Freaking ouuttt!!

[OnMyWayThere]

I was okay until now that I have only 5 days left until my first interview. Thinking that what I say and how I say it may get me or exclude me from a seat in medical school makes me sick. I hope I do not have these kind of thoughts during the interview. I am really starting to panic!!!YIKES.

 

[peepers]

I was okay until now that I have only 5 days left until my first interview. Thinking that what I say and how I say it may get me or exclude me from a seat in medical school makes me sick. I hope I do not have these kind of thoughts during the interview. I am really starting to panic!!!YIKES.

hey onmywaythere,

relax man, i've got my first interview tomorrow. i would say just do a mock interview with anyone you know. and remember that they like what they've seen so far on paper. so don't put so much pressure on yourself. prepare, relax and enjoy your interveiw.

good luck 👍

peepers

 

[Sense]

A good thing to do is make a list of the common questions they might ask and write down some keypoints you would want to address. Memorize these keypoints so that when they do ask the question, you will have something to to go off of. This prevents those times when you may just go blank.

I did this for a lot of questions and even practiced talking in the mirror about these points. It sounds weird but it helped me a lot especially since I wasn't good at interviews to begin with.

Once you get to your 2nd or 3rd interview you will have calmed down. Oh and it's a good idea to have the interviews for your top choice schools to be around the last interviews instead of your first. The reason is you will be comfortable and calm moreso for your last interviews than your first ones.

 

[Super Rob]

If it's fair to assume that interviews for osteopathic schools are conducted like interviews for allopathic schools, then take comfort in knowing that with few exceptions, what you say and do will not make a tremendous impact on whether you get accepted/waitlisted or rejected.

A school will interview only those candidates who qualify for a spot in their class. So, congratulations on all of your accomplishments in making it this far. Unfortunately the schools cannot accept everyone they would like to accept, so they get together in committees and argue over whom they should accept, waitlist, and reject.

The interview is just one of several factors taken into consideration. There are all sorts of forces (many political) that sort of shape the decisions of an admissions committee. How does the interview weigh in? Basically, it gives you an opportunity to prove to them that you can engage another human being in conversation. You can prove to them that you are able to think. Some interviewers try to stress you out and some ask tough questions. I met with about thirty interviewers last year and just one of them did this to me. His colleagues had liked my application enough to offer me an interview, but there was something in there that he didn't like and he used that to create an uncomfortable interview experience. The other twenty-nine interviewers really just wanted to chat.

They will just chat with you. Some will want to know if you have done research or if you are interested in research. Some will want to know why you are interested in clinical medicine. But most of them will realize that you are nervous and that you are not a doctor yet, so they will ask you things that are really basic, like where you are from, why you like basketball, or what made you decide on medicine. That's all.

Pretend you're talking to your favorite teacher, professor, or some older family member whom you admire and respect.

If you are getting interviews now, you will certainly get into places. If anybody should have something to prove at the interview, it should be the school. So ask lots of questions about curriculum and student life. Don't try to impress anybody. Just be yourself and ask questions now, before it is May 15th and you are deciding between multiple acceptances!

Good Luck!

 

[OnMyWayThere]

Cheers to such a wonderful and helpful group of people. Thank you! 👍

 

[dr.z]

My interview is approaching next week, and I am nervous too. It will be my first one. Good luck to you and hope it goes well.

 

[docbill]

Good advice Super Rob... I just want to add... BE YOURSELF. Unless you are some crazy psychotic wierdo... that eats raw chickens in the barn or something.

I made one mistake.. last week.. on my way out I said ... okay thanks guys... than.. like ouuupppss. I mean Sir.
heheheheh..

 

[dancote]

I had my first interview at WVSOM about 2 weeks ago. I used the questions from the feedback section to practice and there were no suprises. Also my premedical committee interviewed me during the summer. That really helped because they started out with the same questions. Also, it was the same structure as in WVSOM with a group asking you questions. Before I went into the room I told myself that this was something that I had control over. That it was something not everyone in the world has the chance to do and that I had the choice to enjoy it and make things work for myself. Of course, the results are still on the way in the mail--we shall see. Just try and enjoy it and remember they see hundreds of us nervous souls!!

-dan

 

[ArmyDoc1999]

OK, guys and gals, here's my two cents. I went into my interviews cold, with no prep of any sort. Of course, I knew why I wanted to be a doctor, and I knew why I wanted to go to each particular school that I interviewed at; but other than that, I went in blank. I didn't worry about what questions they might ask me beyond those two. In my experience, it does you no good to agonize over what questions might be asked of you in an interview. Just "Know thyself", and you should be fine. Now, back to studying for my gross anatomy exam. 😀 Good Luck Everyone!