Thoughts On Questions To Ask At Interview

Always ask specific questions, but it can really be about whatever you want. General questions like "are the students here happy?" are completely useless (as if they're going to say no...).

I've usually asked questions about:

certain parts of the curriculum (amount of patient interaction in MI&MII, systems-based or traditional, etc.)

opportunities to take a rotation in non-affiliated hospitals nearby that I'm interested in (e.g. asked hopkins about doing a rotation at baltimore shock/trauma, which is not affiliated w/ them)

electives built into the curriculum? and can you take them w/ the affiliated undergrad program for free (I'm interested in taking Spanish for example)

Go along those lines and you should be golden.

http://www.aamc.org/students/applying/about/31questions.htm

you're welcome

I had to think long and hard about this one, as I feel I really wasn't prepared in my interviews last year. This year, I came up with some of the following:

1. What is the cohesiveness of the class like? Is is a very competitive program, or do classmates tend to help each other out?

2. What opportunities are there for outside patient interaction during MI and MII? Are there any free clinics that allow medical students to volunteer?

3. Are there any clubs that will allow students patient exposure during MI and MII?

4. What do you think of the school? What do you think are the programs strengths and weaknesses? (A professor I asked this to actually gave a somewhat negative response to a particular school, which led to a lengthy, albeit very informative conversation)

There were a few other questions, but you get the gist of it. If I can say one thing though, I think that the questions are a VERY important part of the interview. It shows your genuine interest in a school (or vice-versa). One of my interviewers actually asked me to get a cup of coffee after the interview so we could continue our discussion, if that tells you anything.

At my first med school interview, my interviewer, an ethics professor, and I got on the subject of empathy for patients. I asked her if she noticed that students lose their empathy for patients between their interviews and third year. She went off on this ten minute oral essay about the subject. I think she was so passionate that she actually got the warm fuzzies just hearing herself talk. At the end of the essay, she locked eyes with me and said, "Do YOU want to be a doctor?" I said absolutely. They had to knock on the door twice to get her to let me out.

mother said:

I have two interviews scheduled in the next few weeks and am doing all the basics to prepare to present myself in the best possible manner. But I still can't figure out what types of questions will be the most beneficial to the overall interview process. I know so much about the schools from the years of obsessing about med school but I also know that well thought out questions are appreciated and help to leave the best impression on the interviewer.

Please will some of you with multiple interview experiences, or just one great interview experience, give me some ideas about the possible types of questions to ask? Also are there any areas or topics to stay away from?

Thank you so much. And good luck to everyone who is still waiting for the right place at the right time.

Click to expand...

Try to ask questions which relate to the prior discussion if you have any. Also try to tie questions to yourself where possible. If you are interested in research, ask about research possibilities while a student and over the summer. If you are anxious to get to the wards ask about the exposure first years get and any ability to shadow on their own. You can always ask clinicians whether they feel their 3rd years are well prepared for the wards by the time they get there. Ask about the ability to gain exposure to different specialties and find mentors. I would save things like "what do you like best about", or "strengths vs weaknesses" type questions for the end, if you run out of other things. But basically be inquisitive. It's less about asking for the sake of asking and more because this is a person who is offering to tell you about the place you may be spending the next 4 years. The brochures and website tend to be pretty sparse so there has to be something you want to know.

What would you most like to change at this school?

In your opinion, what sets this school apart from other med schools (or from other med schools in this region/tier)?

If the person is an old-timer, ask, "what's the biggest change you've seen in the time that you've been at __ Med school?"