The real interview tips

wow man....you are getting me a bit nervous now. I dont even know HOW to regurge a fx classification!

Dood, I feel the same way. I think pimping on ortho knowledge is useless. At this point in our training (which is nothing), that knowledge would have no bearing on our future performance.

I did hear someone mention it, so I was just curious if the rumors were true. Also it would be nice to know what to expect.

Any contributions would be helpful.

Yours truly,

loving_ortho

dood,

I have heard some crazy sh*t. One dood said they asked him to name the branches of the thyrocervical trunk! Can you imagine. We actually have to know something?! How dare they....

can't speak for everyone since i only attended 5 interviews, but nobody pimped me in any ortho interview. very social and low key. not the same everywhere, but that was my brief experience.

cheers.
fg

You've just made me a LOT nervous. I haven't received any interviews yet. How many interviews are coming up? Am I screwed if I haven't heard from any programs about interviews?

And fracture classifications are pretty straightforward.

I'm very sorry for making you nervous. several = 3; one in nov and rest in dec and jan. I was also including 3 unofficial interview offers from my away rotations (as promised by significant level attendings, but not the chairman or anything like that).

So basically, I wouldn't worry just yet. I'm sure you are a stellar student.

But I would still love some feedback on interview tips, and I beg to differ on Fx classifications. They may be straightforward, but they are just too many to memorize.

I was surprised by the first/opening question "do you have any questions"
they never tested my knowledge of ortho or medicine
all interview questions were from this book

they ask mostly simple question ... it matters how you respond
i think they dislike somebody who is very tense etc., but at the same time very "agitated" applicant will look very suspicious too

good luck

I help interview applicants as a chief resident
It is true from my experience that some places will ask you medical questions, but the vast majority do not. Some do it just to see how you handle yourself/if you have a logical approach to things. I had 2 out of 15 that asked "pimp" type questions.
A few places have some sort of dexterity test
A few places have interviews with non orthopedists like a research director or (no kidding) a psychologist

That being said you will find that most interviews are strikingly similar in the overall nature/format. Basically it is to let us get to know you a little and to pick up any personality "red flags". I do think you should be somewhat knowledgeable about a program so that you can ask intelligent questions (they always ask if you have any questions). An easy question is something like "what do you think you strongest points are" or "are you looking to add any more attendings" or "what do the residents think of having to go to another city for peds/tumor/trauma" if they send people away for rotations. just something to show interest.
you may also be surprised how much of the interview is not talking about anything related to medicine. Several of my interviews talked only about hobbies of mine I mentioned in my personal statement.
The first few suck b/c you dont know what to expect, but they do get better.
good luck, maybe i will be interviewing some of you guys in dec/jan

Hello,

I am very tensed up, didn't receive any IV so far. Do you think its late, we are already in NOV. Most of u guys got IVs, that does mean i have to forget this yr.

Chillax orthodoc,

I'm pretty sure that not everyone has gotten interviews yet. Programs have just downloaded the Dean's letter yesterday; and they may wait a few weeks to review your entire application before extending an interview.

This makes sense considering the number of applicants for a few select spots at any particular school.