Interview Question Response

You sure this is frequently asked?

 

I actually did get this question quite a few times. Essentially, I would sum up my strengths and sort of expand on why those personal qualities/experiences/interests would make me a great future med student at this particular school. After all, your ultimate goal is to give the adcom a compelling reason to accept you out of all the thousands of great applicants they get, so reminding them of your unique strengths is a way to distinguish yourself from the crowd in a positive way.

 

I would look at the "Interview Feedback" section here on SDN (click on "I.F." at the top of the page, and try to get a feel for the types of questions typically asked at that particular school.

 

This question is a good opportunity to leave the interviewer with a short synopsis of your application and/or mention anything that you think is important but that was not covered earlier in the interviewer. If there's anything you need to spin, this is the time to do it.

 

Tell them you will kick their butt if they don't accept you. Somewhere along these lines:

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMbww-nCVQg&mode=related&search=[/YOUTUBE]

Who am I kidding, I was just looking for an excuse to post that video.

 

I would use it to emphasize your positive feelings about the school. Show some enthusiasm about what a great fit you would be with the school in question.

Also, it doesn't hurt to say something like, "I'd like you to tell them how much I appreciated the opportunity to come here and interview today. I really enjoyed my experience here and have such a great feeling about ___."

Or something like that.

 

Please pass on that I am the best candidate for admission in their school. (I truly would have said that.)

 

go with your gut.

edit: baylormed, that video is awesome. i didn't even know the word ass until i was 8.

 

That was funny. My little sister, when she was 5, was looking through a drawer for a pair of scissors, and when she couldn't find them she slammed the drawer and yelled "God damn it!" I stared at her for like 5 seconds then started laughing my a++ off.

 

I know! It's so hard to discipline kids when they're being funny.

 

I think in general folks try to outgame interview questions too much. Most of the questions they ask can be asked honestly. What would you like the interviewer to say about you to the committee? That you're a research whiz? That you past as a teacher will be helpful to others? That you think you'd be a great addition to the student-run clinics?

Answers that are consciously instructed to sound impressive usually ring phony with experienced interviewers. Be yourself and be honest.

 

Tell them: "A shiny new donkey to whomever brings me the head of General Montoia"