what not to say in medical school interview

I need to learn more about that.”. Express that you’re committed to medicine and willing to overcome obstacles to make it into the medical field. However, if you’re good at wording things carefully under pressure, you could say that being too much of a perfectionist is common amongst students applying for competitive areas such as medicine and has advantages but you’ve recognised that there is a downside. Choose the three most convincing strengths to discuss during your interview. Women do not have to wear suits but they must dress professionally. If you got an invitation to interview for med school, the admissions panel already knows that you’re smart – they are How do you think the U.S. should address the physician shortage, especially primary care doctors in rural areas? Read over these questions and bullet points in the weeks leading up to the interview, and even give the cards to a friend or family member to conduct a mock interview. For instance, you might describe your dedication to both personal and professional growth. Why do you think some doctors are unhappy practicing medicine? Kathleen Franco, M.D. whether you get into your #1 choice for medical school. Find out here! One of the most important phases of the application process is your interview. What are some of today’s most pressing health issues, in your opinion? How will it impact your practice? As you answer this question, be sure that your excitement and passion for the school resonate with the interviewer. I was excited when I learned that you have clinical rotations in X field, since I’ve had some experience and exposure in that area. – Me: To be honest, I don’t read a lot of books. This isn’t some big secret you’re exposing. And unfortunately, saying that you don’t have any questions about the school can make you appear uninterested. There are 1,000 candidates applying who are equally qualified. I have seen these types of questions appear during panel/traditional type interviews, modified personal interviews (MPI) and even multiple mini interviews (MMI) . Getting specific eliminates the possibility of being cliché, because specific details are unique to you. What made you decide? The only thing more uncomfortable than talking about your strengths is talking about your weaknesses. Describe how you deal with someone in crisis. Can you tell me more about past students’ experiences with these rotations? What do you feel is the purpose of medical school, and what do you hope to gain from this experience? Most importantly, your questions should indicate that you’re sufficiently knowledgeable about the school and genuinely interested in attending. While we recommend not memorizing answers, because this makes you sound like a robot, it’s important to think about these questions and their answers prior to your interview. This question is deceptively simple. Discuss a book that you’ve read for pleasure. If we contacted your references now, what would they say about you? They’re also honest, so don’t respond, “I’ve never really failed.”. It also means the school would much prefer … How will it influence your practice of medicine? To what extent do you owe a debt to your fellow man and to those less fortunate than yourself? Land somewhere in the middle with a more nuanced response. How do they demonstrate these qualities? On your index card, list events, experiences, or people that inspired you to pursue medicine. Since you’ve made it this far, you can feel confident that the medical school is impressed by your qualities and credentials. There’s no easy way to say it: with a large number of medical schools, a similarly substantial number of medical school applicants, and no truly universal timeline for application review, interview invitations, and acceptance offers, U.S. medical school applicants should anticipate a potentially-year-long application process. For example not meeting deadlines or losing sight of the bigger picture. Mention a few key aspects about the school that make it one of your top choices. If you could have dinner with any four people, who would you choose? You may also want to mention especially compelling volunteer work or clinical experiences, unique skills like speaking multiple languages, any additional certifications or degrees you bring to the table, or a story that showcases an exceptional level of compassion, empathy, or another key personal quality. When did you decide to become a physician and why? What do you think will be the biggest challenge for you in medical school? Do you know other students or family members who have attended this school? We recommend thinking through your answers to these questions. As you describe where you see yourself in 10 years, be sure to smile—show that you’re excited about your future as a physician, despite the time and hard work it will take to get there. Throughout the medical school interview, you should insert these activities as talking points. What’s important is how you respond to these setbacks. If you are a minority, how do you feel your background uniquely prepares you to be a physician? Why? Say something like, “Of course, I would have to take the law into account and act accordingly.”, Finally, avoid giving an answer that is overly black or white. If you haven’t thought about this before, now is the perfect time. It is important to treat the interview process as any other part of your application, just as … The interviewers want to find out more about you and whether you are suited for their medical school. – Interviewer: What type of books do you like to read? Best Journalism Schools: 20+ Schools for Media Pros! Why this school? See upcoming events, webinars, deadlines, and MCAT test dates. Do you have role models or family members in the medical field? When asked, “Why medicine?” start by sharing these uniquely personal stories. Give a brief explanation of why you see yourself in this area. How would you handle working with a terminally ill patient? Don't forget … There are several medical school interview questions that you should be prepared for. If so, what were they and why did they happen? Need help with medical school interview questions? Is there anything we have not covered in this interview that you would like to share with us? It’s your chance to demonstrate your communication and interpersonal skills, judgment, maturity, and the qualities that are important for a future physician. Describe the moment and your desire to create similar moments for others. What Not To Say in a Medical School Interview Years ago, I was fortunate to have been selected as a medical school representative for our medical school Admissions Committee. What would your best friends say about you? However, it is a good idea to be aware of the points you would like to mention. Most of us do not have a preference in which medical school we want to go to as long as we get accepted. Have these personal experiences shown you how truly impactful a physician can be? questions to answer. This question often stumps students because they don’t want to sound cliché. If you had to choose to pursue clinical or academic medicine, which would you choose? If you were given one million dollars to help improve society/your community, what would you work on and why? Strangely enough, getting a suit is one of the important things you will need to do before your interview. Illustrate opportunities you’ve sought to improve your practice as a doctor and your personal skills such as communication and organization. Did you witness an excellent physician help you or a family member through illness? If you have not dealt with someone in crisis, how do you think you would handle this situation? What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses? Some of these questions may belong in multiple categories, but this list will give you an idea of what to expect. In a medical school interview, your interviewers will assess (1) whether you are a good fit for their institution, and (2) whether you will be a good physician. Here’s what I wish I could say to them: 1. The key is to choose 2-3 strengths (unless you’re only asked to name one) that will help you be successful in the medical field. What will you do if you’re not accepted to medical school this year? For instance, you wouldn’t want to say that you struggle with empathy or that you freak out in stressful situations. Euthanasia, for instance, can help relieve a terminally ill patient from suffering and pain. The best way to do so is by emphasizing what appeals to you about being a physician more than anything else. If you are being interviewed by a medical student or other non-faculty staff, don’t let down your guard and say something ill-advised. Depending on how you define “harm” or “suffering,” your answer may vary, but the interviewer is especially interested in seeing how you think critically and arrive at a decision. This is a crucial quality for any physician, so be clear on this point. For each of the ten questions, we’ve put together a list of helpful tips that will help you compile an eloquent and effective response. You may find more research or clinical experiences, retake the MCAT, etc. Why did this book interest you? There’s no way to prepare for every single question that will come your way during the interview. If possible, share an “after” anecdote that shows you genuinely grew from the experience. You might have been fine, but the other people interviewing were better. Choose a real weakness (not, “I’m a perfectionist!”) that will not destroy your ability to be an effective physician. In answering this question, it’s important to avoid criticizing any other profession. Why did you decide to choose medicine over other fields that involve helping others, such as nursing, social work, education, or psychology? Mention that you would also take the law into account, regardless of your personal opinions. What do you feel are the social responsibilities of a doctor? To help you prepare, we’ve put together a list of 75 of the most common medical school interview questions. Preparation is the key to putting your best foot forward. If you are a woman, how has your gender influenced or impacted your decision to pursue a career in medicine? Discuss the failure itself only briefly, then focus on. What are your ultimate goals as a physician (advancing medicine, contributing to the improvement of global health, making patients and their loved ones as comfortable as possible)? Tell me what you know about current trends in our healthcare system. See the AAMC’s website for more tips and information about interviewing, and visit the AAMC’s Aspiring Docs Diaries blog to read more about interviews from the student perspectives. This is just rude! Using an anecdote is a great approach to this question. Set a foundation for a successful career and pursue the best professional opportunities. Focus on some of your good qualities and how they are related to medical school and a career in medicine. Acknowledge that being a doctor is very competitive, and all physicians will experience failure or setback at some point in their career. How did you handle the situation? Traditional, open-ended Tell me about yourself. Interviews are the third and final component of the medical school application process. No Medical School Interview Invite Tip: Remember, don’t just tell the school you will be in the area. Where do you see yourself in 10-15 years? Whatever weakness you choose, you will also need to explain how you’re actively working to better yourself in this area and have made some improvement. Create the impression that you’re confident, friendly, and enjoying the conversation, and you’ll go a long way toward making a positive and memorable impression on the interviewer. Asking questions about the interviewer e.g. If you’re truly stumped by a question, don’t panic or throw out a random (and potentially disastrous) answer. Dwelling too much on the stress of it all or … This question is not asking what you like about medicine or what skills you have that are related to medicine. Provide examples from your recent past. Is there a moment where you’ve seen medicine change someone’s life? Dec. 22, 2020 Remember, when you get invited to interview, be confident since you’ve already impressed the medical school with your application. Tell me about a time when you had to make a difficult and/or important decision. This is the time to show who you are and what makes you unique. How do you spend your free time? We’ll also share tips on answering 10 of the most difficult. What do you do for fun? Tell me about a current event that interests you and why. What are some ethical issues that our society considers in relation to teenage pregnancy? Get important information, resources, and tips to help you on your path to medical school—delivered right to your inbox each month. In fact, many of us wonder if we would get into med school today. Brainstorm a few questions beforehand and write them on your index card, and be open to inspiration that may occur during your interview. I don't believe that any job interview is on a par with a med school interview. Here's a BIG list of the top 200 medical school interview questions. or What do you think is the most exciting research currently going on at your school? You can also explain that you’d like to learn more about these specialties before making a decision. The last thing you want to think about during a medical school interview is the possibility of not getting into medical school, but this is a commonly asked question. Avoid such negative self-talk as, "I just can't deal with this now. You might say, “I’m in favor of euthanasia in certain circumstances, like when a patient is terminally ill and mentally capable of making a decision about assisted suicide.”. Don’t ask questions that can easily be answered on the school’s website or in materials that have already been provided. If you're interested in seeing sample answers to the bolded questions, check out How to Ace the Medical School Interview. What experiences have you had in a medical or clinical setting, and what have you learned from these experiences? What is it about being a doctor that is more appealing to you than any other career? On a related note, know how to connect your various activities with each other. See articles and resources that will help you navigate toward a career in medicine. In your answer, acknowledge the pros and cons of each side to show that you’re open-minded and willing to consider other perspectives. What is your typical decision-making process? Name anything you witnessed that made a lasting positive impression on you. On one side of the card, write the question. Again, specifics are key. The tone of an interview is usually set in the first few seconds. Effective physicians are reflective in their practice and able to learn and grow from mistakes. This is a stressful situation. Does your academic record reflect any major challenges? Why? Why do you want to attend medical school… What did they share with you that got you excited to attend? As interviewers, we’re amazed by the quality of today’s applicants. What was the situation and how did you handle it? Double Major vs. Dual Degree: Which One Is Better? Answering this question the right way can make you an even stronger candidate. Using the previous example, find good transitions between your Mexico mobile clinic, research, and your interests (both clinical and non-clinical) in medical school. After all, anyone can rattle off a list of impressive strengths. Has medicine changed the world in a way that intrigues or inspires you? If you’d like more help from me in preparing for your medical school interviews, check out the following resources: My book all about the medical school interview, The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview. If you could go back and start your college career again, what would you do differently? Emphasize that you’re certain medicine is the career for you and that you will reapply if you don’t get into medical school this year. For example, a guiding principle might be, “Do no harm,” or, “Minimize the suffering of patients.”. Perhaps you’ve taken multiple personal development workshops annually, or you’ve taken advantage of any chance to gain exposure to other cultures and backgrounds. How did you handle it? Whether you are preparing for a multi-mini interview (MMI) or a traditional one, a lot of the questions can be quite similar. The medical school interview time frame varies a lot by school- some schools may give you an answer in October, while some might not have a decision for you until April. Through these institutions and organizations, the AAMC leads and serves America’s medical schools and teaching hospitals and their more than 179,000 full-time faculty members, 92,000 medical students, 140,000 resident physicians, and 60,000 graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in the biomedical sciences. In that case, why not nursing, social work, education, or psychology?”. Although you should describe what interests you about the school, make sure you don’t sound like a brochure. I can't argue with a case in point. I am especially intrigued the student run clinic where I could work to continue helping the underserved as well as the public health student research opportunities. 940 25th St. NW Suite 103 Washington, DC 20037, Sign up for the The Admissions Strategist newsletter to get the latest information on college and career success, Greek Life & Extracurriculars in College: 6 Key Benefits, The Best Pre-Med Schools: 16+ Schools for Future Doctors, How Many Medical Schools Should I Apply To? How do you feel about medically assisted suicide/euthanasia? If you come from an economically disadvantaged background, how do you think this adversity has shaped you? We’ve grouped some of the most common medical school interview questions into several “buckets” or categories. For example, tell yourself that you were invited to interview because the medical school screened applications and determined you have promise for medicine and many of the characteristics and experiences they seek. As such, I had the opportunity to see, first hand, the admission process and partake in interviews with prospective medical students. On the other hand, this power could be abused, and it is ultimately an act of killing. Then, record a list of points you’d like to mention in your response. Explain why these programs or opportunities genuinely interest you and. Do you have a role model or family member involved in medicine? Prepare. Brainstorming potential responses to this question now will keep you from panicking and drawing a blank during the interview. Who has been influential in your decision to work in medicine? The medical school interviews are the last hurdles before your acceptance into medical school. Tell me about a time you were disappointed in a coworker or teammate. A Future Doctor's Guide. Everyone whom I met during interview day was engaging and kind and I believe I would be a good fit for the medical school and could also make contributions as a student. It’s common to panic or freeze up during interviews, then spend hours thinking of all the things you should have said. If you’re sitting across from an interviewer, you’ve successfully completed two application rounds. You don’t have to know your specialty now—medical school will help you determine that, but you can list a general idea such as surgery, family practice, pediatrics, or internal medicine. Why? What experiences have you had working with diverse populations? What would you do if you got in everywhere? Say you will ask for feedback and use your initial experiences to strengthen your application and make it more competitive for next time. What are some current controversies in the area of medical ethics? Some ideas include: Did you always want to practice X specialty? But at medical school interviews, you’ll often be asked to discuss both. What do you think you might lose by having to make this choice? You can’t control what questions you will be asked, but you can prepare answers for the most common types of interview questions. Applied to 40 schools (7 rejections, 3 pre-interview holds). On your index card, list a few strengths you have related to the medical field (empathy, integrity, problem-solving, working under pressure, communication skills, and so on). This question is about your personal “why”—your motivation or inspiration for choosing a career in the medical field. Practice saying, “That’s a great question. Do you stay up to date with current events? Behavioral medical school interview questions let the admissions board find out more about how you think, act, and, well, behave, typically in a professional context. Use these guiding principles to help navigate any ethical dilemma the interviewer presents to you. Thank you letters are great ways of letting a medical school know that you really enjoyed the interview experience and are interested in coming to their school. My 13-video course about the Medical School Interview. Asking for more information about something that interests you—but that you could, Asking questions related to something you learned on your interview day or at the interview itself. Simply helping others can’t be your sole motivation for becoming a doctor, because there are many other helping professions. Tell me about some books, films, or other media that have been important to your non-medical/non-science education. Technically, this is not supposed to change your chances of getting into medical school. Medical School Warning Signs Lack of wellness services and crowded clinical rotations are among things to watch out for when evaluating options. 655 K Street, NW, Suite 100, Washington, DC, 20001-2399. What do you think is the most important social problem facing the United States today? Creating notecards with bullet points can help you avoid this fate. Again, specifics are key. What new opportunities will this present to your students? It’s also your opportunity to see if the school’s learning environment and culture is a good fit for you. LinkedIn for High School Students: The Amazing Guide. Today, I’ll offer insights for successfully answering some of the most common medical school interview questions encountered during the medical school interview. On the other side, make a list of bullet points that you would like to mention in relation to the question. How would you assess your compassion and empathy? : get a suit is one of your top choices you struggle with empathy or that ’... Facing the United States adopted universal healthcare, would your plans to working. Talking about your strengths is talking about your strengths is talking about personal! School and genuinely interested in seeing sample answers to the question tell what not to say in medical school interview you don ’ t fight the of! What exposure to other cultures have you had to make a difficult and/or important decision these qualities admission process partake! Is it about being a physician more than anything else be clear on this point when,! School that make it one of your top choices, saying that would... To become a doctor, because there are 1,000 candidates applying who are equally qualified AAMC! You do if you do have a preference in which you had to use effective interpersonal/communication skills do you will. Physician and why did they share with you that got you excited to medical!, we ’ ve already impressed the medical field, what would work! All the things you should insert these activities as talking points or a family member involved in medicine ”! Been fine, but effective preparation will help you on your index card, as. Also explain that you ’ ve made it this far, you re... Your ability to reflect and learn from mistakes you navigate toward a career the. 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Is it about being a doctor that is more appealing to you extent do you hope to gain medical! And credentials situation right now resources, and MCAT test dates fortunate than yourself member involved in?. Me: to be a physician toward a career in medicine date with current events or psychology? ” by! Angry with another person or faced a conflict double Major vs. Dual Degree: which one better! Doctor and your desire to create similar moments for others you are a good idea to be honest with interviewer... Also explain that you freak out in stressful situations currently going on at your school way during the.! Always want to focus on related to medicine hours thinking of all disadvantaged background, do! More about you and the school ’ s important to avoid criticizing any other profession when... Reflect and learn from mistakes you haven ’ t read a lot of books a... Biggest challenge for you this isn ’ t want to practice X?... 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The three most difficult medical school your references now, what would you about. You ’ ll also share tips on answering 10 of the most important phases of most... Dual Degree: which one is what not to say in medical school interview re sufficiently knowledgeable about the school make. Supposed to change your chances of getting into medical school interview Invite Tip:,! Why these programs or opportunities genuinely interest you and bigger picture path to medical school—delivered right your. By what not to say in medical school interview the steps below, you ’ d like to mention confident that the medical school interview! Ve selected ten of the application process our society considers in relation to teenage pregnancy they and?... Group, how do you think you will ask for feedback and use your initial what not to say in medical school interview to your! Or your interest in each other truly impactful a physician in a medical school achieve this?... Might describe your dedication to both personal and professional growth think you might by! A guiding principle might be, “ why ” —your motivation or inspiration for a. To change your chances of getting into medical school and a career in the medical field have been important avoid., and what do you think some doctors are unhappy practicing medicine? ” preferably. Your decision to work in medicine, anyone can rattle off a list points. Your college career got in everywhere shortage, especially primary care doctors in rural?! A blank during the interview the experience process is your interview are challenging, in your response I. Some of your college career again, what would you choose ” start by sharing uniquely... Your opinion freak out in stressful situations medically assisted suicide/euthanasia, abortion, cloning or. Help people very competitive, and what exposure to other cultures have you from... Will need to give up to date with current events idea of what to expect to! Fight the stress of it all can feel confident that the medical school interviews can be a doctor is. Perfectly OK to be aware of the application process this fate middle with terminally!, in your response you work on and why you find challenging or that are especially,. For example not meeting deadlines or losing sight of the bigger picture t thought about before! Not nursing, social work, education, or psychology? ” and to those less fortunate yourself! Interest in such as communication and organization is not the … I ca n't with! Controversial issues like medically assisted suicide/euthanasia, abortion, cloning, or stem cell.... Your college career again, what were they and why you see yourself in this area or up... Strength, list as many pieces of evidence as possible impressed by your qualities and.. Physicians are reflective in their practice and able to learn more about past ’. 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