Preparing for the Interview

Congratulations! If you're reading this, you probably received an invitation to interview, and you are preparing for it. Try to schedule interviews by regions. For instance, if you're interviewing in Ontario at University of Toronto and still waiting for Queens, call Queens and try to schedule the interview during the same week to save on travel costs. Sometimes the admissions committee is close to a decision and will grant you an interview.

Applicants, both male and female, should invest in a nice business suit. This doesn't mean you need to spend a thousand dollars on a new suit; you can probably find nice suits for around $200-400. Dress conservatively and be well groomed. As with any field that requires working with people, individuals need to look presentable, sharp, and nicely dressed. First impressions are extremely important. You get to meet the interviewer once and only once. Interviews are conducted differently from school to school. For M.D. candidates, the admissions office usually provides you a lunch, tour, and interviews with faculty in the school of medicine (either 1 or 2 interviews). Sometimes you interview with a medical student. The student usually doesn't have much say in the final decisions of whether you receive an acceptance, however, treating the medical student like their insignificant will most definitely hurt your chances of admission. Applicants applying for M.D.-Ph.D. programs have a more grueling schedule. Usually 5-7 interviews are conducted over a two day period. Some schools, such as University of Washington and Washington University in St. Louis, conduct committee interviews with the applicants. In this case, it's one applicant with about 6 interviewers taking turns asking questions. You should also take the opportunity during your interview to ask questions. You should ask a few questions about the school and their program. If you don't ask questions, you will appear not interested in the school.

You're probably thinking what kinds of questions do the interviewers ask. There are hundreds of questions that interviewers could ask. The key is do not answer the questions the way "you think the interviewer wants you to answer". Try to be relaxed and answer naturally. Being nervous is alright, but don't look nervous through the whole interview. Also remember to maintain eye contact, smile, and be yourself. Most interviewers are trying to get to know you as a person during the interview. They're interested to see if you're a nice person and easy to talk to. Try to keep in mind that since they have invited you for an interview, they're very interested and that you have the academic credentials to attend their school. Your primary goal is to show them that you have good communication skills, are confident, and are pleasant to talk to. Try practicing before your interviews. Have your premed advisor interview you. Also formulate a list of questions you expect the interviewers will ask. For example, "Why did you choose your undergraduate college and academic major?"; "Tell me about yourself..."; "What is your opinion on Nationalized Health Care? HMOs?"; "Tell me about something you are particularly proud of..."; "Why do you want to be a physician?"; additionally, interviewers will sometimes ask you to provide details about specific items you listed in your application.

Good luck on your interviews.

Interviews

Here's the chance the schools have to get to know you up close and personal. You have to put your best face forward and come prepared for all the favorite interviewer questions that make the rounds such as: why do you want to be a doctor? Tell me about yourself. What do you think of health care reform?, etc. Set up a practice interview with your pre-med advisor and have him/her drill you with questions. Think about your agenda for the interview and be prepared to guide the interview into subjects that present you in the best possible light. Read and ask questions about the school you are going to be interviewing in. Come prepared with a copy of your resume just in case. Dress your best and conservatively, although women can wear something besides navy (everybody wears navy, if you wear something a different color people might remember you better). Make sure you talk to as many students as you can and ask them what they think of the place. Med school is hard work and people will be tired, but some places treat their students better than others and you need to find this out. Try to stay for more than a day and explore the surroundings, if you can stay with one of the current students (many schools have volunteers for this, so ask when you get invited to the interview). Try to get as much information about the school as they get out of you. There are some questions to ask during the interview provided below. .

During the interview itself make eye contact, smile and try to relax as much as you can. Be honest and forthright with your answers and don't fidget. Some interviewers run their interviews by asking for the applicant to tell them anything about themselves that they want to share. Many are interested in what kind of person you are and how you would fit into their school. Be prepared for some offbeat questions and other curve balls that sometimes appear, just don't panic and try to relax. Continued nervousness is a bad thing in an interview situation.

Here is a new site from Johns Hopkins by Graham Redgrave dealing with interviewing for premeds. The Interview Feedback Page - This site lets you browse peoples reactions / insights to their interviews at any med school you wish to look at. VERY informative . . .  If you get an interview, fill out their questionnaire :)

31 Questions I Wish I Had Asked

Medical schools, like individuals, are very different -- in their philosophies, faculties, curricula, and the type of students they attract. Consequently, selecting the "best" medical school for you can be very challenging. The following set of questions was compiled by medical students from across the country to assist you in evaluating the schools you will visit. This list is by no means complete; it was designed to serve as a base for your own questions. Keep in mind that the interview represents a wonderful time for you to learn, so don't be shy about asking anyone your questions. Congratulations on your career choice and good luck with interviews!

1. Are there any special programs for which this medical school is noted?

Curriculum

2. Describe this school's curriculum in the pre-clinical and clinical years. Are there any innovations, like Problem-Based Learning?

3. Are there opportunities for students to design, conduct, and publish their own research?

4. Is there a note-taking service? If so, is it University-run or student-run?

5. Is there flexibility in the coursework (the number of electives) and the timing of the courses (accelerating, decelerating, and time off) during the pre-clinical and clinical years?

6. Has this medical school, or any of its clinical departments, been on probation or had its accreditation revoked?

7. How do students from this medical school perform on the National Board Examinations? How does the school assist students who do not pass?

Evaluations

8. How are students evaluated academically? How are clinical evaluations performed?

9. Is there a formal mechanism in place for students to evaluate their professors and attending physicians? What changes have been made recently as a result of this feedback?

Counseling/Student Support

10. What kind of academic, personal, financial, and career counseling is available to students? Are these services also offered to their spouses and dependents/children?

11. Is there a mentor/advisor system? Who are the advisors -- faculty members, other students, or both?

12. How diverse is the student body? Are there support services or organizations for ethnic minorities and women?

Facilities

13. Tell me about the library and extracurricular facilities (i.e., housing and athletic/recreational facilities).

14. Are there computer facilities available to students? Are they integrated into the curriculum/learning?

15. What type of clinical sites -- ambulatory, private preceptors, private hospitals, rural settings -- are available or required for clerkships? Does this school allow for students to do rotations at other institutions or internationally?

16. Is a car necessary for clinical rotations? Is parking a problem?

Financial Aid

17. What is the current tuition and fees? Is this expected to increase yearly? If so, at what rate?

18. Are there stable levels of federal financial aid and substantial amounts of university/medical school endowment aid available to students?

19. Are there students who have an "unmet need" factor in their budget? If so, where do these students come up with the extra funds?

20. Are spouses and dependents/children covered in a student's budget?

21. Is someone available to assist students with budgeting and financial planning?

22. Does this school provide guidance to its students, and to its graduates/alumni, on debt management?

Student Involvement

23. What medical school committees (e.g., curriculum committee) have student representation?

24. Are students involved in (required or voluntary) community service?

25. How active is the Student Council/Government? Are there other student organizations?

Policies

26. Is there an established protocol for dealing with student exposure to infectious diseases? Is disability insurance provided to cover this exposure?

27. Does this school provide, or does the student pay for, vaccinations against Hepatitis B or prophylactic AZT treatment in case of a needle-stick or accident?

28. Is there a school Honor Code? Is there a grievance process/procedure? Are the students involved?

Residency

29. May I see a list of residency programs to which this school's recent graduates were accepted?

Questions to Ask Yourself

30. Does this school have strengths in the type of medicine (primary versus specialized care, urban versus rural practice environment, academic medicine versus private practice) that I will want to practice?

31. Would I be happy at this school (for at least the next four years)?

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