what did you guys do to prepare for interviews?

[abcxyz0123]

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I have my first interview coming up next week, and was just wondering what you guys did to prepare. Did you just know your application/research as well as you could, get to know a lot about the hospital you are applying to, and try to go over the basic interview questions?

 

[splik]

i made a list of all the questions you might expect to come up (including the personal ones from interviewers who don't know the difference between an interview and a therapy session) and wrote answers for them. i also made a list of the questions i ask at all programs and additionally have a few questions specific to the program. think about what questions you would ask residents vs faculty.

 

[TexasPhysician]

I initially did research to decide where to apply. After that my prep consisted of waking up and eating a good breakfast.

 

[belle54321]

Personally, I think the best preparation for interviews are more interviews! I also recommending spacing out your interviews if you can. It is hard to maintain the level of enthusiasm and energy when you have 3 interviews in 1 week.

 

[Bartelby]

Hopefully you know your application and research already; if so don't spend time looking over that!

I go to the program's website and read everything on it. I also do a forum search of SDN (see the sticky thread on this forum for instructions on how to effectively search) to see what people have posted about it. I also go to scutwork.com and see what is posted there. Finally I talk with attendings, residents, and other students to see what they think about the place. If you are interested in research you should also look at ongoing projects and NIH funding received by the school (bonus points for identifying potential mentors!).

Basically you hopefully already know yourself, just get familiar with the program to the best of your ability and go into the interview relaxed and prepared to find out if you are somewhere you are willing to give four years of service to.

 

[atsai3]

I have my first interview coming up next week, and was just wondering what you guys did to prepare. Did you just know your application/research as well as you could, get to know a lot about the hospital you are applying to, and try to go over the basic interview questions?

The most important thing is to be yourself. The match process is really about both you and residency programs finding the best fit.

 

[notdeadyet]

The most important thing is to be yourself. The match process is really about both you and residency programs finding the best fit.

Boy, this is good advice. More people make a negative impression by playing a role than being authentic and genuinely themselves.

 

[whopper]

I've written this before in prior threads about this same topic. Please check them out. When you go to an interview, remember that a program usually only offers these for people they realistically want in their program. Don't go in their nervous or cowering. They want to see confident people that are enthusiastic.