Prepare Answers to Frequently Asked Medical School Interview Questions
Before you relax too much after you've finished researching medical schools and submitted the last of your medical school applications, remember that it's now time to prepare for interviews.
Fi rst o f all, let me stress the importance of answering questions with sincerity. Canned or overly-practiced answers are not appreciated by most admissions committee members. On the other hand, if you don't practice some interview questions, tricky questions may throw you off-balance.
The following are some common questions that you may want to be prepared for ahead of time .
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1. " If multiple schools accepted you, how would you make your decision? "
You should have a set of criteria ready to help answer this question, which might include items like evaluating early patient encounters, close relationships with faculty members , a happy student body and research opportunities for students.
Not every school will equally offer those four qualities. Each school will have its strengths, and you will know what those strengths are from reading their website.
A list for another school might include considering a diverse student body, opportunities for global health rotations and encouragement to participate in the politics of health care. If you want to be accepted in that school, make certain you list criteria that match what they offer.
2. " What have you done during your college years that has been most helpful in your personal development? "
To answer this question, you might describe a volunteer project, service commitment, team sport or some other activity that you included on your application . List characteristics from that activity that are consistent with being a top-notch physician.
Rather than just providing adjectives, describe what you saw, heard and did so that the interviewer can picture you in that activity and feel your passion about your decisions and what you experienced. Relate a story about your involvement in the activity.
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3. "What bias have you overcome?"
Questions that require self-reflection are common during the interview process because it is important for individuals to understand their biases. Practice describing one of your own that you have confronted in yourself.
For example, I can remember growing up in the rural Midwest with little exposure to people living in other parts of the country. I had the misconception that those on the East Coast were not as friendly.
But then I met Francie, my dearest friend, in the freshman dorm. Francie was from New York City and she was always cheerful and upbeat. Her inclusive style, organizational talent for get-togethers and willingness to encourage others taught me that we are each individuals no matter where we grow up.
That lesson has been reinforced regardless of where I have moved or lived. Be honest about your own biases and identify a way in which you have grown.
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4. " How would your peers describe you? " or " What would your siblings say about you? "
These questions are meant to pull out the real you. If you're not certain what peers and siblings would say, ask them before you go to the interview.
Generally they will give you an honest list of positives and negatives. Even if you haven't asked them, you can examine your own life for strengths and weaknesses and come up with a couple examples for each.
The bottom line is that the interviewer is looking for transparency, humility and even perhaps an ability to laugh at yourself. You want the interviewer to be able to picture you not only as a successful medical student but also as a real person they'd like to get to know better.
Kathleen Franco, M.D., is associate dean of admissions and student affairs at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University. She previously served both as director of residency training and director of medical student training in psychiatry at Cleveland Clinic. She is board-certified in psychiatry, geriatric psychiatry and psychosomatic medicine and attended Medical College of Ohio -- Toledo.
