Worst/Funniest Interview Experiences

[Marengo]

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Good eye- I am a Blue Devil 🙂

 

[riverjib]

It wasn't an actual interview, but it was the first time I met my Ortho advisor.

Her: "Okay, so I understand why you want to do surgery from your personal statement, but why Ortho instead of, say, General Surg?

Me: "Well, I love power tools. I like the emphasis on restoring function in Ortho. And I really hated all the scopes you have to use in General Surg. For me, using a scope is the most boring thing in the world."

Her: "Oh . . . well . . . actually, I'm primarily an arthoroscopist . . . "

Oops. She suggested I change that part of my answer. 😀

LOL!! Cute answer, and very generous, considering that the vast majority of orthopedic surgeries are arthroscopic these days. But I'm sure you know that by now 🙂

 

[GirlAnachronism]

OK so this was at my second interview and I prepared beforehand for this question after researching information about it. The interview was early this season, so I feel it has been a long enough time for me to mention it and tell all of you about it. Note to the interviewer: if for some reason you are wandering these forums and recognize me from the answer below, I just want to say that I had word vomit. apologies.

Before this question came up, the interviewer and I got along amazingly well. We complained about healthcare and obesity and public health, etc. Then, this question was asked.

I blame TV shows (like House) for making me answer this way. House, this is all your fault.

Interviewer: (had already asked me two other ethics questions, and this was the third) What would you do if you had an older male patient with gangrene of the foot, and he refused to have it amputated? Note, this patient is competent.

Me: ... well since, as a doctor, it's my responsibility to ensure the health and safety of my patients. Gangrene is deadly if not treated and will kill him. Therefore, I would obtain a court order to have it removed.

Her: .... O_O <-- literally, her face

Me: (trying to save myself) um... I read that hospitals have judges on call to help obtain them.

Her: ... I didn't know that .... *skeptical*

Me: ...

Her: ...

(we changed topics after that)

Result: Accepted.

 

[csmittyB]

Was this at DMU? We have an interviewer who asks that question and wants to hear smoking as the answer...

Kinda late reply, but yes, as a matter of fact it was DMU and he did think smoking was the biggest health concern. Small world.

 

[gujuDoc]

OK so this was at my second interview and I prepared beforehand for this question after researching information about it. The interview was early this season, so I feel it has been a long enough time for me to mention it and tell all of you about it. Note to the interviewer: if for some reason you are wandering these forums and recognize me from the answer below, I just want to say that I had word vomit. apologies.

Before this question came up, the interviewer and I got along amazingly well. We complained about healthcare and obesity and public health, etc. Then, this question was asked.

I blame TV shows (like House) for making me answer this way. House, this is all your fault.

Interviewer: (had already asked me two other ethics questions, and this was the third) What would you do if you had an older male patient with gangrene of the foot, and he refused to have it amputated? Note, this patient is competent.

Me: ... well since, as a doctor, it's my responsibility to ensure the health and safety of my patients. Gangrene is deadly if not treated and will kill him. Therefore, I would obtain a court order to have it removed.

Her: .... O_O <-- literally, her face

Me: (trying to save myself) um... I read that hospitals have judges on call to help obtain them.

Her: ... I didn't know that .... *skeptical*

Me: ...

Her: ...

(we changed topics after that)

Result: Accepted.

Actually that is not a bad answer at all and the correct answer. In my biomedical information class we have a module related to ethics of medicine and this is exactly what they suggest. In their case, they point you to the beliefs of christian science and ask what you would do if parents are not letting you treat a child due to religious beliefs and the child could die without it. You get the court order was their correct answer to this. So your answer was equally as such appropriate. If they thought it that horrible, I'm sure they wouldn't have accepted you.

 

[gujuDoc]

Interviewer: So, your school has a great sports programs.
Me: Yes
I: There must be a lot of athletes on campus. How do the other students view the athletes?
Me: (Thinks: WTF?) Well, they're generally pretty well liked, except for the few that don't care about classes (what am I saying?). Actually, my roommate is a golfer!
I: How were things after that big scandal in (a sport)?
Me: I mean that was a few years ago.. (mentally trying to figure out how this relates to medicine?)

He continued asking me sports questions for most of the interview. Then, he came back with this winner:
I: You wrote that you're interested in pediatrics
Me: Yes, I shadowed a neonatologist and (he breaks in)
I: Well what are you going to do when the government decides to pay pediatricians 10 dollars an hour? WHAT are you going to do then? (Glares at me)
Me: Well, money isn't everything?

I would have told him/her that yes as of now I'm interested in pediatrics due to my experiences with the neonatologist but I'm keeping an open mind to what other fields of medicines may be out there because I know 3rd year would give more experience. Letting them think you are interested in only one field is setting you up for a trap.

 

[Steeler7588]

Actually that is not a bad answer at all and the correct answer. In my biomedical information class we have a module related to ethics of medicine and this is exactly what they suggest. In their case, they point you to the beliefs of christian science and ask what you would do if parents are not letting you treat a child due to religious beliefs and the child could die without it. You get the court order was their correct answer to this. So your answer was equally as such appropriate. If they thought it that horrible, I'm sure they wouldn't have accepted you.

That's a different case entirely, though. Under those circumstances, you have to consider whether the child is pressured to conform to the parents' religious views. A court order is appropriate. When you're dealing with a competent individual who isn't under another person's authority, however, it's a completely different deal.

 

[GirlAnachronism]

That's a different case entirely, though. Under those circumstances, you have to consider whether the child is pressured to conform to the parents' religious views. A court order is appropriate. When you're dealing with a competent individual who isn't under another person's authority, however, it's a completely different deal.

Steeler is actually right on this. The case you mention, about the child, is different since the child is not a competent adult.

What I was *supposed* to answer with was 'release him.' No, really. If the patient is competent and still doesn't want life saving treatment, you have to let him/her go. I told my student host what happened when I returned to her apt after the interview and she basically laughed and said the above.

I will never forget that interviewer's face lol O_O

 

[LizzyM]

Steeler is actually right on this. The case you mention, about the child, is different since the child is not a competent adult.

What I was *supposed* to answer with was 'release him.' No, really. If the patient is competent and still doesn't want life saving treatment, you have to let him/her go. I told my student host what happened when I returned to her apt after the interview and she basically laughed and said the above.

I will never forget that interviewer's face lol O_O

While your response may have shown your ignorance of the law and the "correct" response, you showed your determination to do what you thought was best for the patient and to make the effort to get things done to assure that the patient will survive. Those aren't entirely bad traits in a med student. We can educate you about the law as it relates to the practice of medicine. It is harder (impossible?) to teach the desire to make an effort on behalf of someone who is not looking out for themself.

 

[Marcus Brody]

Here is my worst interview moment:


Interview: What do you think the biggest health problem in the US is?

Me: Obesity, due to all the other diseases related to obesity.
(I then realize that the interviewer was an obese man ...stupid rehearsed responses)

Rejected.

same thing happened to me. I said to myself, "welp, can't say obesity sooooo..." i said chronic illness is the problem, which actually might be a more accurate answer.

 

[beebee0]

Two bad ones:

1) Interviewer: You have a lot of research experience. Why did you decide on medicine rather than going into research?
Me: Long-winded answer about how I really enjoy research, finding answers, etc, but ultimately realized I couldn't do it because it's so lonely in the lab and I need contact with people.
Interviewer: I'm a researcher.
*long pause*

wait. What ARE you supposed to say then when this happens? If you don't want to do research, then of course you must say why (i.e. the cons) . But if the interviewer does research, then you have to tell them why research is awesome. --- then why don't you want to do research?!

 

[austinap]

wait. What ARE you supposed to say then when this happens? If you don't want to do research, then of course you must say why (i.e. the cons) . But if the interviewer does research, then you have to tell them why research is awesome. --- then why don't you want to do research?!

I think the problem with this answer is that it shows an unrealistic understanding of what a career in research is really like. Most 'researchers' actually do very little bench work on their own, and very little of their time is spent in isolation.

There are many valid reasons to pick medicine over research, but I don't think "researchers are always working in a lab alone" is one of them.

 

[Steeler7588]

We can educate you about the law as it relates to the practice of medicine.

That's a big thing for me when approaching such questions. Maybe in some situations I know the law (like in the scenario with the child / religious beliefs) but I feel like these questions are more about backing up your argument logically. Anytime I'm not sure, I'll preface my answers with "I'd of course act within the law, but without knowing the details, I'd try this..." If what I say is illegal, so be it. They can teach me what's right to do for my next four years. Until then, showing good reasoning should be enough.

 

[gujuDoc]

That's a big thing for me when approaching such questions. Maybe in some situations I know the law (like in the scenario with the child / religious beliefs) but I feel like these questions are more about backing up your argument logically. Anytime I'm not sure, I'll preface my answers with "I'd of course act within the law, but without knowing the details, I'd try this..." If what I say is illegal, so be it. They can teach me what's right to do for my next four years. Until then, showing good reasoning should be enough.

Thanks for the response and good approach.

Also LizzyM, that is very comforting to know.

 

[VOP]

Hey docbest did your bad interview experience happen at Carver Scool of Medicine? Sounds very familiar..like they ask you 4 questions and just stare at you and say absolutely nothing! LoL..please share!!!

amazing, i was about to ask the same thing. I felt like i was being judged in a bad way...i also offered water(accepted), and the why medicine, etc,etc.

I also stuttered a bunch. Well, i'm now in the final pool.

 

[teenmachinery1]

one interviewer told me he looked my band up and listened to my music. I immediately facepalmed and said something to the effect of omg.

👎

 

[The Poet Sings]

one interviewer told me he looked my band up and listened to my music. I immediately facepalmed and said something to the effect of omg.

👎

lmao that's hilarious.

 

[mybubbles14]

Good eye- I am a Blue Devil 🙂

ha I was about to say the same thing....go duke! 😍

 

[MDtobe31311]

.

 

[crestfall]

any feedback here would be very much appreciated. So I think i phrased an
answer to one of my questions pretty bad. i know its to late and not worth
worrying about, but it has kinda been bothering me lately. so anyhow, here it is.

Interviewer: so what specialty are you interested in.

Me: well, assuming i get accepted into medical school, i would do a residency in internal medicine. If i still have steam left, i would like to get involved with
critical care/pulmonology.

be honest, how bad does it sound that i said assuming i get accepted,
that sounds arrogant.

i meant as in, this question is only relevant if i get into med school, so under that assumption internal med is my answer.

i dont remember if this is what he said right afterwards, he may have said it before, i dunt remember, but he said, well im not an adcom, so im just gonna pass my evaluation on.

he also said something, maybe before my answer to this or after, i dont remember, about how after my volunteer experience i could probably build a house, i just need to learn to lay a foundation. i said well you know i was shown how to do a lot, but i dont think i could quite build a house.

so i dont know if he asked that to guage my arrogance or what

anyhow, im rambling nothing i can do but wait, should here back this upcoming week. atleast i dont have long to wait that is unless i get waitlisted

geez im stressed out, thanks for reading my rant, hope the interview season if going well for everyone

 

[The Poet Sings]

Interviewer: so what specialty are you interested in.

Me: well, assuming i get accepted into medical school, i would do a residency in internal medicine. If i still have steam left, i would like to get involved with
critical care/pulmonology.

be honest, how bad does it sound that i said assuming i get accepted,
that sounds arrogant.

i meant as in, this question is only relevant if i get into med school, so under that assumption internal med is my answer.

i think saying "when i get into your school" would sound a million times more arrogant. what you said shows humility, as you're accepting the fact that not everyone gets into medical school, and that it takes a special breed of people to get in and that you're grateful to have gotten an interview. that's what i'd take from your response if i was the interviewer, anyways. in the event that you do get waitlisted, don't beat yourself up over this answer (and the other one about the house).

 

[crestfall]

thanks for the reply "the poet sings"

i appreciate the feedback

 

[The Poet Sings]

thanks for the reply "the poet sings"

i appreciate the feedback

no problem. i also meant to add something about being waitlisted doesn't mean you suck as a person, but that you're just not what they were looking for. good luck!

 

[bannie22]

yeah doesnt sound too bad, you rephrased it in a more negative sense tho. we will see how it goes.
good luck!

 

[DOCnAbox]

My stupid, stupid error in my very first interview...

Interviewer: Well DOCnAbox, that about wraps everything up... Thank you for coming in.

Me: (Shakes hand) Thank you for taking the time to interview me Dr. Simpson.

Interviewer: Glare

Her name is Dr. Smith... I had an elementary school teacher that looked exactly like her named Ms. Simpson.

Result: Hold

 

[GoBeers]

My stupid, stupid error in my very first interview...

Interviewer: Well DOCnAbox, that about wraps everything up... Thank you for coming in.

Me: (Shakes hand) Thank you for taking the time to interview me Dr. Simpson.

Interviewer: Glare

Her name is Dr. Smith... I had an elementary school teacher that looked exactly like her named Ms. Simpson.

Result: Hold

hahahaha.

that is why i NEVER address them by their last name at the end of the interviews because by that time, I surely would have forgotten their name do to nervousness or lost concentration. Couple times I had foreign doctors, so I couldn't even correctly pronounce their name.

I always just say , " thank you Doctor!"

 

[DOCnAbox]

Me at a recent interview in december:

Student interviewer: So if you could have 8 million dollars to do anything you wanted what would you do?

Me: " oh well, you know I would buy a big house for two million dollars, you know I cant deny that I want fancy things," wait did I actually say that? " and also invest in a research lab..."

Student interviewer: If you could be any flavor of ice cream what would you be and why?

Me: Oh I would like to be strawberry ice cream because its red

Honestly, I cant believe I answered like that-my nerves definitley got the best of me.

Rejected one month later, nevertheless, i didnt like the school and I think we all agreed it wasnt for me 🙂

Ha, I would have said stinky arm pit flavor. BC no one would lick me and I could just chill.

 

[avatarftw]

...

 

[red10]

Interviewer: So, what would you do if you were not accepted by our school? How would you improve your application to better your chances?

Me: Well, I would just go to XYZ school that accepted me.

Interviewer/Me: (quiet silence)

Later in the interview:

Interviewer: Would you attend our school if we accepted you instead of XYZ school?

Me: I'd have to think about it.

 

[BBender716]

Interviewer: So, what would you do if you were not accepted by our school? How would you improve your application to better your chances?

Me: Well, I would just go to XYZ school that accepted me.

Interviewer/Me: (quiet silence)

Later in the interview:

Interviewer: Would you attend our school if we accepted you instead of XYZ school?

Me: I'd have to think about it.

Interviewer: why are you here then?

 

[TooMuchResearch]

Interviewer: So, what would you do if you were not accepted by our school? How would you improve your application to better your chances?

Me: Well, I would just go to XYZ school that accepted me.

Interviewer/Me: (quiet silence)

Later in the interview:

Interviewer: Would you attend our school if we accepted you instead of XYZ school?

Me: I'd have to think about it.

I hope you didn't fly or stay in a hotel

 

[surftheiop]

FWIW I also thought it was a neuron.

As for funny stories (this was an MD/PhD interview):

Me: My ideal career would be doing research on some neurological disease and practicing in neurology clinic.

I: So you shadowed a neurosurgeon, but not a neurologist. How do you know that you want to be a neurologist if you never shadowed one?

Me: (Crap! Backstory: shadowing doesn't matter as much for MD/PhD so almost all my clinical experience was as a spanish interpreter at a free clinic. I just asked my neurosurgeon neighbor if I could shadow him for a couple of days so that I could put down that I had hospital experience.) Umm...well, I don't really think that I could find an easy balance between a surgical lifestyle and running my own lab. It seems like it would be really hard to be good at both, considering that surgery would require a lot more time to keep your skills intact.

Of course, he was a surgeon who ran his own lab.

Result: Accepted. (!?!)

Actually this is probably a good result, after you said that he was probably feeling pretty good about how awesome he is at being a surgeon and running a lab 🙂

 

[mueagles]

At one of my interviews the waiting room was really warm and my body was having a hard time staying cool. Then 5 minutes into my interview, I just started sweating perfusely after he asked me a easy, qeneric question, but before I could answer I wiped the sweat from my face with my suit coat and said "oh my god, I am so embarrased." To which he just laughed.

later...
Interviewer: "So what makes you a good leader"
Me: "I am very organized and can communicate effectively"
Interviewer: "Any examples"
Me: Mind blank..."I love spreadsheets"
Interviewer: Laughs, "I have never heard that before, definitely bringing that up in the adcom meeting."

again later...
Interviewer: "What is the best advice anyone of your family members has given you"
Me: "To know everything for tests"
Interviewer: Suprised/confused expression
I tried to make it sound not so over-achieving, but just rambled.

Suprisingly accepted after all this.

 

[Morsetlis]

I think you'd need an astrologer to tell you your chances at a specific medical school, after reading all this.

 

[lstone13]

At one of my interviews the waiting room was really warm and my body was having a hard time staying cool. Then 5 minutes into my interview, I just started sweating perfusely after he asked me a easy, qeneric question, but before I could answer I wiped the sweat from my face with my suit coat and said "oh my god, I am so embarrased." To which he just laughed.

later...
Interviewer: "So what makes you a good leader"
Me: "I am very organized and can communicate effectively"
Interviewer: "Any examples"
Me: Mind blank..."I love spreadsheets"
Interviewer: Laughs, "I have never heard that before, definitely bringing that up in the adcom meeting."

again later...
Interviewer: "What is the best advice anyone of your family members has given you"
Me: "To know everything for tests"
Interviewer: Suprised/confused expression
I tried to make it sound not so over-achieving, but just rambled.

Suprisingly accepted after all this.

I think your answers in this interview make you seem genuine!

 

[texaslily]

At one of my interviews the waiting room was really warm and my body was having a hard time staying cool. Then 5 minutes into my interview, I just started sweating perfusely after he asked me a easy, qeneric question, but before I could answer I wiped the sweat from my face with my suit coat and said "oh my god, I am so embarrased." To which he just laughed.

One of my interviews was on the 7th floor and I wasted a lot of time waiting for the elevator before realizing it was broken. Worried about being late, I sprinted up 7 flights of stairs (in heels!) and spent about a third of the thirty minute interview baking in my jacket and trying to discreetly wipe the sweat off my face. Haha
(accepted)

 

[riverjib]

That is why I chose it. It just wasn't the most tactful choice in that situation.

Towards the end of the interview, I asked the same guy what he thought the biggest problem was. His reply was smoking.

That's convenient for him! Smoking IS a huge problem in health care, but I tend to agree that obesity is probably a bigger problem. Smoking has gained enough notoriety that even lifelong smokers are more ashamed of their habit, and are well aware of the dangers. Obesity is simultaneously being addressed as a real problem and being condoned. Nobody thinks twice about telling a smoker they should quit, but imagine a non-health professional telling someone they should really lose 30 pounds???

That whole Dove "real women" ad campaign isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it also sends the message that it's okay to be overweight. While it's important to accept your body and not develop an eating disorder, it's also important to eat healthy foods, exercise, and try to keep your BMI below 25.

 

[avatarftw]

...

 

[ColonelTigh]

Interviewer: If you could have a dinner party with anybody you want, dead or alive, who would it be?

Me: John Locke

Interviewer: The philosopher, why?

Me: No, the bald guy on Lost, you know the one who believes in the Island...I think he is evil now

Awkward silence

 

[Steeler7588]

Interviewer: The philosopher, why?

Me: No, the bald guy on Lost, you know the one who believes in the Island...I think he is evil now

Awkward silence

I'd admit you and give you a scholarship. Hilarious.

 

[2na]

My interviewer asked me what my weaknesses were. I told her my thoughts then elaborated my answers that they can be my strengths as well. Then she said, "If that is also your strength give me another weakness."....I had to admit, "I'm not a morning person.." Seriously, it's going to be my weakest weakness once the school starts!!

 

[Batzmarucy831]

OK so this was at my second interview and I prepared beforehand for this question after researching information about it. The interview was early this season, so I feel it has been a long enough time for me to mention it and tell all of you about it. Note to the interviewer: if for some reason you are wandering these forums and recognize me from the answer below, I just want to say that I had word vomit. apologies.

Before this question came up, the interviewer and I got along amazingly well. We complained about healthcare and obesity and public health, etc. Then, this question was asked.

I blame TV shows (like House) for making me answer this way. House, this is all your fault.

Interviewer: (had already asked me two other ethics questions, and this was the third) What would you do if you had an older male patient with gangrene of the foot, and he refused to have it amputated? Note, this patient is competent.

Me: ... well since, as a doctor, it's my responsibility to ensure the health and safety of my patients. Gangrene is deadly if not treated and will kill him. Therefore, I would obtain a court order to have it removed.

Her: .... O_O <-- literally, her face

Me: (trying to save myself) um... I read that hospitals have judges on call to help obtain them.

Her: ... I didn't know that .... *skeptical*

Me: ...

Her: ...

(we changed topics after that)

Result: Accepted.

Holy crap, I think I had the SAME question at AMC... 3 tough bioethics questions. I actually stumbled through this question, because I was completely thrown off my rockers. I said, "Well, I would first make sure he's in the right state of mind (maybe then the interviewers stuck in the fact patient is mentally capable)... Well I would honor the patient's wishes after a loooong talk."...

 

[FlowRate]

Holy crap, I think I had the SAME question at AMC... 3 tough bioethics questions. I actually stumbled through this question, because I was completely thrown off my rockers. I said, "Well, I would first make sure he's in the right state of mind (maybe then the interviewers stuck in the fact patient is mentally capable)... Well I would honor the patient's wishes after a loooong talk."...

I don't like the question. A patient who is not acting in his or her best interests is often not mentally competent... especially when it comes to wanting to have a large, deadly infection removed.

 

[cardiology88]

Interviewer: Describe your best friend
Me: He is a great guy. I have known him for a long time. We have a lot in common. We grew up together, went to the same elementary, middle, high school and college. In college we were actually roommates. Currently we rent a house together.
Interviewer: Are you homosexual?

 

[OneMCATAway]

Interviewer: Describe your best friend
Me: He is a great guy. I have known him for a long time. We have a lot in common. We grew up together, went to the same elementary, middle, high school and college. In college we were actually roommates. Currently we rent a house together.
Interviewer: Are you homosexual?

wowww

 

[Morsetlis]

Interviewer: Describe your best friend
Me: He is a great guy. I have known him for a long time. We have a lot in common. We grew up together, went to the same elementary, middle, high school and college. In college we were actually roommates. Currently we rent a house together.
Interviewer: Are you homosexual?

I demand to know the end of this conversation.

 

[cardiology88]

I demand to know the end of this conversation.

The end wasn't pretty. My initial reaction was to laugh. As I was doing that my interviewer had a completely serious look on his face. So I thought to myself who knows maybe this guy is gay. So I said "no ofcourse not, not that anything is wrong with being gay though." He then changed the subject. The rest of the interview was a little awkward. I ended up getting waitlisted.

 

[Morsetlis]

Gay-owned.

 

[DOCnAbox]

bump, bump!

Just had my second interview last week and was asked...

Interviewer: "So who all did you job shadow?"

Me: Um.. (list some doctors and time shadowing)...

Interviewer: Ok, great well

Me: (interupts) Wait I forgot about Dr.... Oh, crap! hold on... he works at ***** Hospital. (What is his name? Think) I shadowed him for a week and he is a cardiologist.

Interviewer: Ok... Well...

Result: Accepted! (Other interviews were flawless)

 

[BBender716]

The end wasn't pretty. My initial reaction was to laugh. As I was doing that my interviewer had a completely serious look on his face. So I thought to myself who knows maybe this guy is gay. So I said "no ofcourse not, not that anything is wrong with being gay though." He then changed the subject. The rest of the interview was a little awkward. I ended up getting waitlisted.

Very Seinfeld moment there!