Interviews

[JudoKing01]

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Hey, my name is Mike. I've just been granted an interview at my first choice school (hold for applause) and I was just wondering if anyone had any tips for doing well on these hellish things.

Thanks,

Mike

 

[bmcgilligan]

Is this for the entering class of 2005 or 2006?

 

[JudoKing01]

Is this for the entering class of 2005 or 2006?

It's for Sept 2005.

 

[nicholonious]

Hey, my name is Mike. I've just been granted an interview at my first choice school (hold for applause) and I was just wondering if anyone had any tips for doing well on these hellish things.

Thanks,

Mike

Look at the interview feedback on the main SDN website. This is not word-of-mouth, but testimony from previous applicants whom have experienced such interviews. G'luck, not that you'll need it.

 

[biendesalud]

Find everything about you that matches them and explain the match. *Tell them* that they are your first choice (it *does* make a difference). no need to grovel, just make sure that they know that if they offer you a seat, you will take it (this is also good for future job interviews too).

 

[JudoKing01]

Thanks a lot. I didn't realize telling them that they were my first choice would actually mean something. I figured they'd hear that from all their interviewees. I'll be sure to post how it goes.

Thanks!

Mike

 

[domukin]

I would add:

- be honest, seriously important, they can tell if you lie.
- be enthusiastic about the school, especially since its your top pick.
- take a second and *think* before you answer any question
- practice the interview either in your head or with other people, read the questions on sdn and answer them, but don't memorize them.
- be nice to everyone, think of it as getting to talk to nice people at your dream job
- read up on all your application info.


and lastly, send in that LOI a week after the interview. G'luck

 

[JudoKing01]

Thank you for mentioning sending in the LOI within a week. I was actually wondering about that, but forgot to include it in my original post. How long do you think it should be? Just a quick thanks for the interview, I want to go to your school type deal?

 

[FloridaMadame]

Thank you for mentioning sending in the LOI within a week. I was actually wondering about that, but forgot to include it in my original post. How long do you think it should be? Just a quick thanks for the interview, I want to go to your school type deal?

I would keep it under a page: thank them for the interview, remind them that it is your first choice, and you can also mention 1 or 2 specific things that you particularly love about the place or things that you learned while there on your interview. Also telling them why it is the perfect "fit" for you is usually a good thing. Best of luck to you

 

[PBMaxx]

I'm curious to know which school is still interviewing. 😕 😕 😕

Is it an interview for waitlist? Or straight acceptance?

Anyhow, definitely "put all of your cards on the table"-- tell them that it is your first choice, that you looked into their academic/teaching style and it suits your abilities, you click well with the students, and enjoy the area. Let them know that you want them, and why they want you. Then go home and write your thank you's and a letter of intent. If you haven't heard anything for 2-3 weeks, call and check up on your file. Be very proactive.

G'Luck

PBM

 

[sfbear]

Interview feedback is the way to go. I made a list of all the questions people listed on there at the school and then practiced answers to them outloud. you probably won't be asked the exact questions that are on the website, but in my experience, they've certainly fallen into the same vein. As for thank you letters, I sent paper ones immediately after the interview and then followed up about a week later with a short email saying something about how i hope they've received my letter by now and saying i wanted to thank them again . . . i usually got responses to the email, and it's nice to have that contact and sometimes offers of help in the future from the interviewers. Definitely be enthusiastic and knowledgable about the school. Take your time to answer questions and try to connect with the interviewer. Where are you interviewing?

 

[JudoKing01]

I'm interviewing at a foreign school. XUSOM in Bonaire. The deadline for applications is May 30th for Fall 05, and the interview is for straight acceptance. I thought of applying to US medical schools, but I'm not a typical applicant and I doubt I'd get in. I talked to a few doctors I work with (I'm an OR nurse) and a whole bunch of them went to foreign schools in both the Caribbean and Europe. None of them regretted it, and they didn't seem to have a problem getting a residency position (3 were in G. Surg, 1 was in IM, and 2 were in OB/GYN). I've gone on kind of a tangent here explaining myself, so I apologize, heh.

Anyway, I'm a lot less worried about my interview now after the advice I've gotten on here. I've read my application, the interview package they sent me, the school's website, and I've done some mock interviews. I think I should be okay.

 

[Scrub MD]

I would keep it under a page: thank them for the interview, remind them that it is your first choice, and you can also mention 1 or 2 specific things that you particularly love about the place or things that you learned while there on your interview. Also telling them why it is the perfect "fit" for you is usually a good thing. Best of luck to you

Would this go to the Dean of Admissions or interviewer? Does the dean get the letter and email, while the interviewer gets a thank you card?

 

[JudoKing01]

That's a good question. In this case the Dean is interviewing me, so I'd assume it'd just be one letter/thank you. But for situations where there are more than one, or the interviewer is someone other than the dean, i'd assume the thank you goes to the interviewer, the LOI to the dean. Just my not-too-knowledgable opinion.