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Before The Interview:
A. Find Out About the School
Knowledge of the program you are
applying to demonstrates interest and will help you find out what you are getting
into!
1. Read the packet the school sent you. Get a feel for what the school is like and
what certain programs the school is known for.
2. Talk to students, admission officers, and professors, if possible.
3. Get on the INTERNET! Most, if not all, schools have web pages where you can find
valuable information. There are also some class/med school organization web pages
that can be helpful to your investigation.
4. Answer for yourself the following questions:
What contribution can you make to this school? Why is this school suited to you?
B. Know Thyself
Write out answers to the following questions and PRACTICE! Videotape yourself if you are so inclined:
1. Why do J want to be a doctor?
Bad Answer: I had a sick relative.
Good Answer: Through my extensive research and clinical experience in the medical
field (give examples) I have come to the conclusion that medicine is the only career
for me. It is OK to have a sick relative spark the interest, but this had better
not be the only thing!
2. What was my research all about?
Write out and practice a summary of your research. Make it basic, relevant and
to the point. Keep in mind that your interviewer most likely does not know the details
of your research field, so try to make it sound relevant and like you played a relevant
role (yes, literature searches are relevant). Do not bore a busy interviewer with
details of the agar plates, unless they ask!! Do a quickie medline search on your
topic to update yourself on the recent happenings in your area. You will look like
a star when you say "the other literature on this topic shows..."
3. What did I get out of my volunteer experience?
Be prepared to give specifics. Doctor/patient interaction is of course preferable
to pushing carts! Do not stress number of hours (unless it is VERY high!)
4. What are my strengths and weaknesses?
Good generic strengths: organized, a leader, hard worker, people oriented, sense
of humor, creativity, confidence, compassion
Be sure to pick weaknesses that are not major character flaws and cannot be repaired
(such as laziness!) Cliche': Perfectionist (!) No one buys it. Others: work too
hard, too involved with patients. In a pinch, try humor: "I can't swim"
or "I like occasional cigars" if your interviewer appears to have a sense
of humor! Now you are ready to do mock interviews. It will reduce your stress level
to have practiced in a nonjudgmental setting. Have your interviewer be as hard on
you as possible.
During The Interview:
A. Practice Considerations
1. Dress/Appearance: THINK DOCTOR! No, not plaid golf pants and bad shoes,
but clothing that does not make you stand out as anything other than neat, conservative,
and well groomed. Men: standard suit and tie, cut your goldilocks, and leave your
earrings/nose ring at home! Women: may wear a skirt, but make sure it is not more
than a little above the knee. Use muted makeup colors, small jewelry, have short,
clean nails, and NO BIG HAIR. Preferably, no perfume or cologne. Try not to make
fashion statements, they will be lost on that 60-year-old interviewer who has lived
in the hospital for the past 20 years.
2. Arrive early.
3. Pay attention to your behavior. Interact with the other students. You are being
observed! One of the questions on our interview report is regarding interview behavior.
Are you fidgety, nervous, antisocial, etc?
B. Bring samples of your work. That way, you can offer
the interviewer a copy of your publication or any other amazing work that they can
remember you by.
C. Be Enthusiastic
1. Be enthusiastic about yourself (if you are not, who will be?)
2. About the school -- the interviewers are a part of the school and may take it
personally if you don't seem interested!
3. Explain all about your experiences (research, clinical, etc.) and how they have framed
your decision to come to medical school. In other words, know yourself and why you
are here. If you don't know why you are here, that could be a problem. Med school
is no joke and neither is being a doctor.
4. What else about you makes you unique? You have coached little league, you have
great leadership experience, you travel, you support your family. The unique aspects
of you or your work is what interviewers tend to remember most.
D. Interview the Interviewer
1. Always have questions to ask at the end. Spontaneous ones are better,
but canned ones will do in a pinch: What is your typical day like? Are you happy
here? What kind of clinical training opportunities are available for first and second
years? Have you had time to do research? Are grants available for student initiated
research?
E. Last Minute Thoughts
1. KNOW deep down that you can do it, and that you will make a compassionate
motivated physician.
2. RELAX. Have a sense of humor. If you don't have one, then at least SMILE and be
pleasant.
3. KNOW that most interviewers WANT to write you a good report.
After The Interview:
A. Write a personal thank you note.
B. Deliver it ASAP. It shows your consideration and interest, and it may
get there before the report is written, leaving a final favorable impression.
C. Follow up with the school by telephone or in person if you are very
interested.
1. Can I lose my chance of being accepted by not interviewing correctly? Yes.
If you do not interview well, it can greatly reduce your chances of receiving an
acceptance.
2. What are they looking for in the interview? The role of the interviewer
conducting the interview is to get to know you and also help the committee to select
the best candidates from the pool of applicants that they invite for an interview.
Typically medical schools will invite 2 or 3 applicants for each available seat in
the medical school class. Looking at academic ability is only one factor. Most of
the applicants they interview have similar levels of academic performance. During
the interview they will consider the applicant's strengths and weaknesses in:
All the factors listed above are carefully assessed and compared with the other applicants that are interviewed. Any weaknesses picked up by the interviewer or identified via letters, and the personal statement and AMCAS application, will be discussed by the committee and may serve as a basis for denying admittance to their medical school.
If an interviewer is really impressed with an applicant and makes a strong case for this person during the committee meeting, this will enhance the chances that the committee will recommend this applicant for admission. Conversely, if the applicant does not impress the interviewer and the interviewer readily confirms the weaknesses of the applicant rather than the applicants strengths, the chances of being accepted by the committee are greatly reduced.
3. How can I prepare for the interview? There are several things that you
can do: