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Medical School Guide Table of Contents

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The free medical student and medical school interview guide
 
Oxford Medical runs regular Oxford and London based Medical School Entry Interview Courses. Small group sizes,individually focused to give you the best possible training. We are the only company that uses both doctors who interview and successful medical students to give you the very best coaching. Optional video recorded performance analysis and free post course training including over 3 hours of video hot topic tutorials. This is why we are considered the best interview skills training company 
 
 

Table of Contents

 

Foreword

Introduction

Interview Overview: Preparation

Medical School Interviews

The Medical School that you are applying for

Different Types of Interviews:

                   Standard Panel Interviews

                   Blinded Interviews

                   Partially blinded interviews

                   Open interviews

The Day Before the interview

Communication Tips

Body Language:

                   Negative body language

                   Positive body language

                   Using your voice

Delivering Your Answer

Preparation - Overall Aspects to Consider

Preparation for the Interview:

                   Knowing yourself

                   Knowing the medical school

Medical School Interview Questions:

                   General questions

                   Reasons for applying questions

                   Qualifications/experience questions

                   Knowledge based questions

                   Personality based questions

                   Probing questions

                   Motivational questions

                   Education questions

                   Goals and outlook questions

                   Behavioural based questions

                   Some unusual questions

What to Wear

Travelling to the Interview

Questions to Ask at the End of Your Interview

After the Interview

Useful Resources

 

 
Oxford Medical runs regular Oxford and London based Medical School Entry Interview Courses. Small group sizes,individually focused to give you the best possible training. We are the only company that uses both doctors who interview and successful medical students to give you the very best coaching. Optional video recorded performance analysis and free post course training including over 3 hours of video hot topic tutorials. This is why we are considered the best interview skills training company 
 
 

 

Medical School Interview Guide Foreword

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Foreword

 

Medical School interviews are part of a competitive selection process. The interview is just one part of the application process. It is considered a vital final component to an application for various reasons not just based on the face to face value that it represents. The interviewer and medical school want to select the best candidates for their institution. It is a process by which candidates are filtered out and the remaining candidates whom possess the correct skills and attributes are offered a place at that particular medical school.

 

Preparation can improve your chance of success but appointment to your chosen medical school depends on a solid interview performance on the day to supplement other written components to the selection process.

There are many parts to a successful interview which will be explained in this guide. Knowing the medical school, yourself, the basics on the National Health Service are very good places to start.

Apart from core knowledge you will need to present yourself in a respectable manner, communicate effectively, be reasonably opinionated (and be able to back it up with logical reasons), and know the issues within ethical and other difficult topics. These are all components of a successful interview.

 

Nothing is gained without hard work and interviews are no exception. You must put the hours in to get to know yourself and practice answering questions, particularly difficult ones.

 

Occasionally, we might be turned down at interview. However, such experiences are stepping stones to bigger and better things and positive information can be gained from the worst interview making the next interview the best. Lessons can be learnt from both successful and unsuccessful interviews.

 

We hope that you find this guide useful and wish you the very best of luck with your medical school application from the Medical Interview UK team.

 

 

Medical School Interview Guide Introduction

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Introduction

Congratulations on being selected for your medical school interview. You are on the path to making a very successful and rewarding career for yourself. Medical school interview guide introduction

Not only will you be able to achieve your desire to be a doctor but you will also have an amazing experience at medical school, on the wards and then as a senior doctor in today’s great NHS. Friends that you will make at medical school will commonly remain great friends for life.

This book aims to give you a guide to medical school interviews. Interviews are a competitive process and medical schools are out to select the best students possible. You are competing against many other candidates whom have applied. When I went to medical school in 1990 there were 28 people competing for each place. I was well prepared and gave a solid performance and secured my place. If you follow some of the tips here in this book you can increase your chance of success.

Success cannot be guaranteed however performance can be increased with insight into the interview process, adequate preparation for common questions, hot topics, knowledge of the pitfalls and knowing ways to sell yourself so that you get the place that you deserve.

 

 

Medical School Interview Guide: Interview Overview and preparation

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Interview Overview - Preparation, preparation, preparation

 

 

Interviews are still the best way of selecting the best candidate. There is no paper to hide behind and no time for the candidate to prepare for many of the questions that are asked on the spot. A personal face to face encounter occurs where the interviewer can find out what you are really like.

 

They will try to find out what makes you tick, what your opinions are and what your general personality and attributes are like.

Many people don’t understand that the interview is your time to shine.

 

You will be invited to present your thoughts and ideas and you should really aim to shed an enthusiastic and positive light on your attitudes and thought processes.

 

You must sell yourself and in order to do this, you must know yourself inside out. This is very difficult to do and takes time, but is possible.

 

A large number of unsuccessful interviews are a result of one of two common mistakes made by interviewees. One is being under prepared to answer a specific question; the other is being over prepared. Under preparation, which is by far the more common, results from the misconception that because it is not possible to predict with accuracy the specific questions that will be asked, it is impossible and/or inefficient to practice answers. The telltale signs of this mistake are meandering, disorganized replies to open-ended questions, contradictions, and pauses with your answers. The candidate comes across as being without opinions and confused. They lack confidence and panic when asked questions that they have not previously thought about.

The second pitfall is that of being over prepared which results when good intention is combined with poor strategy. People who make this mistake are easily stumped by unusual questions and may give over rehearsed answers to more common questions. They might appear to be stiff and nervous, and can even come across as bad listeners, since their answers (though well organized and pointed) do not consistently address the question that was asked. Also, their ability to adapt easily to different interviewers and interview styles is inhibited, making it difficult for them to establish rapport. It is less common to be over prepared. Proper concise preparation will help you avoid both these pitfalls.


When preparing an answer for any question arm yourself with at least three points you would like to communicate about yourself and think of one or two specific details to support each. This will allow you to create a targeted, comprehensive set of answers to most of the questions you will be asked. With practice, you will be able to actively use the interviewer's questions (whatever they may be) to communicate the points you wish to make. This puts the control back into your hands, which should also help ease pre-interview jitters.

 

 
Oxford Medical runs regular Oxford and London based Medical School Entry Interview Courses. Small group sizes,individually focused to give you the best possible training. We are the only company that uses both doctors who interview and successful medical students to give you the very best coaching. Optional video recorded performance analysis and free post course training including over 3 hours of video hot topic tutorials. This is why we are considered the best interview skills training company 
 
 

 

Medical Scool Interview Guide: Medical School Interviews

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Medical School Interviews

 

Being invited to interview is a key step in your acceptance to medical school. The medical school in question is telling you that they are interested in you and that you look good enough on paper to be considered to be offered a place to study there. Medical School Interviews

 

This opportunity is your chance to shine. You looked good enough on paper to get this far. Now you have an opportunity to show them your intelligence, your enthusiasm, who you are, and where you want to get to in the future. It’s also your opportunity to see who THEY are, for them to put their best foot forward to you and make you want to be a part of their school.

Think about the information that you want the interviewers to find out and leave the interview with. What is the impression you want to leave them with?  What is it they need to know about you that shows them that you’d be a great doctor and a perfect match for their school?


Many medical school interviewers like to ask about an ethical or moral dilemma based question. We have mentioned this section early in this guide as it is often where most candidates underperform. This can be about very controversial issues such as abortion or euthanasia, but it can also be about healthcare rationing, immigrant healthcare provision, preventative medicine, withdrawal or withholding nutrition/hydration, assisted suicide, etc.

 

Don’t answer what you think the interviewer would like to hear. State what YOU believe, but be able to back it up and explain why you hold that particular opinion. We all hold different opinions and it is these opinions that make us different from other candidates. Balanced opinions are therefore vital.

 

You want to show the interviewers that you are clued up to the situation, are aware of the 2 sides to the dilemma and can give you own opinion and back it up with sound logical reasoning. Funnily enough there are some characteristics required from a good response which also are characteristics of a good doctor. Awareness of the facts, acceptance of other opinions and the ability to hold a particular stance on an issue are all important.

 

 

What About the Medical School That You Are Applying For?

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What About the Medical School That You Are Applying For?

                            

It is predictable that they will want to find out why you want to gain a place at that particular medical school. There are many different types of questions that may be asked to assess your interest in that school which can be found below:

 

You will be asked why you want to go to that school. So, why DID you apply

there?

What kind of experiences are you looking for at medical school?

 

In order to answer these two questions you will need to have a think about what each particular school offers and tailor your answers based on the knowledge you have gained during your preparation. For example in your responses you may wish to mention some of the following:

 

·         Do you want to get involved with sporting activities, academic activities or the student union?

·         Clinical exposure and training... When does it occur and what kind of exposure is it? What kind of patient population is the medical school based in? Urban? Rural?

·         Facilities...computers, libraries, student lounge/area, labs, lecture halls... are they nice?

·         Extracurricular activities and social events.

Think about what you want out of a medical school and be able to address your issues. It helps to do a bit of research in advance about the school. So not only will you be able to tell the interview WHY you applied, but how the strengths of that school link into your own strengths and interests. You can find out more about a school by checking out their web site or speaking to current students.

Many schools hold open days where interested prospective students can look around the school. These tours are normally given by current medical students who can give you a real idea and flavour of what it is like at that particular medical school.

 

 

Medical School Interview Guide: Different types of interviews

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Different Types of Interviews

 

There are different types of interviews and different types of interviewing techniques. Details of the latter are probably too detailed for this guide however a brief mention of the different types of interviews would be appropriate.

Standard Panel Interview

Different types of medical school interview
This is where more than one interviewer interviews you at the same time. Try not to get over intimidated. Make eye contact with the person who has asked you the question, but also try to look and engage the other interviewers as you make your responses. This will engage all the interviewers and you will form a rapport with each using this technique. Usually panel interviews are made up of people from different disciplines such as basic science/ research, clinical medicine, or surgery. There is often a medical student as part of the panel. So be prepared for a real range of questions.


Blinded Interviews (not so common)


This is an interview where the interviewer has not seen any part of your file. He or she does not know your grades or scores and has not read your application form. Be prepared for the worst of all possible interview questions: “So, tell me about yourself.” Expect to regurgitate a lot of what you have already written in your various application forms.


Partially Blinded Interviews


This is where an interviewer only sees part of your applications, such as your application form, but not any numerical grades or scores.


Open Interviews


In this type of interview it is up to the interviewer whether or not he or she will look at your file ahead of time. Be prepared, therefore, for “blind” type questions as well as questions addressing what you wrote in your application form.

 

Typically interviews are of the panel format and contain preset questions that are delivered to all of the candidates on the day, thus allowing a direct assessment of one candidate’s performance against another.

 

 

Medical School Interviews: The day before the interview

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The Day Before the Interview

 


If you will need to travel a significant distance to your interview, consider getting a hotel room and staying over the night before. Also, many medical schools have students who have offered to put up interviewees the night before their interview. If this is the case, try to take advantage of this great opportunity to talk to the students and see the school on an informal basis. You can learn a lot!


Be prompt, if not a bit early. No matter what, you don't want to be late to your interview. You also don’t want to show up more than 10 to 15 minutes early. The staff may not be ready for you and it can be a bit awkward waiting. You might want to bring something to read (especially a copy of your application forms) because you may be waiting around in a smallish room for a while before your interview.


Have something to eat well in advance of your interview time, but not too much in case those butterflies backfire. Take it easy on the caffeine... a cup or two of coffee or a Coke won’t hurt a bit but too much may make you jittery.


For your interview itself try to be relaxed. Be yourself. Try to be clear, concise, and think about your answers. It’s easy when you’re nervous to go on a bit. Try to catch yourself and stop after your point is made. Try to remember to smile and make eye contact with your interviewer. Try not to fidget or fiddle with anything. If you don’t understand a question the interviewer asks, ask them to rephrase it. We suggest 2 minutes maximum time delivering your response to a single question.


Most interviewers want to make this experience as painless for you as possible. These people are the ones who will try to sell you to the rest of the panel during the discussion that will occur after your interview when you have left the room.

 

 

Medical School Interviews: Communication tips and interview skills

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Communication Tips


Be enthusiastic about the school. Know why you want to go there and be able to provide 4 or 5 reasons when you're asked.

Always emphasize that you are seriously considering the program even if it isn't one of your top choices. If it isn't one of your top choices, don't say so. Consider your responses to questions beforehand, but don't practice too much because you don't want to look like you've rehearsed too much.
Have questions to ask. Ask about unclear aspects of their curriculum, research opportunities, and so on, but your questions should show that you are familiar with the school. Visit the schools website beforehand and use it to create questions. Good questions demonstate your enthusiasm and intelligence.


Bring up your strong points, but don't be overly self-confident. Try to strike a balance between self confidence and humility.
Be prepared for an interviewer to bring up your weak points or ask you for your input on your weak points.
Listen carefully to the interviewer and often you will get clues or hints as to what they are interested in.
Understand that some interviewers may not have read your application or may not recall it. Be prepared to fill them in on your qualifications and experience.
It's ok not to know the answer to a question. Just say so. As the interveiwer pushes you to the limits of your knowledge or experiene you will be in a position of having to say no. This means that the interviewer is doing his/her job properly and pushing you to find your limits. Don’t take it personally.Work with them rather than against them.
If you did research, be prepared to talk about it. You should know the overall goal, methodology, what you found, and why it's important. Be able to discuss your part and contribution to the research.
Dress appropriately. Be neat and comfortable.
Try to relax and enjoy yourself. This is your time to shine.

   

Body Language

 

Body language is vitally important. Research shows that 55% of what is interpreted from our response is given by our body language with only 35 % of the message coming from the tone of what we are actually saying and the final 10%  coming from the content of what we are saying. We must therefore be aware of what our body is doing.

 

 

Negative Body Language

 

Fidgeting shows restlessness

Crossing arms indicates an unwillingness to listen

Touching you face or playing with your hair can be a sign that you are hiding

something.

Looking away or hesitating before you answer indicates that you are unsure of

something.

 

 

Positive body language

 

Responsive/eager – Leaning forward, open arms, nodding shows that you are interested and actively involved in the discussion

Listening – Head tilted, constant eye contact, nodding

Attentive – smiling and generally giving off a positive feel

 

 

Using Your Voice

 

You want to have a controlled steady voice that doesn’t race off too quickly as the thoughts race through your head but indicates a clear, constructive, educated approach to an answer. Practice using your voice with different speeds and tones to find one that is most appropriate to the situation. If you were having a conversation with a friend about your favourite hobby you would be interested and actively involved giving your opinion. This is what you should try and use.

 

Use some of the following: Medical Interview UK: Communication tips and interview skills for prospective medical students

 

Use a range of tones, avoid monotone

Pause before speaking

Speak slightly slower than normal

Don’t mumble or gabble excitedly

Keep your hands away from your mouth as you speak

Watch your pitch and dynamics (high-pitched voices are tough on the ears)

Let your voice show your enthusiasm and keenness

Always look at the person questioning you

Direct your answer to the questioner

Glance around to engage the whole panel and form a rapport with each panel member.

 

When Delivering Your Answer

 

Keep to the point; be clear and concise with your response. Speak with confidence whilst keeping your answers positive. But do be honest and open with replies.

 

 

Medical School Interview preparation

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Preparation - Overall Aspects to Consider

 

Preparation is vitally important to increase the chances of success at your interview. You must prepare for most eventualities within the interview.

 

As the saying goes “practice makes perfect”. Areas that require preparation include:

 

Knowing about them

Knowing about you

Knowing about the working environment NHS

 

Other aspects of preparation include:

 

Question rehearsal

Preparing for hot topics

Preparing for the tricky questions

Dress planning

Preparing your journey to the interview

 

 
Oxford Medical runs regular Oxford and London based Medical School Entry Interview Courses. Small group sizes,individually focused to give you the best possible training. We are the only company that uses both doctors who interview and successful medical students to give you the very best coaching. Optional video recorded performance analysis and free post course training including over 3 hours of video hot topic tutorials. This is why we are considered the best interview skills training company 
 
 

 

Medical School Interview: Knowing yourself preparation

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Preparing for the Interview - Knowing Yourself

 

What are you really interested in and where do you want to be in 10 years time? Carefully review all materials that you submitted with your application. Prepare to be able to comfortably discuss the following issues:

Why do you want to become a doctor?
What extracurricular and/or research activities have you been involved in?
Why are they important to you?
What are your strengths?
How have you used these strengths to help other people in your community?

Be able to explain any obvious weaknesses in your application. Try and make your responses positive without sounding defensive. We all have weaknesses. Some of them you will know about and may have indeed done something to improve.

 

 

 

 

Some questions to help you know yourself a little better:

What other careers have you explored?

Do you feel that you have a realistic view of medical school?

Do you understand what the life of a doctor entails?

What will you do if you don't get into medical school?

Why do you want to attend this school?

Why do you want to work with sick people?

Is this school your top choice?

Where else have you applied?

Where do you see yourself in 10/20/30 years?

What do you want to specialize in?

What do you hope to get out of medicine?

Do you have any concerns about this school?

Have you considered the advantages/disadvantages of living in this area?

Who are you?

Why medical school?

How would a friend describe you?

Why do you want to be a doctor?

How are you unique?

List three things you want me to know about you?

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Why should we accept you?

Tell me about yourself?

 

 

Medical School Interviews: Knowing about the Medical School

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Knowing About Them - The Medical School

 

Know everything there is about the medical school you are applying to. Visit and research their website. Review their training programme.

Find the name of the students who have been accepted to the medical school from your college. Ask them about the school. Their strengths and their weaknesses. Get on the internet and use discussion forums  and ask other medical students about the course at that medical school. The more you know about the school that you are interviewing at, the more prepared you will be for certain questions:

 

"Do you have any questions that we can answer?" You can ask them about material that you know the school is proud of - If they will win the inter-hospital rugby cup again this year?! It all adds to the impression that you are well researched, keen and motivated about their school. In turn they will think highly of you. It’s a game sometimes of massaging the egos of those responsible for the school to make them feel good about what they have done for the school. It will reflect well for you and they will think you are more switched on than other candidates.

 

 

When I went to medical school our school was famous for its rugby team. JPR Williams went to my medical school so I made sure I mentioned that I played county rugby, was a team player and enjoyed competitive sports. Without the knowledge beforehand I could not show some of the cards that would separate me from other candidates. Flemming discovered penicillin and Bannister who ran the first sub 4 minute mile also went to my medical school. Make sure you know the key milestones and achievements of the school and present yourself in an enthusiastic keen motivated light. For example if you were an athlete then this would also be an interesting point of discussion to get across at the interview.

 

 

Do your research. It will pay off. Visit the medical school before the interview and visit one or two of the pubs to find a student and have a chat to them about their school. You can mention this at interview. It will show what you are made of and give you the edge over other candidates. This is a competitive process after all. Bigger animals eat little animals. You choose which one you want to be.

   

Interviewers are constantly coming up with new and creative questions to ask but no matter how different the question appears to be, it almost always falls into one of several categories. These categories represent the basics of what the interviewer wants to know about you. If you prepare yourself to speak succinctly in each area, and learn to recognize each question for what it is, you are less likely to be caught off guard by a quirky or unusual query. Some questions for each of these categories are shown below.

 

 

Medical School Interview Guide| Medical Scool Interview Questions

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Medical School Interview Questions

 

General Questions

 

Why this medical school?

How would a friend describe you?

Why do you want to be a doctor?

How are you unique?

List three things you want me to know about you.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Why should we accept you?

Tell me about yourself.

 

Open-ended questions are the easiest. There is absolutely no excuse for not taking full advantage of these. First, they are obvious; they are exactly what you should have asked yourself when you first decided to go to medical school. Also, they offer you the chance to openly sell yourself. This is where you should communicate the top three points you would like to make. Preparing specific, focused answers for each of the above questions will also go a long way toward helping you to answer all of the sample questions that follow, no matter what category they are from.

 

 

Questions Referring to Your Reasons for Applying to Medical School

 

Do you feel that you have a realistic view of medical school?

Do you understand what the life of a doctor entails?

What will you do if you don't get into medical school?

Why do you want to attend this school?

Why do you want to work with sick people?

Is this school your top choice?

Where else have you applied?

Would you consider a foreign medical school?

Where do you see yourself in 10/20/30 years?

What do you want to specialize in?

How do you plan to pay for medical school?

What do you hope to get out of medicine?

Do you have any concerns about this school?

Do you have any ideas about your residency?

Have you considered the advantages/disadvantages of living in this area?

 

These questions probe exactly how much you want to practice medicine. The interview panel wants to understand the thought you have put into your decision. They also need to know that you understand the difficult journey of studying and practicing medicine, and that your knowledge of a doctor's life is not limited to what you have seen on television. Lastly, they want to know that you are sincere in wanting their specific program. Be prepared with the reasons that you applied to their school.

 

When answering any one of these questions, start and end with a reiteration of your desire to 1) become a doctor, and 2) attend their school. Emphasize too that you know what your decision entails. Your points should explain why your unique experience makes medical school the right choice. For example: Are you more interested in the science/research side of medicine, or in helping people? If it's the first, you should have a strong research and science background. If it's the latter, back it up with volunteer experience or other kinds of community involvement. Most will stress both sides, which is fine, as long as you can provide solid evidence.

 

 

Questions About Your Qualifications and Previous Experience

 

What work experience have you had?

What health-care experience have you had?

Tell me about your research experience?

How have you prepared yourself for a career in medicine?

What clinical/hospital experience have you had?

What work experience do you wish you had?

How have you contributed to your community?

Tell me about a time you have helped someone?

What volunteer experience have you had?

What's your toughest subject?

 

 

This is straightforward, and easy to prepare for. Just be ready to talk about any experience that you have mentioned in your application

 

 

 

Questions About Your Knowledge of the Medical Field

 

What do you see as the biggest challenge facing the field of medicine today?

Are you aware of the upcoming surplus of doctors? How do you feel about it?

How do you feel about the debate over the hours junior doctors work?

What do you think about medical advice being available on the Web?

What are some current controversial areas in medicine. Select one then give your opinion on it and defend that opinion.
What is your opinion of National Health Service?
Do you see any negatives in the (medical) profession?
What do you think about patient rights/medical costs/HMO's/euthanasia/confidentiality?

Give me a list of three political issues that you feel are of great importance in the health care field right now?
What sorts of ethical problems can you see coming up in the medical profession?
What makes a good physician?
Why is medicine such an important field?

 

 

This category is often the most daunting for applicants. You might feel that you are being given an oral exam, and on one level you are. The admissions panel wants to see that you are familiar with current events. This is another way to test your sincerity and dedication, and it shows an intellectual curiosity and ability.

 

 

Questions About Your Personality

 

 

Tell me about a significant event in your life and how it shaped you?

Do you have a favourite book/class/professor?

Who do you not get along with and why?

Which of your qualities would you want to pass down to your children?

What would you change about yourself if you could?

What three material objects are most important to you?

What people have influenced you and how?

Do you have any heroes?

How do you handle stress?

Give me an example of a time you contributed to a team effort?

What do you do in your free time?

What are your hobbies?

What is your biggest accomplishment?

 

In some ways these will be easy questions for you. You have had practice with them; they have probably been asked in just about every interview experience you have ever had. These questions about yourself are on more of a superficial level (the more personal questions are discussed below). But talking about yourself, even in response to the lighter questions can be nerve-wracking when you are being judged on your responses. As always, the answer is to prepare, be yourself, and relax.




Personal and Probing Questions



Describe a situation where your work was criticized. What was you immediate reaction? Reflecting back now, what do you make of it now?
How do you cope with stress?
Are you a friendly person?
What do you have to offer that others don't have?
How will your weaknesses play a role in medicine?
Have you ever lived in a large city before?
How do you deal with adversity?
What is your preferred way of learning and how do you learn best?
What is the biggest thing you have overcome in your life?

 

Motivational Questions


Why medicine?
What have you done that shows initiative? What did you learn from that experience?
What leadership positions have you held in school?
Why did you choose to apply to medical school?
Have you been accepted to other schools yet?
What did you dislike most about this school?


Questions on Your Education


Be prepared for specific questions regarding your application.

What science class did you dislike the most?
What classes did you struggle with during school?
What have you done to prepare yourself to be a doctor?
Why should we accept you over the other applicants who have applied to our medical school?
What was your favourite subject in school. Why?
What kinds of direct patient care experiences do you have?
Be prepared to discuss weaknesses in your academic transcripts and MCAT scores?
What experiences have you had with the medical profession?
What types of volunteer work have you done?
Have you had any practical experiences in medicine?
Have you shadowed any doctors?
What experiences have you had working with people?



Questions on your Goals/Plans and Outlook


How will you deal with the stress of school and this profession?
How do you plan to pay for medical school and living expenses?
Where do you plan to practice after you graduate?
What do you think you will struggle with during medical school?
Where would you like to practice once qualified?



Behaviour Based Questions

How might you calm a nervous patient?
Your supervising doctor comes into work drunk. How would you handle the situation?
Please give me an example of how you would handle a stressful situation?
How would you deal with a patient who was treating you badly?
Tell me about the last time you felt angry?

Be prepared to answer unusual questions or difficult ones for which you do not know the answer.

 

 

Some Unusual Questions That You Could be Asked

 

If you were a car what, kind of car would you be and why?
Do you think physicians should lie to patients?

Why medicine and not nursing?
What section of the newspaper do you read first?
What has been the hardest question that you have been asked at other
interviews so far?
Who should definitely not be cloned?
Describe a situation in which you felt like a fish out of water?
So you like helping others...why not be a policeman or a nurse?
How do you really know that after medical school in 5 or 6 years, you’ll still want to be a doctor?

What type of impression do you feel you've left on me in this interview?

What do you hope to gain during your medical education?

What questions do you have for me about our school?

What is your weakness that concerns you most?

What would your best friend say about you in convincing me I should admit you to our medical school?

If you could be any character in history, who would it be, and why?

How did you decide to apply to our medical school?

Why did you choose our specific medical school?

How are you a match for our medical school?

What do you do in your spare time?

What other medical schools are you applying to?

What are three things you want to change about yourself?

Name something you are most proud of?

Which family member has influenced your life so far and why?

What do you think about the health care system and which way should it go?

What do you think is wrong with the current health care system in the UK?

Which languages do you speak? Why?

Which of your college courses interested you the most?

If you couldn't ever be trained to be a physician, what would you be?

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

What interests you outside of medicine and getting into medical school?

 

 

 

Medical School Interviews | What to wear

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What You Should Wear

 

When it comes to clothing, you should look like the rest of the interviewees - this is one place were looking apart will hurt you rather than help you. Dress conservatively. You need a clean and well-tailored suit (make sure it fits you well). Wear a conservative tie. Polish your shoes! You probably have all these items but if you don't, do not spend a fortune buying them. You don't need expensive clothing, you just need clean and conservative clothing.

Simply put, you should look like every one else at the interview. Women should also wear conservative clothing. A skirted suit is appropriate. The same advice holds true for women - keep your clothing simple, neat and clean. Do not wear too much jewellery, makeup or perfume/aftershave.

 

 
Oxford Medical runs regular Oxford and London based Medical School Entry Interview Courses. Small group sizes,individually focused to give you the best possible training. We are the only company that uses both doctors who interview and successful medical students to give you the very best coaching. Optional video recorded performance analysis and free post course training including over 3 hours of video hot topic tutorials. This is why we are considered the best interview skills training company 
 
 

 

Medical Student Interviews | Travelling to the interview

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Travelling to the Interview

 

Give yourself plenty of time and then add 30 minutes onto this estimate. You want to arrive about an hour before your interview time. This will give you time to park your car, find the venue, go to the toilet and check on your dress/tie position. It is a good idea to scout the interview area first so that you will not be in a rush closer to the time. Plan to arrive for your interview 15 minutes early. This will give you time to have your documentation checked and for you to settle down. Any earlier and you may meet other candidates which can be off putting and gives you too long to wait and keep those positive thoughts going. Beware because even the best plans can go to waste. For a recent interview I left home 2 hours before my interview (normal 30 minutes drive to the venue). I arrived 40 minutes late for my interview after spending hours on the motorway after a lorry had caught fire. I was rushing, had lost my thought process and didn’t come across well to the interview panel that had been waiting. Needless to say I didn’t get the job and I don’t blame them for that decision. Thus, bad luck can play a major role as well.

A good tip is to do a dry run to the venue say the week before the venue. Watch the clock and time how long it takes especially if you go at the same time of day that you would need to go. This will give you a rough idea and also make you feel slightly easier.

 

 

The morning of the interview you want to get up after having had a good rest. Keep off the alcohol the night before and don’t go to bed too late. Get a normal night sleep. Your brain needs to be rested for what will be a stressful day. A lot of the answers you will give will not have been prepared and therefore having a free flowing thought process is required to succeed. I always had a few pieces of paper with the most important facts and points. I could read these the morning of the interview and have all the positive points about me ready to be reeled off. (E.g. positive, enthusiastic, dedicated, team player with a list of examples to back each one up if asked).

Review all the preparatory material that you have noted on the school. Review the school's information; your list of questions to ask the school; answers to possible questions that you will be asked; reasons you would love to go to their school.

When you enter the room, you should be confident but not arrogant. Wait for the interviewer to offer to shake your hand; give him a strong but not bone crushing handshake! Let him sit first or offer you to sit before you sit down.

You should be very enthusiastic. Do not use any negative comments in general. Be honest and consistent with your answers. Most questions can be answered with a combination of questions you have prepared for. If you are asked a question that you have not considered before, pause and think about it. It is ok to say you are uncertain about a question; nevertheless, you need to give an intelligent answer to every question. You must try and give a balanced argument to ‘grey’ issues/areas.

 

For example, if asked about privatization of the NHS you must give arguments for and against the issue and then reason logically where you stand eg ‘the NHS suffers from a chronic degree of under funding with a relatively low proportion of gross domestic product 7.6% spent on it compared to other countries such as the USA 14% GDP. They have undoubtedly a first class service with higher quality of care. In order to improve this funding issue one method would be to privatize the health system. However the NHS is unique and treasured by our country as a free at the point of entry health care with unparalleled loyalty within its staff and for this reason I don’t think we should privatize the NHS but look at other ways of improving it.’

 

Be positive. Turn a potential negative response into a positive response. It shows enthusiasm and drive. In your career you will be faced with adversity on a daily basis. You will need to turn these situations around and you will need to be a positive, forward thinker to do this.

 

Often, the way you answer a question is much more important than the answer itself. Be confident but humble with your answers. If you are asked about the future of medicine, for example, you can offer possible scenarios and include the uncertainty involved. Do not pretend you know the answer and the exact future state of medicine. Do not be too firm on any opinion; make sure that the interviewer understands that you are only offering an opinion and not a fact.

 

In memorizing your responses to the possible questions, learn key words that you will discuss. Do not memorize whole sentences; you will sound artificial and your answers will sound rehearsed. For example, if you are asked "why do you want to be a doctor?” You should have certain key words that you want to include in your response. If your response is: "I have always been interested in a career that would be intellectually challenging. Medicine would give me an opportunity to help people in need of help. I want to make a difference in other peoples' lives," the key words would be intellectually challenging, helping people and making a difference.

 

Certain rehearsed information can be used to answer many questions. You should know at least three of your strengths and weaknesses. You should know three events which you are proud of and three which you are not. You should start reviewing the daily newspaper about two months before your interviews so that you are familiar with daily news. Have ideas on improving access to healthcare, and other general issues about medicine that you have seen on the news.

 

At the interview, you are a salesman. You are trying to sell yourself to the school. This is vitally important. If you don’t sell yourself then no one else will. You need to let the buyer know about your strengths! Why should he/she choose you? How are you different from the other 500 applicants that they are interviewing? Make sure that you bring up the subject of your strengths even if the interviewer does not specifically ask for them. You can augment many questions to include your strengths.

 

For example, you may be asked "What qualities do you look for in a physician? You can reply --"hard working, intelligent, compassionate, etc. Without sounding too arrogant, I feel that I possess these qualities and would make an excellent physician." The exact wording I used in answering these questions is irrelevant. It’s important, however, to somehow show your strengths with every opportunity.

Don't forget that at the same time, you need to be humble. The balance between being humble but selling your good points is what you need to work on!

 

Interviews are a process where they want to find out what makes you tick and what you are really like. They will dig and throw curveballs at you to see how you react under pressure. They will not be interested too much in the answer but how you get out of the situation, how you use your emotions and facial expressions and how you develop a rapport with each of the panel members. Be yourself and be honest. This is what they want to see. If you put the real you behind a shield of prepared answers that hide your weaknesses but also hide your strengths then you could lose out. The better approach would be to glaringly show off your strengths whilst having identified, buried and covered up any hint of a weakness.

 

It is like an exam. The more study you put in the better chance you have of passing. Once you have reached the imaginary pass mark the more study you do the higher the score you will achieve. In this game sometimes there may only be one winner so getting over the pass mark doesn’t succeed. You need to be the very best. There are no prizes for second place in this game. You must do the hard work. Get to know yourself. Keep your friends close but your enemies closer. Keep your strengths close but your weaknesses closer. They will be looking and it’s up to you how to fend them off by creating a positive atmosphere and using several tips in this guide.

 

 

 

Medical School Interviews | Questions to ask at the end of your interview

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Questions to Ask During the Interview when Invited at the End

 

Medical schools, like individuals, are very different — in their philosophies, faculties, curricula, and the type of students they attract. Consequently, selecting the "best" medical school for you can be very challenging. The following set of questions was compiled by medical students from across the country to assist you in evaluating the schools you will visit. This list is by no means complete; it was designed to serve as a base for your own questions. Keep in mind that the interview represents a wonderful time for you to learn, so don't be shy about asking anyone your questions.

Are there opportunities for students to design, conduct, and publish their own research? Is there an intercalated BSc?

Is there an active student union and social activities organised by the medical school?

Are there any scholarship programmes or awards for excellence during training?

Has this medical school any national reputations for any reason?

How do students from this medical school perform compared to others?

How are students evaluated academically? How are clinical evaluations performed?

Is there a formal mechanism in place for students to evaluate their professors and lecturers? What changes have been made recently as a result of this feedback?

 

 

Medical School Interview Guide | After the interview

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After the Interview



Be patient. It can take anywhere from one week to several months before you get a final decision from the medical school.

Interviews alone can’t get you into medical school, but they can definitely strengthen a borderline application or completely eliminate you from contention. You can no longer change your grades or scores... those are in. But you can stand out for who you are. Show them what a warm, charming, intelligent, thoughtful and professional person you are. They’ll want you... how could they do otherwise?

Remember a prepared positive response that shows enthusiasm is the key. Good Luck and I hope that you have enjoyed this guide. For more free medical school entry resources visit our website

 

 

Medical School Interview Guide | Useful resources

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Useful resources:

 

 
Oxford Medical runs regular Oxford and London based Medical School Entry Interview Courses. Small group sizes,individually focused to give you the best possible training. We are the only company that uses both doctors who interview and successful medical students to give you the very best coaching. Optional video recorded performance analysis and free post course training including over 3 hours of video hot topic tutorials. This is why we are considered the best interview skills training company 
 
 

 

 
Oxford Medical runs regular Oxford and London based Medical School Entry Interview Courses. Small group sizes,individually focused to give you the best possible training. We are the only company that uses both doctors who interview and successful medical students to give you the very best coaching. Optional video recorded performance analysis and free post course training including over 3 hours of video hot topic tutorials. This is why we are considered the best interview skills training company 
 
 

 

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