This type of interview was huge early in the COVID-19 pandemic and isn't going anywhere because it is convenient for all involved. You might do a live video interview or an asynchronous one, where you are presented with written or pre-recorded video questions and must record your answers via webcam. Prompt-wise, the interview will include behavioral, situational, and general questions (like the oh so-common "Why medicine?”).
If you haven't done a lot of video-chatting or recorded yourself on video, practice with friends and family. You want to know how to log into a video platform, that your webcam and microphone work, and how you appear onscreen. (Are you making adequate eye contact? Are you moving around too much? Etc.)
Style doesn't matter over substance during an interview, but make sure you are well-lit and otherwise visible and that there is nothing overly distracting in the background or anything in the room that will distract you. Some platforms, like Zoom, will initially show you onscreen—if you find that you can't stop looking at your face, hide yourself. If you're Zooming on a computer, hover over your image until ellipses appear, click, and select Hide Self View. (This isn't an option on a mobile device. You can only hide everyone on the call, and you don't want to do that. You want to see their faces and body language.)
If you experience a technical glitch during your interview, stay calm. Your unfrazzled reaction makes more of an impact than flawless technology.
One last tip: Don't rely on a laptop battery during a live interview—be plugged in!
Applying to medical school in 2025? Check out the many ways that Apply Point can support you.
If you haven't done a lot of video-chatting or recorded yourself on video, practice with friends and family. You want to know how to log into a video platform, that your webcam and microphone work, and how you appear onscreen. (Are you making adequate eye contact? Are you moving around too much? Etc.)
Style doesn't matter over substance during an interview, but make sure you are well-lit and otherwise visible and that there is nothing overly distracting in the background or anything in the room that will distract you. Some platforms, like Zoom, will initially show you onscreen—if you find that you can't stop looking at your face, hide yourself. If you're Zooming on a computer, hover over your image until ellipses appear, click, and select Hide Self View. (This isn't an option on a mobile device. You can only hide everyone on the call, and you don't want to do that. You want to see their faces and body language.)
If you experience a technical glitch during your interview, stay calm. Your unfrazzled reaction makes more of an impact than flawless technology.
One last tip: Don't rely on a laptop battery during a live interview—be plugged in!
Applying to medical school in 2025? Check out the many ways that Apply Point can support you.
