After preparing for the MCAT, completing your applications, and potentially even taking a CASPer or PREview test, you’re at the point in the application process where you’re planning for the med school interview. The med school interview is the final hurdle, where, after schools have finished assessing your academic and professional qualifications, they consider your social potential as a future physician or colleague.
At Marks Education, our graduate counseling and tutoring team has helped dozens of med school applicants through this important process. That’s why we’re here to share some insights we’ve picked up along the way to help you approach your interviews with confidence and authenticity.
Understanding the Interview Dynamic
Interviews of any kind can be inherently anxiety-provoking. The stress of being assessed by a stranger with significant influence over your future compounds the pressure. However, with med school interviews specifically, there is a lot of added nuance that candidates overlook, which can cause stress, but are also opportunities to shine.
Many interviewees underestimate how much their specific interviewer influences the interaction. During a med school interview, for example, younger faculty might approach the conversation as though they are speaking with someone who could become their colleague, while more senior interviewers may evaluate you as someone who might be their future doctor. While the perspective of your interviewer isn’t necessarily something you can control, it is worth considering. After all, many applicants find solid footing and confidence during the conversation when they consider that the interviewer may be envisioning a real relationship.
Effective Prep Strategies
You don’t want to just wing your interview, but you also don’t want to come off as over-rehearsed either. The most effective med school interviewees strike a balance between thorough prep and authentic self-expression—but what do we mean by that?
While every interview is different, you’re always likely to be asked some standard questions like “Why medicine?” or “Why our school?” You will already have answered such questions in your written application (which your interviewer may have read). Thus, at the interview, these questions should be approached as opportunities to demonstrate genuine and energetic interest in the profession and show that you’re excited to be a member of the med school community there. We recommend spending some time searching the school’s website– learn what words they use to describe themselves, what initiatives/opportunities/experiences they emphasize about their program, and how these experiences would contribute to the achievement of your goals and development.
Similarly, be prepared to talk about yourself and your accomplishments. Be comfortable with making your responses personal, even though you’re talking to a stranger. For instance, know how you feel about your most significant clinical experience and find a way to explain why it sticks with you. If you have engaged with biomedical research, be ready to talk about your project using specific terms and the impact you hope your work will have.
Practice is essential, but it shouldn’t be excessive. You should be able to provide a succinct response to most major questions asked without sounding scripted. Basically, practice just enough that you can respond to the question asked with intentionality and poise without rambling. Overall, focus on increasing your fluency and self-confidence with the questions you know you will be asked by almost every interviewer at almost every school. Spend some time rehearsing to find your voice and rhythm, and arrange practice sessions with a friend or family member to answer common questions.
Other than researching the school, there is another type of homework you should do to prepare for med school interviews: read reputable news sources. As an aspiring medical professional, keeping abreast of issues in healthcare, medical ethics, and medical advancements will give your interview responses more depth and significance. While it is unlikely that an interviewer will quiz you on current events, you will find that such topics tend to arise frequently in conversation.
Avoiding Common Pitfalls
Our team cautions med school interviewees that the biggest mistake they can make in an interview is appearing inauthentic. People are incredibly intuitive about this, and it can sink your interview as fast as coming unprepared. This can happen if you are too eager to show off your accomplishments or your responses are too polished. Keep in mind that your interviewer wants to have a meaningful conversation with you, not just hear your prepackaged answers.
Additionally, in moments when you might find yourself faced with discussing a potentially controversial topic during an interview, it’s important to demonstrate the understanding that there are always multiple sides to an issue. No matter where you stand, showing professionalism and respect is always the best way to conduct yourself in these situations.
Conclusion
Answering difficult questions with compassion and thoughtfulness is essential not just in your interview but also in your future career as a medical professional. In some ways, the interview serves as practice for some fundamental skills of a clinician: making a positive first impression and building meaningful rapport in potentially stressful situations.
Are you ready to prepare for your medical school interviews or other parts of the med school application process? We’re here to help! Contact Marks Education for more personalized guidance from experienced advisors to understand what medical schools are seeking in their future students.
