What can they ask me in this interview?

[GlitteryBalls]

This is a fairly hypothetical question at this precise moment in time...

I am currently taking a year out of medical school to have my baby (I am 33+4). I am between 2nd and 3rd years. As well as taking a year out, I am also trying to transfer to a medical school more local to my home town where me and partner are now living, and where both my families are based (we were seeing eachother long distance before I fell pg). Transfering halfway between a course is rare, but they know my circumstances and they are considering me. They have asked for lots of supporting information, including info about the course to see if they are compatible and info about results and feedback I have received so far. They said the only thing that would make it a definite no would be my having failed any assessments or taken any retakes - but this is not the case, in fact my results are better than average.

They have said that once they have reviewed this info, then the next stage would be to interview me. They have said this will be a fairly informal interview as I won't be "competing" for my place as people starting at the beginning are. It is more just for them to get to meet me in person etc.

At my interview for the medical school I am currently at, I was 26 at the time. One of the interviewers was playing "bad cop" and was asking quite awkward questions.At once stage he asked me when I planned to have a family. I answered that I wasn't sure yet, but I was serious about the course and would give it 100% etc etc and only AFTER I had given my answer did one of the "nicer cop" interviewers interrupt me and say I shouldn't have had to answer that question. When I told people later, they said that to ask this kind of question to a woman just because they are at childbearing age is actaully illegal and considered sexual discrimination. (Though as some of the -dickhead- men I have spoken to have said, in hindsight they were right in asking me as I went and got myself up the duff a couple of years later!).

So - I don't have an interview yet for this new school, but I like to be prepared and I was thinking of ways I could start to prepare now just in case. Me and dp are in limbo as if I did get a place at the local uni, we can stay in our current house, he could keep his job etc. If I didn't, I can still go back to my current uni but we would have to relocate 300 miles so would have to move house, he would have to get a new job etc. So we have not looked into specific logistics regarding childcare etc as we have decided to find out first where we stand and then go from there.

So, therefore, if they ask me about what my arrangements for childcare etc will be at this interview, I won't have worked out the specifics as we are kind of waiting for the outcome before we start to plan.

So, my question is, at this interview, what is the legality concerning talking about family etc? After all the only reason they are considering me is BECAUSE of my family situation. Or, technincally, should this interview be more focussed on my academic ability to do the course etc. i.e. could they catch me out with awkward questions about how I am going to balance childcare etc and turn me down on the basis that I may appear unprepared?

The truth is, I have way more support here at home by default due to our families being around, and I am waiting to hear what happens before I make specific enquiries, work out costs etc. BUT whatever happens I WILL make it work no matter what. Is this an adequate enough answer? Or should they not be asking me this and could I potentially (not that I would dare) refuse to answer sucah questions?

Phew - sorry about long post!

I have a little experience - law degree.

You should not be discriminated against because of your pregnancy/child.

You can refuse to answer any questions. The way I would choose to approach it (if it comes up) would be:

Under current equality law I don't have to answer that question (smile here) however, I can understand why you would be interested to know the answer to that question. My plans are yet to be defined as they depend on whether I am accepted on this course, however, rest assured I am committed to completing this course and have adequate resources to care for my child while I do so.

Hopefully the interviewer will then back off as he/she will have a little info and know you know you don't have to answer the questions.

I absolutely wouldn't preface anything with the phrase "under equality laws I don't have to answer but..." it is ridiculous to do so given that the only reason you are making the move is because of your change in family circumstances (and I speak as a lawyer who has recently been interviewed in similar circumstances, seeking a transfer due to family circumstances).

The medical school know your circumstances so to now be anything other than open and up front is going to do you an enormous diservice. They are interested in you, they want to meet you and you are not competing for a place. Legally of course they cannot discriminate against you because of your pregnancy/child but you have to be realistic this is (like it or not) going to be an issue for them so you need to let them know that it is absolutely a non issue. Please do not screw it up by not doing you level best to convince them of your commitment

Good luck.

I would agree with not mentioning equality law as suggested.

I would expect that this interview shouldnt be too bad - they know about your situation, and are considering you. And as someone who is nearly half way through the course with better than average grades you are a reasonably safe prospect for transfer.

If they do ask you about childcare etc it might be as much to check whether you need any local advice etc (eg at one (informal) interview I was at they asked me about my children and then started telling me in detail about the local schools that I should look at).

Thanks guys. I absolutely was not going to get on my soap box about "my rights" etc at the interview - but I was just trying to gauge what kind of things they were going to ask me at this interview so I could get myself prepared. So, if they were going to quiz me in detail about childcare arrangements etc I was wondering whether I should find out more before the interview rather than waiting to see if they offered me a place or not.

Hopefully, this will only be something that is discussed in a passing/informal way rather than being the basis on which they do/do not offer me a place if this is somewhat of a legal grey area. After all, by this stage they will have already decided if the two courses are compatible and whether my grades are adequate.

I haven't even got a firm interview yet! But I was given the impression I probably would if my supporting documents checked out. And when I do have an interview then I would probably be more inclined to feel that staying here is a real possibility so start looking into it at more detail anyway. But it is impossible for me to make firm arrangements until I know what the timetable is like and what base hospital I'm at as they are all in completely different towns! So evis, I guess this is something that can be discussed at the interview.

Thank you for your comments! This limbo is doing my head in, as I just want to know now whether I'm going to be raising my family here or at the other end of the country!