Medical School Admissions Interview
Medical school admissions committees usually make the decision to
interview students on the basis of the information in the
preliminary application form. The most important factors in the
decision are your grade point average and your MCAT scores. Most
schools accept about half of the students they interview, so if you
are invited for an interview you have survived the first cut. The
interview is generally a mandatory condition for acceptance, and you
will be required to show up at the school's convenience and at your
own expense. If you apply to a number of medical schools, you should
figure both the application fees and travel costs for interviews
into your budget.
You can and should prepare for a medical school interview. In a very
real sense your entire future rests on what you say, what you don't
say, and how you handle the interview. Your first step should be to
talk with the Pre-Health Professions Committee members about your
performance at their interview. They will tell you if you made a bad
impression in any way and can suggest changes in your approach. Next
you should learn as much as you can about the program at the school
where you are interviewing. Get the catalogue (you should already
have it!) and study it. If you know anyone who is attending or has
attended the school, write or call them and ask for information. If
possible, find out what the interview structure will be like. There
may be two one-on-one interviews, a panel of four or five, or some
other combination. The Pre-Health Professions Committee keeps
records of the experiences of former students, and they may have
information about what you are likely to encounter. If you can,
learn the names of the people who will be interviewing you.
Each medical school interview will be different, and it is
impossible to tell you exactly what to expect. In general, however,
the admissions committee wants to find out what sort of person you
are; why you are interested in medicine; what background you are
bringing to the pursuit of medicine; if you are mature in your
approach to life and learning; and how motivated you are to become a
doctor.
The means used to elicit this information are various. You should be
prepared for questions about any of the information contained in
your application form and personal essay. If you said that you enjoy
reading, you should be ready to talk about the books you have read
recently. If your MCAT scores make you look like the village idiot,
you should be able to explain why they do not show your true
potential. If you will need financial aid to attend the school
interviewing you, you should research possible sources of
assistance. They are likely to ask you how you plan to finance your
medical education, and a vague answer indicates a lack of
seriousness. You may be asked questions about controversial issues
such as: medical ethics, malpractice, Medicare, etc. There are many
good books on these issues which you might wish to read before your
interview. The Pre-Health Professions Committee keeps a file of
questions asked previous students. You should study this and think
out answers to all the questions. Anything and everything is fair
game, and obviously you will not anticipate all the questions you
are asked. The more questions you are prepared for, however, the
less likely you are to get rattled.
Be sure you know the time and location for the interview, and get
there early. Go to the bathroom and make sure that your hair is
combed, your teeth brushed, your fly is zipped and/or your slip
doesn't show. Give yourself a thorough once over. A piece of spinach
lodged in your front teeth makes a bad first impression that is hard
to overcome. You should dress neatly and conservatively. A tie,
sportscoat and dress slacks are in order for men. Women should
probably wear a simple, professional looking dress or suit. Anything
low cut or too tight or too short is definitely out. Both men and
women should eschew flashy jewelry and strong scents. Make certain
that your clothes are clean and pressed and shine your shoes. Don't
wear anything that is uncomfortable. You will not be at the top of
your form if your shoes pinch your feet or your collar is a half
size too small.
When the interview begins, be sure that you learn the interviewer's
name. It will help to repeat it as soon as you are introduced. If
you say, "How do you do, Dr. Smith," it may make the name stick in
your overloaded mind. Do not shake hands until or unless your
interviewer offers his hand, and if you do shake hands, do so
firmly. Do not sit down until your interviewer is seated or offers
you a chair. Don't smoke, chew gum or fidget. Be aware of any
nervous mannerisms you may have and try to control them. You should
look the interviewer in the eye and speak clearly. Be relaxed and
confident. These suggestions are nothing more than common sense and
common courtesy, but you are likely to be nervous, and you may
overlook the obvious.
You want to come across in the interview as an honest, sincere
person. "Here I am with all my warts" is the impression you want to
leave. Don't dwell on your warts, but don't lie about them either.
Medical school interviewers are pastmasters at calling bluffs; they
get lots of practice. You should give the impression that you are
self-confident and that you accept yourself for what you are without
seeming egotistical.
Occasionally an interviewer will seem quite hostile toward you. This
does not mean that he has taken an immediate dislike to you and that
your chances of ever getting accepted at that medical school have
just plummeted. He may be trying to gauge how you react to stress
and difficult situations. Do not lose your composure. Stay calm and
answer the questions politely however antagonistic they may seem. It
is always a mistake to lose your temper or to let yourself be
needled into rudeness. As a doctor you will often need infinite tact
and patience; your interviewer may be trying to put these qualities
to the test. Medical schools try to eliminate both those candidates
who are too brash and aggressive and those who are too shy and
withdrawn to relate well with other people. So control your impulses
to throw insults back or to dissolve in tears if your interview does
happen to take an unpleasant turn.
Often you will be given the opportunity to ask questions at the end
of your interview. You should come armed with several questions
about the college that could not be answered by reading the
catalogue. When the interview is over, thank the interviewer for his
time.
You should be aware that the interview is not necessarily over when
you leave the interview room. It is decidedly unwise to be rude or
unpleasant or overly confiding with the interviewer's secretary. If
you are given a tour of the facilities by an upperclass medical
student, he, too, may be asked to evaluate you. So be on your best
behavior until you are safely home.
Do not let yourself be too discouraged about the interview. You may
feel it was awful even if you actually did reasonably well. And if
it really was awful, you should have learned something from your
mistakes that you can put to good use in your next interview. |
