Medical school admissions committees are looking for students with both academic and character excellence, and while your GPA and MCAT scores demonstrate your academic rank, your written application and interviews can help demonstrate your character.
Matching into a residency program can feel a little bit like “pin the tail on the donkey”-- you’re hoping for the best match but feeling a little blindfolded as the process is really out of your hands and within the hands of the matching algorithm. The residency application process is extensive and takes time to compile documents, write personal statements, and take tests. Sometimes it’s hard to prioritize what you should focus your energy on the most! In this blog post, we want to highlight how the match process works as well as what program directors rank most important in [...]
Getting offered an interview is often one of your first steps into the medical school application process. And those we are offered an invitation should understand that these are not given lightly. The opportunity to interview is only given to promising candidates, in fact, usually only 10-15% of applicants get an interview offer. This is the perfect chance for you to prove yourself and convince your school that you are a good fit for their program. So let’s take a look at how to prepare for your medical school interviews, what the timeline looks like, and the different types of [...]
Probably everyone’s biggest fear in a medical school interview is getting blindsided by a trick, or “trap” interview question. Nobody wants to be that person who freezes up when asked a weird or tricky question!
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… [...]
[fsn_row][fsn_column width="12"][fsn_text] You’ve spent months preparing paperwork, doing research, taking your board exams, and submitting your applications—and it’s finally time for your residency interviews. These interviews give you the chance to find out more about the programs you’re interested in, as well as giving those programs a chance to really learn more about you. Knowing how to prepare and what to anticipate during these interviews will only give you more confidence during these meetings. So in this blog post, we want to talk about what to expect during your interview day and give you 5 tips to help [...]
How to manage your stress during interview season The time spent waiting between submitting your medical school or residency application and hearing back from your schools can be stressful! For most, it can feel like an eternity because of all the effort and time put into preparing, researching, and then submitting your primary and secondary applications. It's interview season now for both medical schools and residency programs, and there's still plenty of time for you to be offered school/program interviews. Try to stay patient and remember the best thing to do during this time is to prepare for your interviews. [...]
[fsn_row][fsn_column width="12"][fsn_text] If you've made it to the interview stage of the medical school application cycle, congratulations! Most schools only offer interviews to candidates they are seriously considering for admission. And, final admission decisions usually weigh heavily on your interview performance. But don't stress! Remember, admissions committees already know your credentials. They do interviews to know what kind of person you are, and so they can discover how you communicate with others. In addition, they want to identify candidates with maturity, empathy, and superior interpersonal skills. Interview policies and processes may differ from school to school; but overall, most committees [...]
How To Develop And Tell A Compelling Life Story Throughout Your Application And Interviews: [fsn_row][fsn_column width="12"][fsn_text] Your GPA, research, MCAT scores and extracurriculars can all help you stand out in medical school applications, but what’s the easiest way to stand out and be remembered? It’s to tell your compelling life story. A narrative-based approach to your medical school application will convince admissions committees to want to learn more about you. And not only are we talking about in your personal statement here– but your entire application can and should tell a cohesive story about who you are, how [...]
[fsn_row][fsn_column width="12"][fsn_text] The medical school interview is one of the most important steps of the application process. It’s essential that you understand what to expect, what to wear and how to prepare for the unexpected question that may (and probably will) come during at least one of your interviews. There are several different kinds of interviews including in-person one-on-one interviews, video interviews and multiple mini interviews (MMIs). Remember, while you’re being quizzed, it’s also a good opportunity for you to ask questions, tour the campus and learn more about the program. How to prepare for your interviews [...]
