked this and I said Jesus Christ. My interviewer looked a little puzzled, and then I was like "Well, I mean, he could clear up so many things...the whole son of God thing for one...and if he says that he IS the son of God then that just opens a whole other line of questioning..."

I stand by my answer, although I wish my interviewer hadn't frowned quite so much.
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I had that question too, and I said Roald Dahl.

But my interviewer said that two years ago everyone was saying Jesus. Last year everyone said Paul Farmer, but he didn't know who that was then. This year, he was hoping for Muhammed.

Darn.
 
geenelln said:
I had that question too, and I said Roald Dahl.

But my interviewer said that two years ago everyone was saying Jesus. Last year everyone said Paul Farmer, but he didn't know who that was then. This year, he was hoping for Muhammed.

Darn.
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ahhh ! love roald dahl ! the bfg ? the twits ? those books are classic . i used to be OBSESSED with his books when i was younger and i have seriously read like 90% of them. i didnt read danny, champion of the world or the glass elevator one.

in case anyone cares.. which i am sureeeeeeee they do.
 
geenelln said:
I had that question too, and I said Roald Dahl.

But my interviewer said that two years ago everyone was saying Jesus. Last year everyone said Paul Farmer, but he didn't know who that was then. This year, he was hoping for Muhammed.

Darn.
Click to expand...

Really?! Well that makes me feel better. I felt really weird for saying it. It would really be for intellectual curiosity more than anything...I mean, it's Jesus, I'd love to work out the whole religious war thing by knowing the truth.
 
liquid8r said:
Interviewer: Give me an example of a time when you stepped outside of your comfort zone.

(I saw an opening for humor and I took it.)

Me: Once, on a dare, I went to my local YMCA and took a beginner Yoga class. There were 25 women and 5 men (I am a dude). The best part about the experience is that the teacher thought I was "very flexible in the hips".

Interviewer: I guess I was looking for something a little more, um, challenging?

(Humor bombed)

Me: Oh ok. That was a joke sort of. I mean I really actually did that but that is not what I would say as a serious answer to your question. Seriously, I once had to....(insert serious answer).

Ugh. I would like to see my interviewer walk into a Yoga class. It was intimidating and I guarantee he would suck big time.
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Was this at CU? I ask because during an information session this summer the new dean of admissions made a BIG deal about "stepping outside your comfort zone" and then it tunred up again on their revised secondary.

Apparently, they would like you to have 500+ hrs of clincial experience/volunteering and work in the soup kitchen during your spare time. 😛
 
Not a medical interview, but this was for an engineering position

Interviewer:
Define transportation
Me:
Moving an object from one point to another
Interviewer:
And what does that imply
Me:
Blah blah blah, development of fuel for transportation in order to create mass transit, blah blah blah, dependence on sole source of fuel, blah blah blah, running out of fuel, blah blah blah, either development of other sources or anarchy, blah blah, back to stage 1

My interviewer didn't write down a damn word of it, he just stared at me, and I thought that I was an idiot for just slapping a potential employers company in the face for 15 straight minutes.

3 different assets fought for me 🙂
 
lainey234 said:
Was this at CU? I ask because during an information session this summer the new dean of admissions made a BIG deal about "stepping outside your comfort zone" and then it tunred up again on their revised secondary.

Apparently, they would like you to have 500+ hrs of clincial experience/volunteering and work in the soup kitchen during your spare time. 😛
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No it wasn't. It seems to be a pretty common question asked, however.
 
Oh wow...I just randomly stumbled onto this thread while taking a "short" study break from cramming for my midterm tomorrow and then I look at the clock and a whole hour has passed. These are HILARIOUS...we should compile them and make a book! :laugh:
 
ButImLETired said:
I was asked this and I said Jesus Christ. My interviewer looked a little puzzled, and then I was like "Well, I mean, he could clear up so many things...the whole son of God thing for one...and if he says that he IS the son of God then that just opens a whole other line of questioning..."

I stand by my answer, although I wish my interviewer hadn't frowned quite so much.
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LOL. I had the same question and also said Jesus, they just kind of blankly stared at me.

On a separate note, on the what are your weaknesses question I told them I was a procrastinator and I don't like going to classes.

some how i got in at the school, not sure how
 
I(nterviewer): So tell me about yourself.
Me: Well... (long story of my life).
I: Okay, but what about your personal characteristics?
Me: I have X,Y,Z traits and I feel that they would really help me become a great doctor.

5 minutes later
I: Briefly, how would you describe yourself?
Me: I feel that I am...(standard answer).
I: How would your friends describe you?
Me: *Pause* Well, I hope that they would say I was friendly, haha.

End of the interview
I: What about you would make you a good fit for this school?
Me: Well, I am able to work well with other, etc.
I: Are there any other things about you that you want to tell me about that we haven't already discussed?
Me: *Thinking, what else could I possibly say about me that wasn't said before* Well, I would say that I am a very hard working and determined individual.
I: I see...

I don't think there are any other ways I could have had my personality picked so completely apart in 30 minutes 🙁.
 
nellia said:
ahhh ! love roald dahl ! the bfg ? the twits ? those books are classic . i used to be OBSESSED with his books when i was younger and i have seriously read like 90% of them. i didnt read danny, champion of the world or the glass elevator one.

in case anyone cares.. which i am sureeeeeeee they do.
Click to expand...

I DO CARE . . . because I was also obsessed with his books, but seriously, the two you didn't read are like the two best ones! (Danny and Glass Elevator.) I don't care how old you are- get them and read them, stat! i sometimes worry that the real reason (the only reason) I want to procreate is so that I have someone to share my Dahl obsession with. and pass it on to. ok i am kidding . . . i think.

I also loved Henry Sugar and Other Tales . . . it was different than his other books but I always think of it when I hear about him. Something about the stories in that book really got into my young impressionable head. Roald Dahl is an excellent answer by the way. Its like something I might have said, but now if I ever get that question and use that answer, I'll never know whether I would have come up with it on my own anyway or whether I stole it from the person who just mentioned it 🙄 Either way, now that I have that great answer in my head I'm sure I wont get asked that question.
 
MaryLennox said:
I DO CARE . . . because I was also obsessed with his books, but seriously, the two you didn't read are like the two best ones! (Danny and Glass Elevator.) I don't care how old you are- get them and read them, stat! i sometimes worry that the real reason (the only reason) I want to procreate is so that I have someone to share my Dahl obsession with. and pass it on to. ok i am kidding . . . i think.

I also loved Henry Sugar and Other Tales . . . it was different than his other books but I always think of it when I hear about him. Something about the stories in that book really got into my young impressionable head. Roald Dahl is an excellent answer by the way. Its like something I might have said, but now if I ever get that question and use that answer, I'll never know whether I would have come up with it on my own anyway or whether I stole it from the person who just mentioned it 🙄 Either way, now that I have that great answer in my head I'm sure I wont get asked that question.
Click to expand...
Haha Have you read Dahl's short stories?! AMAZING!
 
Interviewer: lets fjelk fjdk wjeeiru djdj djjd ddccnncv fnapiap (laughter)
Me: Hahahaha

The interviewer was from India with a semi-heavy accent... A couple times other than this, I clarified the question he asked, but this time he started to laugh, so I started to laugh, and didn't clarify. I have NO idea what he said, so I could've laughed to anything >.<.. Better hope it was something good.:laugh:
 
Interviewer: What do you think will be the most difficult part about medical school?
Me: Can I say nothing? I'm way too excited right now to think about that.
 
foodfood said:
Interviewer: What do you think will be the most difficult part about medical school?
Me: Can I say nothing? I'm way too excited right now to think about that.
Click to expand...

awww.. i picture the interviewer replacing your image with a small bunny that is bright eyed and bushy tailed :laugh::laugh:

i feel like it could have been worse though .. you could have said "working with patients" or "getting over my fear of touching people" or something like that ! don't stress too much haha
 
foodfood said:
Interviewer: What do you think will be the most difficult part about medical school?
Me: Can I say nothing? I'm way too excited right now to think about that.
Click to expand...

Maybe they'll let you in just so they can have the pleasure of breaking your spirit?
 
foodfood said:
Interviewer: What do you think will be the most difficult part about medical school?
Me: Can I say nothing? I'm way too excited right now to think about that.
Click to expand...

No offense but you really should read the allo forums or residency forums some day.

I can think of a lot more answers to that question.

The malignant and rude personalities you might have to encounter with patients, residents, attendings, secretaries, nurses etc. The first group of who might be anxious and fearful of their illness enough to take out a temper on you or be impatient with you or who might just be a generally unpleasant person. The rest of those groups who are probably worn about by abuses on all ends, stress levels, etc. or again might not be nice in general.

The on call hours of 30 hour shifts in residency or on call nights in medical school.

The incurring debt and feeling like you are so behind that you are miserable when you feel like you are alone because you dont know it all and have always been used to knowing it all before test time and being number 1.

Feeling like you might not be able to have enough time to do what you want to do with your free time i.e. spending time with family, friends, going out and doing things you enjoy and will have to sacrifice not being able to do so you can study.

That's just a few things.
 
gujuDoc said:
The malignant and rude personalities you might have to encounter with patients, residents, attendings, secretaries, nurses etc.
Click to expand...

Haha, while that might be true it would be a hilarious answer to the question:

"What do you think would be a challenge of going to medical school?"
"Well, to be frank, I'm guessing you'll all be malignant and rude." :laugh:

😛😛😛
 
gujuDoc said:
No offense but you really should read the allo forums or residency forums some day.

I can think of a lot more answers to that question.

The malignant and rude personalities you might have to encounter with patients, residents, attendings, secretaries, nurses etc. The first group of who might be anxious and fearful of their illness enough to take out a temper on you or be impatient with you or who might just be a generally unpleasant person. The rest of those groups who are probably worn about by abuses on all ends, stress levels, etc. or again might not be nice in general.

The on call hours of 30 hour shifts in residency or on call nights in medical school.

The incurring debt and feeling like you are so behind that you are miserable when you feel like you are alone because you dont know it all and have always been used to knowing it all before test time and being number 1.

Feeling like you might not be able to have enough time to do what you want to do with your free time i.e. spending time with family, friends, going out and doing things you enjoy and will have to sacrifice not being able to do so you can study.

That's just a few things.
Click to expand...

I think that's why it's in the "worst interview answers" thread 😉
 
Not the worst answer, but I was expecting the worst...

Interviewer: "Would you come to XXX?"
Me: "No, I would like to go to YYY instead."
Interviewer: "Yeah, don't come here. Go to YYY."
(goes on a 20-minute rant about why I shouldn't go to XXX)
Me: "Okay."
(long awkward silence)
Interviewer: "Well! I wish you the best of luck."
Me: "Thank you Dr. ____."

Talk about awkward...
 
pianola said:
Haha, while that might be true it would be a hilarious answer to the question:

"What do you think would be a challenge of going to medical school?"
"Well, to be frank, I'm guessing you'll all be malignant and rude." :laugh:

😛😛😛
Click to expand...

That would be funny.
 
"If you could have dinner with one person, who would it be?"

If a male interviewer asks me this I'm going to gently nod, look him straight in the eye and say:

"Your wife."
 
"If you could have dinner with one person, who would it be?"

If a male interviewer asks me this I'm going to gently nod, look him straight in the eye and say:

"Your wife."
Click to expand...

and if the interviewer responds with "I don't have a wife", what would you say?
 
messenger634 said:
"If you could have dinner with one person, who would it be?"

If a male interviewer asks me this I'm going to gently nod, look him straight in the eye and say:

"Your wife."
Click to expand...

you might as well go big and say "your mom." either way, it seems unfunny to me in an interview situation and actually pretty rude 😕

...maybe that's just me.
 
messenger634 said:
"If you could have dinner with one person, who would it be?"

If a male interviewer asks me this I'm going to gently nod, look him straight in the eye and say:

"Your wife."
Click to expand...

Interviewer: "... my wife died three years ago."

Interviewer: "... I'm gay."

Interviewer: "... (three ethical questions in a row)"

So many ways for this to end in 😱😱😱 😀

Can I put "elected captain obvious on SDN" on my ECs list?
 
well, it was really just a joke.

But if I was ever asked about having 3 people to have dinner with, I'd say Albert Einstein, Michael Jackson, and Jesus.

Because I'd like to meet Albert Einstein, and I think Michael Jackson really needs to meet Jesus.
 
messenger634 said:
well, it was really just a joke.

But if I was ever asked about having 3 people to have dinner with, I'd say Albert Einstein, Michael Jackson, and Jesus.

Because I'd like to meet Albert Einstein, and I think Michael Jackson really needs to meet Jesus.
Click to expand...

I LOL'd at both 😀
 
messenger634 said:
well, it was really just a joke.

But if I was ever asked about having 3 people to have dinner with, I'd say Albert Einstein, Michael Jackson, and Jesus.

Because I'd like to meet Albert Einstein, and I think Michael Jackson really needs to meet Jesus.
Click to expand...

Man, that might actually worth using in an interview. That's pretty funny. :laugh:
 
Ha, I think I'd go with Aristotle, Da Vinci, and Jesus. Jesus could probably translate, and I bet the other two would have some seriously interesting stuff to talk about.
 
Give me Vonnegut, Solon, and Cleisthenes.
 
Abaroth said:
Interviewer: lets fjelk fjdk wjeeiru djdj djjd ddccnncv fnapiap (laughter)
Me: Hahahaha

The interviewer was from India with a semi-heavy accent... A couple times other than this, I clarified the question he asked, but this time he started to laugh, so I started to laugh, and didn't clarify. I have NO idea what he said, so I could've laughed to anything >.<.. Better hope it was something good.:laugh:
Click to expand...


lol he could have made a racist joke about you or something and you laughed right along with it. awkwardness^2
 
gujuDoc said:
No offense but you really should read the allo forums or residency forums some day.

I can think of a lot more answers to that question.

The malignant and rude personalities you might have to encounter with patients, residents, attendings, secretaries, nurses etc. The first group of who might be anxious and fearful of their illness enough to take out a temper on you or be impatient with you or who might just be a generally unpleasant person. The rest of those groups who are probably worn about by abuses on all ends, stress levels, etc. or again might not be nice in general.

The on call hours of 30 hour shifts in residency or on call nights in medical school.

The incurring debt and feeling like you are so behind that you are miserable when you feel like you are alone because you dont know it all and have always been used to knowing it all before test time and being number 1.

Feeling like you might not be able to have enough time to do what you want to do with your free time i.e. spending time with family, friends, going out and doing things you enjoy and will have to sacrifice not being able to do so you can study.

That's just a few things.
Click to expand...


yeah i thought about those things [out loud in front of my interivewer] and then i refuted every single one. i probably sounded like a crazy person. anyways, accepted!
 
foodfood said:
yeah i thought about those things [out loud in front of my interivewer] and then i refuted every single one. i probably sounded like a crazy person. anyways, accepted!
Click to expand...

Ahh so u didn't just present as you posted in your previous post. You actually did show you knew these other things. That changes the story. Glad you were accepted.
 
Interviewer: Why do you think people work after they've become rich?

me: So they can make more money. Then invest that money to make even more money.

I: But what's the point of making that extra 100 thousand if you already have 50 million? Mike Bloomberg is a billionaire. Why do you think he keeps working?

me: then it's because of the social status.

Interviewer: ....

me: *wow what did I just say...*
 
mcgyver said:
Interviewer: Why do you think people work after they've become rich?

me: So they can make more money. Then invest that money to make even more money.

I: But what's the point of making that extra 100 thousand if you already have 50 million? Mike Bloomberg is a billionaire. Why do you think he keeps working?

me: then it's because of the social status.

Interviewer: ....

me: *wow what did I just say...*
Click to expand...


For some that is definitely truth. for others maybe they just don't wish to get bored at home with nothing to keep them productive. for others it is that they want to make a difference if we are talking doctors.

If we are talking billionaire business men, maybe you have a point. LOL.
 
or you can invest 5 billion in goldman 🙂
 
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