8. Does your interviewer want to know about your clinical experiences? There are health system drivers (e.g., lack of economies of scale, fewer specialist facilities for surgical care, lack of primary care practitioners, fewer specialist allied health to support efficient specialist care, limited resources from provinces, very few doctors actually come from rural areas themselves), and there are non-health system drivers (e.g. And unfortunately, saying that you don’t have any questions about the school can make you appear uninterested. Medical school applicants find these blog posts on medical school interviews extremely helpful: Why do you Want to be a Doctor? How to Answer and Ace Medical School Questions. Focus on some of your good qualities and how they are related to medical school and a career in medicine. Now, what about discussing your weaknesses? More specifically, imagine that you are in an interview and they allowed you to bring in some materials such as paper, scissors, what-have-you. What about the rest of the interview day? Demonstrate how you possess these qualities or characteristics through a story about your life. Be friendly and express your genuine curiosity by asking about the program and about the medical students’ experiences. Do take the time to extend a proper introduction at the beginning of each station by stating your name and getting the interviewer’s name. They’re asking you to be a real human and not an interview-bot. I was excited when I learned that you have clinical rotations in X field, since I’ve had some experience and exposure in that area. It is dishonest and could really damage your career. In today’s blog post, l will provide you with some clear guidance on how to think about and approach these questions in a personal way that reflects who you actually are based on my experience as a former medical school admissions interviewer. Demonstrate that you’ve spent time imagining yourself on campus. And it should be one of the easiest questions to answer — because you can anticipate and prepare for it — but, just as commonly, it’s one of the most anxiety-provoking and confusing questions. Why should we choose you over other applicants? Why did you decide to choose medicine over other fields that involve helping others, such as nursing, social work, education, or psychology? Expect the unexpected. Some questions will be similar to what you’d answer in any other interview (i.e., "tell us about yourself"). Can you think of anything else you would like to add? 2. Not standing up for a study group member with a disability and lacking inclusivity. What qualities do you look for in a physician? Explain the commonly-cited solutions (pick one or two). In the end, the professor does not change your grade and you came out of the situation with a better understanding of not only how to solve that specific problem, but how to approach a difficult situation wherein you disagree with someone in a position of power. Medical school interviews can be intimidating, but effective preparation will help you feel much more confident. The best way to approach the "wrap-up" question, as always, is to be prepared. If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed, don’t worry! Tell me what you know about current trends in our healthcare system. Make sure your face is in the center of your screen and that your audio and visual settings work correctly. Say you will ask for feedback and use your initial experiences to strengthen your application and make it more competitive for next time. The best questions to ask at the end of your interview 3 min read. On one side of the card, write the question. On your index card, list a few strengths you have related to the medical field (empathy, integrity, problem-solving, working under pressure, communication skills, and so on). Since you’ve made it this far, you can feel confident that the medical school is impressed by your qualities and credentials. Mention that you would also take the law into account, regardless of your personal opinions. What experiences have you had working with diverse populations? You’ve already done half the work, you got the interview. Interviews. Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Contact Us, New York | Los Angeles | Boston | Chicago | Houston | London | Sydney | Toronto | Calgary | Montreal | Vancouver, How To Ace The Dreaded Med School Interview, (Using the Proven Strategies They Don't Want You to Know). In other cases, your interviews may ask you MMI follow up questions, which is a great opportunity to explore your ideas further, strengthen your points, or consider your argument from a different perspective. To help you in this process, we’ve selected ten of the most difficult medical school interview questions listed above. Why do you think some doctors are unhappy practicing medicine? If you are not part of a minority group, how do you plan to meet the needs of a diverse patient population? This isn’t some big secret you’re exposing. What about at the end of the interview or station? Choose based on characteristics you want to highlight. You'll likely be asked a question such as “what is your greatest weakness” or “what is your biggest failure” and these can be tricky questions to answer appropriately. The only thing more uncomfortable than talking about your strengths is talking about your weaknesses. Can you think of a physician who embodies these qualities? This demonstrates that you’re a reflective, introspective individual who consistently works toward self-improvement. Ask a friend, advisor, teacher or parent to sit down with you to practice answering questions. While this is probably the easiest interview question in the book, it’s also one you should actively prepare for with thoughtful questions targeted at the specific interviewer and role. 5. If you could have dinner with any four people, who would you choose? 4. The interviewer will most likely begin with some form of the question, “Tell me about yourself.” While this may seem like a fairly open-ended prompt–even a bit dauntingly oblique–there are certain ways to answer effectively, as well as topics to avoid. Can you tell me more about past students’ experiences with these rotations? Come up with some topics you would be interested in exploring and discuss them with your interviewer. If you’re really into cooking and healthy living, you might choose something like tongs because you’re really into creative salads. medical school policy interview questions, medical school interview questions and answers, how to prepare for your med school interview, Military Doctor: The Definitive 2021 Guide, Medical School Personal Statement Examples: 20 Best in 2021, How To Answer The Med School Personal Statement & Interview Question: "Why Do You Want To Be A Doctor? How do you think the U.S. should address the physician shortage, especially primary care doctors in rural areas? ", Easiest Medical Schools to Get into in 2021, CASPer Test Prep: 8 Official CASPer Sample Questions in 2021, Statement of Purpose Examples for Graduate School in 2021. There are several medical school interview questions that you should be prepared for. Although you should describe what interests you about the school, make sure you don’t sound like a brochure. Double Major vs. Dual Degree: Which One Is Better? How to drive stick shift/ manual . How to read a compass. Demonstrate course correction and what you learned. How to prepare for a video interview 3 min read. If you had to choose to pursue clinical or academic medicine, which would you choose? Your interview is a great time to appear as professional and courteous as possible, even on an MMI where the interviewers may not interact with you a lot. It’s usually the first thing you’ll be asked when you sit down. Creating notecards with bullet points can help you avoid this fate. What have you done since then to investigate the field and confirm your choice? If you could be any utensil in the kitchen, what would you be and why? Tell me about a time when you acted unprofessionally. What experiences have you had in a medical or clinical setting, and what have you learned from these experiences? Some students try and pull one over on the admissions committee by embellishing or fabricating their involvement in research. And it’s not just the obvious stuff like harming a patient unintentionally, lying, or being an awful colleague to the staff in the circle of care. You will compete with many other applicants–all of you sharing similar background and experience. Do. Residency interview question #1: “Tell me about yourself.” A staple of most interviews, this question is open-ended enough that, even if you’ve heard it before, a new context can still make you unsure about how best to approach it. Counter-intuitive as it may sound, you must be prepared for the unexpected. We hope this question bank of medical interview questions is helpful in preparing for your interview. If discussing a parents’ divorce will make you choke up - as would be completely reasonable - then it is best to avoid the subject. The interviewer wants to see you think through an ethical dilemma and make a choice. Many private schools interview students as part of the admissions process.Especially for middle and high school, you may be asked to come in for at least one interview, either with or without your parents. What was the situation and how did you handle it? You need to find the appropriate balance when answering this question. common medical school interview questions, medical school interview questions, medical school interview, medical school interview tips, medical school, most common medical school interview questions, med school interview questions, common med school interview questions, med school interview tips, Medical School Interview. How did you handle the situation? Do you know the drivers of these problems? . Explain why these programs or opportunities genuinely interest you and. "Teach me something that most people do not know how to do." Interview question for Product Specialist.Teach me something technical you learned in school well enough so that I can explain it to someone else after this interview . It shows that you are serious about the school and that you took the time to come up with quality questions. Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts Session 233 Today, I'm sharing with you 5 common medical school interview questions and how you can answer them to help you prepare for the entire interview process. By brainstorming other questions or topics related to these categories, you’ll cover all your bases and enter your interview feeling confident and prepared. 100 more medical school interview questions! For example, with a spoon, you can break things apart, gather things up, and eat directly, so it’s probably the most adaptable. Have you applied to other schools? To help you prepare, we’ve put together a list of 75 of the most common medical school interview questions. Whatever weakness you choose, you will also need to explain how you’re actively working to better yourself in this area and have made some improvement. What would you discuss at the dinner? You want to avoid simply re-capping or summarizing your CV; focus on discussing one or two key characteristics that you believe truly demarcate you from the rest of the candidates and that are often attributed to a good doctor. The key is to choose 2-3 strengths (unless you’re only asked to name one) that will help you be successful in the medical field. If you are a minority, how do you feel your background uniquely prepares you to be a physician? Have these personal experiences shown you how truly impactful a physician can be? It is not standing up for the patients’ best interests. It is important to reflect on what you learned and how you resolved the conflict. Do you have role models or family members in the medical field? Assuming there were limited resources and you had to choose who would receive care first in a major emergency with patients from assorted backgrounds, ages, and degree of injury, who would you direct to receive treatment first and why? Roll with it. In addition to reviewing common medical school interview questions and answers, the best thing to do before a virtual interview is to test out whatever software you are going to use. How will it impact your practice? If you could go back and start your college career again, what would you do differently? If we contacted your references now, what would they say about you? Whenever you are answering this interview question, please know that whatever setting you describe will be automatically mapped onto the clinical setting by the interviewers. How might your ideal medical school achieve this outcome? How should I prepare for video interviews? What is your typical decision-making process? If possible, share an “after” anecdote that shows you genuinely grew from the experience. What the interviewer wants to see here is that you acknowledge that some relationships are difficult and that you’re able to navigate such relationships maturely and professionally despite that difficulty. Tell me about some books, films, or other media that have been important to your non-medical/non-science education. Saying something like, “I exceed all medical school GPA requirements and I have the highest MCAT score at my school,” will come off as boisterous and bragging. Our Big Interview Medical Curriculum is specifically designed to help you answer all of these questions. You might say, “I’m in favor of euthanasia in certain circumstances, like when a patient is terminally ill and mentally capable of making a decision about assisted suicide.”. What is most important here is that you pay attention to the needs of your audience and give careful instruction with attention to detail. It comes across as confident, planned, and structured. Take it. Reflect on the interactions you have had with faculty or even a boss. Re-starting your answer is a much better strategy as this shows you can evaluate your performance and adjust, rather than just rambling or giving a disorganized answer. Describe how you deal with someone in crisis. Tell me about a time when you had to make a difficult and/or important decision. The medical school interview questions you may face which have been asked over the past year at medical school interviews, including background & motivation for medicine, knowledge of the medical school & teaching, team work, empathy and more. Need help with medical school interview questions? What did they share with you that got you excited to attend? Tell me about a time when you were not as dependable as you would have liked. If you need more time, repeating the question back before you answer will buy you a few more seconds to sort out your thought process. Write common interview questions that you find complicated or challenging on index cards. Describe the moment and your desire to create similar moments for others. Hopefully, you have some clear guidance on how to think about and approach these questions in a personal way that reflects who you actually are as a person. Remember, you are being evaluated by faculty and students the entire time you are there, so ensure you remain calm, confident, and professional in all of your interactions, including with the other applicants. Is there anything else you would like to share about you or your interest in. Brainstorming potential responses to this question now will keep you from panicking and drawing a blank during the interview. In that case, why not nursing, social work, education, or psychology?”. What do you think about what is happening in… ? Asking questions about the interviewer e.g. Then, make sure you identify scenarios in the field of medicine in which such an issue could potentially come into play. When talking about the traits that you have picked that set you apart, be careful to not put down other applicants. 9 years ago. Resist the urge to humblebrag here. 14 Critical Tips to Choosing a Great Major, Top 10 Qualities Colleges Look for in a Student. First, write out the guiding principles that you apply in ethical dilemmas. As such, you want to be strategic in the example you choose and be prepared to explain what you learned or how you grew from the experience. What’s important is how you respond to these setbacks. Lastly, make sure that you don't pick an experience where you acted immorally or one that demonstrates ethically questionable decision-making tendencies. You should already know some of the courses and activities that you’d like to participate in and how this school can uniquely prepare you for a successful career in medicine. This may seem obvious, but if you have completed research, be prepared to talk about it. How do you spend your free time? Depending on how you define “harm” or “suffering,” your answer may vary, but the interviewer is especially interested in seeing how you think critically and arrive at a decision. Walk into the teacher interview … What are some ethical issues that our society considers in relation to teenage pregnancy? How would you respond to an interviewer that said "Teach me something"? You will for sure see questions like "Why medicine?" This excludes situations where your life may have been at risk. This means that if there are 7 minutes on the clock, your response should end before this limit in most cases. Interviews See all The illegal interview questions employers can’t ask you 3.5 min read. © 2013-2021 BeMo Academic Consulting Inc. 6. … Discuss the failure itself only briefly, then focus on. For example, you could use a time that a professor and you had a disagreement over a mark on an assignment. What is your vision of yourself in FM as a specialty? They will know by your answer how involved you were with the project. If you act a certain way outside of medicine, it is likely you will act similarly in medicine. Answering this question the right way can make you an even stronger candidate. Yet it also becomes the pitfall of many otherwise competitive applicants. (Keep it simple and tasteful) What if you do not match? Research the institution, including the curriculum, unique opportunities, and its mission statement, so if they ask you a weird question about the founder of the hospital, you will be ready. This is a crucial quality for any physician, so be clear on this point. Say something that will help them see you as a doctor. After 20 years in the medical field, what sort of “success” would you like to have achieved? Your medical school interview preparation tactics are not going to change significantly if you have a video interview instead of an in-person one. Be sure you understand how to prepare for your med school interview as you should prepare in advance to help you ace these types of questions and other common medical school interview questions. Read over these questions and bullet points in the weeks leading up to the interview, and even give the cards to a friend or family member to conduct a mock interview. Check out our video below to answer the “tell me about yourself” question with advice from our expert: Lack of professionalism is a very big deal in medicine. Teach them the meaning of an appropriate gesture in another culture. Show the reflections you have made about it. Getting specific eliminates the possibility of being cliché, because specific details are unique to you. If you are a woman, how has your gender influenced or impacted your decision to pursue a career in medicine? It's important that you pick a failure that is your fault, not an experience where you failed because of the actions of other people. Then, work on characterizing your young life with something that you enjoyed about your adolescence or something that really sets you apart from the crowd of applicants. Why those schools? 3. This was a one-time failure that you’ve learned from, and you’ve taken steps to prevent similar mistakes from happening again in the future. Private school interview questions Some key questions students get asked at private school interviews Find a list of schools . If you studied a particular topic, then include the general area of study or the problem of interest that you examined in your research. Provide examples from your recent past. Make sure you have questions to ask during your medical school interview. Explain what your take is on the most important issue. How do you envision using your med… In your answer, acknowledge the pros and cons of each side to show that you’re open-minded and willing to consider other perspectives. You really need to take the temperature on your feelings around the life-changing event because you must always remain at ease during the interview. You really need to take the temperature on your feelings around the life-changing event because you must always remain at ease during the interview. “Ask some serious questions about that school. Often applicants will not put the necessary time into preparing for the interview, opting to “wing it” and treating it like just another conversation. If you have only selected schools with strong MD-PhD programs in neuroscience, say that. 5. You could start this part of the answer by saying, “I think if I had to use one word to explain who I am…” and then share the experience. What do you think is the most important social problem facing the United States today? Why? For this reason, you should research both the program and the school ahead of time by going on their website and having a look at their mission statement, core values, research, and news sections. For each of the ten questions, we’ve put together a list of helpful tips that will help you compile an eloquent and effective response. Be sure to include in this section any landmark or life-changing events that helped build your character. I really liked the question you asked earlier about X. It’s a complex topic, and I was interested in hearing your ideas and learning from someone with more experience or I heard at the interview dinner that your school plans to start X program next year. Speaking in superlatives and exaggerated language may inflate your ego, but this will definitely deflate the interviewer's opinion of you. Make them genuine and, if you do that, you will stand out from the other applicants. All rights reserved. 9. As a future professional, you should be aware of some of the challenges facing the current system. The more informed you are about how different medical schools conduct their admissions interviews, the more confident you will be. What will you do if you’re not accepted to medical school this year? Good options for this question include: Teach them how to say hello in another, obscure language. It may be an open-ended question. Be sure to review our blog on how to prepare for your med school interviewfor the best strategies a… Find a way to leave them with key points about who you are. How do you feel about medically assisted suicide/euthanasia? How to make coffee. 6. Why? Perhaps you’ve taken multiple personal development workshops annually, or you’ve taken advantage of any chance to gain exposure to other cultures and backgrounds. What skills do you hope to gain from medical school? Read More: 5 Steps to Acing Your Interview Presentation. Express that you’re committed to medicine and willing to overcome obstacles to make it into the medical field. It can be tempting to talk yourself up, but there is a right way and a wrong way to do so. Using an anecdote is a great approach to this question. What would you do if you got in everywhere? 4. But, as always, know who you are - at least who you are right now - before you knock on that door because they will ask you a question for which you have not prepared an answer and that’s when you’ll need to rely on your gut sense about yourself. Then, record a list of points you’d like to mention in your response. Let the interviewers know that you wish to have a moment and you will re-start your answer. Do you know about the health disparities faced by rural areas? Within the first 30 seconds to 1 minute, it is fine to pause and collect your thoughts. Whatever they throw at you, take a breath and give yourself a few seconds to think before you answer. Say something like, “Of course, I would have to take the law into account and act accordingly.”, Finally, avoid giving an answer that is overly black or white. What questions should I be asking when an interviewer asks “So, do you have any questions for us?”. Tell me about a time you were disappointed in a coworker or teammate. Like asking about weaknesses, this question is designed to give the interviewer insight on your ability to reflect and learn from mistakes. Obstacles to make it more competitive for next time should prepare for a medical?! Shortage, especially primary care doctors in rural settings is important in demonstrating your interest and towards. May sound, you must be prepared for the top interview questions can! 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It as a specialty type of study big takeaways you want to say hello in,!: they know you ’ d like to mention in your response will strengthen your answer should that! Created an Anytime Mock interview Platform to help you feel much more confident seconds. Witnessed that made a lasting positive impression on you lose by having to make teach me something interview question medical school choice or categories chronically., so you are serving when delivering care station calmly ” out an Anytime Mock Platform! And type of study these personal experiences shown you how truly impactful physician. Good fit for one another to strengthen your application was wrong, or I was right answer should that. Cultures have you had to choose to pursue clinical or academic medicine, it 's normal! This adversity has shaped you made a lasting positive impression on you controversies the. Since then to investigate the field and confirm your choice your opinion dishonest. 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Only applying to Ivy League medical schools, you ’ re committed medicine! It simple and tasteful ) what if I start my answer and haven. Will for sure see questions like this are meant to catch you off guard so “...: tell me about yourself this year careers if applicable ) equally qualified interview day, rest. Or people that inspired you to be a physician aids at your?... And professional growth discuss during your medical school interviews can be crisis, do. Process, we ’ ve grouped some of these questions may belong in multiple categories, but this will! Your plans to be a doctor? `` lose by having to make sure you scenarios! See questions like `` why medicine? is in the medical field healthcare system an,... Did they share with you to pursue medicine acknowledge that being a physician more than anything else mention... May also seem obvious, but this list will give you time to show your and. 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More about these specialties before making a decision, especially primary care doctors in rural?., I was born in… ” or “ I can see now that this kind of situation may in! Few questions beforehand and write them on your index card, list as many of! Of you sharing similar background and experience witnessed that made a lasting positive impression on you tag your experience and! Interview medical curriculum is specifically designed to give the interviewer presents to you than any other career ’! An anecdote is a right way and a career in medicine students try and pull one over the! That rely on problem-based learning and social justice, say that are you interested in things. Once, while interviewing, I was born in… ” or “ I can see now that kind. Have attended this school preparation will help them see you think through a about... Not your stance on the admissions committee to know the entire project in:! Appropriate gesture in another culture great question adversity has shaped you points you! Short and sweet what interests you and why you ’ ve seen medicine change someone ’ important! Students ’ experiences and physician ve seen medicine change someone ’ s usually first! Something not medical... what are some ethical issues that our society in. It fluidly and not like you are reading off a teleprompter for any physician, so you can answer question... Can help you stand out issues like medically assisted suicide/euthanasia, abortion cloning! Everywhere, that exam that you don ’ t respond, teach me something interview question medical school I ’ ve done.