The Medical School Interview 101

Marya Sabir, Co-chair

2017-2018 Greater Bethesda AMSA Chapter

THE PURPOSE

• You are academically qualified for admission if you received an interview invitation so be EXCITED (within reason!)!!

• The purpose of the interview is manifold:• Deeper look at your personal qualities: Enthusiasm, maturity, integrity,

honesty, social and communications skills, decision-making skills, leadership ability, compassion• AAMC competencies (academic and personality traits)

• It’s a two-way street---dual purpose. Sell yourself as a deserving candidate and the institution will do the same for you.

• More of a conversation, than a formality. • Making a personal connection with the interviewer is critical!

YOU NEED TO HAVE A PLAN…

BEFORE THE INTERVIEW

BEFORE THE INTERVIEW: OUTLINE

• Objectives include: I. Be informed about the types of interview formats

II. Preparation with practice questions/rehearsing

III. Assembling of appropriate attire

IV.General tips

WHO WILL I BE INTERVIEWED BY?

• You can expect to be interviewed by any combination of faculty, admissions officers, and, sometimes, advanced medical students.

• The exact composition of the med school admissions committee will vary by program. Prepare to be interviewed by a range of faculty with differing interests and perspectives. Try to predict the interest of each potential committee member as well as something that you might ask of him or her. For example, you might ask the med student about opportunities for clinical experience.

• Recognize that there is no standard interview format. Some medical schools conduct one-on-one interviews, others rely on a committee. Sometimes you might be interviewed alone. Other programs interview a group of applicants at once. The interview format also varies (see next few slides for more details).

• The people who interview you will be the people to speak up for you during the admission’s committee so show your best face.

TYPES OF INTERVIEWS

**IMPORTANT: There is no one standard interview format! Check the school’s website to properly prepare!**

• Traditional Interview/One-on-One: The traditional interview is typically one-on-one, and lasts for about 30 to 45 minutes. Depending on the school, you may be scheduled for one or two traditional interviews.

• Panel Interview: This is a meeting with several interviewers (referred to as a panel) at once. The panel usually includes a variety of faculty in different medical areas and in clinical medicine as well as basic research. A medical student is often a member of the interview committee. Try to anticipate the questions each member of the committee might have and be prepared to speak to theconcerns of each.

• Group Interview: Multiple candidates with one or more interviewers. The biggest point here is they want to see how you interact with your peers and handle differing perspectives.

• Blind Interview: In a blind interview, the interviewer is “blinded” from your application, he or she knows nothing about you. Your job is to introduce yourself to the interviewer, from scratch. The question you are most likely to face in this interview is:“Tell me about yourself.” Be ready. Be selective, yet detailed in what you present. Remember that the interviewer has not seen your grades, MCAT scores, or admissions essays. You will likely discuss much of the material in your admissions essays as well as explain whyyou want to be a doctor.

• Partial Blind Interview: Unlike the blind interview in which the interviewer knows nothing about you, in a partial blind interview, the interview has seen only part of your application (usually your personal statement). For example, the interviewer may read your essays but know nothing about your grades and MCAT score. Or the reverse may be true.

• Open Interview: In an open interview, the interviewer reviews applicant material at his or her discretion. The interviewer may choose to be blind to all or part of the application. Therefore an open interview may still include the basic question such as “Describe yourself” or detailed questions designed to follow up on your admissions essays.

TYPES OF INTERVIEWS: MULTIPLE MINI-INTERVIEW (MMI)

• Although the exact set-up varies from school to school, an MMI usually includes six to ten stations from eight to ten minutes induration with a group of applicants rotating through the stations. The instructions for the station may be posted outside the room and the applicant is given two minutes to read and analyze the instructions prior to entering the room. Typically, six to eight minutes are allocated to completing the station before moving on to the next one. Interviewer does NOT enter discussion but may ask questions.

• Types of stations may include:• Ethical dilemmas or questions about policy or social issues. The instructions describe a situation and then ask the candidate to discuss the ethical or

other issues involved. The interviewer may follow up with questions designed to probe the applicant’s response.

• Interactions with an actor. At these stations, the applicant is provided with a scenario involving an individual who is played by an actor. The applicant may need to give the individual bad news, confront the person about a problem or gather information. An observer present in the room will rate the applicant based on his or her interaction with the actor.

• Standard interview questions. An MMI may include one or more stations with traditional interview questions such as “Why did you apply to this school?” or “Describe an obstacle that you have overcome.”

• A task requiring teamwork. Since the ability to work as part of a team is essential to medicine, some stations involve two applicants working together to complete a task.

• Essay writing. Some schools include an essay component as part of the interview process so a station may involve responding to a prompt in writing. This station may be longer than the others to allow for the applicant to formulate and write the response.

• A rest station. An interview takes a lot of energy, since the applicant is “on” the whole time and being presented with challenging tasks at every station. Fortunately, many MMIs include a rest station. Avoid spending the break time rehashing previous questions and what you should have said or done. Clear your mind and get ready for the next station.

TYPES OF INTERVIEWS: MULTIPLE MINI-INTERVIEW (MMI) CONT.

• Possible MMI scoring categories:• professionalism,

• communication skills,

• teamwork,

• compassion and empathy,

• cultural competence,

• problem-solving skills,

• ethics and values

BEFORE THE INTERVIEW: PRACTICE QUESTIONS

• The questions that an interviewer asks you are the same you have been asking yourself:• Choosing your sciences courses, your health profession, and defining

your life goals

• Is the candidate making an informed choice?

• Does the candidate have a good heart and head?

• Is the candidate prepared?

BEFORE THE INTERVIEW: PRACTICE QUESTIONS CONT.

• Some Resources for Practice Questions:• https://www.princetonreview.com/med-school-advice/medical-school-

interview-questions• https://ocs.fas.harvard.edu/medical-interview• https://gecd.mit.edu/sites/default/files/grad/files/sample-med-school-interview-

questions.pdf• http://www.missouristate.edu/bms/CMB/InterviewPrep.htm

**Practice often and deliberately! This is not the time to “wing-it”! **

BEFORE THE INTERVIEW: PREPARE TO DRESS TO IMPRESS

**Remember: Neat/Conservative, Clean, and Professional!**

• The profession is conservative/modest and so should be your attire!

• Wear professional and comfortable shoes. Walk in the shoes you select before interview day!

• A jacket is expected since it may be cold inside (even if it’s hot outside)!

• No flashy jewelry/ties! Solid colors work great!

• Pay attention to hair and nails; make sure they are well-groomed!

• Tone down perfume/cologne (just as you would in a a clinical setting)

• Make-up should be minimalistic (no party/club theme!)

• Remove facial piercings and tongue studs if possible, and cover large tattoos.

BEFORE THE INTERVIEW: GENERAL TIPS

1. Finances: Traveling/lodging can get expensive, make sure to plan ahead!

• Some schools have student groups that offer to house applicants; others offer discounted local hotels (check the school’s website).

• Affordable lodging: https://www.airbnb.com• Arrive the day before to ensure you do not miss your interview!

2. Review your application! Make sure the person on the application is the person that shows up to the interview.

3. Review the school’s mission, curriculum, programs, community the serve, hospital affiliations to show that you’ve done your homework and prepare questions for the interviewer in advance!

THE INTERVIEW ITSELF

Every encounter is an opportunity!

You’ll never get a second chance to make a first impression!

A BRIEF WORD ABOUT COMMUNICATION

• Composition of communication is:

ALAS! INTERVIEW DAY: GENERAL

• Make a positive first impression! And YES, you actually do have a personality so show it (within reason).

• You are not expected to have all the answers, they just want to have a conversation with you to gauge who you are!

• Have fun!

INTERVIEW DAY: BRIEF TIPS

*Be polite and courteous to absolutely everyone on interview day! Everyone and everything is a part of the interview!*• Be prompt/arrive early!

• Turn off your cell phone. NO HEADPHONES WHILE YOU ARE WAITING!

• Be prepared, but do not over-rehearse. Be yourself, they actually want to get to know who you are!

• Be flexible and expect the unexpected.

• Smile.

• Shake hands.

• Make eye contact.

• Actively engage.

• Be positive and upbeat.

• Give direct, thorough answers.

• Do not ramble.

• Take your student interviewer seriously.

• Anticipate what might concern the interviewer (e.g., poor grades, disciplinary action). Have an explanation ready that is not an excuse or rationalization.

• You are not expected to resolve difficult ethical, moral, or political issues, but you should be able to demonstrate familiarity with current issues in medicine. At the end, be prepared for “Anything else you want me to know?” and “Do you have any questions for me?” Do not ask questions that would have obvious answers from the website. It is fine to ask questions directly related to your interviewer.

**The next few slides are 10 tips for the interview!**

10 Tips for Interview Day

“If you get offered an interview, there is a chair in that school’s first-year medical school class with your name on it. Based on your performance in the interview, you will either claim it or give it away.” -Quinn Capers IV, MD, FACC, FSCAI (Ohio State College of Medicine)

The following 10 tips are provided by Dr. Quinn Capers IV.

Tip #1: Sit up straight (posture counts)

■ Slumping or letting your shoulders sag may feel comfortable, but it sends the following message: “I’m bored, disinterested and unimpressed.” Obviously not the message you want to send. Think military here: Back straight, chin up! But you don’t want to look stiff; it makes you look tense and uncomfortable. While keeping your back straight, lean forward a bit, toward the interviewer. It makes you look interested.

Tip #2: Make eye contact, but not too intensely.

■ Poor eye contact gives the appearance of dishonesty or low self esteem. It also may be construed as a lack of interest in what the other person is saying. Again, clearly not the messages you want to send when you are interviewing for acceptance into medical school. Look the interviewer in the eyes when they are speaking, and look them in the eyes when you are speaking. On the other hand, you don’t want to burn a hole in the interviewer with your gaze. Don’t stare; it is acceptable to avert your eyes for a second or two. Blinking is also acceptable.

Tip #3: The best answers are a combination of rehearsed fragments tied together by extemporaneous connectors.

■ There are certain questions that you can assume will be asked at any medical school interview. You will most likely be asked some version of “Why do you want to be a physician?” or “If you don’t get into medical school, what will you do?” or “What do you consider your main strengths/weaknesses?” I disagree with some interviewers who seem to hold with disdain the answer that sounds canned or rehearsed. Rehearsing is fine; in fact, I recommend it. The trick is, you want to sound conversational, not like you are reading a script. How is that achieved? More rehearsing. When I interviewed for medical school, I practiced my responses to questions that I thought I was likely to be asked. Of course, it is impossible for you to anticipate every question that may be asked, so you will have to do some ad libbing. That’s OK. Be yourself, and enjoy the experience. Oh, and try not to let out a loud “Whew!” or look too excited when you are asked a question that you practiced for. Pause for a second, stroke your chin, and say “Hmmm, it seems to me...”

Tip #4: Look enthusiastic and happy to be there.

■ As stated earlier, if you are invited for an interview, that medical school has decided that you probably have the goods to succeed at their institution. So, be excited! You are on the cusp of something great and your dreams are within reach. Leave your interviewer with the impression that you are happy to be there and grateful for the opportunity. Even if it is your last- choice medical school, approach the interview with gratitude and humility, and imagine yourself walking those very same halls as a medical student. Because, well, you just might.

Tip #5: If the interviewer continues to repeat the same question despite the fact that you have answered it, he or she likes you but did not like your answer, and is giving you the opportunity to modify it.

■ Interviewer: “So, why do you want to be a physician?”

■ Candidate: “Because medicine is such a challenging field, and I have always loved challenges.”

■ Interviewer: “OK. But what really attracted you to a career in medicine?”

■ Candidate: “I am very curious about how things work, and I really love science!”

■ Interviewer: “So why not become a research scientist? Why medicine?”

■ Candidate: “Medicine is dynamic, and more suited to my personality”

■ Interviewer: “OK, thank you for clarifying that. Now, on to something else. So...why do you want to be a physician?”

■ In this example, the interviewer does not like the answer and is giving the candidate a chance to give the “correct” answer. If the interviewer did not like the candidate, he or she would have simply noted the answer and moved on. So, if you have the impression that the interviewer keeps repeating the question, unless it is your life’s mantra, I suggest you modify your answer.

Tip #6: Your “Why Do You Want to be a Doctor?” answer should include something about your desire to help your fellow man.

■ Most medical school admissions committees feel that the most important reason for practicing medicine is to serve mankind. So, while it is OK to mention your love of science and technology, and the fact that you love challenges, and the fact you have never really wanted to do anything else, it is a mortal sin of omission to not state your desire to help your fellow man as the main reason that you want to be a doctor. We regularly reject students with perfect GPAs and near perfect MCAT scores if we are not convinced that they have a serving heart.

Tip #7: It is better to take a brief pause before answering a question to gather your thoughts than to dive right in and “find the answer” in your ramblings.

■ Some candidates begin answering the question the instant the last word rolls off of the interviewer’s tongue. Some of these same students have not clearly thought out their answers, and ramble while they are getting their thoughts together. Finally, they decide how they feel about it, and answer the question directly after many unrelated sentences. I think this is because candidates feel that an awkward silence is uncomfortable and to be avoided at all cost. But a brief pause before answering a question is perfectly acceptable, and makes you appear thoughtful. It is much better to pause for a second or two and gather your thoughts than to blurt out a stream-of-consciousness response that takes a circuitous route to the answer.

Tip #8: Leave arrogance at the door

■ I like confidence; I think most people do. A candidate who has put in many long hours and has learned that hard work results in success is refreshing. Medical schools want to admit students who believe in themselves and who think they can do the work. However, avoid sounding arrogant, which is how the candidate can sound if they stress their personal successes too much.

■ Example: if you started a new pre-med club at your college, that shows exemplary leadership, and the admissions committee will see that as valuable. When describing it, it would be better to be humble, acknowledging the role that others played (“...my fellow biology majors were very helpful in this endeavor.” ) rather than making it sound like you did it completely by yourself.

■ Another example: If you are complimented on the fact that you got straight As in your honors humanities courses, don’t respond, “Piece of cake!” In particular, medical student interviewers (some medical schools have medical students serve as interviewers and members of the admissions committee) are quick to detect arrogance in a candidate, and tend to be very harsh judges when they perceive this trait.

■ Feel good about yourself; you’ve earned the right to feel confident. Just remember, there is a thin line between a hard-earned swagger and arrogance.

Tip #9: The best answers to “What if You Don’t Get in to Medical School this year?” always include some variation on this theme: “I will find out why I did not, address the shortfall, and then reapply.”

■ Persistence can be admirable. Many medical school admissions officers look favorably upon the re-applicant who applies himself and specifically addresses his shortcomings. For this reason, when the interviewer asks what you would do if you were rejected, he is trying to ascertain how committed and passionate you are about being a physician. Even though it is wise to have a backup plan, if you answer the “What will you do if you do not get into medical school?” question with “Well, I've always liked kids and teaching. I would probably get my teaching certificate and become a high school science teacher,” you may be perceived as lacking a commitment to pursue a career in medicine. When there are many other candidates who will let nothing stop them from realizing their dream of becoming a doctor, you don’t want to come off as though you will happily move on to plan B if medical school doesn’t work out. Those who truly hear the high calling of medicine will find a way. This means finding out why you were not accepted, correcting this shortcoming, and applying again. This is the kind of passion that admissions officers want to hear.

Tip #10: The “ethical question” should always be answered with the following bent: “I will put the patient’s best interests first, and do whatever is best for the patient.”

■ Though falling out of favor, many interviewers will still ask a question or two meant to evaluate your ethical decision making. Questions in this variety include queries about how you, as a physician, would respond if you encountered a drunk surgeon prior to his performing an operation. Another favorite is the question that asks what you would do if you witnessed a medical school classmate cheating on an examination. The golden rule in medical ethics is to always put the patient’s best interests first. Thus, the “correct” answer to any ethical dilemma posed is the one that places the patient’s welfare above all else.

AFTER THE INTERVIEW

AFTER THE INTERVIEW

• Take a moment to reflect on your performance. • Make adjustments for your next interview(s), if necessary.

• Review your notes and contact medical student(s) if you have any remaining questions.

• Do not harass the Admission’s Committee members with emails, calls, etc. • Thank you notes are generally not recommended due to the high volume of

interviewees. • Follow-up instructions may be given, may sure these are followed

promptly.