Congrats Redo.
thx all. I am very excited. I just don’t know how to do well on the interview. I have screwed up most of the interviews for big and small jobs. So I know I interview very poorly.
I will dig up as much info as I can. All I need is one acceptance… So happy to have this interview as it alleviates many concerns: 1) CC credits only, 2) no or little volunteering, 3) no bachelors from the US, although I have an US MBA, and foreign credentials and 4) far from the 90 credit hours required but with a solid plan to do so.
So we’ll see. This is a surprise and I am thrilled.
Complete at a few schools now…and the waiting begins…
Does anyone who have attended interviews or are getting ready for interviews mind sharing their experiences and approaches for preparation? I have not received my secondaries yet, but a science professor offered to do a mock interview with me that got me thinking about it. Any tips or advice? Thank you.
I posted this in another thread about 6 mos ago.
- In reply to:
Wow Redo, you're killing me with the flattery. I really don't think that my acceptances are that much of a feat, and to me my acceptances were more of a nudge from God that I am on the right path rather than me thinking I am some sort of interview ninja.
But I really wanted to lay out my strategy towards this. First off, probably most of what I said or did during my application and interview process will make the professionals on here cringe, so I will attach this disclaimer. "THIS IS WHAT WORKED FOR ME PAUL (ie BAILEYPUP), AND IS NO WAY TO ME CONSTRUED AS PROFESSIONAL ADVICE. ANYONE WHO FOLLOWS THIS LINE DOES SO AT THEIR OWN RISK." Now that was tougne in cheek, but I don't thinkthat my process was anymore spectacular than wnyone elses on here and everyone has to temper that with their own needs during the application season.
1. I applied realistically and strategically. Looking at my interview schedule, y'all can see I applied all over the place. I was willing to live in Erie for 4 years in order to go to med-school or even Harrogate, TN. I also know that wasting my time applying to OOS MD schools would be worthless with my stats. I actually thought aplying to UK and UL would be a waste as well. When I got my MCAT back and looked at my past I knew that I wasn't a very competitive MD candidate, but that I would be a pretty strong DO candidate, if I got my application out early and hit DO schools hard. I did honestly think there was no way I would hear from DMU or AZCOM either, but as in my other thread "screw FUD". So I would say a good protions of my acceptences comes fromt he fact that I applied to the right places.
2. This is the one thing that all of us OPM's have on the "whipper-snappers". WE have actually sat across a conference room table from someone and politely begged for something. Most of your "competition" will have never really interviewed for a job before and probably have never interviewed in a suit. I had been on dozens of interviews before medical school, so I had the whole interview posture and manners down pat. My group interview session at LECOM has convinced me that a big reason why OPMers are interviewing well is that some of your "competition" will not make eyecontact, interupt others or even the interviewer, chew gum, slouch, ect. At one point I wanted to say "Act like you been there son!" I do feel that having basic interview skills goes a long way.
3. Now this is where I am sure the interview gurus will disagree with me but I basically tackled my history from the get go. Almost every interview will start with "So, Paul. tell me a little about yourself." and I went right into "Well I am a guy who graduated with a BA who really didn't know what he wanted to do with it. I wasn't really focused in college and I just got out of there as quickly as possible and I know it shows. After working in accounting a little during school I decided to make a career out of accounting. I was already feeling lost in my career when I lost my job in '08, but I didn't know where to go. One positive that came from being out of work was that I got to seriously think about what would make me happy. I knew I wanted to do something that mattered, that touch the world in a positive way. I started to dabble in medicine, at first I took some nursing pre-reqs, becuase I felt I was "too old" (used air quotes HA HA). In my first class back I had a professor ask me what I was taking the class for and I told him how I wanted to be in medicine. He asked why not a Dr, and I gave him my "too old line". He stopped me right there and said, "Don't let anyone but you tell you what your dreams are." After that I decided to look into medince and found a group of people like me online. From that point on I knew I had to be a doctor.
----Okay so look at that, most would probably say Holy Crap you just pointed out every reason why they shouldn't accept you. But one thing I have found in interviews is that people appreciate it when you tell it like it is. So thats what I did. I also managed to take care of all of the negative questions within the first 5 mins of the interview. The only place this didn't work was at UK, but I dind't know that being married was a negative I honestly feel that being the one willing to talk about my negatives built a connection with my interviewers. The didn't feel like they had to "get their hands dirty" becuase I gave them an out. They can say "we talked about the neg stuff, now we can talk about this free clinic stuff." Most interviewers don't like to crush peoples dreams, I think they try to be realistic, but you really will only get one maybe two soul cruhers in 15 interviewers.
4. Be able to passionately talk about medicine, your desire to practice medicine and your experinces so far in medicine. One thing I can't stop talking about is how much I want to be a Dr., and everyone knows it. They can also see how much this process has changed me as a person. I am confident, charming, and joyful. One story I always tell in interviews is how much my wife has seen that this is the path for me. She says I have never been happier with my "career" as I have been since chosing to go to medical school. I'm never more excited as when I am talking about stuff I am learning in school, even OChem (which usually gets a chuckle from the interviewers.) Also it floors her the way I am when I am in the medical setting. She says I am a completely different person (in a good way) when I am at my interviews, it's like I am meant to be there and no ones going to push me out. While all though my past life I have always been kind of the wallflower. Make sure when you speak about medicine the interviewers can feel the excitement that they felt their first year of medical school.
5. Lastly, I think I did a really good job of connecting with my interviewers. Like I said, getting my negatives out of the way made the whole process less adversarial. Speaking passionately gives you a connection with them to their past. I also just really turned the whole interview into a good time by all. I was relaxed so they were relaxed. I made some light jokes so we weren't as stuffy. I really just tried to go about the whole thing as "Hey this is me, I am a pretty good guy, but if you don't think I am smart enough it's cool no hard feelings, I understand, I'm Paul the mature guys who knows how to handle himself." I think it just made the whole vibe of the interview go better.
I know I have rambled on here, but those are just the thoughts off the top of my head as to what "I did" in my interviews. I hope this helps everyone, although I think most of you reading this will find that interviews won't be an issue either.
But I really wanted to lay out my strategy towards this. First off, probably most of what I said or did during my application and interview process will make the professionals on here cringe, so I will attach this disclaimer. "THIS IS WHAT WORKED FOR ME PAUL (ie BAILEYPUP), AND IS NO WAY TO ME CONSTRUED AS PROFESSIONAL ADVICE. ANYONE WHO FOLLOWS THIS LINE DOES SO AT THEIR OWN RISK." Now that was tougne in cheek, but I don't thinkthat my process was anymore spectacular than wnyone elses on here and everyone has to temper that with their own needs during the application season.
1. I applied realistically and strategically. Looking at my interview schedule, y'all can see I applied all over the place. I was willing to live in Erie for 4 years in order to go to med-school or even Harrogate, TN. I also know that wasting my time applying to OOS MD schools would be worthless with my stats. I actually thought aplying to UK and UL would be a waste as well. When I got my MCAT back and looked at my past I knew that I wasn't a very competitive MD candidate, but that I would be a pretty strong DO candidate, if I got my application out early and hit DO schools hard. I did honestly think there was no way I would hear from DMU or AZCOM either, but as in my other thread "screw FUD". So I would say a good protions of my acceptences comes fromt he fact that I applied to the right places.
2. This is the one thing that all of us OPM's have on the "whipper-snappers". WE have actually sat across a conference room table from someone and politely begged for something. Most of your "competition" will have never really interviewed for a job before and probably have never interviewed in a suit. I had been on dozens of interviews before medical school, so I had the whole interview posture and manners down pat. My group interview session at LECOM has convinced me that a big reason why OPMers are interviewing well is that some of your "competition" will not make eyecontact, interupt others or even the interviewer, chew gum, slouch, ect. At one point I wanted to say "Act like you been there son!" I do feel that having basic interview skills goes a long way.
3. Now this is where I am sure the interview gurus will disagree with me but I basically tackled my history from the get go. Almost every interview will start with "So, Paul. tell me a little about yourself." and I went right into "Well I am a guy who graduated with a BA who really didn't know what he wanted to do with it. I wasn't really focused in college and I just got out of there as quickly as possible and I know it shows. After working in accounting a little during school I decided to make a career out of accounting. I was already feeling lost in my career when I lost my job in '08, but I didn't know where to go. One positive that came from being out of work was that I got to seriously think about what would make me happy. I knew I wanted to do something that mattered, that touch the world in a positive way. I started to dabble in medicine, at first I took some nursing pre-reqs, becuase I felt I was "too old" (used air quotes HA HA). In my first class back I had a professor ask me what I was taking the class for and I told him how I wanted to be in medicine. He asked why not a Dr, and I gave him my "too old line". He stopped me right there and said, "Don't let anyone but you tell you what your dreams are." After that I decided to look into medince and found a group of people like me online. From that point on I knew I had to be a doctor.
----Okay so look at that, most would probably say Holy Crap you just pointed out every reason why they shouldn't accept you. But one thing I have found in interviews is that people appreciate it when you tell it like it is. So thats what I did. I also managed to take care of all of the negative questions within the first 5 mins of the interview. The only place this didn't work was at UK, but I dind't know that being married was a negative I honestly feel that being the one willing to talk about my negatives built a connection with my interviewers. The didn't feel like they had to "get their hands dirty" becuase I gave them an out. They can say "we talked about the neg stuff, now we can talk about this free clinic stuff." Most interviewers don't like to crush peoples dreams, I think they try to be realistic, but you really will only get one maybe two soul cruhers in 15 interviewers.
4. Be able to passionately talk about medicine, your desire to practice medicine and your experinces so far in medicine. One thing I can't stop talking about is how much I want to be a Dr., and everyone knows it. They can also see how much this process has changed me as a person. I am confident, charming, and joyful. One story I always tell in interviews is how much my wife has seen that this is the path for me. She says I have never been happier with my "career" as I have been since chosing to go to medical school. I'm never more excited as when I am talking about stuff I am learning in school, even OChem (which usually gets a chuckle from the interviewers.) Also it floors her the way I am when I am in the medical setting. She says I am a completely different person (in a good way) when I am at my interviews, it's like I am meant to be there and no ones going to push me out. While all though my past life I have always been kind of the wallflower. Make sure when you speak about medicine the interviewers can feel the excitement that they felt their first year of medical school.
5. Lastly, I think I did a really good job of connecting with my interviewers. Like I said, getting my negatives out of the way made the whole process less adversarial. Speaking passionately gives you a connection with them to their past. I also just really turned the whole interview into a good time by all. I was relaxed so they were relaxed. I made some light jokes so we weren't as stuffy. I really just tried to go about the whole thing as "Hey this is me, I am a pretty good guy, but if you don't think I am smart enough it's cool no hard feelings, I understand, I'm Paul the mature guys who knows how to handle himself." I think it just made the whole vibe of the interview go better.
I know I have rambled on here, but those are just the thoughts off the top of my head as to what "I did" in my interviews. I hope this helps everyone, although I think most of you reading this will find that interviews won't be an issue either.
Apple pie - For once, SDN is of great benefit to you. 
They have a database of past interview questions for each school (SDN Interview Feedback), which gives you an idea of what kind of questions you may be asked. What I did to prepare last year, which I don’t recommend, was a bit over the top - I read every question for all the schools I received a secondary for. On one hand, it was a waste of time. On the other, it forced me to think about a lot of issues. Also, this prepped me for the mock interview I had with my advising office. My interviewer was someone I did not know (this is best, as it simulates the real thing).
Once I actually got interviews I reviewed the SDN questions for that school (1-2 weeks before the real thing), using only that year and one year back, and made myself a list of likely questions. I thought about answers, talked about the stickier ones with my husband and friends, and basically made sure that if I was asked I’d be able to give an intelligent response. I DID NOT memorize my answers, or even attempt it. I felt it really helped to vocalize those answers, and talked to myself in the office a lot.
However, this year’s applicants are much more likely to have “fun” questions about the Affordable Healthcare ruling and debate. READ UP ON THAT LIKE NEVER BEFORE. I’d avoid forming a strong opinion, but rather be able to acknowledge the reasons primary care doctors love and hate it.
Finally, I worked my flights to arrive early enough the day before my interview to have a good dinner and spend an hour or two reviewing those same questions and, again, talking to myself aloud to get a feel for it.
Oh, and I loathe suit jackets, so I made a point of putting mine on and practicing acting comfortable in it. Don’t want to be fidgeting with your cuffs and looking nervous.
Freaking out for first invite seems to be a normal responce; but just say to yourself the school might be very interested in you for such an early invite. Good luck.
One thing that should be comforting is that from what I have heard, it is harder to get an invite to interview than it is to get an acceptance after being interviewed.
Thx Idalyn for the work of encouragement.
Hey Bailey, thank you for taking time to dig the post and repost. I remember that your interviews were exceptionally good, and I found that amazing. It is good to read the background info you posted. Hopefully that will help. I know I do terrible when I interview. Perhaps too arrogant or blunt. I don’t know how to sugar coat my thoughts, and tend to voice my opinions in a forceful way (at least so says my wife).
I have to work on that and be a bit more balanced if not in my opinions, in the way I express them.
Heck, if I get a question about healthcare, I may answer something like “don’t even get me started on that! Coming from France, I think the system s**** like hell”. Of course a no do during an interview. But that’s just to try and explain why I screw up all my interviews…
HA…ok, yet again proving my theory that Redo and I would make the perfect combined Med School applicant. His unbelievable app and MCAT score, and my ability to schmooze my way through any interview I’ve ever conducted or been the victim of. 
(There’s a reason I work with physician recruiters. )
You’ll do great, Redo–you want this too badly not to. Just separate your inner dialogue from what actually comes out your mouth. (Dont you wish they sold filters for that? ) So excited for you!!
- redo-it-all Said:
Heck, if I get a question about healthcare, I may answer something like "don't even get me started on that! Coming from France, I think the system s**** like hell". Of course a no do during an interview. But that's just to try and explain why I screw up all my interviews...
I actually LOL'd at this. Sounds like its time for some mock interviews! Seriously, though, I too come across as arrogant or pushy a lot of the time. My strategy is above, but also I had my husband mock interview me several times, over a period of a few weeks. Since your wife is already grading you
she would probably enjoy helping you, and throwing out her own made-up just to trip you up questions. 
Heck, Redo, you’re French? Interviewing at a school in Texas? You’re screwed.
Jk! You’ll be fine.
Hey Pixie, mock interviews is something I’d like to do. But chances are that after the mock interviews with her, I may end up sleeping on the couch! But sure, my wife and I planned to discuss the entire thing. We have a saying in french: “I have to add some water to my wine”…
Carrie, I’d take your VR and comm skills anytime in exchange for a few science points. Who knows, you may be just fine this time around and end up with a score that will satisfy you.
Now about the part of a French interviewing in Texas, you made me laugh a good bunch olderguy.
Anyway, thank you for the kind words and support. It helps. Naturally, I will let you know how things go.
So I’m behind the rest of you. I just submitted my application today (and then subsequently found that I’d put the wrong year for a major event in my personal statement that I can no longer amend 
). So much for proofreading over and over and …I’m only applying at 11 schools. I think I have a really good shot at my state school, so five of the others are “safeties” and five are “reach” schools.
Two of my transcripts are in, but I need to call on the last one tomorrow to double check that the school received my check for $4 and has sent it.
Hoping it all goes well and I didn’t just blow $500 on AMCAS.
Baileypup: Your whippersnapper comment cracked me up. You are absolutely right. I am afraid that I do not perform well in interviews, but I need to remind myself, as a non-whippersnapper, I have attended numerous meetings, conferences with doctors and other professionals.
Pixie: Thank you so much for the information. I have tried to stay away from SDN in the past, but I will look up the database. In addition to reading topics regarding the affordable healthcare, I have also been reading a couple great articles related to medical ethics. Dr. Robert Truog from Harvard has written some great articles on this topic.
Carrie: I wish I have your ability to schmooze in any situations too! Good luck to your application as well.
Yeahhh… Invite #2 Texas Tech Lubboch.
That’s really great. Pretty excited about it.
Keep you posted.
Awesome news! You will have to share your experiences with us.
Thx apple pie. I certainly will.
Congrats, redo-it-all!
My only news is that I have two secondaries…I expected a couple of days off after submitting AMCAS. But I’m not complaining.
Redo - AWESOME. Woot woot.
Annette - And so it begins. It’d be okay to take a day off, but remember to try to get all the secondaries in within a week of receiving them.
Good luck everyone!