Of all the questions to sound scripted for, are "Why medicine?" and "Why this school?" ok?

[and 99 others]

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I feel like it would be hard NOT to sound scripted for these questions during interviews. They are prolific and it is reasonable to prepare a strong answer for them. But is it possible to be too prepared for these questions?

Not only the fact that the questions are pretty common but as the interview season goes along, one may have answered it multiple times and inevitably fallen into a script. I feel like, after a certain point, it basically comes down to intonation and trying to sound like you are thinking hard about an answer when, in reality, the words are all ready in your mind whether you like it or not.

 

[Moko]

I feel like it would be hard NOT to sound scripted for these questions during interviews. They are prolific and it is reasonable to prepare a strong answer for them. But is it possible to be too prepared for these questions?

Not only the fact that the questions are pretty common but as the interview season goes along, one may have answered it multiple times and inevitably fallen into a script. I feel like, after a certain point, it basically comes down to intonation and trying to sound like you are thinking hard about an answer when, in reality, the words are all ready in your mind whether you like it or not.

Have an idea of what achievements, themes, experiences that you want to highlight, and then be prepared to weave them in as needed based on how the question is asked. This will allow you to be prepared with strong answers, and to also avoid sounding rehearsed.

The answer to "why medicine" should never sound completely rehearsed (even if it is), though some slack is given towards the end of each interview cycle . If an applicant can't get excited about explaining their aspirations, why should I? As a physician, you will be giving more or less scripted information to patients and family members on an almost daily basis, but you never want to sound rehearsed/robotic when delivering this information even if you could do it in your sleep.

 

[907914]

Have an idea of what achievements, themes, experiences that you want to highlight, and then be prepared to weave them in as needed based on how the question is asked. This will allow you to be prepared with strong answers, and to also avoid sounding rehearsed.

The answer to "why medicine" should never sound completely rehearsed (even if it is), though some slack is given towards the end of each interview cycle . If an applicant can't get excited about explaining their aspirations, why should I? As a physician, you will be giving more or less scripted information to patients and family members on an almost daily basis, but you never want to sound rehearsed/robotic when delivering this information even if you could do it in your sleep.

On this note, prepare a little bit for some deviation. I didn’t have a direct “why medicine” or “why us” question. I had “Tell me your story - what brought you from high school to medicine” and “what do you look for when making your school list?” Ended up leaving out my interest in community/population health (literally their mission statement...)

So...def have your core ideas scripted enough to remember them.

 

[and 99 others]

Have an idea of what achievements, themes, experiences that you want to highlight, and then be prepared to weave them in as needed based on how the question is asked. This will allow you to be prepared with strong answers, and to also avoid sounding rehearsed.

The answer to "why medicine" should never sound completely rehearsed (even if it is), though some slack is given towards the end of each interview cycle . If an applicant can't get excited about explaining their aspirations, why should I? As a physician, you will be giving more or less scripted information to patients and family members on an almost daily basis, but you never want to sound rehearsed/robotic when delivering this information even if you could do it in your sleep.

Ok so at least I'm on the right track about projecting an earnest, first-time-I've-ever-been-asked-this (even though that may not be the case) delivery of the answer.

 

[Moko]

Ok so at least I'm on the right track about projecting an earnest, first-time-I've-ever-been-asked-this (even though that may not be the case) delivery of the answer.

Earnest, absolutely. Doesn't need to appear like it's your first time though!