Quotes From The Interview Trail

Happy Monday, and welcome to Medical Mondays! This week, I’m just going to be sharing some quotes from the interview trail with you–I know the interviewing process can be super stressful, but I honestly had a lot of fun on mine, partly because I really enjoyed my conversations with my interviewers!

Our conversations would span through everything from medicine (why I wanted to go into family medicine, their backstories and how they ended up where they were)…to me talking about counting weeds in a field in a dream (how I decided I had to change my major) and being thrown into a hydrostatic weighing tank (me telling them about my favorite class in college)…to living at a cat shelter (yes, I actually talked about that).

So while it does get somewhat tiring to smile so much, my interviews were really enjoyable, and it was so nice to get to talk with people who were as enthusiastic about family medicine as I was and who seemed to genuinely just want to get to know me better as a person! :]

Some of these comments are also why I feel like why the residency match is kinda like dating/getting married. They were so flattering! :o

“I was very impressed by your powerlifting state records.”

“I think you could get into any program that you wanted to get into. When I see a great applicant, I usually take this time to tell them what our program could offer them. I really liked the work that you did with interpreting at a free clinic. You seem like you really do want to help under-served populations. A lot of people like to say that, but their applications don’t reflect that. They don’t walk the walk,  but yours really does.”

“I think you would be a very energizing addition to our program. I really like your attitude. I’m sure you have a lot of decision-making to do, but I hope you decide to come here.”

“Tell me more about Mr. WVSOM!”

“I’m really excited to hear more about your work with under-served populations.”

“It seems like you run into very kind and friendly people wherever you go. Have you ever wondered why that is?” (“I think I’ve just been incredibly blessed with the people in my life.”) “I think it’s because of you, and the way you treat others.”

“We all agree that you would do well here and fit right in. You will be a compassionate provider and advocate for our vulnerable population.”

“I admired your energy and commitment to under-served groups of all types (cat rescue :)) Seriously, I think you would fit in quite well at our program and would be delighted to see you in July. ”

“I’ve never seen a more diverse CV and set of skills than when I read through yours–how did you manage to do so much in so little time?”

“Looking forward to working with you in the field of Family Medicine. Where there’s a will, there’s a way! You certainly will make an impact to the community.”

(“I’m just going to think of it as an adventure!”) “You seem like the kind of person who would be able to find the good in anything.”

“I admire your energy.”

“You seem like you especially enjoy working with the geriatric population–is there any reasoning behind that?”

“Oh, yes! I remember reading that in your personal statement–that was very sweet of you.”

“Here’s what I think we should do–on orientation day, we’ll have me sitting on one end of a barbell and he [the associate program director] can sit on the other end, and you can lift it in front of everyone! I think that would really help to set the tone of how the program should be run.”

“I really like the name of your band–The Vagal Tones? We had a good laugh at that–did you put a lot of people to sleep? What did you play?”

“…You have such a diverse application, I don’t know where to start. You do so many different things, and you do them all well.”

• What’s something someone said to you during an interview that really stuck with you?
• I’m still having trouble finalizing my list, but my friend and I came up with a fun way to remedy the situation!? Part of the reasoning behind this post is because I still have a month before I find out where the hecks I’m going, so I’m dragging you all into my guessing/waiting game. <3