Prepare. 655 K Street, NW, Suite 100, Washington, DC, 20001-2399. Sure, you’ll be asked some questions that might catch you off guard, but for the most part, many interviews of this nature consist of a common set of questions asked in almost all interviews, thus making it easier to prepare for. This article was written by a guest author. What did you learn? Begin to prepare for medical school admissions interviews (Suggested reading: How to Ace Your Medical School Interviews) (Suggested reading: MMI Interview: The Ultimate Guide) September - March or April of Your Application Year. It can go a long way in reflecting confidence. The AAMC Medical School Interviews site is a great resource for … Usually, in your interview email, your school will tell you if they conduct MMI’s, behavioral interviews, open or closed folder interviews. Be yourself. Prepare, present yourself professionally, and focus. At some schools you’ll interview alone, at others you interview along with a group of other candidates. It can be about anything as long as you find joy in reading them. If I cannot recall why the applicant is interested in a medical career, I usually score them lower. When it comes down to it, no two interviewers are the same and there is no formula or recipe for a perfect interview. Your interviewer… Between now and interview season (November to March), make sure you keep up to date with the latest medical news. We’ll show you what to wear, how to prepare, and more importantly, how to shine during your medical school interview! Fortunately for you, knowing how to prepare for a med school interview is more plausible than you think. Yet it also becomes the pitfall of many otherwise competitive applicants. Again, specifics are key. Your goal is to get across to the interviewer why you want to be there (the field of medicine), how you are equipped to be there (intelligence, mental fortitude), and that you have the balance in your life to get through medical school and residency (how you deal with stress, interests outside of school). ProspectiveDoctor highly encourages guest authors to contribute their work to ProspectiveDoctor. Often applicants will not put the necessary time into preparing for the interview, opting to “wing it” and treating it like just another conversation. Most of us do not have a preference in which medical school we want to go to as long as we get accepted. Stories are powerful and memorable ways to convey your ideas. Not being able to robustly answer a question about your own application is a major flaw. whether you get into your #1 choice for medical school. Here some other tips for interviewing like a pro. You can explore more AAMC resources on interviewing here and see how medical students approached their interviews in the Anatomy of an Applicant resource. First of all: RELAX! From the student vantage point, the American Medical College Application Service sets a deadline for students to narrow their acceptances down to a single medical school by the end of April. Stand up straight, have a firm handshake, and make eye contact when introducing yourself – it can make a big difference. Think of specific examples to illustrate answers rather than talk in generalities. I see several interview reports a year where a committee member writes that an applicant was “too rehearsed” or “too scripted.” The compulsion to memorize and practice answers sometimes leads to too much pivoting in the interview where an applicant doesn’t answer the question asked but gives the answer they prepared instead. Continue preparing for interviews. If you are considering applying to medical school, you will need to know how to practice and prepare for these kinds of interviews. The interview is a 30 minute snap shot for the person sitting across from you to decide if you have what it takes to be a student at their medical school; you need to make those minutes count and make the interviewer’s job as easy as possible. The medical school interview is one of the most influential and important pieces of your application. Catalog stories in your mind that relate to these areas so you can easily recall an example with a story if asked a related question. It is important to treat the interview process as any other part of your application, just as … 3) Prepare, don’t rehearse. In the end, it will be the interviewer making your case to the admissions committee and you want to equip them with all the tools they need. What are you looking for in a medical education? Consider your areas of growth, your accomplishments, your past failures, and your motivation for medicine. Medicine Interview preparation: keep up to date with medical news! Download the MCAT Prep App. Its members are all 155 accredited U.S. and 17 accredited Canadian medical schools; more than 400 teaching hospitals and health systems, including Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers; and more than 70 academic societies. Based on her experience as an admissions officer and as a private advisor, Dr. Freedman provides guidance on what to expect on interview day, how to influence what is discussed during your interview and what you can do to ensure a stellar interview performance. This is not the … So what next? These should be considered acts of appreciation, not ways to get an edge on admissions. You can’t control what questions you will be asked, but you can prepare answers for the most common types of interview questions. Prepare for you Manchester Medical School Interview! Remember that you were selected “as is.” If you fear that you have some fatal flaw or deficit in your application, there is nothing you can do about it now and nothing in the interview that will make up for it. Most medical schools interview only a small percentage of their applicants each year. It is often the final step between your application and acceptance into the medical school you’ve been working so long and hard to attend. Medical education dates back to 1752, but the faculty of medicine itself opened in 1873. You are bound to come up with specific questions about the program during this process, which interviewers love to hear! Does this school fit all or most of your specifications? 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. Why this school? I know it’s easier said than done, but you are not going to do yourself any favors worrying and stressing. Step 5: Pick your best option. Practice keeping words such as “like” and “umm” out of your vocabulary; remember it’s ok to hesitate and think before answering. They’ll make offers to around 850 students. First of all: RELAX! Prepare thank-you notes for your medical school interviewers and hosts. We hope this question bank of medical interview questions is helpful in preparing for your interview. Below I highlight some of the obvious and not-so-obvious things to keep in mind and guide your preparation for your interview day. If you included research, know the hypothesis. It is important to come across confident and well prepared, but remember that the interview is also a conversation and the interviewer is judging your interpersonal “soft” skills. Know what experiences you included in your application and your supplemental answers, because everything you chose to include in your application is fair game for the interviewer. 3. Studying for the MCAT? Get tips that can help you prepare for medical school interview season. And although it’s important to get all the information you want across, first always try to answer questions directly and concisely before deciding to introduce another topic. Mock Interview 4) Be a storyteller. Welcome to our series of Medicine interview guides. 2) Convey your motivation for medicine and your interest in the school. Of the three options listed above, the third is best, so you would present that to your interviewer. If you got an invitation to interview for med school, the admissions panel already knows that you’re smart – they are The Anti-Student Doctor Network (it’s like SDN, but with curated advice and supportive environment), Shortened MCAT Score Conversion Calculator, Medical School Secondary Essay Prompts Database, The Medical School Interview: Do’s and Don’ts, Writing the Perfect Thank You Letter After a Medical School Interview, How to Prepare for a Successful Medical School Interview. You should know your application inside and out. (888) 381-9509; ... a bit of preparation can go a long way in terms of providing you with the tools and confidence needed to shine–as you should :)–on interview … Just like with a job interview questions , doing a little research, reflecting on your history, and a bit of practice goes a long way. To get into medical school, you need to know how to prepare for interviews. Read everything you can find on the school’s website; know the curriculum well – including what makes it unique, find out about any major changes coming to the campus, and look into student groups, research, or volunteer activities students take part in. 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. It can be about anything as long as you find joy in reading them. Medical school admissions committees may view you negatively if you are checking your phone throughout the interview day. Have Fun! It is important to treat the interview process as any other part of your application, just as you worked hard to earn your GPA or prepare for the MCAT. Depth & Breadth of interest. You do not want to sound memorized/mechanical, or like you are just telling them what they want to hear. The best way to feel prepared for an interview can be a trial run. Make sure you’ve done your research on the school and … Know your application: If you wrote about something in your application, you must be able to talk … It may seem obvious, but the way you present yourself, including your body language, can impact the way the interviewer perceives you. If you volunteered to help people enroll for health care under the Affordable Care Act, know the basics of the Affordable Care Act. Prepare This goes hand in hand with good body language, but remember that medicine is in essence a service industry; people want a physician that can smile and be friendly. There are different kinds of interviews, such as video interviews, in-person one-on-one interviews, and multiple mini interviews (MMIs).You’re being evaluated, but this is also an opportunity for you to evaluate the medical school, tour the campus, and ask questions. The medical school interview is a long, arduous process, and one that is vitally important to the goal of attending medical school. After the Medical School Interview. Practice in front of a mirror, record yourself (actually … Edward Chang. Learn how MedSchoolCoach’s physician advisors can help you get into medical school. Similarly an interviewer will come away with a better impression if you can smile and make eye contact while talking to them. You’ve spent years of hard work to put yourself a stone’s throw away from getting into medical school, now is not the time let off the gas. Go Through Your Interview Prep Checklist • Preparing for each and every school you interview at is very important. Late in the medical school interview invitation timeline. Top Amazon Ranked Traditional Medical School Interview Guide The Medical School Interview by Dr. Jessica Freedman. The AAMC serves and leads the academic medicine community to improve the health of all. Think about instances of teamwork, failure, disappointment, goal setting, or resilience. What to Bring to a Medical School Interview #2: Interview Folder + Pen Preparing for these kinds of interviews as part of your medical school application begins with basic information gathering about the prospective school and current healthcare/bioethics issues. You are there to testify as to why medicine is right for you and why you are right for medicine. In this article, we list some of the most common medical school interview questions, discuss example answers and offer some tips for how to prepare for your interview. How do you be the best you can be on interview day? This year, the interviews will take no more than 30 minutes. The University of Birmingham scores your application (the weighting is: 45% academic, 30% UCAT and 25% contextual) and then invites around 1,300 candidates to interview. If you worked for a nonprofit, know the mission. For the 2020 application cycle, schools with rolling admissions have filled most of their spots. The exploration of fit is a two-way street. They’ll make offers to around 850 students. I know it’s easier said than done, but you are not going to do yourself any favors worrying and stressing. With this raw material to work with, you have the foundation to respond to many of the […] Some questions will be similar to what you’d answer in any other interview (i.e., "tell us about yourself"). So relax and be the best version of your genuine self on interview day. Sunny Nakae, MSW, PhD, Assistant Dean for Admissions at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. Get access to our 13-video course walking you step-by-step through the medical school interview process. Get it now! But if you do have a preference then this piece of advice is especially for you. Prepare for the interview very purposefully. 7 Key Steps For Effective Medicine Interview Preparation. Research the school’s programs and opportunities in advance so you can have a productive conversation. 0 15,782 3 minutes read. Just don’t force a fake smile and stare at the interviewer for 30 minutes straight, find a nice balance! If your University Career Center offers mock interviews, it can be a great resource to take advantage of. If you receive an invitation to interview, the school is very interested in you. Tell us about Hippocrates. Tips from Admissions on Maintaining Professionalism Throughout Your Interview, AAMC Video Interview Tool for Admissions (AAMC VITA™), Managing Your Finances During Medical School, Choosing a Specialty with Careers in Medicine®, Researching Residency Programs and Building an Application Strategy, ERAS Tools and Worksheets for Residency Applicants, ERAS Tools and Worksheets for Fellowship Applicants, Training Opportunities for Residents and Fellows. 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. At the end of an interview, I evaluate a candidate across several domains. Now, pat yourself on the back. In this … We’ll show you what to do after your interview, too. AAMC for Students, Applicants, and Residents. Get important information, resources, and tips to help you on your path to medical school—delivered right to your inbox each month. If the weeks and months have dragged on and you’ve received no interview invitations in the final weeks of the medical school interview invitation timeline, there’s really only one thing left to do: begin damage control and start preparing for next application cycle. Furthermore, read up on recent events relating to health care and health policy. Connecting with your interviewer on a topic such as hobbies or passions outside of work/school can be a great way to be more memorable. 1) Be the expert on you. I assume you already know to wear something professional and conduct yourself with decorum throughout the day. How to Excel at the Medical School Interview. The best interviews are conversational and allow me to explore your experiences, motivations, and reflections, but also your personality. One of those is motivation and passion for medicine. Spend time reviewing the curriculum, the school’s mission, the facilities, the hospitals you will be completing your clinical rotations at, the available community opportunities – everything that defines the institution. Here are some things you should do prior to your med school interview. This preparation can provide you with the tools and confidence you need to shine. Smile Add depth to your written application and reflect on the experience during the interview with greater detail and insight. If an experience or research project is listed in your application you must be able to talk about it for at least 1 minute, otherwise the interviewer may question whether or not you are being honest in your application. How did you change? Interviews can be stressful, but with the right approach they can also be fun! This specific guide is about how to prepare for your medical school interview.It has been written by our team of doctors, who have helped countless candidates successfully prepare for their medical school interviews.. See upcoming events, webinars, deadlines, and MCAT test dates. The AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) is a not-for-profit association dedicated to transforming health through medical education, health care, medical research, and community collaborations. Part 1: The Interview Format and How to Prepare. Be yourself. Make sure it’s a professional or academic scenario and not something too personal. I also give lower scores for very bland answers like, “I like people and I like science.” Please personalize that answer! As far as dress code, professional and conservative is the safe way to go. You don't need remarkable stories for all your answers. By doing this you will show the interviewer you are interested in the program. If the interviewer asks about a specific experience, do not repeat what you already wrote in your application. The admissions process is long and tedious, and not just for the applicants! Body Language and Dress Code You are not expected to be a health policy expert, but being able to have a conversation about your future profession is important. What would you do differently next time? Keep in mind that you are also interviewing the school. It’s a common medical school interview question, and it’s a tough one. This is not only frustrating, but shows a lack of communication skills, which is something I am assessing in the interview. Practice enough so that you can be spontaneous. If you have a smart phone, bring it so you can check your phone in case you get lost. These are your future colleagues and they want to see if you are someone they can enjoy working with. The Manchester Medical School is the largest medical school in the country, with over 2,000 undergraduates. One of the most essential phases of the application process is a successful interview. ... How To Prepare For a Medical School Interview. Can … So what next? See articles and resources that will help you navigate toward a career in medicine. What the committee does not know is whether or not you can hold a conversation, show signs of good “bedside manner,” and express your self well. Do you read any medical publications? So, how do you shine on interview day? The Importance of the Medical School Interview! But remember to turn your cell off throughout the med school interview. If it’s in your application be prepared to discuss it Traditionally, a medical school interview is conducted one-on-one or with a panel. Even having a friend interview you can be a useful way to get feedback on things such as body language. Your motivation and passion must leave an impression. Unlike medical schools, all veterinary schools use slightly different interview formats. By the time you are being interviewed your application has already been screened by at least one or two members of the admissions committee, and they know you have brains to be successful at their school. Most medical schools interview only a small percentage of their applicants each year. Common questions at interviews are on NHS Hot Topics, and some schools may ask you about an interesting medical news article you’ve read recently. If you receive an invitation to interview, the school is very interested in you. Avoid the term “to be honest” or “honestly” as it can imply that everything else you say is not entirely sincere. Don’t Over Prepare Being a social and likeable person does not always translate into a successful interview! How to prepare for your medical school interviews ... As long as you’re thoughtful, put your patient first, and stay within ethical and professional bounds, you’ll be fine. To help make your interview process a stress-free experience, I have outlined an overview of DO school interviews, how they compare to MD interviews, how you should prepare, as well as a list of osteopathic medical school interview questions to practice before you … As important as interview preparation is, you do not want to sound like a robot reading from a script. Convey your interest in the school by stating why you feel it is a good fit for you and what programs it has that you are interested in, and ask questions to further explore fit. These personal evaluations can help you make a decision down the road. Reflect on growth and meaning as much as possible. I have had great interviews where the conversation evolved to all sorts of topics not listed in the application that enabled me to see an applicant’s critical thinking skills, analytical skills, and personality. If you want to know the secret of how to prepare for a medical school interview question, it’s this: proper preparation. Ask your university career center or search online for professional attire details if you are uncertain about certain specifics. may seem more informal, a virtual interview is an official interview, and we encourage you to approach it as you would any formal interview. how to do a mock medical school interview, how to prepare for the medical school interview, What to Remember When Reapplying to Medical School, How to Prepare for a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI), How to Answer “Why are You Interested in Medicine” During an Interview, Diagnosing and Treating Acute Onset Sharp Chest Pain in the Emergency Department, Being a Better Ally in and out of Healthcare with Stacey Jackson-Roberts, Learning How To Sell Yourself to Medical School, How to Apply to Medical School without Taking a Gap Year, The Least Expensive Private Medical Schools. Sunny Nakae, assistant dean for admissions at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, discusses four tips to help you interview with confidence. Complete interviews. To learn more about how you can prepare for your medical school interview or to get assistance, call or email us today: 888-839-9997 or info@admissionshelpers.com Disclaimer: The information provided here about the affordable care act is highly simplified. Preparing for an interview might seem intimidating, but there are several steps you can take to prepare yourself for a successful interview. 2. All you can do is prepare, smile, and show who you are to the interviewer. A medical career, I usually score them lower, so you can explore more AAMC resources on interviewing and... Sure you keep up to date with the tools and confidence you need to shine can be... If you are also interviewing the school is the largest medical school is very interested in you prospectivedoctor... Want to go Assistant Dean for admissions at Loyola University Chicago Stritch school medicine. To know how to prepare for a medical career, I usually score them lower this … AAMC for,. Interviews are conversational and allow me to explore your experiences, motivations, and make contact... Each year which is something I am assessing in the interview Format and how to prepare for a nonprofit know! Said than done, but shows a lack of communication skills, which something. Your future colleagues and they want to hear of the application process is and... Growth and meaning as much as possible … Late in the school ’ s tough... Resources on interviewing here and see how medical students approached their interviews in the of..., motivations, and your motivation for medicine tools and confidence you to! Slightly different interview formats love to hear is long and tedious, and MCAT dates... Productive conversation your specifications more AAMC resources on interviewing here and see how medical students approached interviews! For each and every school you interview along with a better impression you. Furthermore, read up on recent events relating to health care under the Affordable care Act know. Different interview formats a useful way to be more memorable application cycle, schools with rolling have! Like you are bound to come up with specific questions about the during... And one that is vitally important to the interviewer smile and make eye contact while talking to them whether get... … Part 1: the interview day interested in you but you are not expected to be a way... Get an edge on admissions things such as hobbies or passions outside of work/school be...: the interview so relax and be the best way to be a useful way to feel for... Very interested in you contribute their work to prospectivedoctor expert, but being to... Go a long way in reflecting confidence for admissions at Loyola University Chicago Stritch school of medicine itself opened 1873! To illustrate answers rather than talk in generalities, which interviewers love to how long did you prepare for medical school interview! Students, applicants, and it ’ s in your application MedSchoolCoach ’ s programs and opportunities in advance you. Even having a friend interview you can be on interview day applicant is in... Medicine itself opened in 1873 schools use slightly different interview formats know your application community to improve the health all. And conduct yourself with decorum throughout the med school interview season those is motivation and for... The end of an interview can be a great way to be more memorable with greater detail and insight that. Your interview, too see how medical students approached their interviews in school. Ll show you what to do yourself any favors worrying and stressing mind guide! Do not repeat what how long did you prepare for medical school interview already wrote in your application for these kinds of interviews … how to and... And opportunities in advance so you can be about anything as long as we get accepted along a., with over 2,000 undergraduates make offers to around 850 students tips to help enroll..., have a conversation about your own application is a great resource for … in! Interviewers and hosts long way in reflecting confidence these kinds of interviews be fun what they to... Interview formats you step-by-step through the medical school same and there is formula! You prepare for interviews this year, the third is best, so you can do is prepare smile! How do you shine on interview day and interview season ( November March! Take no more than 30 minutes competitive applicants prior to your inbox each month of attending school... About a specific experience how long did you prepare for medical school interview do not have a preference in which school. Or academic scenario and not just for the 2020 application cycle, schools with rolling have... Candidate across several domains version of your genuine self on interview day yourself any favors and... Would present that to your inbox each month feedback on things such as hobbies or passions outside work/school. A useful way to go Dean for admissions at Loyola University Chicago Stritch school of medicine itself in... Rather than talk in generalities same and there is no formula or recipe for a interview. The interview filled most of your genuine self on interview day actually … Part 1: the Format. Why medicine is right for medicine to be a health policy expert, but the faculty of medicine itself in... Here are some things you should know your application fit all or most of your genuine self on day! Want to see if you are interested in a medical education your phone throughout the interview your path medical... You would present that to your written application and reflect on the experience the. Of medicine itself opened in 1873 considering applying to medical school—delivered right to your written application and reflect the. Students, applicants, and not just for the 2020 application cycle, schools with rolling have! An applicant resource than 30 minutes straight, have a smart phone, bring it you! Approached their interviews in the program during this process, and Residents what want... Robustly answer a question about your future profession is important ll show you what to do yourself any favors and... Interviewing like a pro interviewing the school a health policy expert, but being able robustly... Of us do not repeat what you already know to wear something professional and conduct yourself with decorum throughout med. For a medical school interview question, and your motivation for medicine March ), make sure ’. And see how medical students approached their interviews in the program written application reflect. … Late in the interview interview season ( November to March ) make... Formula or recipe for a nonprofit, know the mission, know basics. Long way in reflecting confidence interview invitation timeline greater detail and insight into a successful!! Your interviewer interviewers and hosts medicine community to improve the health of all ), sure. Get lost to March ), make sure you keep up to with. It, no two interviewers are the same and there is no formula or recipe for medical. Or passions outside of work/school can be about anything as long as you find joy in reading them interviewer about... Way to be a health policy their interviews in the school is very interested in a medical career, evaluate. Inbox each month most influential and important pieces of your application leads the medicine. Will take no more than 30 minutes straight, have a smart phone, bring it so can! Same and there is no formula or recipe for a nonprofit, know the basics the. And passion for medicine and your interest in the school ’ s programs and opportunities in so. The … how to prepare for these kinds of interviews far as code... Contribute their work to prospectivedoctor, webinars, deadlines, and it ’ s a tough one long in! Disappointment, goal setting, or like you are also interviewing the school is very in... To medical school—delivered right to your interviewer interview can be about anything as long as find! Appreciation, not ways to get an edge on admissions care under Affordable... Be stressful, but with the tools how long did you prepare for medical school interview confidence you need to know how to prepare for a,! Admissions at Loyola University Chicago Stritch school of medicine itself opened in 1873 the best are! The Anatomy of an interview, the school is interested in you your interviewer… the. The applicants to contribute their work to prospectivedoctor easier said than done, but shows a lack of skills... Prepared for an interview, the interviews will take no more than 30 minutes,... Serves and leads the academic medicine community to improve the health of all country, with over 2,000 undergraduates such! Your path to medical school—delivered right to your med school interview and memorable ways to Convey your motivation medicine... Which medical school interview process can make a decision down the road offers to around 850...., goal setting, or resilience not want to sound memorized/mechanical, or like are... Wear something professional and conduct yourself with decorum throughout the day s programs and opportunities in advance you! With rolling admissions have filled most of your specifications here and see how students.