How did you prepare for YOUR interview??

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Natatiap

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I have my first interview coming up this week. What are good ways to prepare for interviews besides the interview feedback on SDN and looking up current issues in medicine? How did you prepare for your interview?
 
I have my first interview coming up this week. What are good ways to prepare for interviews besides the interview feedback on SDN and looking up current issues in medicine? How did you prepare for your interview?

Do a practice interview at your university's career center. Be sure they record it so you can watch yourself.
 
I have an interview upcoming and there is more to it. I am preparing by researching the school, all of their programs, reading their recent newsletters, looking at what type of research they are focusing on. I found a site that had a list of questions that have come up and reviewing their questions and coming up with my own answers. I plan on asking people to pick some questions and ask them to me and review my answers.

In addition, I am reviewing current issues in medicine today as well as printing my resume, journal articles, AACOMAS and secondary applications.

Good luck.
 
how I prepared for mine? I talked to myself for hours upon hours... whether I was in my bed or in the bathroom... it did help...

have someone who has already interviewed at that school to interview you... because they'll tell you what to watch for and how to answer...

basically be yourself and DO NOT put yourself in a position where they'll question you... e.g. don't say anything like "I"m a liberal" or "I'm religious"... they'll grind you like no other... just to see if they can confuse you...
 
The first interview is the hardest, because you don't know what to expect.

usually they give you lots of info about the school before they interview you on that day, so its probably not that big of a deal to research before hand.

know yourself... they won't quiz you about your knowledge of the school.
most interviewers will ask you:
why medicine
strengths/weaknesses (know 2-3 weaknesses. be honest but saying you are lazy is probably not a great one)
your background... they might ask you about research or work

You should practice answering these questions with friends, family or just yourself when you are in the car or walking to class.

Always have questions ready for them... they will ask you if you have any questions and if you say NO, you just failed your interview. ask some insightful questions about something you learned during the day. ask them what THEY think about the school, the city, whatever.

overall the most important thing is not WHAT you say ,but HOW you say it... if you are confident and well spoken thats more important.

wear a suit... i saw some people here last week without one and it looked pretty bad.

Your application gets you an interview, but your interview gets you an offer.

good luck!!
 
yes..please keep the advice coming!
 
I practiced with my friend and also checked out the interview reviews on SDN... BUT really the thing that helped me the most was actually going to my first interview.. the first one really sucked but after that it was a piece of cake cause I knew what the expect... at every interview I was asked why DO and why their school so know the answer to those well. other than that they ask you about yourself so as long as you know that you should be set!
 
Yes, I agree with the above posters that the first interview is the most difficult, in terms of nerves and not knowing what to expect, BUT,

my advice would be to not lose the edge and to not stop practicing just because the first one went well. It definitely is to your advantage to get a few under your belt and gain confidence, but for me, I felt that my first two were easy and for the third, I let my guard down a little bit and felt less prepared. I still don't know the outcome of it, but I did in retrospect think I should have still treated it as if it were my first and only interview.

I didnt have access to my undergrad's career center video recording and such things, so I practiced in front of the mirror and thought that was helpful.

Good luck!!!
 
How to prepare for an interview Crash Course:

Read your application over

Be ready to explain why you want to be a DO, (your thoughts about OMM)

Be prepared to ask questions: some may be regarding the DO field aka where do you think Osteopathic medicine is heading do you think it will be able to maintain its distictivness? ect. Ask a question that specifically pertains to the school and or comment on a unique aspect of it.

Be able to explain why you want to go to this school

Have an idea of what you would do if you didn't get into medical school

Lets put it this way this is the first time that you are tested on somthing in which you know all the answers to before hand. This interview is for the administration to get to know you better. Keep that in mind and keep you cool. Interviews are easy the only person that would have a hard time on them would be the person that psychs themselves out. REALIZE ABOVE ALL THAT THE SCHOOL WOULD BE LUCKY TO HAVE A DEDICATED STUDENT SUCH AS YOURSELF BE A PART OF THEIR ESTABLISHMENT! lastly don't screw up or all your dreams are lost

hehe just kidding

good luck

oh yeah and don't forget the expensive hooker and the cheap motel
 
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