Turning the Tables: What do you want to be asked?

[Angua]

I'll be interviewing some of our prospective grad students during interview weekend (I'm a current student), and while I really think the point of the interview with me is for you (the prospective student) to get information from me about the program/profs, I thought it would be interesting to ask: What would you like to be asked in an interview?  What are your dream questions? On the flip side, what do you hope no one ever asks you?

[atlremix]

I hate the "What would you do if you won the lottery?" question. I have had that in both professional and academic interviews and yet for some reason it always hits me out of left field. I'm clearly invested in my research and would maintain my job because of a genuine passion, but they have always prompted me specifically about how I would spend the money after giving that answer, and I'm never sure how to respond.

[MidwesternAloha]

I hate the- "what's one thing you wish we would have asked you?" question, and I hate technical questions like "explain this mechanism."  Pressure usually interferes with my intellectual ability during interviews LOL.

[attackonthedoctor]

Future goals and aspirations inquiries are always a neutral ground for me (depending on my anxiety level).

As for the nightmare question, it would have to be anything too abstract. I've been asked, "If you were any cereal, which one would you be and why?" While great for twenty questions, I don't think it had merit in an interview.

Good luck!

[TakeruK]

I don't think I would do well on the lottery question. My answer would be something like:

 

"Well, if I did win the lottery, I probably would not be sitting here interviewing with you right now."  

 

Because honestly, if I did not actually need money, I would not be as invested in my job and that's just unfair to someone else who would want my position. If I were rich, I'd pursue science as my passion/hobby, not as my career.

[Chubberubber]

I liked being asked "What would you like to focus on" and "why are you interested in this subfield". But, as the OP indicated, the question I liked the most was "do you have any questions?"

[TXInstrument11]

I actually like being asked why I picked the program or faculty out, I suppose because I prepared heavily for it. I have a scary color-coded Excel sheet I created from google-stalking faculty. Content questions are also generally good. I make sure to read folks' papers before I interview and have questions prepared. 

 

It's the BS abstract/personality questions like, "What are your strengths and weaknesses?" and ones about the school's location that bug me. I understand the point in asking the latter if it's a really rural area (like Wyoming) because a lot of people would be uncomfortable going there if they're from more urban areas. 

 

Instead, the best and probably most effective way to tease out my personality is by asking me a behavioral question about how I've managed working in the lab. Others about why I chose the field I'm pursuing are also fair game.