11 Ways to Answer the Most Overlooked Medical School Interview Question 

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Medical School interview Question

11 Ways to Answer the Most Overlooked Medical School Interview Question:

Medical school interview season continues, which means we are back with another round of need-to-know information to help you make it through your interviews without a hitch. When preparing for an interview, medical school hopefuls spend a lot of time getting introspective. After all, interviewers will likely ask students all about themselves. They’ll ask about work experience, motivation, and classes. There’s one question, however, that you may have overlooked in all your preparation. The question? “Do you have any questions for us?” Good interviewees are prepared for this question, and after this blog post, you will be, too! Below, we have listed eleven questions you can ask in an interview and what they tell an interviewer about you when you ask them.  

1) Ask about specific programs at the school.  

You can use this question as an opportunity to indicate that you’ve done your homework when it comes to your interviewing school, demonstrating your high level of interest. 

2) Ask the interviewer how they got to where they are today. 

First of all, let’s be honest. People love talking about themselves, and interviewers are no exception. Not only is this an opportunity for the interviewer to feel all the positive feelings, but it’s also a genuine opportunity for you to learn about what it’s like as someone who has been through what you will go through.  

3) If you’re interviewing at a school outside your current city, ask about local life.  

Showing an interest in the surroundings helps show the interviewer that you can see yourself living there, indicating that their medical school is high on your list.  

4) Ask if the interviewer has any advice for you as a future medical student. 

This question shows an interviewer that you respect their experience and serves as guidance for you as you pursue a medical career.  

5) Ask the interviewer to put themselves in your shoes.  

For example, ask them to imagine that they were selecting a medical school for the first time. What would their deciding factor be? This question varies slightly from the previous question asking for advice. This time, though, the question prompts the interviewer to empathize with you.  

6) Ask about the culture among students. Are classes tight-knit? Are they competitive?  

This question shows an interviewer that you have pictured yourself as a medical school student already – you know what you want out of your experience. Answers to this question also help you formulate that picture further.  

7) Ask about statistics. 

There are many statistics you could inquire about: graduation rates (and in how many years), diversity, or typical class size. Asking about statistics that are important to you serves to both gain information and show interest to the interviewer. 

This question allows you to gather any information you might not have found otherwise.  

8) Ask what they believe the school can offer you that other schools can’t. 

Ideally, you would already know part of the answer to this question because you researched the school prior to interview day. However, giving the interviewer the chance to “sell” their school shows them that you are carefully considering your options.  

9) Ask about off-campus educational opportunities. 

For example, if a school is located in a big city, but you want to explore your options with rural medicine, you’ll want to know if you can do a clinical rotation away from the city. Asking questions like these show your interviewer that you are invested in a medical school experience that meets your needs and interests. 

10) Ask about unique educational or clinical experiences that the school might offer. 

When you inquire about these, you could even reference electives or opportunities you discovered in your research. “Other than x, which interests me, are there any unique experiences your school offers?” This question invites your interviewer to tell you about something that excites them.  

11) Ask anything… but use your question as a way to reference your experience.  

For many of these questions, there are opportunities to inject references to your clinical experience as a pre-med student. The best way to take advantage of your clinical experience is to be equipped to recall as many details as possible. Code Blue’s Clinical Experience Journals are an excellent way to organize your experiences as you live through them.   

At Code Blue Essays, we can provide you with resources for all of your interview needs! Our Interview Genius program is comprehensive, giving you everything you need to succeed this interview season. Schedule a free consult with us today!

 

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