Posting interview questions

[mez]

Originally Posted by Thirdfox

In response to Mez, I don't believe that if you had prepared for the interviews adequately you will not be selected. People who decide to construct *perfect* answers will be easily spotted.

If you were prepared and then became aware of the area of questions they might ask it would only give you some food for thought (and you would have performed well without that information.)

If on the other hand you hadn't prepared at all and suddenly find the interview questions on this forum you may be able to construct a half-decent answer but I would find it hard to believe that interviewers would not be able to distinguish between these two cases...

Hi Thirdfox. I understand what you're saying, but we are not talking about giving people an awareness of areas of questions - we are talking about letting people know the exact questions. If people are well prepared, they will already be aware about the sorts of questions they are likely to be asked (I have no problem with this). You're right, people who aren't prepared at all are not going to stand a chance. So let's just talk about the proportion of candidates who are prepared to some degree.

You have to remember that admissions are trying to differentiate between a lot of very able and suitable candidates (as well as those who aren't). Any advantage you give to some candidates over others is unfair. Knowing the exact questions gives you a huge advantage - especially when it comes to the questions of the sort "Can you give me an example of a time you..." or "Tell me specifically about...". I am 100% positive that I would have performed much better in my interview if I'd known exactly what they were going to ask - even though I was fairly well prepared. Also, how are admissions going to be able to accurately assess how well you think on your feet and respond to pressure (which will be less) if you know the questions?

I'm not in admissions, so I don't know exactly how they score you - but even answering a few questions more satisfactorily may be enough to move you from not being selected to getting offered a place. Also, I'm not sure that they can mark you down for giving a perfect answer - even if they do suspect your answer is a bit prepared .

Anyway, we can only make assumptions about the exact methods admissions use for selection and the likely effect knowing the interview questions will have on a candidate. If admissions thought it would make no difference, then they would not have posted on this forum asking people not to disclose the questions.

[Thirdfox]

Originally Posted by mez

If admissions thought it would make no difference, then they would not have posted on this forum asking people not to disclose the questions.

...that's why some people posted back disagreeing with their rationale... (there's the lawyer in me... spotting the tiny detail! )

I agree with a lot of what you've said but in the end if people want to share their experience on this website and believe that it can benefit other people they should be allowed too.

The above statement could be adapted to say "if the posters thought that it would affect their chances of getting an offer, then they would not have posted on this forum..."

[mez]

Originally Posted by Thirdfox

...that's why some people posted back disagreeing with their rationale... (there's the lawyer in me... spotting the tiny detail! )

I agree with a lot of what you've said but in the end if people want to share their experience on this website and believe that it can benefit other people they should be allowed too.

The above statement could be adapted to say "if the posters thought that it would affect their chances of getting an offer, then they would not have posted on this forum..."

Hee-hee. We could go back and forth for a while on this . But hey, that's what these forums are all about!

There is nothing wrong with debating their rationale, but we just don't have as much information on the admissions process as they do. The problem is that if someone decides to post their questions, it is not only their own chances they are potentially impacting but also those of other earlier-interviewed applicants; they are making the choice for everybody else. Also, you don't have to have thought carefully about something or be well informed in order to make a post .

Looking at it another way, if people don't gain any benefit from knowing the questions in advance - why would they be interested in seeing them posted. If they do gain benefit, then clearly they are given an advantage over earlier-interviewed candidates.

You're right that it is nice to give other people help; but I feel that this is being nice to some people, to the detriment of other people's chances. Some people need to feel that they are nice, helpful people - even if the end result (if not deliberately) is unfair.

PS: I see you have decided to study law. Are you doing a law conversion course? Have you got a training contract?

[Thirdfox]

Originally Posted by mez

There is nothing wrong with debating their rationale, but we just don't have as much information on the admissions process as they do. The problem is that if someone decides to post their questions, it is not only their own chances they are potentially impacting but also those of other earlier-interviewed applicants; they are making the choice for everybody else. Also, you don't have to have thought carefully about something or be well informed in order to make a post .

PS: I see you have decided to study law. Are you doing a law conversion course? Have you got a training contract?

Mez... are you sure you don't want to do law too? I was hoping you wouldn't spot that fatal flaw in my argument... you're good!

Law conversion course??? I'm just studying it as an undergraduate in Trinity College... (mainly because I didn't get the points necessary for medicine - well I kinda did but long story...)

To go back to interview questions, I don't think people will concentrate hugely on the actual specific question... to do so would lead to a forced answer. Instead they'll just get a general gist of the type of questions and prepare more fully on that... Also remember the interviewers can still change the question on the day to throw people who only prepare for a specific question!

[mez]

Originally Posted by Thirdfox

To go back to interview questions, I don't think people will concentrate hugely on the actual specific question... to do so would lead to a forced answer. Instead they'll just get a general gist of the type of questions and prepare more fully on that.

I'm just studying it as an undergraduate in Trinity College... (mainly because I didn't get the points necessary for medicine - well I kinda did but long story...)

I can't see a problem with people knowing the types of questions they might be asked; although others may see this differently. Does that mean we agree?!

I thought you might be a mature student , which is why I asked about law conversion; I think that I understand your situation now. Sorry to hear that you didn't get the necessary points for medicine. If you still harbour a strong desire to do medicine in years to come, you still can - I have a friend who left a London law firm to study medicine; she says it's the best decision she has ever made! Anyway, good luck with whatever path you ultimately choose to follow .

[Thirdfox]

Thanks for the words of encouragement, good luck to you too!

And I think we have reached an agreement

But I did notice that we seemed to have hijacked this thread and that's not fair to the Percy who wanted to get her message across - so here is what this thread is about:

Originally Posted by Percy

I didn't state heavily enough at the Open Day on Friday that it is not in your best interests to post the interview questions on this forum following your interview at St George's or Nottingham. You may think that you are doing others a favour but in fact you lowering your own chances of being made an offer.

We will have 330 students to consider for only 100 offers...

Caroline
St George's

[Shikamaru]

Originally Posted by Thirdfox

I had been operating on the assumption that this forum was created to provide information to students who are interested in/studying medicine.

When the people who are going to be future doctors become so competitive that they would not help fellow colleagues I believe that would be a dark day for medicine.

In the end, if you are prepared I had assumed you would get the offer.

You have to realise that in the end all medics are going to compete against each other and do whatever it takes to get ahead of their competition. I'm now a final year medic and the things that I've seen going on at medical school have really been an eye opener.

We all recently had to aplly for our jobs through the infamous MDAP system and friends who I had also always helped previously suddenly decided to become competitive and not offer any help or advice or ven proof reading of our personal statement. It is quite sad that this happens in medicine but having so many high achieving academics in one place seems to foster this environment.

I don't mean to sound negative, but you have to accept that it is not all noble to bbe a medic. It's just life. After all people compete ina ll walks of life, so why not medicine?

[Thirdfox]

Oh pu-lease! In our law class some people are just crazy when it comes to competition! Hiding books in the library comes to mind.... even ripping out relevant legal cases... I think it's really sad that to make yourself look good you have to make others look bad. Improvement comes from the inside.

[Chocolatelover]

If Doctors are meant to have a caring attitude and are meant to help others I can see why a lot of people can see no wrong in sharing interview questions. I mean there is no huge chance that you will be asked those questions anyway on the day of your interview. I do think however that it is important to be well prepared for the "Type" of questions that they may ask you. What medical schools tend to forget in the ruthless pursuit of the perfect candidate is that we are all in the same boat and would do the little we could to help each other.

[saskia297]

just a quick addition....
St Georges DO ask exactly the same questions to each candidate (well they did for the last 2 years anyway), so knowing the questions in advance would give any candidate an unfair advantage over those already interviewed with no prior knowledge
Sas
xxx