If you could go back and tell yourself anything before your first med school interview what would it be?

[premed2025123]

I have an interview coming up and am trying to make sure I'm prepared-
In terms of current events / issues / trends to be ready to talk about, I have the following list:
Abortion
AI
Gender affirming care
Vaccines
Physician aid in dying
Covid


Are there any other spcific issues I should be ready to talk about? Can anyone who has interviewed already during this cycle tell me about issues you were asked about so I can prepare for those topics? I know every school is different but I figure for example if a ton of people are getting asked about X topic I want to make sure I don't forget to learn about it.

Also if anyone has sources for articles to read or videos to watch about these topics that would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you all!

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[premed2025123]

I have my first interview ever this week- it is virtual, and in an MMI format with a traditional station. I am very nervous although I feel well prepared. It is also my only interview I have gotten so far, so I of course want to do as well as possible.

I had the idea that it might be useful if those who have had interviews post something they wish they knew before their interview, because I'm sure other applicants like myself would love all of the advice!

So my questions for you all are:
1. What is the best advice you received before interviews?
2. What do you wish you could go back and tell yourself before interviews?

Thanks in advance!! 🙂

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Did you check out our Topics in Healthcare forum?

Topics in Healthcare

A place to discuss, discourse, hold forth, and maybe, just maybe, have your mind changed.

forums.studentdoctor.net

Gender-affirming care is part of our free Google Classroom resource Treating Trans Patients. It's a separate module from information about significant challenges you will face (and that health professions programs are addressing) in Becoming a Student Doctor. When we ask you about these questions in an interview, the depth of your understanding is more impressive than just a superficial understanding. (One reason why we ask people to join throughout the year; it may take you a few months to get an understanding of all of the topics to help your application or your leadership development, as many of these topics are given superficial depth in most medical/health professional curricula.)

Topics covered in the course include:

• National healthcare priorities (including climate change/nutrition/SDOH)
• Healthcare shortages (including correctional and street health)
• Interprofessionalism (including military health)
• Academic competencies (including disabilities/neurodiversity)
• Pre-professional competencies (including immigrant/undocumented/first-generation/nontraditional issues)
• Embracing inclusion
• Systems competencies (like why are rural hospitals closing)
• Situational judgment development (including medical ethics)
• Making a school list
• The voyage ahead

I often encouraged faculty to keep such questions open-ended. Tell me about a critical issue in healthcare that you are passionate about. Becoming a Student Doctor gives you a foundation that should help you with interviews and your first few years of discussing such challenges while in your training.

 

[AppleDestroyer]

Congrats on getting an II! One of the best parts of MMI's is having so many different interviewers because if you mess up on one or don't connect as well as you'd hope, you still have 5-8 more tries! If you have a bad answer, do your best to move past it and prepare for the next one. Don't let it negatively affect your other answers as well.

If your interview allows you to write down notes, use bullet points to frame out your answer. Do not sound rehearsed, but do sound prepared.

Also as cheesy as it is, be yourself. You've gotten an interview at the school which means that they like you on paper, so be confident! If you try to give the answer that they want to hear, it'll come off as forced or insincere so while it's ok to incorporate aspects of the school or some buzzwords into your answers, don't let them BE the entire answer if that makes sense.

Good luck! You're gonna kill it 🙂

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Read articles about interviewing

You searched for interviews - SDN

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Compilation - Essential SDN Wisdom for Pre-Meds (Updated 2022)

This directory is an update to the previous 2016 thread that improves readability, navigation and usability. Before exploring the compilation, please read the AMCAS Applicant Guide to be familiar with the application process (and essentially a required reading when you actually begin to apply)...

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[LunaOri]

Relax. Think before you speak. Stay open-minded and be prepared to consider other views on all the topics.

 

[karaya]

One of my interviewers, a retired doc, threw a curveball that really put my foot in my mouth. "What 3 interpersonal skills do you think makes for a great physician?" I think he was fishing for this answer: talking, listening, and empathy. I got 2/3. So yeah, I would go back and tell myself that.

 

[premed2025123]

Thank you so much everyone this is all so helpful! i really really appreciate all of the advice and kind words 🙂

 

[pedneuro6894]

I would tell myself that I'm a dawg, an animal, an absolute beast. I'm that dude. I'm the guy they've been looking for. I'm him.

 

[pablo213]

I have an interview coming up and am trying to make sure I'm prepared-
In terms of current events / issues / trends to be ready to talk about, I have the following list:
Abortion
AI
Gender affirming care
Vaccines
Physician aid in dying
Covid


Are there any other spcific issues I should be ready to talk about? Can anyone who has interviewed already during this cycle tell me about issues you were asked about so I can prepare for those topics? I know every school is different but I figure for example if a ton of people are getting asked about X topic I want to make sure I don't forget to learn about it.

Also if anyone has sources for articles to read or videos to watch about these topics that would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you all!

I would tell myself to prep for each interview like my future depended on it. I became kind of complacent with prep especially as the cycle went on and I'm sure it hurt me. Advice I received is to know why Medicine and Why school cold. It rang true for every single interview MMI or traditional. I would review interview questions on SDN for each school (this was pretty hit or miss) but can only help. I generally didn't receive many controversial health topic questions at all, so I wouldn't recommend putting a lot of time into prepping for that if you don't have it. Your mileage may vary tho