Interview practice

qtpai · Apr 4, 2013

I am someone who really needs interview practice. I am unusually nervous during interviews. I bought a book, and it was very helpful. But I'd like to run through mock interviews.

As a non-trad, there is no student center for me to go through to do this. Are there any good options here--apart from asking family members to interview me? I find that my family members do not give good advice about these sorts of things. Even intelligent people often are not exactly sure how to go about doing a med school interview. I feel I'd really like to do a mock interview with someone who understands the process--preferably more than one.

Do I have any options?

kimposibl · Apr 4, 2013

synth said:
I am someone who really needs interview practice. I am unusually nervous during interviews. I bought a book, and it was very helpful. But I'd like to run through mock interviews.

As a non-trad, there is no student center for me to go through to do this. Are there any good options here--apart from asking family members to interview me? I find that my family members do not give good advice about these sorts of things. Even intelligent people often are not exactly sure how to go about doing a med school interview. I feel I'd really like to do a mock interview with someone who understands the process--preferably more than one.

Do I have any options?

You shouldn't discount the value of practice, even if it is just with family members. Also, the book will help, as I'm sure there are popular adcom questions in it that you should have answers to. I think there are threads on interview questions in the pre-med allopathic forum.

Just think of it like a job interview. You have to sell yourself, be personable, and tell them why you'd be a good fit in their medical school. Before your interviews, as soon as you get an invite, do more research on the school - their mission and other...stuff. Also, practice makes perfect. If you bomb your first interview, you'll be that much more prepared for the next one. :luck:

Pons Asinorum · Apr 4, 2013

Actually, med school interviews aren't that different than interactions in real life. You have to build rapport, quickly, and then express to someone whom you don't know that you have done the hard work necessary to know that you know and want what you're getting into. Interviewing, even at MMI schools, isn't rocket science. If you have some time to work with, I can't recommend this enough, both for interviews and beyond. Best $11.50 you'll spend.

http://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Frien...words=how+to+win+friends+and+influence+people

DrMidlife · Apr 4, 2013

Family and friends are useless for this. Presumably they like you. Presumably you're already comfortable with them. There's no nervousness there.

Find people older than you who don't know you very well. People who aren't going to act like they're impressed with you just to be nice.

Your best bet is a retired physician or science professor. Tell them to not be nice. In general a lawyer or teacher or anybody smart and easily annoyed, but sane, will work.

If you can't get a science professor or doctor, just get somebody who is rarely in a good mood to pretend they're interviewing you to be their own personal doctor.

Videotaping yourself being interviewed is a very good thing to do.

Best luck to you.

Goro · Apr 4, 2013

Classmates (if you're taking classes) and acquaintances or co-workers.might be more helpful than friends or family. Are you working? Just a shot, ask people in your HR dep't if they can help.

Have them go through through the Interview Feedback section of these forums so they can find things to ask. Their eventual criteria should be: would this person be someone I'd go see for a doctor?

synth said:
I am someone who really needs interview practice. I am unusually nervous during interviews. I bought a book, and it was very helpful. But I'd like to run through mock interviews.

As a non-trad, there is no student center for me to go through to do this. Are there any good options here--apart from asking family members to interview me? I find that my family members do not give good advice about these sorts of things. Even intelligent people often are not exactly sure how to go about doing a med school interview. I feel I'd really like to do a mock interview with someone who understands the process--preferably more than one.

Do I have any options?

CajunMedic · Apr 4, 2013

If you haven't graduated yet, check with your schools pre-med advisor. They may be able to link you up with student organizations at your chosen schools that do mock interviews. Also, there are some videos on YouTube of good and bad examples.

qtpai · Apr 4, 2013

DrMidlife said:
Family and friends are useless for this. Presumably they like you. Presumably you're already comfortable with them. There's no nervousness there.

Find people older than you who don't know you very well. People who aren't going to act like they're impressed with you just to be nice.

Your best bet is a retired physician or science professor. Tell them to not be nice. In general a lawyer or teacher or anybody smart and easily annoyed, but sane, will work.

If you can't get a science professor or doctor, just get somebody who is rarely in a good mood to pretend they're interviewing you to be their own personal doctor.

Videotaping yourself being interviewed is a very good thing to do.

Best luck to you.

This is great advice. Thanks.

qtpai · Apr 4, 2013

Goro said:
Classmates (if you're taking classes) and acquaintances or co-workers.might be more helpful than friends or family. Are you working? Just a shot, ask people in your HR dep't if they can help.

Have them go through through the Interview Feedback section of these forums so they can find things to ask. Their eventual criteria should be: would this person be someone I'd go see for a doctor?

Also very good. Thanks.

qtpai · Apr 4, 2013

CajunMedic said:
If you haven't graduated yet, check with your schools pre-med advisor. They may be able to link you up with student organizations at your chosen schools that do mock interviews. Also, there are some videos on YouTube of good and bad examples.

I'll check the youtube videos out, thank you.

mulberry · Apr 4, 2013

I'm not sure how much help it will be but youtube has a ton of mock interviews for medical school. There are Dos and Donts on there. It's good to see how other people react when they are caught off guard, you can learn from that.

Interview practice

qtpai

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