Take some time to tell us about yourself and who we'd be getting as our next Surgical Oncology fellow.
Surgical Oncology fellowship programs see a wide variety of applicants each matching season. In asking this question, your interviewers are looking for insight into your personality to ensure that you would be a great fit with the culture and faculty at their institution.
"If I were fortunate enough to match into your Surgical Oncology fellowship program, you'd get a highly motivated surgeon who loves to stay active. In my personal time, I am an avid outdoorsman who rarely spends time sitting at home. During the summer months, you can find me on the water in my canoe. I'm also a dedicated family man raising two young girls, and I've gotten into coaching their soccer and softball teams."
This is a great chance to give your sales pitch and tell your interviewers what makes you one of the top candidates for their program. While there is no right or wrong answer to a question like this, there are a couple of directions you can take to have the greatest impact on your interviewers. This isn't the time to discuss your future career plans; you'll have time to do that with other questions. It is much wiser to focus on the infectious personality, teamwork, and work ethic you will bring to this Surgical Oncology fellowship.
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
If I have the possibility to join you as your surgical fellow, you'll see that I am a very active guy. I love outdoor activity, in the mountains especially and for this, I think that your region has a lot to offer. I love snowboarding and doing surf and I was a good boxer in medical school, I stopped this activity when I discovered that surgeons need healthy hands to work.
Jaymie's Feedback
Interviewers love to get to know you as a person, so your details on your hobbies are perfect! If you can, include some other aspects of your personality that the interviewer would find valuable if you joined their program.
Anonymous Answer
Luckily, through my elective experiences, I've had the opportunity to work with many of you already. The feedback that I have received often relates to my ability to work well as a member of the team, exuding positive energy that impacts those around me. With an eagerness to learn and my teachable and motivated attitude, I have a strong work ethic that is noticed by my educators and peers. I am devoted to my patients and given my personal experiences with Lynch Syndrome have developed a unique approach to developing relationships with them, allowing me to remain compassionate and reliable throughout their cancer care.
Jaymie's Feedback
You provide the interviewer with a good foundation of your experience! Consider adding a personal detail or two about what you enjoy doing in your free time.
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