Tips on Medical School Interviewing
Adapted from Effective Communication Skills and the Medical School Interview, and the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences
Before the interview:
- Develop a chart to track status at each school.
- As soon as interview is scheduled, make needed arrangements for time away with professors, roommates, volunteer activities, as well as travel and overnight stay arrangements.
- Prepare interview wardrobe and determine if iron is available at overnight stay; never be upstaged by your costume.
- One week before interview, give special attention to diet, exercise, rest.
- Be an informed citizen by reading newspapers, listening to news.
- Purchase easy-to-eat snack for interview day.
- Choose book to read on interview day.
- Reread your AMCAS essay and any supplemental application essays you wrote.
- Prepare questions to ask interviewers.
- Prepare outlines for key questions.
- Speak with your interview “coach” and advisor.
- Be determined to be centered and enjoy the interview experience.
On interview day:
- Plan an extra hour for dressing and breakfast.
- Eat your usual breakfast.
- Read the newspaper; listen to the news.
- Pack snacks, book, copies of application, directions and contact numbers in briefcase.
- Arrange for cash, including change, for vending machines and public transportation.
- Arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled time.
- Check appearance in the restroom before entering the admissions office.
- Do relaxation exercises before entering the admissions office and while waiting for interviews to begin.
- Greet everyone in a pleasant, enthusiastic manner.
- Participate fully in the interview day.
- Address people by name as much as possible, using formal titles when appropriate.
- Focus on the needs of others throughout the day.
- Thank everyone as appropriate and determine if follow-up thank you notes are welcomed.
- Be determined to be centered and enjoy the opportunity to get to know some interesting people.
After the interview day:
- Within two hours, make a journal entry of all impressions, questions answered, and questions remaining to be asked.
- Update application status tracking chart.
- Debrief with interview “coach” and advisor – what was learned from this interview that will allow for greater success in the next one?
- If welcomed, send follow-up thank you notes.
- Treat yourself!
Things to think about:
- What are your strengths? Be able to define and illustrate perseverance, curiosity, integrity, time management, creativity, team play, caretaking, athleticism, and altruism.
- What are your weaknesses? Do not say none! Think about whether you are disorganized, forgetful, average academically (but a hard worker), hesitant, too naïve, unwilling to ask for help, overcommitted, or indecisive.
- What is the hardest thing you ever had to do? Perhaps you told the truth about something you or a friend did wrong, changed a garbage disposal, ran the New York Marathon, dealt with the death of a friend or relative, or learned a foreign language.
- Know something about: your name, hometown, country of origin, parents' occupation(s), school, job, research, and why you want to be a doctor.
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