Call Us: +44 (0)20 8834 4579 Watch our webinar, How to Nail Your Medical School Interview. Here are a list of helpful tips that you can follow: Get a suit, preferably one that fits well. When you’re invited for an interview bears no relation to how favourably your application is being considered. Firstly, do some research and find out exactly what it is that nurses do. The day of your interview–have fun! Or found particular techniques helpful? The best way to approach this question is by asking yourself why you want to do Medicine and what makes you a good candidate. 1st medical school interview this week! When you’re anxious, your breathing is shallow. Besides, why did you apply for Medicine in the first place after all? Your goal is to get across to the interviewer why you want to be there (the field of medicine), how you are equipped to be there (intelligence, mental fortitude), and that you have the balance in your life to get through medical school and residency (how you deal with stress, interests outside of school). If it’s in your application be prepared to discuss it Women … When one is invited for an interview, it is especially important to prepare for the interview visit in three distinct ways: timeliness, attitude, and uniqueness. As important as interview preparation is, you do not want to sound like a robot reading from a script. Practice keeping words such as “like” and “umm” out of your vocabulary; remember it’s ok to hesitate and think before answering. 3. Explore all of our doctor-created interview prep in one place. 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. Get … You may choose to ask relevant questions throughout the interview, which shows that you are actively engaged in the conversation. All you can do is prepare, smile, and show who you are to the interviewer. Need more advice on how to prep for your med school interview? How has your undergraduate research experience, if any, better prepared you for a medical career? It may seem obvious, but the way you present yourself, including your body language, can impact the way the interviewer perceives you. Then explain how you are trying to improve your public speaking skills. By default only necessary cookies will be used. Welcome to our series of Medicine interview guides. Introduction and General Points. You want to be able to explain how you recognised this weakness, why it could be a problem within Medicine and how you’ve managed it. Don’t bring your cell phone. Bonus Medical School Interview Tip. In your answers, aim to display strong commitment to the field and specificity when describing your plans. How on earth are you supposed to answer this question? Stand up straight, have a firm handshake, and make eye contact when introducing yourself – it can make a big difference. Although most are challenging, in this article I want to focus on the three most difficult Medical School interview. Strangely enough, getting a suit is one of the important things you will need to do before your interview. Don’t Over Prepare Smile Connecting with your interviewer on a topic such as hobbies or passions outside of work/school can be a great way to be more memorable. What the committee does not know is whether or not you can hold a conversation, show signs of good “bedside manner,” and express your self well. Think about what opportunities Medicine has to offer and why they are important to you. You have received an invitation to an MMI interview and the last hurdle before the coveted spot in medical school has arrived. For example, try deep breathing exercises between stations to relax your body and mind. Download the MCAT Prep App. You should know your application inside and out. Stand out with our one-day Medical School Interview Course - delivered by doctors, live online. Medical school interview questions about medicine and your career goals. You are not expected to be a health policy expert, but being able to have a conversation about your future profession is important. Alternatively, maintain a dominant body posture by stretching out your shoulders, and spreading your arms open for … Typical questions in this category include: ... Click here for an in-depth analysis of 11 common medical school interview questions >> Personal Questions. questions to answer. However, this question isn’t trying to expose your inner Mr Hyde. Do you know how to prepare for a medical school interview? We've broken down how to approach and tackle three of the hardest questions you may be asked in your upcoming interview. Watch for tips to help you prepare for med school interviews! Mon - Fri 9:00 to 17:00 GMT, Sign up to The Medic Portal for free application updates. Leave your cell phone at home, in the hotel, in the car, or anywhere else. A good doctor needs to recognise their limitations otherwise they may put their patients at risk. By contrast, nurses are formally trained in providing holistic care and become registered nurses before they can start a career as a nurse practitioner. Initial Questions to Help You Relax. When I was in the application process, I had experience with two types of interview styles: one-on-one and MMI. Check out Accepted’s Mock Interview Services for … How I Aced My University of Aberdeen Interview, How I Stood Out At My University of Leicester Interview, How I Mastered My Barts Medicine Interview. Don’t be afraid to tell the interviewers that you received good feedback after your efforts as that will reinforce your argument. Get a good night’s rest, stick to your evening and morning routine, and be excited. If you are serious about attending medical school, pay close attention to how you present yourself to an admissions committee. Hellooo, it was around this time last year I was starting to think about my medical school interview! Visualizing a Successful Interview Get into a comfortable position, either sitting or lying still. By doing this you will show the interviewer you are interested in the program. I have always heard medical schools will only interview candidates they are interested in accepting (as this process requires time and resources, both must be used efficiently), but reading the advice for re-applicants from the Ohio State Dean made me think otherwise. 4. Breathe. Sit down one afternoon, be honest with yourself, and write down any weaknesses you can think of. how to do a mock medical school interview, how to prepare for the medical school interview, Dealing with Stress During the Medical School Application Process, A Checklist of Extracurricular Activities for Your CV, The Art of Authoring Creative (But Not Weird) Personal Statements, The Five Books to Read for your Medical School Interview, Diagnosing and Treating Acute Onset Sharp Chest Pain in the Emergency Department, Being a Better Ally in and out of Healthcare with Stacey Jackson-Roberts, Learning How To Sell Yourself to Medical School, How to Apply to Medical School without Taking a Gap Year, The Least Expensive Private Medical Schools. In an effort to attract desirable applicants, some medical schools invite candidates to social events immediately before or during the interview day. It is important to come across confident and well prepared, but remember that the interview is also a conversation and the interviewer is judging your interpersonal “soft” skills. Our doctor-created MMI prep is trusted by thousands of students every year. Give Yourself a Pep Talk. What are your main strengths and how will they help you become an excellent doctor? Body Language and Dress Code 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. When working together, doctors will ultimately take full responsibility. You constantly focus on your strengths and what makes you an amazing candidate. 5. Even having a friend interview you can be a useful way to get feedback on things such as body language. Ask at open days, and look at the medical school’s prospectus or website. Doctors are formally trained in Medicine and spend more years studying how diseases work and how they are managed. Whether you are preparing for a multi-mini interview (MMI) or a traditional one, a lot of the questions can be quite similar. Avoid the term “to be honest” or “honestly” as it can imply that everything else you say is not entirely sincere. The day before your interview: relax! So I've talked to some people where they say I should start preparing myself before medical school starts in August while others say that I should just relax … The best way to feel prepared for an interview can be a trial run. Should I take BMAT in September or November? Ask your university career center or search online for professional attire details if you are uncertain about certain specifics. How have you tried to achieve breadth in your undergraduate curriculum? Why did you choose your undergraduate major? The one-on-one interviews were great. I explained how it was a time I valued because I could relax and not have to worry about other things, if only for the hour or so I was there. How Much Do You Know About Studying Abroad? Nerves tend to make us speed up, so while you're waiting for your interview, breathe in through your nose very slowly for a count of three. Just don’t force a fake smile and stare at the interviewer for 30 minutes straight, find a nice balance! Then explain what is different in the role of a doctor. We use cookies to give you the best experience on our website. The Importance of the Medical School Interview! In the end, it will be the interviewer making your case to the admissions committee and you want to equip them with all the tools they need. A medical interview is all about confidence and selling yourself as the best thing since sliced bread. It can go a long way in reflecting confidence. Learn how MedSchoolCoach’s physician advisors can help you get into medical school. I think it depends on the type of interview. How do you envision using your med… 2. However, I was filled with dread with the idea that I might get asked this question! If you are so keen on helping people, and you love the way the body works, why wouldn’t you consider a career in nursing? A better answer would sound something like this: “Through my work experience, I was inspired by the way in which this doctor (give an example) and the outcome was…” and then give an example where you demonstrated effective problem-solving skills. So instead of saying “I like the problem-solving element of Medicine ”, explain where you witnessed someone using their analytical skills in Medicine and why you are good at problem-solving. The medical school interview is one of the most influential and important pieces of your application. If you’re struggling, ask a good friend or family member (this will also test your ability to accept negative feedback!). This article was written by a guest author. Below I highlight some of the obvious and not-so-obvious things to keep in mind and guide your preparation for your interview day. Most interview platforms also include practice questions that will … The truth is until we experience it first-hand, we don’t really know what Medicine is all about, despite all the wonderful work experience. For example, you may have noticed that you get terribly nervous at public speaking. The Anti-Student Doctor Network (it’s like SDN, but with curated advice and supportive environment), Shortened MCAT Score Conversion Calculator, Medical School Secondary Essay Prompts Database, The Medical School Interview: Do’s and Don’ts, Writing the Perfect Thank You Letter After a Medical School Interview, How to Prepare for a Successful Medical School Interview. Then breathe out through your nose for a … And yet we are all fallible mortals with multiple weaknesses, many of which we are probably very much aware of. It’s usually the first thing you’ll be asked when you sit down. Say something trivial, and you will sound big-headed or demonstrate a lack of insight at the very least. What do you like about the university? These events may include dinner, lunch, or an optional hospital tour with students. It’s not crazy to talk to yourself—it’s smart (and scientifically proven to help … By asking your interviewer informed questions, you'll gather information that will help you determine whether the school is a good fit for you. You can’t control what questions you will be asked, but you can prepare answers for the most common types of interview questions. Interview procedures and formats Interviews vary depending on the medical school, so find out as much as you can about what to expect. Furthermore, read up on recent events relating to health care and health policy. Whatever you say, make sure you back it up with examples and why you would be more suited for one and not the other. How well do you know your medical history? This may seem a bit long-winded, but a few of these examples will make a far more powerful answer than a long list which anyone can come up with. The problem with answering this question is that it’s very easy to say something derogatory towards nurses. As far as dress code, professional and conservative is the safe way to go. Medical School interview questions are designed to be a little tricky, but don't worry! The last thing you want to think about … Includes an online mock interview and an 85,000-word workbook, Our MMI Circuits have gone virtual! Conquer MMIs, Online Interviews and more, The Medic Portal is happy to be an official partner of The Royal Society of Medicine. It’s always possible that you could be asked why you picked a … Take your interview prep to the next level when you practice with your own dedicated interview expert. This goes hand in hand with good body language, but remember that medicine is in essence a service industry; people want a physician that can smile and be friendly. How have the jobs, volunteer opportunities, or extracurricular experiences that you have had better prepared you for the responsibilities of being a physician? Take care, however, not to interrupt, which can be seen as overbearing or rude. If an experience or research project is listed in your application you must be able to talk about it for at least 1 minute, otherwise the interviewer may question whether or not you are being honest in your application. Prepare whether you get into your #1 choice for medical school. For more medical school interview tips, check out my book, The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview. The interviewers want to find out more about you and whether you are suited for their medical school. 7 Key Steps For Effective Medicine Interview Preparation. Read everything you can find on the school’s website; know the curriculum well – including what makes it unique, find out about any major changes coming to the campus, and look into student groups, research, or volunteer activities students take part in. Rather, it is trying to see whether you have insight into your weaknesses and what steps you have taken steps to try and combat them. Just keep it out of your pockets and out of your hands! Remember that competition is fierce. Nurse practitioners can also take on leadership roles, diagnose, prescribe and participate in medical research, all of which you’ve probably listed in your answer to the first question. Perhaps you want to have the opportunity to do surgery for example. ProspectiveDoctor highly encourages guest authors to contribute their work to ProspectiveDoctor. And always remember to back anything you say by giving examples. Most candidates will try to twist their answer and try to trivialise their weakness or make it sound like a strength, classically saying things like “I’m a perfectionist”. If you are unsure of how to start getting ready for your MMI, browse no further, as here we have outlined all the necessary steps to take to ensure you have thoroughly covered all bases and walk in that interview confident and well-prepared. This is a simple question and one that you most definitely should know the answer to. Get doctor-designed strategies, delivered by top Medical School Interview Tutors. This specific guide is about how to prepare for your medical school interview.It has been written by our team of doctors, who have helped countless candidates successfully prepare for their medical school interviews.. Interviews generally take place from November to late April. If you tend to be an anxious person, sometimes driving by the location the night before can minimize anxiety. This may seem obvious, but it’s so easy to automatically start listing a ton of good things about being a doctor. It also tests how well you know the role of nurses. Mock Interview Yet it also becomes the pitfall of many otherwise competitive applicants. If you want a more detailed guide with all our insider tips on interview success, check out the Med School Insiders course on how to ace the medical school interview. How I Prepared For My Cardiff University Interview - And Got An Offer. You should know your application inside and out. You are bound to come up with specific questions about the program during this process, which interviewers love to hear! Have Fun! When it comes down to it, no two interviewers are the same and there is no formula or recipe for a perfect interview. Similarly an interviewer will come away with a better impression if you can smile and make eye contact while talking to them. These questions are designed to home in on your motivations for pursuing a career in medicine and to assess how much you’ve thought through your aspirations. Medical schools love to assess an applicant’s knowledge and views of the healthcare system during the medical school interview.Both traditional medical school interviews and multiple mini interviews may include questions or scenarios about the Affordable Care Act (AKA Obamacare) and its impact on how we deliver healthcare. In a medical school interview, your interviewers will assess (1) whether you are a good fit for their institution, and (2) whether you will be a good physician. Try breathing in for a count of four, hold for … Medicine offers a larger scope for specialisation than nursing. Know the interview schedule in advance if it is at all possible. Once invited do not procrastinate, confirm your interview immediately. Often applicants will not put the necessary time into preparing for the interview, opting to “wing it” and treating it like just another conversation. Say something terrible and the interviewer may think you’d make a terrible doctor! Links and Other Resources. SEE ALSO: How to Ace the Medical School Interview Here are my favorite tips for medical school interviews, adapted from this blog post from my colleague, Jaclyn Zalesky: How to Prepare for the Medical School Interview. Second, develop strategies to cope with stress during the actual interview. It is important to treat the interview process as any other part of your application, just as you worked hard to earn your GPA or prepare for the MCAT. Demonstrate that you know this and acknowledge their role within the medical team. In my opinion, this question is key to distinguishing excellent candidates. Which medicine course type would you suit? Being a social and likeable person does not always translate into a successful interview! A good interviewer will work hard to help you relax initially so that you have a conversation, rather than a cut and dry Q&A session. These are your future colleagues and they want to see if you are someone they can enjoy working with. Traditionally, this is one of the most common medical school interview questions. The education system is also very different. … The interview is a 30 minute snap shot for the person sitting across from you to decide if you have what it takes to be a student at their medical school; you need to make those minutes count and make the interviewer’s job as easy as possible. If you seek personalized and individualized assistance, our medical school interview preparation services will provide you the one-on-one help and feedback you need. If you got an invitation to interview for med school, the admissions panel already knows that you’re smart – they are Studying for the MCAT? If it’s in your application be prepared to discuss it. Give an example of where this happened and recognise why it is important for doctors to be good public speakers. You’ve spent years of hard work to put yourself a stone’s throw away from getting into medical school, now is not the time let off the gas. By the time you are being interviewed your application has already been screened by at least one or two members of the admissions committee, and they know you have brains to be successful at their school. Hello reddit, so this Friday (in 6 days) I have my 1st med school interview. And although it’s important to get all the information you want across, first always try to answer questions directly and concisely before deciding to introduce another topic. Finding ways to … 1. Some questions will be similar to what you’d answer in any other interview (i.e., "tell us about yourself"). Conservative is the safe way to approach this question isn ’ t force a fake smile and eye... If you can be a great resource to take advantage of an interview can a! And what makes you an amazing candidate way to feel prepared for Cardiff! They are important to you our medical school interview your preparation for your med school interview all our! Fits well in the program that nurses do best MMI training, online... You get into a Successful interview get into medical school interview Course - delivered by doctors, live online or... Specificity when describing your plans how will they help you become an excellent doctor such as body.... Take advantage of are important to you out of your pockets and out of your pockets and out your... Doctors will ultimately take full responsibility big difference styles: one-on-one and MMI interviewers are the same and there no! Any, better prepared you for a … 7 Key Steps for Effective Medicine interview services. That you know the answer to at the very least you are interested in the conversation it you should the. And Got an offer during the actual interview tour with students far dress! On earth are you supposed to answer this question of your application be prepared to discuss it should. Explain how you are bound to come up with specific questions about Medicine and spend more years how. Once invited do not procrastinate how to relax before med school interview confirm your interview: relax perhaps you want to think about if. So this Friday ( in 6 days ) I have my 1st school... A … 7 Key Steps for Effective Medicine interview preparation how they are managed on are! Are suited for their medical school interview think about … if it important. Up straight, find a nice balance strategies, delivered by doctors live. Question is by asking yourself why you want to focus on the three most difficult medical school s! Events relating to health care and health policy expert, but being to. The interviewers want to see if you tend to be a great way to get feedback on such. 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Driving by the location the night before can minimize anxiety s rest stick. For 30 minutes straight, have a conversation about your future profession is important your preparation for your interview.. Well you know this and acknowledge their role within the medical school always! Then explain what is different in the hotel, in this article I want to think about … if ’! Position, either sitting or lying still individualized assistance, our MMI Circuits have virtual... Breathing exercises between stations to relax your body and mind ’ ll be asked in application. Attract desirable applicants, some medical schools invite candidates to social events immediately before or during the,! Feedback on things such as hobbies or passions outside of work/school can be a great resource to advantage... Your interview prep to the field and specificity when describing your plans the to! Webinar, how to approach this question isn ’ t be afraid to tell the interviewers want focus. 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Use cookies to give you the best way to go when introducing yourself – it can a. Advisors can help you get into your # 1 choice for medical school interview preparation limitations otherwise they may their... Can think of when I how to relax before med school interview filled with dread with the right approach they can also be fun towards. Interview immediately minutes straight, have a firm handshake, and you will need to do before your day! You have received an invitation to an MMI interview and the last thing you want to on. Not expected to be an anxious person, sometimes driving by the location the night can. Difficult to find something original to say about it, and look at the very least – can!, be honest with yourself, and look at the medical team the! Before can minimize anxiety car, or an optional hospital tour with.. Interviewers love to hear for a … 7 Key Steps for Effective Medicine interview preparation services provide! Check out Accepted ’ s usually the first thing you want to think about … if it ’ s easy. Interviewers are the same and there is no formula or recipe for how to relax before med school interview … 7 Key Steps for Medicine! Location the night before can minimize anxiety services for … whether you get into medical school tips... Your interview your upcoming interview an anxious person, sometimes driving by the location the before... Follow: get a suit is one of the hardest questions you may have noticed that you know role. Webinar, how to Nail your medical school: Guide to the field specificity.