THE MEDICAL SCHOOL INTERVIEW

Why an interview?

Medical school point of view: Evaluate your people skills.

Assess your motivation for medicine.

Learn about unique and unusual aspects of your background and application.

Your point of view: Make yourself known to the admissions committee as a unique and interesting person.

Explain and clarify aspects of your application.

Learn more about the medical school.

Preparing for the interview.

1. Know thyself. Carefully review all materials that you submitted (Personal Statement, etc.). Be especially able to comfortably discuss the following issues:

a. Why do you want to become a doctor?

b. What extracurricular and/or research activities have you been involved in? Why are they important to you?

c. What are your strengths? How have you used these strengths to help other people in your community?

d. Be able to explain any obvious weaknesses in your application (low GPA, low MCATs, few extracurriculars, minimal clinical/lab experience). Bring them towards the positive without sounding defensive or fake.

2. Know the profession of medicine. Familiarize yourself with current controversial medicine-related issues (e.g. Health care policy; stem cell research; doctor-assisted suicide; cloning; etc.). Read major newspapers and “Articles on Current Health Issues” binders in OCS reading room.

3. Know the institution to which you are applying. Read their catalog and their website. Come up with interesting questions specific to that medical school.

At the interview.

1. Dress should be relatively conservative business attire. (i.e. suits). Be prepared for the weather.

2. Bring a copy of your application/essays for yourself.

3. Arrive early at the interview. Don’t be rushed.

4. Be polite and nice to everyone you meet. Secretaries, tour guides, fellow interviewees.

5. Introduce yourself to the interviewer. Shake hands firmly. Make eye contact.

6. Maintain eye contact. Don’t fidget. Don’t cross your arms. Don’t fondle items on the interviewer’s desk.

7. Relax and smile at appropriate times. Most interviews will be like a conversation, a two-way dialogue.

8. After the interview, shake hands, thank the interviewer for his/her time, and say goodbye.

Questions? Worries? Feel free to contact us. Good luck with your interviews!

Sincerely,

Your Resident Tutors in Medicine

David Miyamoto

Jenn Pippins

Paul Nguyen

Sam Brown

Sophia Koo

Yonatan Grad