Tell me a little about yourself

[bobert bobhead]

Originally Posted by robinre

One piece of advice: in two of my interviews they asked me this question (Mac would never ask this) and I had my pre-memorized story ready to tell them. Both times they cut me off somewhere around when I started to talk about why I was interested in medicine. Keep your answer short!! Like I mean around a minute. It's probably the first question they'll ask you and it's more of an intro than a question they really want a spiel on from you.
The reason they cut me off both times seemed to be a "whoa whoa you're answering our future questions" or "we'll be discussing that later in more detail".

So really, don't give your life story, don't go into your extracurriculars, the subjects you liked at school, inspiring profs, why you love medicine or anything like that. Keep it simple, short and pleasant.

I had the complete opposite experience with this question, I think you gotta gauge the interest of the interviewer and what they mean to do with the question. I basically introduced the things I wanted them to know about me but didn't go any farther than saying I did them. That said, i definitely went longer than a minute. I found my interviewers used my tidbits as springboards to take the interview in the direction they found most interesting.

[Sn1Sn2E1E2]

Throw them off balance and make an impression by challenging the norm. Just give a random factor about yourself.

I think they really want to know how conversational you are.

I would say: I am interested in samurai swordsmanship. When I'm with my friends I like to perform magic card tricks. My goal is to one day master the arts of ninjitsu.

[lost__in__space]

Yes. Keep it short. That was the best advice I got from my friend who interviewed at a ton of Ivy schools in the US. And it worked for me (and was necessary...... both panel and 2 on 1 interviews I had, I feel that the interviewers had so many questions they wanted to ask)