How to Prepare for Medical School Interviews
By Kem Blanchard Career Counselor University of Arizona Career Services
Medical schools conduct interviews many ways. One very important difference in the admissions processes among schools is the practice of interviewing medical school candidates with either OPEN or CLOSED application files. This means, an interviewer may know all about your qualifications OR may know nothing about your history! Either way, however, the interviewer must easily recognize your ability in order to give you his or her endorsement. For that to happen, you must sell your ability and potential. In the interview, you must be honest, sincere, confident, relaxed, and positive. You need to inspire confidence in your ability to succeed in medical school and to become a compassionate and skilled physician. And, you must be prepared for your interview. As you talk to the interviewer, keep in mind the skills and qualifications that medical schools are looking for in candidates. While you communicated your skills and qualifications in your application, you must do so verbally in the interview. It is important to communicate why you believe you are a qualified candidate and what you have done to prepare for medical school.
Criteria Used to Evaluate Medical School Candidates Academic Record and Application
Undergraduate grades, degree focus, and choice of undergraduate school Excellent academic foundation (organic chemistry, biochemistry, physiology, physics, etc.) MCAT Scores, transcripts, personal statement, AMCAS application, recommendations
Experience
Work experience and volunteer experience (clinical, nonclinical, research) Involvement with community service and student organizations/campus clubs and your leadership roles
Personal Qualities
Investigative, scientific focus, analytical, and methodical Concern for helping others, altruistic, empathetic, and compassionate Communication-good listener, ability to articulate ideas and opinions Maturity, integrity, honesty, leadership, attitude, interpersonal skills
Evidence of Preparation for the Interview
Appearance: clothes, grooming, body language, poise, mannerisms, smile, body odor Communication: your answers and the quality of the questions you ask Ability to sell yourself and your motivation for a career in medicine Ability to discuss medicine, current healthcare trends, and ethical and social issues Able to inspire confidence in your ability to be a strong medical student and a good physician -1-
Interview Questions To prepare for your interview, practice talking about yourself out loud so you will be able to articulate your skills, accomplishments, and career goals concisely and effectively. Practice telling memorable stories about yourself. Practice describing your background, motivation, successes, healthcare experience, scientific education, skills, and goals. Be prepared to sell yourself in an interview and be ready to articulate your specific reasons for wanting to attend a particular school. The questions you will be asked may cover many topic areas, including:
your influence and motivation to pursue a career in medicine. your skills, personal attributes, and accomplishments. pre-medical school requirements (What have you done to prepare?). ethical and social issues within medicine and healthcare delivery systems.
Medical school interviewers may ask you for specific examples of past experiences that demonstrate you have the skills, competencies, and work behaviors the school wants to find in the "ideal" medical school candidates. It is easier to answer questions if you analyze the specific skills and qualifications that are required for admission and what it takes to be a successful medical student. Then you can identify situations where you have demonstrated these required skills and behaviors in your undergraduate education and experiences. Behaviors and skills being evaluated include:
ethical decision-making analytical reasoning, verbal and written communication resolving conflicts, stress and time management accepting feedback, leadership achievement orientation, learning new things quickly solving problems, and compassion empathy.
This list of questions is provided to help you practice for your medical interviews. 1. Tell me about yourself. (The interviewer is looking for your self awareness, communication skills, and qualifications.) 2. Why do you want to go to medical school? (The interviewer wants to know your motivation and personal awareness.) 3. What criteria are you using to evaluate potential medical schools? 4. What qualities do you have that will help make you a good physician? (What are your strengths?) 5. How has your undergraduate education and work experience prepared you? 6. Describe your related experiences. (Talk about volunteer, community service, clinical, research positions you have held.) 7. What challenges do you anticipate you will face during medical school? 8. What changes would you like to see made in the healthcare delivery system? 9. Describe what you are doing to improve two of your weaknesses. 10. Describe an accomplishment. What specifically did you do to make that happen? 11. Tell me about a time when you handled a stressful situation or crisis. 12. Tell me about a time when you were (or you were not) satisfied with your performance. 13. Give an example of a time when you had to make an ethical decision. 14. What was the biggest challenge you faced when you volunteered at the hospice? 15. Why do you want to be a physician?
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