what to offer

Hello,

I was just wondering, if during an interview, they ask

"What do you have to offer to us?"

I really don't know how to answer! I am pretty much regular premed with volunteer experiences. Anyone who has been accepted faced with similar dilemma?

also, what the heck did you guys talk about duringi your interview that you think helped you get accepted????

I really hate questions like this. There isn't any sure one answer fits all type of solution. Don't obsess about things like this. It will only affect your performance badly during the interviews. Don't get thrown off by all these strategies of what to say. JUST BE YOURSELF! There is nothing better than that. Be earnest, and honest, and that should help you lots.

Just tell them that you will bring more depth into the class, then they will ask why would that be? then you tell them how amazing you are, provide some evidence, boom boom, you're set.

Then they'll notice how you're the 300th person who said the same thing (ie add depth to the class). :lol Sorry.

It think the standard "adding depth to the class" is pretty redundant since of course all members of the class will do so. There's more to it than showing just how amazing you are (and a lot of people are pretty amzing). The interview isn't just a time to explain yourself. There will be other questions that will be asked to assess the person that you are. And you can't really change that too much. So you can't go too much wrong than just being yourself and stop stressing over things that probably don't make too much of a difference.

It may be true that you are the 300th person who said it, but then again, if it is a regular answer, they would expect someone to answer the question like that. So it's not what you say that matters, (to a certain degree I'm not gonna lie), it's how you say it that counts.

Content definitely counts. Interviewers are looking for solid reasons as to why you would be a good fit at their medical program. There are so many well-qualified applicants out there vying for a seat in medical school that a fluff interview will probably lead to a rejection letter.

Ian
UBC, Med 3

Although i understand that you can't "fake" an interview, i'd just be interested to know what you talked about during your interview. I'm not sure what I have to offer (aka I don't really see my activities as anything special, although they might be). Can you offer some styles of interview? I know the phrase "be yourself." It really helps calm my nerves if I have an idea of what is expected. I tried to be myself last year when I applied and received interviews. Obviously "being myself" did not cut it (I agree, it may be luck whether the interviewers and myself "jived"). In light of this, can anyone offer any advice? Thanks.

Ian, you mentioned that I should offer "solid reasons." That is a good advice. Thanks. I was wondering what would be some examples of solid reasons? I don't want to come across as being arrogant, too proud of what I have achieved. I have volunteered extensively, researched and will be publishing, involved in the arts, play various sports, and other things. What kind of things should I pick out?

Give examples. If you say "I'm a leader" make sure you can say "I'm a leader because I did this and this and this". As much as you don't want to sound arrogant, you shouldn't be too shy to say what you've accomplished. The person in the waiting room won't be shy.
If you're asked what you can offer, think what you seriously could offer. I mean really! Every person brings something unique into the world. Just try to find it for yourself. Think about how your friends regard you. If that's too generic, find different friends. Just kidding.
It's hard to say "I will be good for the class because I've done this and this". That's all in the past. Think about what you want to do in the future.