Preparing for Interviews

[Adpotential2025]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hello all,

I was very fortunate to receive my first interview invite; however, I wasn't given much flexibility in scheduling, and my interview is this upcoming Thursday. I feel excited and way less nervous than before, but I just wanted to get some quick advice and tips from you since all the advice I have received thus far has been incredibly helpful. It will be a 30-minute 1:1 traditional interview with a Q&A session with current students.

I am reviewing the school's website to prepare for a "why us" question, going through my primary and secondary applications multiple times, and practicing with myself some of the common questions like "Tell us about yourself," "weaknesses and strengths," "why medicine," "time you struggled," etc to make sure I stay within a 2-minute limit for my answers and see if I can come up with some answers on the spot.

I might be able to have a friend help with a mock interview, but I'm still unsure if our schedules will align. However, I don't feel super stressed about that since I am trying my best to keep it very conversational and easygoing so that I don't overstress myself.

Hope to get your feedback on if this sounds like it should be enough or if I am taking this too lightly and should be preparing way more than that.

Apologies if this sounds like I am just looking for confirmation or sounds too neurotic, I just don't have many people to get advice from and thought you all would be the perfect people.

 

[Dr.S at Princeton Review]

Hi there! I would definitely attempt a mock interview prior to your actual interview - sometimes the things we have written down or in our head sound great but may not be when you say them in conversation. It's great that you're going over common interview questions particularly "why us" and make sure to be able to point to specific examples (extracurriculars, specific free clinics, research interests, etc.). Also, treat everyone with respect and stay off your phone during your interview day (you'd be surprised how many people don't do this). Just take a deep breath and be confident in your answers. You got this!

 

[AJS59]

Be careful also not to over prepare or "script" things...having things you want to talk about is good but you don't want to memorize answers else you may come off sounding robotic.

 

[Adpotential2025]

Hi there! I would definitely attempt a mock interview prior to your actual interview - sometimes the things we have written down or in our head sound great but may not be when you say them in conversation. It's great that you're going over common interview questions particularly "why us" and make sure to be able to point to specific examples (extracurriculars, specific free clinics, research interests, etc.). Also, treat everyone with respect and stay off your phone during your interview day (you'd be surprised how many people don't do this). Just take a deep breath and be confident in your answers. You got this!

Thank you for the feedback. I will try to squeeze in some mock interviews in the next two days, but if that doesn't work out, I will have to rely on recording myself answering some of these questions and then going over them later.

 

[Adpotential2025]

Be careful also not to over prepare or "script" things...having things you want to talk about is good but you don't want to memorize answers else you may come off sounding robotic.

That is precisely what I am trying to avoid, so I am only preparing bullet points for the main questions and then saying them differently each time. Thank you for the input!

 

[Mr.Smile12]

See the signature below if you want some quick mock interview practice. There are more resources with Becoming a Student Doctor.