updated:
2/ 2002
Next update: 2002
Copyright 1999-2002.
Alex Shteynshlyuger
Master.com.content
Medical School Interview
"Getting One Leg In"
Contents:
Interview in the Medical Admissions Process:
After you submit your AMCAS application, virtually all schools to which you're applying will send you "a secondary application," which in some cases means no more than a request for another check anywhere from $50 to $100 or a check plus "short-essay" type answers to their questions.
The next stage of the process basically involves a lot of waiting, compulsively checking your mail 2-3 times a day in hope of finding a letter from medical schools. Often it takes a few months from the time you send in your secondary application for schools to acknowledge that they received your secondary application. This is very normal. It is helpful to write checks instead of money orders to each school--that way you know when they processed your application from the date that they redeemed your check. I would advise not to bother them with phone calls--you never know, it might work against you. But if you haven't heard from them for two months or otherwise before the New Year, call to inquire whether your application is complete--that is whether they have all recommendation letters, your application, etc, etc. I personally got screwed up at one school, because they never received or more likely lost my recommendation letter. Unless your application is complete, they do not look at it.
Though some activity occurs before the New Year, especially if you apply really early (which is a very good idea), most of you will hear from schools after the New Year. Unless you're a super-candidate, eighty percent of letters you will get will be rejection letters, the rest will either inform you that you're invited for an interview or that your file has been put off for further review later on. Some schools will not send you any letter at all: which might mean they still reviewing your file, or that they put it off for additional consideration. Alternatively it may just mean that they never got around to your application (esp. if you applied late in the process) or are too lazy (or too busy) to send you a rejection letter.
Invitation for an interview is the best news you can get at this point. Medical school admissions interview is what more than anything else separates premeds from preMD's. This is your time to shine, but hopefully if you get more than one interview, it is also an opportunity to shop around for the best deal in medical education. Believe it or not, you're not the only one who is trying to impress someone at this interview. Though you're not admitted yet, you will notice that medical schools themselves are trying to impress you. Once medical schools invite your for an interview they consider that you're "the right material" for medical school and that they are in competition for you with other schools.
Be prepared, but don't make a mountain out of a molehill. Most interviews are laid back, friendly encounters--no one is out there has the goal of pinning you down. Don't afraid to say "I'm not sure," "I haven't thought about it" but these phrases should not be your answer to every question, or else! I've heard horror stories, but I have yet to meet the real "victims." No one I personally know has had a bad interview. Some where asked tough questions--sometimes the interviewer would even argue with you a bit but DO NOT take it personally. The views you hold are your views, and unless you're a psycho and say something really outrageous that's OK--your interviewers do not expect you to agree with them. In fact, they might challenge your answer just to see if you can take criticism--and answer it or learn from it. Do not go on defensive just for the sake of agreeing with your interviewer, if you think you're right. If you think he or she has a point, you can partially agree.
Basically, once you're invited for an interview you have been positively selected (to use a term from evolution) as a good candidate for medical school. My impression is that the role of the interview is to weed out psychos (and I mean real psychos) and also to select the most impressive candidates among acceptable candidates.
Your goal is to sell yourself. Be prepared to make a good sales pitch. Write down every positive characteristic you have and try to relate how it would make you an outstanding physician Talk about your goals and achievements--this is the time to boast about your minisculest achievements but do not exaggerate and don't be condescending! Be prepared for questions about your experiences. Tell stories--our civilization has been built by good storytellers. Rehearse your stories so that they sound good to the ear.
There are a number of different ways your interview might be organized. You may actually get one or two interviews. Usually you will interview one-on-one with a faculty member or with an affiliated physician. This interviewer may or may not have the knowledge of your grades and may or may not have seen your application, except possibly for your personal statement. At some schools, you may be interviewed in groups--which is rare but exists. This basically means that a groups of applicants are invited into a room and the interview becomes a group activity, with the interviewer asking the questions.
At some schools, you also may get an interview with a (usually second year) medical student, who usually will not have any knowledge of your application or your grades. Be careful, because student interviews are also important. Students can recommend for you to be admitted or rejected and sometimes students have a vote on the admissions committee.
- Preparation:
The toughest thing about my interviews was the question from interviewers "Do you have any questions for me." Now, you need to thing about that in advance. Try to think about your long-term goals--you might ask a question whether attending their schools will enable you to achieve them or you might ask that given what your goals are, how you would go around achieving them at that particular school. You can ask about facilities, opportunities, academics, clinical and anything else. Try not to ask questions just for the sake of asking them--people see it and do not appreciate them. On the other hand if you ask something specific and incisive it might give a good impression. This is the time to think about yourself--ask questions about your needs, wants and desires.
Read occasionally just to know what's happening in the medical field: editorials in JAMA (Journal of American Medical Association), Lancet, and New England Journal of Medicine are often pretty useful. Read the "Purposes of Medicine" which will give you a ton of things to think about.
Read student description of their interview at the particular school you're interviewing at the Interview Feedback website
Be dressed up. It is better to be over-dressed a bit than the alternative. Wear suit, dress--you need to project an image of professionalist and respect. People on the admissions seems to understand that premeds are not the wealthiest people on earth and many cannot afford $$$$$ wardrobe. To get to the point, as long as you don't look as someone who just walked from the street you're fine. Forget your bandana at home--unless your uncle is interviewing you, you don't want to experiment.
*** Interview Feedback: Info on Interviewing at virtually every medical school in the US submitted by the students who were interviewed.
** The Guide to Interviewing At Medical Schools (from Northeast Association of Premedical Advisors)
MEDICINE: A Chance to Make a Difference (for college students from AAMC)
New England Journal of Medicine
American Medical Student Association
US News & World Report Rankings of Colleges, Medical Schools
