3 Ways to Stand Out During Your Medical School Interview

0 Comments

Medical School Interview

Medical school interviews can be nerve-racking. There’s no denying that. And most applicants would agree that they feel this way about them– at least in the beginning when you are just starting out and have less experience doing them.

Medical school interviews are a key part of the admissions process, and with thoughtful preparation and practice, they can really help you stand out from other applicants. Just like the other portions of the admissions process, your medical school interviews deserve time and preparation. (So, don’t overlook this step!)

Here are three ways to stand out during your medical school interviews…

1.) Know what you WILL be and what you MIGHT be asked.

There are a few key questions you can bank on getting asked. Things like:

  • Tell us about yourself.
  • Why did you decide to go into medicine?
  • Why do you want to go to this school or program?

Prepare 1-2 minute responses for each of these and know what you’re going to say so your answers flow easily and sound natural. Don’t memorize, but do speak from the heart. Be honest. It’s also a good idea to review your application before you begin your interviews just to remember all of the research, volunteer work and extracurricular activities you listed as well. Interviewers often have research backgrounds and a good way to connect with them is to talk about your research experiences.

Also, consider thinking about how you would answer other common questions they MIGHT ask you like:

  • What are your strengths and weaknesses?
  • Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
  • Tell me about an ethical dilemma you have faced?

2.)Prepare a few personal experience examples.

Interviewers are looking for concrete examples and experiences from your life that give them insight into who you are and what your values and strengths are. If you have specific experiences that have shaped who you are today, practice describing them so that you can use them to answer different questions. Think about challenges you have faced in the workplace or during school, times of personal growth or experiences that pushed you to do something difficult or uncomfortable. Think about your successes in life and how you reached and attained them.

3.) Practice your interviewing skills.

Just like other skills take time to develop, interviewing for most students is no different. We recommend doing three things to practice and strengthen your skills:

  1. Answer and recite common questions out loud
  2. Practice with friends, other students or a family member
  3. Perform mock interviews

Many university career centers offer mock interviews which can be scheduled. Make sure that you treat your mock interviews like a formal interview. Dress the part and go through all the motions you would as if it is a real interview.

Check out our Interview Genius online course that can also help you strengthen your interview skills.

Interview Genius includes:

  • Online course
  • Interactive platform where you can create mock interviews on demand
  • Recorded interviews where you answer questions and get personalized feedback from an expert physician
  • Proven question bank of real medical school interview questions

Learn more about 5 essential medical school interview tips here.

Ready to ace your medical school interviews?

Order Interview Genius today!

Related blog post: How to NOT stress during interview season

Subscribe to get the latest updates
>
0