Medical School Interviews

by Linda Alexander, M.D.

http://www.mommd.com/interview.shtml

Being asked to interview is a key step in your acceptance to medical school... the medical school
in question is telling you that they are interested in you and that you look good enough on paper
to go there. Now they want to meet you to see if you'd make a good fit. Though the overall
number of applicants to medical school has decreased, statistically, few applicants in the pool are
asked to interview. And it is from this group of 10 to 15% that the class is filled.

See this opportunity as your chance to shine. You looked good enough on paper to get this far.
Now you have an opportunity to show them your intelligence, your enthusiasm… who you are.
And it's also your opportunity to see who THEY are... for them to put their best face forward to
you and make you want to be a part of their school.

Preparation

Preparation for your interview is as important in its own way as prepping for the MCAT. You
wouldn't walk in to the MCAT or an Orgo test without prepping for it first, would you? The
same goes for Interviewing.

Personal preparation: Grooming and Dress

While women are not required to wear a suit, if you choose to eschew the uniform, you must still
look professional. Color choice is open, but conservative colors do best. Some people say that
women should not wear black or red suits to interviews, but if that is what you feel your best in,
go for it. The other question is a pant suit vs. skirt? Once again, if you look professional, wear
what suits you and your personality best.

You should also wear minimal jewelry, simple makeup, simple hair. Wear shoes you can
walk/tour in. If you can do that in 4+ inch heels, go for it. You are a better woman than I am. My
vote goes to a moderately heeled pump. If they are new, wear them around the house for a week
or so to break them in. I have gotten many a blister on my interviews. Your shoes don't have to
be new, but should be clean and polished.

There is an adage about how you should look like a physician before you are one. While looks
are not everything, the interviewers do look at how you are dressed and groomed as well as how
you carry yourself. Most evaluate whether they would want someone like you to treat them or a
member of their family.

Mental Preparation

To a great extent, this is the most important part of your interview, and it takes place before you
even get there. Though it is crucial that you be yourself at your interview, you will be asked
questions that you need to think about ahead of time. You should also be able to answer these
questions in their various forms, succinctly, when asked.

 Why do you want to become a doctor?

 How did you get here?
 Why would you be a good doctor?
 What are your strengths? Your weaknesses?
 What would you do if you don't get in to medical school?
 What do you feel are the most important qualities in being a good doctor?
 What do you do to alleviate stress? What are your hobbies?
 Are you a leader or a follower? Give examples...
 What exposure have you had to the medical profession? Healthcare experience? What did
you do when you volunteered at ----?
 What do you think you will like most about medicine/being a doctor? Least?

MOST OF ALL, think about what information about you do you want the interviewers to know
and leave the interview with. What is the impression you want to leave with them... what is it
they need to know about you that shows them that you'd be a great doctor and a perfect match for
their school?

Ethics and Healthcare:

Many medical school interviewers like to ask about an ethical or moral dilemma. This can be
about very controversial issues such as abortion or euthanasia, but it can also be about healthcare
rationing, Medicare/immigrant healthcare, preventative medicine, withdrawal or withholding
nutrition/hydration, assisted suicide, etc. Don't answer what you think the interviewer would like
to hear. State what YOU believe, but be able to back it up and explain why you believe that.

Interviewers also like to ask about managed healthcare and changes in the US healthcare system,
such as the new regulations regarding residency hours. Read the paper, magazine articles, etc.
You don't need to have memorized the latest issue of Lancet or JAMA to speak to these issues.

The Medical School:

You will be asked why you want to go to that school. So, why DID you apply there? What kind
of experiences are you looking for in a medical school? What is important to you?

Volunteer/student organizational opportunities... do you want to get involved with your med
school class or do you tend to just want to do your work and go home?

Clinical exposure... When do you get it and what kind of exposure is it? What kind of patient
population? Urban? Rural? Community or just in-patient?

Do you care about block classes or would you rather have semester long ones? Do you want a
school with problem-based or case-based classes or just lecture? Are you interested in computer-
based learning?
Facilities...computers, libraries, student lounge/area, labs, lecture halls... are they nice? Do you
care?

Think about what you want out of a medical school and be able to address your issues. It helps to
do a bit of research in advance about the school. So not only will you be able to tell the interview
WHY you applied, but how the strengths of that school link into your own strengths and
interests. You can also use the knowledge you already have about the school to ask specific
questions of the interviewer. You can find out more about a school by checking out their web site
or through books like Princeton Review's Best Medical Schools book.

A final word of advice on your prep... reread your AMCAS application and your secondary
application to that school. Take a xerox copy of both with you to skim over if you have time.
Often in a non-blind interview you will be asked about things you mentioned in your secondary
essays. Rereading and remembering what you actually wrote in your secondary can really save
you from looking bad.

Different types of interviews

Includes an example of a med school that uses that type.

Panel: Eastern Virginia Medical School

This is where more than one interviewer interviews you at the same time. It can feel like the
Spanish Inquisition, but try not to get over intimidated. Make eye contact with the person who
has asked you the question, but also try to look and engage the other interviewers as you make
your points. Usually panel interviews are made up of people from different disciplines such as
basic science/ research, clinical medicine, or surgery. There is often a medical student as part of
the panel. So be prepared for a real range of questions...

Blind: George Washington SOM

This is an interview where the interviewer has not seen any part of your file. He or she does not
know your grades or scores and has not read your essays. Be prepared for the worst of all
possible interview questions: "So, tell me about yourself." Expect to regurgitate a lot of what you
have already written in your various application essays. Your previous prep to answer so why do
you want to be a doctor questions will really help here.

Partial blind: Loyola Stritch SOM

This is where an interviewer only sees part of your applications, such as your essays and
secondary application, but not your grades or scores. This saves you from defending your C in
second semester Organic Chemistry class, but requires that you look again at what you wrote. I
was given a great ethical question at a partial blind interview.

Open: MCV (up to the interviewer whether they look at your file or not)(MCV has only one
interview/interviewer)
In this type of interview it is up to the interviewer whether or not he or she will look at your file
ahead of time. Be prepared, therefore, for "blind" type questions as well as questions addressing
what you wrote in your essays.
Stress interviews:
I haven't experienced this personally. But my advice would be to keep your cool and composure
and take your time answering your questions. If they ask personal questions (which you know
they aren't allowed to), there are different ways to approach the situation. You can choose to
answer the question they ask, or turn it around and give an answer which asks why the
interviewer thinks this is relevant, or one which tries to diffuse the situation.

The Day

If you will need to travel more than 50 miles to your interview, consider getting a hotel room and
staying over the night before. Also, many medical schools have students who have offered to put
up interviewees the night before their interview. If this is the case, try to take advantage of this
great opportunity to talk to the students and see the school on an informal basis. You can learn a
lot!

Be prompt, if not a bit early. No matter what, you don't want to be late to your interview. You
also don't want to show up more than 10 to 15 minutes early. The staff may not be ready for you
yet and it can be a bit awkward to be milling about as they set up the breakfast tray or lay out the
folders and name tags. If you ARE real early, take a stroll around the campus, read the campus
newspaper, review your copy of your secondary application to the school or the school
information you have. You might want to bring something to read (especially a copy of your
application and secondary) because you may be waiting around in a smallish room for a while
before your interview time comes up.

Have something in your stomach, but not too much in case those butterflies backfire. Take it
easy on the caffeine... a cup or two of coffee or a Coke won't hurt a bit but too much may make
you jittery or hyper and those diuretics have a tendency to kick in at inopportune times.

To sidetrack back to personal grooming a bit, carry a comb or brush on you to run through your
hair. I would also recommend that women have an extra pair of pantyhose on hand in their purse
or briefcase in case the pair they are wearing runs. You might want to carry some powder and
lipstick to refresh your makeup if it's needed. Another recommendation would be to bring along
some breath mints. Many interviews are after lunch and you don't know WHAT will be served.
But remember - don't suck candy or chew gum during your interview.

Most interview days include a talk from financial aid and a tour of the medical school, if not the
hospital. Often, the tour is given by first or second-year students. If you have questions, ask
them. Pick their brains. Now is the time to get some of them answered.

It can also be beneficial for you to take a few notes if you have the chance. Jot down the names
of your interviewers for later thank you notes, scribble any questions that arise as the day goes
on.

For your interview itself… be relaxed. Be yourself. I know… easier said than done but try
anyhow. Try to be clear, concise, and think about your answers. It's easy when you're nervous to
go on a bit. Try to catch yourself and stop after your point is made. Try to remember to smile and
make eye contact with your interviewer. Try not to fidget or fiddle with anything and don't be
weird. If you don't understand a question the interviewer asks, ask them to rephrase it.

Most interviewers want to make this experience as painless for you as possible. These people are
the ones who will try to sell you to the rest of the committee. They want to be on your side and
generally are not out to get you.

Afterwards, many interviewees sit around and compare notes and questions. If this makes you
uncomforatable at all, don't do it. Even if you are comfortable discussing your experiences, don't
try to really compare or evaluate based on what you hear. It does NOT matter how long or short
your interview was. And there are really no right or wrong answers in an interview, so don't
overanalyze or overcompare what Tom from the University of Arizona said when asked about
organ procurement vs. what you said when asked a similar question.

After the Interview

Thank you notes to your interviewers and anyone who helped make your day there enjoyable.
Not required but recommended. Remember you want to make yourself stand out (in a positive
light) against the hundreds of other applicants they will be interviewing.

Be patient. It can take anywhere from one week to several months before you get a final decision
from the school. Different schools have different policies and approaches (find out about this
school's process on interview day or before); often the committees fall behind schedule and it
takes a bit longer than the four or six weeks they promised.

Interviews alone can't get you into medical school, but they can definitely strengthen a borderline
application or completely eliminate you from contention. You can no longer change your grades
or scores... those are in. But you can stand out for who you are. Show them what a warm,
charming, intelligent, thoughtful and professional person you are. They'll want you... how could
they do otherwise?

* The original version of this talk was given to the Pre-Med Society at Virginia Commonwealth
University. I had been a founder of the group as a pre-med, and came back when I was a first
year medical student at MCV to talk to them about interviewing.