Undoubtedly, if you get invited to a medical school interview, you should celebrate! You have come further than the majority of medical school applicants. However, whether you’re applying to DO or MD, or looking to enter one of the many MD-PhD programs in the US or Canada, you should be aware that medical school interview prep is a tricky and arduous process. How long to prepare for a medical school interview? Give yourself at least 8 weeks to thoroughly prepare for what’s to come. In this article, we are going to share some interview tips that are going to help you ace your medical school interview!
Perfect Practice Makes Perfect!
How you prepare for your med school interview will depend on the school’s preferred interview format. In your interview invite, the school will indicate what kind of format they use and what you should be expecting on the day of your meeting. If you do not want to wait for the invite to find out the format, you can try researching this information online. The school might share this information on their website. However, we strongly discourage you from relying on Premed Reddit forums to learn this information. It may be outdated.
Create an interview prep plan based on the format and start practicing with mock medical school interviews and expert feedback. Don’s hesitate to sign up for an MMI interview prep course to get an idea of what the format is like and what kind of questions you can expect.
On your own time, make sure you go over traditional medical school interview questions, panel interview questions, or MMI questions. Don’t forget to run through some ethical questions for medical school interview, since they tend to be quite popular with admissions committees. Remember, to optimize your chances of success it is best to have a professional assess your answers and tell you how you are doing in your preparations. For example, a medical school advisor will help you tackle the most difficult questions and give you expert feedback on what you do well and how you can improve your answers.
Click Here to Schedule Your Free Initial Consultation Now
First Impressions
Getting ready for your interview involves more than just question and answer practice. You must create a good impression on the interviewers and everyone you meet on the day of your interview. When you prepare for the interview, make sure you have the right medical school interview attire. Although your appearance is not a key indicator of your suitability for the medical school, tidiness and taste can make a great first impression. Make sure not to use perfume, cologne, or any other strong smells on the day of the interview. When you enter the room, greet the interviewers, and shake their hand, if appropriate. Politely ask their name if they do not introduce themselves. Repeat the interviewers' names during the interview when appropriate, and especially at the end when you say your goodbyes. As you exit the interview room shake their hand and thank them for their time. Your introductions and goodbyes are of vital importance. Your performance aside, the impression you create with your greeting and the way you leave the interview room will speak volumes to your professionalism and maturity.
Another huge advantages of using mock interviews is the fact that you can practice many of these behaviors with a medical school admissions consultant. They can help you improve on any behaviors that may be off-putting to admissions committees. Remember, you only have once chance to make an impression, so make sure it’s a good one. To strengthen the good impression you make, don’t forget to send a thank you letter after your medical school interview.
Video Interviews
Video interviews are becoming more commonplace in the post-pandemic world. The majority of medical schools in Canada and the United States have replaced in-person interviews with video and recorded interview formats to provide an additional chance for applicants and medical schools to connect. For example, you might have heard of the Altus Suite, which includes the Snapshot – a one-way video interview response tool. These types of innovation should not trouble aspiring applicants. If your school has chosen to conduct video interviews, your interview preparation should not change drastically – you should still practice common med school interview questions like “Why do you want to be a doctor?” or “Tell me about yourself”, as these can be incorporated into any interview format.
Keep in mind that while your school may request the submission of the Snapshot interview, they may still conduct in-person interviews. So be ready for both.
On the Day of your Interview
Whether you have an in-person or video interview, it is important to stay professional, so make sure that your medical school interview prep includes some behavioral practice as well.
During your interview, sit back in your chair and make sure your feet are flat on the ground. Avoid crossing your arms, sitting on your hands, or holding your hands clenched on your lap. Try to maintain eye contact with the interviewer and smile when appropriate. Make sure you have good posture as you sit in the chair. Do not play with your hands, hair, or nails. Your face should show no signs of straining, so do not tense your eyebrows, or purse your lips. Make sure your voice projects confidence, warmth, and interest.
If you are getting ready for a video interview, we would strongly suggest you test-run whatever software you are about to use. Video interview recording software typically allows candidates to practice answering questions using sample prompts, so be sure to go over it a few times before you record your real answers. When you practice recording your responses, your face must be visible and positioned in the center of the screen. You should also make sure your voice is clearly heard. Only start recording your interview responses once you’re comfortable with the software.
Whether you have an in-person or video interview, be sure to avoid:
- Rubbing or touching your nose, ears, or hair
- Slouching back in your chair
- Crossing your arms while sitting
- Fidgeting
- Showing any signs of anxiety or nervousness, including laughing or smiling for no reason
Click Here to Schedule Your Free Initial Consultation Now
Long-term Stress Management
Medical school acceptance rates for candidates who have been invited to interview are quite high, so instead of focusing on the stress of interview prep try to keep an optimistic outlook. One of the easiest steps to alleviate stress levels before the interview is to get to know the campus where it will take place. Take a tour of the school to which you have been invited to be at ease with your environment and talk to current students to provide you with insight into the school, the program, and the interview.
If the program has optional activities planned for the day before, or the day of your interview, take advantage of the opportunity to speak with staff, faculty, and students. Remember, as soon as you are on campus, you may be evaluated, directly or indirectly. Put your best foot forward. In the weeks coming up to your interview, avoid dealing with stress by smoking, drinking, or bingeing on unhealthy food. Do not withdraw from your friends and family; rather, make sure to take breaks and time to relax with them. If possible, spend some time outside; simple exercise like walking can greatly help maintain your stress levels. In the weeks leading up to the interview, do not forget to exercise and keep a healthy diet.
Short-term Stress Management Tips
- The day before your exam go to bed early and eat healthy meals. Do not stay up cramming for your interview.
- Think positively as soon as you wake up.
- 15 minutes before your interview, release neurotransmitters that pit you in a positive state of mind. For example, bite on a pencil or pen with your back molars for 3-5 minutes or sit back in a chair with your arms behind your head and feet up.
- Activate your parasympathetic nervous system and decrease your sympathetic nervous system by doing breathing exercises with prolonged exhalations.
