How to answer interview question about previously withdrawing from med school?

[DieselDoctor]

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I started med school in 2005, but got scared and freaked out that I was making a mistake, and withdrew in the first week. I realized I made a mistake, and that being a doctor is my calling in life, so I'm in the process of applying for the 2008 class.

I got a rejection letter from my first interview, and I'm pretty sure that it's because the didn't like my answer about why I withdrew from med school 3 years ago. Does anyone have suggestions on how to better phrase my answer and what points to stress/sell in my next interview?

 

[NickMB]

Truthfully? The truth will out! What did you say the first time? Spend less time explaining why you left (but, you know, still talk about it sufficiently) and more on why any med school should offer you another chance.

Talk about what freaked you out the first time, and why you're 100% sure that you won't have the same problem again should you be granted admission.

If you want to lie, you can always make something up about an emergency situation, but that would be highly NOT recommended. If you get kicked out of med school for dishonesty, there's no going back. Just because House went to U of M after being expelled from JH doesn't mean everyone else will

 

[Blade28]

Well, what was it, exactly, that made you "freak out"? (I hope you didn't write "freak out" on your personal statement! 😱 )

Was it the competition? The intense atmosphere? Being away from your family/friends? Being in a new environment? Too much material to learn? The cadavers? Gunners?

The dean's speech during orientation stating "50% of you will graduate in the bottom half of your class"?

 

[bmarms]

what did you do in the interim (between withdrawing and re-applying?) you need to back up your statement, about how you know being a doctor is your "calling" with concrete evidence. i would be totally honest about your cold feet. it shows that you know what a big undertaking it is to become a physician. and that's a good thing. but you need to be very convincing that you're committed to the project now.

 

[NickMB]

The dean's speech during orientation stating "50% of you will graduate in the bottom half of your class"?

That's always meaningless 🙄. If the top 50% were all A level students, and the bottom 50% are A- level students, doesn't mean the bottom 50% is not as good 😛

I love when that happens though.

 

[Blade28]

That's always meaningless 🙄. If the top 50% were all A level students, and the bottom 50% are A- level students, doesn't mean the bottom 50% is not as good 😛

I love when that happens though.

I know. It's just supposed to scare people.

 

[DieselDoctor]

My main fear was the fact I was coming in as a non-traditional student (Mechanical Engineering major), having worked for a Fortune 100 company for 5 years as a field rep. I second guessed my ability to make it academically..

In the interim, I went back to my old job, but continued to volunteer at a local hospital. I resigned from my job 6 months ago to finish up a few pre-reqs and re-take the MCAT (got a 36!).

Thanks for the feedback so far -

 

[Amy B]

Be honest and tell them what happened to you and then follow it up with how you have overcome that fear that drove you away and what you have worked on this past 3 years. Good luck

 

[Blade28]

My main fear was the fact I was coming in as a non-traditional student (Mechanical Engineering major)...

A lot of people have this fear. I was an engineering major as well during undergrad.

But many new MS-Is have the common fear that "maybe the med school made a mistake in accepting me." Just trust that you're there for a reason! 👍

 

[Mr hawkings]

Unfortunately, you have to be prepared for a lot of rejection. Med schools are very anal about not accepting people who have previously matriculated at a med school in the past. I would say the fact that you have interviews is encouraging and i would follow up with whatever school interviewed and rejected and apply to them again next time around cos at least they have shown that they are willing to give you a chance to explain yourself. Who knows, next time you might get a sympathetic interviewer.

Most schools see that checked box for previous matriculation on AMCAS and automatically send out a rejection.
At least thats what i was told by a director of admissions a couple of years ago.