What is not supposed to talk about during the interview day?

[Charlie Song]

My interest is developmental biology and I am going to take an interview of a PhD program in a big hospital.

Since most professors there are doing something related to development and embryo, we might talk about genetic abnormality in fetus.

Personally, I believe it is necessary to terminate the pregnancy when genetic mutations are found before the birth.

However, people who consider abortion unacceptable would see my opinion offensive.

Do I need to avoid saying anything like this?

(My current professor suggested me not to talk about my preference for eugenics in the interview)

[persimmony]

Don't bring it up unless they bring it up and specifically ask your opinion. You don't want to come off as snooty or evasive, but just approach it delicately and state your personal opinion. I don't see how this could really come up though. I'm interested in stem cell research but I don't really foresee having a conversation about whether I'm pro-life or pro-choice...maybe there would be talk about the controversy around it affecting research... but that would be about it.

[threading_the_neidl]

Oh god. No. Avoid any hot button-type issues, even if directly asked, do your best to worm your way out of a direct answer. No one should ask you that and if it's from a chair or someone you want to work with, you may want to reconsider if the working environment there is okay. Sure you might agree on one issue, but what happens next time?

 

Also, we had a candidate make a racist joke once during the student-only lunch. Don't do that. Or, actually, definitely do that if that's your normal thing, because we definitely want to know ahead of time. Needless to say, she was not granted acceptance.

[scienceowl]

definitely avoid controversial issues. these include, but are not limited to your opinions on politics, religion and race. this stands true not just for the interviews but also for the social gatherings you'll attend.

[yolk]

Give your honest opinion. Be respectful and prepared to back it with reasoning but never go on the offensive. There's something to be said about those who don't take the middle ground by default.

Edited January 15, 2014 by yolk