List of Possible Questions for Med School Interviews

[Aaron Earles]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I thought that I would make a list of some questions I have been asked over the years at Medical School interviews. This is not the complete list, but I was asked most of the questions. This could help you prepare your essays.

List of Possible Questions from Osteopathic Medical School Interviews

Motivation and Experience
1. Why do you want to become a physician? What sparked your motivation?
2. Why do you want to practice osteopathic medicine?
3. In your own words, describe the difference between the osteopathic and the allopathic approaches to medicine.
4. In your own words, describe osteopathy.
5. Have you ever worked alongside an osteopathic physician? What was his/her specialty?
6. In your own words, describe the qualities of a good physician. Do you possess these qualities?
7. What field of medicine interests you? Do you see yourself practicing in this field?
8. Where would you like to practice once you finish medical school and your residency?
9. Are you interested in completing research while in medical school?
10. Are your parent(s) or any other relative a DO?
11. We receive 3,000 applications per year here at ______ SOM. What makes you stand out from the rest of the applicants?
12. Medicine is a demanding profession that requires long hours and many sacrifices. Do you feel that you will be able to find a happy median between work and having time for family involvement?
13. Did you complete any research projects while attending your undergraduate university? Are you published?
14. How many hours a day did you study for your most challenging semester in college?
15. Looking over your transcripts, we noticed that you received a ?C? in Biochemistry. Do you think you can handle Biochemistry while in medical school? Explain why you received a ?C?.
16. Do you think you have a chance of getting accepted at this school?
17. Do you remember any of the OMM techniques that you witnessed while shadowing Dr. Soandso?
18. How did you prepare for the MCAT? Did you take one of the review courses?

Ethical Questions
1. Let?s say that a 15 year-old girl is a patient of yours and you recently discovered that she is pregnant. She tells you that she does not want her parents to know about her pregnancy and is very adamant about it. Do you tell the parents anyway? Explain.
2. Tell us all the Medical Schools that you applied to this cycle. If you get into all them, where will you go?
3. I see that you applied _____ SOM. What did you think of that school when you interviewed there last month? (Be very careful how you answer this one if you get it.)
4. Have you ever cheated on an exam?
5. If you saw a classmate cheating on a Biochemistry exam, what course of action would you take?
6. What is your viewpoint on abortion?
7. What is your thoughts on the war in Iraq?


Philosophical Questions
1. If you could be an animal, what would you be and why? (Actually asked this one)
2. If you were a plant, what would you be and why?
3. Do you believe in God or another higher power?
4. What does the Osteopathic philosophy mean to you? How do you plan to implement this philosophy into your practice?
5. Where do you see yourself in 10 years from now?
6. If the world were to end tomorrow, what would you do and why?

Hobbies / Recreation / Community Involvement Questions
1. What do you do for fun?
2. What do you do to relieve stress?
3. Who is your favorite baseball team?
4. What did you learn from being a resident advisor at ______ University?
5. Do you collect comic books?
6. Who was the greatest athlete of the 20th century? Why?
7. Do you play golf? Most physicians like to play 18 every now and then.
8. How did playing sports in college prepare you for life?
9. Are you a member of any professional organizations?
10. What did you learn while you were present at the ___________ Conference in Dallas?

?See What You Are Made Of? Questions
1. Why do you think you would be a good doctor?
2. Your grades are nothing special. Why should we let you into our school?
3. I have never heard of ______________ University. Where is that school?
4. Do you actually think you have a chance of getting into our school? (actually asked this one)
5. PM me for the rest if you are interested. 🙂 Most of these questions were asked at allopathic schools, but I was asked one of these at an osteopathic school.

I would like to wish everyone on here good luck!

Aaron

 

[Amy B]

Great post Aaron 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍

 

[Buckeye(OH)]

GRRRR, looks like I have some prepping to do.

Aaron, thanks a lot man.

Adrian

 

[OnMyWayThere]

That was very nice of you to post those... thanks a lot. Interviewees, please add if anything is missing.

Thanks again Aaron.

 

[DORoe]

I got asked during all of my interviews what the last book that I read was. I actually had a fairly lengthy discussion of it with one of my interviewers so make sure you are truthful. Aaron you were asked about what animal you would be at WVSOM weren't you? I think some people in my interview group said that they were asked that. Can they really ask you if you believe is God or not? That seems like a pretty unethical question to ask someone. Oh, I was also asked whether or not I would matriculate if I was accepted.

 

[Aaron Earles]

I got asked during all of my interviews what the last book that I read was. I actually had a fairly lengthy discussion of it with one of my interviewers so make sure you are truthful. Aaron you were asked about what animal you would be at WVSOM weren't you? I think some people in my interview group said that they were asked that. Can they really ask you if you believe is God or not? That seems like a pretty unethical question to ask someone. Oh, I was also asked whether or not I would matriculate if I was accepted.

Hey DORoe,

Yes, WVSOM asked me about the animal 😳 . You are right. It is unethical to ask someone if they believe in God. I dont think that should personally hold a bearing. I also dont think they should ask you where you plan to matriculate. I believe they ask these questions with the intention to see how you respond. My first interview at WVSOM went very badly, it was my first interview ever and I was aweful. One of the interviewers, whom is no longer there, was in a round about way making fun of me during my interview. I still love the school though, and I think they do great things there. I had a tough time deciding between WVSOM and PCSOM.

I also had an experience at another school where the interviewer bluntly looked at me and said, "Your MCATs are subpar, your GPA is not stellar, you have struggled through several of your classes. Do you think you actually have a chance of getting accepted here?" He then went on to say that I would have great difficulty ever getting into medical school with score and grades like mine. Although he was correct about my scores, telling a first time applicant something like this, instead of encouraging them, is not a good idea. I think they were trying to see what I was made of. I work around this individual at the hospital I work, and let me tell you, he is super arrogant. Even physicians dont like him.

Be prepared for any question. Believe me, they can get quite personal. You dont have to always answer the question, just politely say that you dont feel comfortable answering that particular question do to it's personal nature. Let me know if you have any additional questions.

Aaron

 

[theringworm]

Here's a couple that were bizarre to me:

1. What year did Hipocrates write the Hipocratic oath?
2. What are my feelings on the issue of the Chinese govt. limiting families to having only two children?
3. Would you rather know how to do one thing extremely well, or be average at doing several things. (or in other words, Specialize vs. being in Family Med)

 

[Aaron Earles]

Here's a couple that were bizarre to me:

1. What year did Hipocrates write the Hipocratic oath?
2. What are my feelings on the issue of the Chinese govt. limiting families to having only two children?
3. Would you rather know how to do one thing extremely well, or be average at doing several things. (or in other words, Specialize vs. being in Family Med)

I was actually asked questions 2 and 3 a couple of years ago. Seems like all schools ask about #3 in a round about way. Good post worm.

Aaron

 

[kristabel]

One question that I saw in some books and thought I would never get asked was: Define empathy and sympathy. Which one should a physician be?

I got asked that at several interviews.

Also, one of the schools I applied to required a list of activities starting from ninth grade for the secondary (I really had to reach back to remember my EC's from 1994!). This school had one-on-one open file interviews and both of my interviewers had really combed through my application. They asked me about activities that I could barely remember. So make sure you go over everything you sent each school before you go into interview!!

 

[sophiejane]

They aren't supposed to do this, but I got asked an abortion question (in a scenario--would I do one for a pt. without the husband knowing).

I spoke my own truth, and fortunately my interviewer was on the same side of the fence as me. It was a little uncomfortable for a few moments, though.

FYI: for the ladies--- they aren't supposed to ask you about plans for a family, marriage etc. It's none of their business and you can say so, politely. You can offer that information but it should be at your discretion.

 

[DrSmiles]

Convict has been sentenced to death by a jury. You, as the community physician, have been called in to administer the lethal injection. What do you do?

If you could be any kitchen appliance, which one would you choose and why? (AZCOM)

How many people in this country do not have health care insurance and what do you think can be done to change this?

You work in a small rural hospital and there is one ventilator which is being used on a 76 yr old man with a terminal illness. A young boy comes into the ER from an auto accident and needs a ventilator. What do you do? (for anyone interviewing at UHS/KCUMB this is supposed to be a favorite question)

If you could have dinner with any two people, living or deceased, who would they be and why?

You are a new physician in a practice and you catch your colleague taking controlled substances. What do you do?

A couple comes in for genetic testing for their unborn child, to see if it carries the gene for a disease that runs in the family. You find out through genetic testing that the unborn child has a different father. The couple both insist on being present for the news of the test. What do you do?

med schools just love these ethics questions now, don't they?? 😉