How to Answer: Talk about a time when you were asked to conform to a policy you disagreed with.
Advice and answer examples written specifically for an University of Missouri Veterinary Medicine interview.
3. Talk about a time when you were asked to conform to a policy you disagreed with.
How to Answer
The admissions team at the University of Missouri is asking this behavioral-based question for a couple of reasons. First, they want to understand how you react and behave when asked to do something you disagree with. Second, they'd like to understand more about your critical-thinking process when faced with a dilemma.
Perhaps you did not want to conform to the policy because it was unethical. Maybe you did not want to conform because you thought you had a better approach. Whatever situation you choose to discuss, be ready to outline your thinking, how you reacted, and how you communicated in this situation.
Since this question asks you to 'talk about a time when...' it's essential that you give a real-life story-based example. Behavioral-based questions like this can be structured using the STAR framework. STAR is an acronym for Situation, Task, Action, Result.
Written by Rachelle Enns on July 9th, 2022
Answer Example
"(Situation & Task) While completing my Bachelor of Science in Animal Sciences, I was placed in an internship at an equestrian center. There, I experienced the euthanizing of sick or injured horses simply because of the business considerations around expensive veterinary bills. (Action) Although I could not actively change this decision, I opened conversations with employees about the ethical implications of this and what it meant for animal welfare. I learned that the issue is more ambiguous than I first thought. If the horse's vet bills were too expensive, they wouldn't be able to afford care for the other horses, so they felt the decision to euthanize was respecting animal welfare. (Result) This situation allowed me to understand how finances can impact veterinary care. I am glad that I did not react in an unprofessional manner. Rather, I gained the opportunity to hear others, be heard, and learn something new. Although I can't entirely agree with some decisions made in the sport of equestrian, it's important that I at least consider other perspectives and keep lines of communication open."
Written by Rachelle Enns on July 9th, 2022