Post Interview Discussion/support Thread (2016)

[futureMD9]

Hey everyone! 

 

Are all the interviews done at Ottawa yet?

 

How is everyone feeling about their interview? Warm Panel? Cold Panel? 

 

Is Ottawa your first choice or not? 

 

 

Ill start....

 

I interviewed on Feb 27th and my panel seemed decently warm. I feel decent about my interview, however, as more time goes on the more it becomes a blur. Ottawa is my second choice ! Does anyone know the exact dates acceptances/rejections are sent out? 

[YorkU Bio 2017]

I think there are still some interviews this upcoming weekend. I felt I had quite a warm panel. Like many people, I walked out quite confident and am now starting to question everything I did. Ottawa is my first choice. I believe emails are sent out May 10 

[UWOMedSci16]

I had a warm panel, and like many others felt good about the interview immediately following it. The more I reflect though the less sure I become. Could've answered some things a little better. Ottawa is in my top two choices.

[futureMD9]

seems like many people feel pretty good coming out of it? Hmm makes me wonder how they discern between so many excellent interviews!!

[NotASerialKiller]

seems like many people feel pretty good coming out of it? Hmm makes me wonder how they discern between so many excellent interviews!!

 

Feeling good =/= doing well

[futureMD9]

Feeling good =/= doing well

 

 

Good Point! I guess one could answer all the questions adequately and feel that they did great yet the panel could have judged them differently during analysis. Regardless the wait and the speculation is killing me haha

[UCpls<3]

The interviews definitely aren't done yet. I believe they go for 2 more weeks. They went to April 1st last year.

 

I felt good about my interview until I began to think about my answers haha. The panel was really warm and I felt like I made a genuine connection with them though. 

 

Ottawa wasn't my first choice going into the interview but it's definitely climbed up the ranks after meeting such friendly faculty members and students!

[johnmccrae]

I still have my interview coming up on March 23rd. I went to uOttawa for my undergrad (many moons ago) so it'll be interesting to see if it's changed much.

 

In the end, it should be fun! I've got good vibes going into it.

[daftypatty]

I feel like im the only one that had a negative/not warming panel lol

[futureMD9]

I feel like im the only one that had a negative/not warming panel lol

 

you are not the only one, my friend had a really cold panel and he told me they kept pressing him. He also said that they didn't seem to want to get to know him as a person. People usually only want to post positive experiences so I am sure there are more out there who did not have a great panel and/or experience

[daftypatty]

you are not the only one, my friend had a really cold panel and he told me they kept pressing him. He also said that they didn't seem to want to get to know him as a person. People usually only want to post positive experiences so I am sure there are more out there who did not have a great panel and/or experience

See, i find this very unfair. Even if positive panel is not indicative of how well u did in the interview, that type of positivity definitley has a boosting effect to your confidence/answers. How can one applicant get a positive panel that doesnt press them but another applicant get a cold panel that keeps getting pressed/give colder demeanour lol

[futureMD9]

See, i find this very unfair. Even if positive panel is not indicative of how well u did in the interview, that type of positivity definitley has a boosting effect to your confidence/answers. How can one applicant get a positive panel that doesnt press them but another applicant get a cold panel that keeps getting pressed/give colder demeanour lol

 

 

Good point, I think Ottawa (and other medical schools) probably tells every panel to be welcoming and engaging, however, like anything in life, there are just some people who are less friendly and open compared to others. It is probably just chance and I am sure that Ottawa doesn't set it up to be like that. I like to think that they probably account for differences in panels/try to standardize it somehow. Don't sweat it, I have heard people getting in with both warm and cold panels.

[FeministKilljoy]

you are not the only one, my friend had a really cold panel and he told me they kept pressing him. He also said that they didn't seem to want to get to know him as a person. People usually only want to post positive experiences so I am sure there are more out there who did not have a great panel and/or experience

 

 

I felt that way at my NOSM MMI. It was weird.

[daftypatty]

So, just wanted to clarify something about bilingualism. If you indicated bilingualism, this only plays into factor as a tie breaker when your post-interview score & gpa are equal right? (according to the website). I'm hoping bilingualism doesn't play a big factor..

[Med_Pack]

I felt that way at my NOSM MMI. It was weird.

 

+1 for this at my NOSM MMI as well.

[everest_7]

So, just wanted to clarify something about bilingualism. If you indicated bilingualism, this only plays into factor as a tie breaker when your post-interview score & gpa are equal right? (according to the website). I'm hoping bilingualism doesn't play a big factor..

Is this only for English stream applicants who are bilingual? Is the French stream in competition with the English stream or are they totally separate? 

[daftypatty]

Im not sure about the french stream, but for english stream if u indicated bilingualism u have an advantage in case as a secondary tie breaker (primary tie breaker being gpa). And i believe french stream competition is in their own pool separate from eng

[sjc2]

I feel like im the only one that had a negative/not warming panel lol

 

you are not the only one, my friend had a really cold panel and he told me they kept pressing him. He also said that they didn't seem to want to get to know him as a person. People usually only want to post positive experiences so I am sure there are more out there who did not have a great panel and/or experience

 

 

 

I also felt like I was being pressed and challenged throughout my interview... and that at least half of the questions didn't really delve into who I am as a person. I have had so much self doubt since the interview, remembering anecdotes that would have been useful, to wishing I hadn't phrased something in a certain way... I was so impressed by the school which made me extra nervous for my interview!

[daftypatty]

I also felt like I was being pressed and challenged throughout my interview... and that at least half of the questions didn't really delve into who I am as a person. I have had so much self doubt since the interview, remembering anecdotes that would have been useful, to wishing I hadn't phrased something in a certain way... I was so impressed by the school which made me extra nervous for my interview!

What do you mean their questions didn't really delve into who you were as a person - they were mostly ethical scenarios ?

[sjc2]

What do you mean their questions didn't really delve into who you were as a person - they were mostly ethical scenarios ?

 

Obviously I cannot comment on the types of questions that I was asked - and my opinion on how it went is clearly subjective! Maybe the interviewers did feel like they got a good impression of who I am. You never know, and that's probably the most important thing to keep in mind.

[malizawood]

Im finding it really hard to judge how well I did on the interview, I walked out feeling fine but dont know if I was memorable/said the right things/etc

[thethirdlaw]

I feel like im the only one that had a negative/not warming panel lol

 

This is why I think a lot of schools have moved to the MMI.

[InstantRamen]

I also felt like I was being pressed and challenged throughout my interview... and that at least half of the questions didn't really delve into who I am as a person. I have had so much self doubt since the interview, remembering anecdotes that would have been useful, to wishing I hadn't phrased something in a certain way... I was so impressed by the school which made me extra nervous for my interview!

Im sorry that you had to experience that, but I'm also glad I'm not alone. I felt the same way.

[hopefuldreamer]

Im sorry that you had to experience that, but I'm also glad I'm not alone. I felt the same way.

 

Ditto over here.

[daftypatty]

For those of you above who had "negative" experiences, what made your experience negative? For me, my interviewer was cutting me off before I could finish my sentences/answers and this happened several times throughout the interview.