Feeling Nervous

[Kui]

I am getting intensely nervous about my interview at Western in the coming weeks. I mean, I have a good perspective on things, I feel like I'm mature but this feeling just gnaws at me.

 

I don't know what to think if I'm not received well at my interview. I feel like I would doubt the person that I've become. I've been developing in myself something I think all physicians have: life experience, maturity, compassion.

 

But I'm scared the interview committee is going to take one look at me and think, I don't have it. Even though I think I do. I'm scared that I can't see what I'm lacking. And if I can't see what I lack, I can't improve it.

 

Anyways, thanks for listening to some pre-game jitters.

[toastman]

You're not alone. Although you may have these qualities, it feels really weird talking about single experiences that exemplify certain traits. Just practice and be confident!! Every other interviewee feels exactly the same! Good luck

[ralk]

I am getting intensely nervous about my interview at Western in the coming weeks. I mean, I have a good perspective on things, I feel like I'm mature but this feeling just gnaws at me.

 

I don't know what to think if I'm not received well at my interview. I feel like I would doubt the person that I've become. I've been developing in myself something I think all physicians have: life experience, maturity, compassion.

 

But I'm scared the interview committee is going to take one look at me and think, I don't have it. Even though I think I do. I'm scared that I can't see what I'm lacking. And if I can't see what I lack, I can't improve it.

 

Anyways, thanks for listening to some pre-game jitters.

 

Oh yeah, exact same feeling.

 

What's getting me past that specific feeling of nervousness is that I know it's closed-file. That means they only see/hear about what I talk about. Assuming I'm the type of person they want (and like you, I think that I am), all I have to do is be myself! I've been doing that for over two decades now, it can't be that hard

[rmorelan]

You're not alone. Although you may have these qualities, it feels really weird talking about single experiences that exemplify certain traits. Just practice and be confident!! Every other interviewee feels exactly the same! Good luck

 

Exactly - you are not alone at all. Interviews are stressful for everyone (including the interviewers although of course less so - no one wants to make any errors on either side).

 

I have sat with now probably over a 100+ interviewees just before they had their interviews over the past 3 years. Maybe even that is an underestimate. Being nervous is the definite norm.

 

Western isn't out to crush you in the interview - we just want to know who you are

[Kui]

Haha, thanks all.

 

It's hard to actually realize that everyone else probably also feels some degree of self-doubt. Everyone else looks so confident and so ready to try again year after year. I think I would seriously doubt my abilities if I were rejected this year.

[silvertree]

Hi,

 

I just wanted to say thank you for your post, and to offer some thoughts. I'm also an applicant who's also been feeling quite nervous about the interview (my first one is in two days), and I've lived with myself long enough (well, just 22 years) to know that I'm a shy person at heart. I am not sure if this might help, but at a workshop put on by Career Services at my school, the career counsellor kept telling us to ask ourselves, "Who are you when nervous?" In answering that question, I know that when I get nervous, I tend to clamp down verbally and look for ways to wrap up my speech quickly so as to end the discomfort of having to continue to speak. It helped me to think back to times when my nervousness had impeded my ability to communicate, and imagining self-reminders I can use if it should happen again. Realizing this, I now know that if I start to feel nervous during the interview, I should remind myself to push ahead and keep talking, and that if everything falls apart, I can always ask my interviewer for a chance to collect my thoughts and start the question over.

 

Some time ago, when I was looking up information on how to overcome a fear of public speaking, I came across an article explaining that it helps to become aware of when our emotions are not reflective of reality, as sometimes we make the mistake of extrapolating from how we're feeling at a moment onto reality. It said, for example, that a person who suffers from exam anxiety might study a lot in preparation, but upon entering the exam hall, she might feel her heart racing and think to herself, "Oh no, I'm feeling nervous again - this means that I'm not prepared and won't do well." In this case, her nervousness was a product of her anxiety, and did not reflect the fact that she had worked hard to prepare, and probably could answer most of the questions. From your post you sound like someone who's really genuine, thoughtful, and probably a kind person to talk to, and even if you are slightly nervous at the interviews, I'm sure that the interviewers will see your positive qualities come through as you tell them about your activities and your values.

 

What you wrote about the outcome of the interviews altering your sense of self also resonated with me, as it was a feeling that I also struggled with. I'm not sure if I've made peace with it yet, but in reviewing my own application, I couldn't help but feel a quiet sense of pride. I felt that even if I don't get any acceptances this year, the experiences I've had and the things I've learned will still be within me, and I'll carry them all to whatever I'm going to do next. So whatever happens, all that you've accomplished so far will still be yours to build upon at the end, and you can always try again.

 

Sorry for all the long rambling! I hope it helps to know that you're not alone