Answers to Interview Questions

[lammoush09]

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Hi,

I was wondering whether or not people are open to discussing answers to interview questions. I feel okay about all the answers I've prepared but not 100% just because I'm worried that there are things I should/should not say or areas that I could talk more or talk less.

Personally, I'm hoping that someone would agree to privately read the answers that I've written down for a couple questions and give me feedback on them. If anyone is willing to do that, please let me know and I'll send them in a private message.

But just for general knowledge, are there things that MUST be including in the big questions? And are there things that MUST NOT be included? Obviously we all have our own personal experiences for this, but are there things that look better than others?

By big questions, I mean:

1. Why do you want to be a doctor?

2. Why Osteopathic medicine in particular?

I'm also really curious about questions that you might ask the interviewer at the end. What should they be so that one does not look too ignorant?

 

[Hokie06]

hey lammoush09, I will be attending NYCOM this fall and have been through several interviews this season. I can help you and give you feedback on your answers if you want via PM.

 

[lammoush09]

hey lammoush09, I will be attending NYCOM this fall and have been through several interviews this season. I can help you and give you feedback on your answers if you want via PM.

Thanks alot. I'll also send you a PM later today.

I've got a quick question though for you and anyone else. For the "Tell me about yourself" type question.. is the proper way to answer that

(1) I was born and raised in blah blah [life story]

(2) I'm a hard working [characteristics]

(3) I currently do this [go backwards in life]

 

[soisauce]

Thanks alot. I'll also send you a PM later today.

I've got a quick question though for you and anyone else. For the "Tell me about yourself" type question.. is the proper way to answer that

(1) I was born and raised in blah blah [life story]

(2) I'm a hard working [characteristics]

(3) I currently do this [go backwards in life]

you could PM me too. When asked Tell me about yourself... (which i think is the hardest question to answer) I think the interviewers want to know who you are. So i think you should talk about who you are, (life stories, characteristics, education, etc) as well as things you like to do on your spare time (hobbies, activities). mmhmm

 

[Hokie06]

the key is to be concise and to the point without being excessive or even unnecessary. To do this, I think its best if you think about it from the interviewer's perspctive. The person that will be interviewing you is likely to have done this many many times before and have heard many similar answers. this is tiring to the interviewer because it is like listening to the same told story each time. Your goal is to tell him or her what makes you unique and how your uniqueness will fit with their school.

Knowing this, I don't think it is a matter of how you start to answer the question but a matter of how you choose to end it. Everyone is obviously different and have their own unique/personal story in their application. Try to play on this story in the answers you give to them and remember to be consistent. Bottom line, pick the one that you find yourself best fitting to the answers that will follow. I wouldn't choose one that might potentially lead me to be verbose and give unnecessary information. You want you interviewer to be interested in you. Try to avoid cliche's

 

[docorno]

I know a lot of people that struggle with interview questions. When dealing with the "tell me about yourself" question, it is an opportunity for you to gain control of the interview and focus it the way you want it to be focused on. For instance, if I were to be asked, "tell me about yourself," I would start off with explaining that I want to go to DO school because of such and such and then go backwards and talk about your experiences and such.

I've gone back and forth between possible career paths over the last several years. When one really digs deep into the pros and cons of every possible career in the healthcare field, there really is NO perfect career out there. If one does not become a doctor, they have limits that can never be overcome without going to medical school and doing a residency. Therefore, what one wants to do in the healthcare field really comes down to how much of the limitations can you handle?

Edit: To be honest, one of the main reasons why I want to apply to DO schools is because they look at the whole application and not just the numbers game.

For my job building a pathology database and writing articles about health conditions, from my understanding, MD schools won't care about that experience because I don't have that 3.8 GPA and a 35 MCAT (I have not taken the MCAT yet). IF I were to be given an interview at a DO school, I could explain how much I love doing this work and how much I have learned from it. For instance, when I see medical students complain about having to learn about biochemistry and a deep level, the medical students don't really understand just how complicated biochemical disorders are why it IS important to have studied biochemistry at a deep level. Sure most students will not remember the details, but once a person is exposed to the details, the brain can recall that information much easier. And, besides, it gives us all a better understanding of how all of our organ systems work together to allow a person to be healthy...or at least to the point where a disease is not affecting our ability to preform our daily tasks.

 

[thanecyan]

The most standard interview questions are almost the same at any medical school you're at. That being said, you have plenty of time to just think about interview questions and answers in your daily life. Daily events can also spark some inspiration for your answers.

My best interview answers were formulated in my mind two years before I even took the MCAT.



Feel free to PM me.

 

[Tuckermans]

I had several interviews and went into all of them with what I had thought were perfectly prepared answers to the big questions. However, once I got inside I completely blanked the first time I was asked "So why do you want to do Osteopathic Medicine..."
OP, I have spoken to several interviewers in non-interview settings and the biggest thing that they say is that they want you to be yourself. They can read about how much you want to be a doctor in your personal statement or infer it from you shadowing hours. What they want to see (from what I understand) is if you are a real person, and the best way to show them that is to just act like yourself. I am sure you have a great reason that you want to go into Osteopathic Medicine, so when they ask you about it don't worry about throwing back a prepared response. Relax, take a deep breath and let them know this is what you want. Canned answers come back sounding just that way, canned. I know everyone says this, but the very best way to get into medical school based on an interview is to just to be yourself. It worked for me.
Also, the harder you work at memorizing answers the more you will freak out about the whole process. This process is stressful enough as it is, don't put up additional stress by forcing yourself to remember word for word answers.
The questions that I always asked tended to be about stuff not covered in the packet or the presentations. I always asked questions about how the students interacted (if they were crazy competitive or more supportive) where students lived and what they did for fun in their off time. You will end up living in that area for at least 2 years, so it can't hurt to know a little more about it. Those questions always seemed to get a good response.
Break a leg!

 

[niranjan162]

I had several interviews and went into all of them with what I had thought were perfectly prepared answers to the big questions. However, once I got inside I completely blanked the first time I was asked "So why do you want to do Osteopathic Medicine..."
OP, I have spoken to several interviewers in non-interview settings and the biggest thing that they say is that they want you to be yourself. They can read about how much you want to be a doctor in your personal statement or infer it from you shadowing hours. What they want to see (from what I understand) is if you are a real person, and the best way to show them that is to just act like yourself. I am sure you have a great reason that you want to go into Osteopathic Medicine, so when they ask you about it don't worry about throwing back a prepared response. Relax, take a deep breath and let them know this is what you want. Canned answers come back sounding just that way, canned. I know everyone says this, but the very best way to get into medical school based on an interview is to just to be yourself. It worked for me.
Also, the harder you work at memorizing answers the more you will freak out about the whole process. This process is stressful enough as it is, don't put up additional stress by forcing yourself to remember word for word answers.
The questions that I always asked tended to be about stuff not covered in the packet or the presentations. I always asked questions about how the students interacted (if they were crazy competitive or more supportive) where students lived and what they did for fun in their off time. You will end up living in that area for at least 2 years, so it can't hurt to know a little more about it. Those questions always seemed to get a good response.
Break a leg!

2nd this, be yourself, be honest, and common sense is your friend

 

[Semicolon]

I was often commended by the interviewers for asking about student guidance/counseling and how much support students receive from faculty/staff if they are struggling in some way.

 

[nevinleiby]

you could PM me too. When asked Tell me about yourself... (which i think is the hardest question to answer) I think the interviewers want to know who you are. So i think you should talk about who you are, (life stories, characteristics, education, etc) as well as things you like to do on your spare time (hobbies, activities). mmhmm

This has often been the first question when asked. The first time it was awkward...never again...now it's one of the easiest and most enjoyable questions to answer =)

I've had a lot of success giving a 2-3 minute summary of my past and my specially reasons why I want to become a physician. It gets the interview off on the footing that I want - my solid desire and ambition b/c I feel that I have an excellent motivation and justification to pursue medicine. It helps put the rest of my entire application, reminding them of the parts they skimmed over, and the interview process and at the front of their minds 👍 I don't bring up osteo or the school at this point...that in itself is a huge point that I don't want to gloss over...

That being said, I think that it depends on you - but I would answer the question with the best reply you can...start your interview off on an outstanding positive note and blow them away!

Its worked in four interviews...Let's hope it worked on Tuesday.....😍

 

[lammoush09]

I've noticed in the interview feedback that at TOURCOM NY, which I'm interviewing at next week, interviewers have asked "What do you think of HMOs?"

What do you all think they are trying to get out of this question? What should I say?

 

[Chocolate Bear]

I've noticed in the interview feedback that at TOURCOM NY, which I'm interviewing at next week, interviewers have asked "What do you think of HMOs?"

What do you all think they are trying to get out of this question? What should I say?

There are pros and cons. I really would advise doing a google search of the pros and cons of HMOs, reading up, and formulating your own opinions, relating them back to your own healthcare experiences and what you might hope to accomplish/influence as a future physician. Doctors play an important role in society, both as individuals and as a group, and you should be aware of the potential ramifications of that and how it relates to you, individually.

 

[coffeeeandtea]

I've noticed in the interview feedback that at TOURCOM NY, which I'm interviewing at next week, interviewers have asked "What do you think of HMOs?"

What do you all think they are trying to get out of this question? What should I say?

As long as you have an opinion and you can support it without being overly aggressive or hostile about it I think you'll be fine. Their goal is to see that you can take a stand on certain issues, but remember to follow up with something about how you're still learning and that you're open to new ideas 🙂

 

[badapplestix]

I have a question. Generally, how long are answers supposed to be? If they ask me why I want to be a doctor, should I talk for 30 sec, 1 min, 5 min? I understand it will vary from person to person, but are there general guidelines?

 

[Semicolon]

I have a question. Generally, how long are answers supposed to be? If they ask me why I want to be a doctor, should I talk for 30 sec, 1 min, 5 min? I understand it will vary from person to person, but are there general guidelines?

As far as I know, there's no general guideline whatsoever, but this is not something you should worry about. Just be concise and answer the question. During my interviews, I'm pretty sure I never spent more than a full minute, maybe two, to answer any given question.

 

[pcat24]

hey lammoush09, I will be attending NYCOM this fall and have been through several interviews this season. I can help you and give you feedback on your answers if you want via PM.

hi,

i appreciate if you or anybody else on this website could could help me prepare. [email protected]
give me your email and i send you my answers but the main question that i do not know how to answer is why you want to study in our school? i got interview from lincoln. thanks

 

[pre med 2014]

^ 1. Why are you revealing personal information on SDN?
2. This is the pre-DO forum.
3. This thread is 4 years old

 

[hallowmann]

hi,

i appreciate if you or anybody else on this website could could help me prepare.
give me your email and i send you my answers but the main question that i do not know how to answer is why you want to study in our school? i got interview from lincoln. thanks

Please stop putting your email address in posts. You can private message the person you need help from.

It should be a goal of yours to be relatively anonymous on these forums, because they are heavily monitored by admissions offices (as I've been told by many admission coordinators). One individual on here even got on acceptance rescinded based on stuff he wrote on social networks, so you really should be more cautious.