What is the best advice you could have before your first interview????

[unitedgoal]

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I have my first interview on Wednesday and I was wondering if anybody had any serious advice? Thanks!

 

[Davina3000]

I have my first interview on Wednesday and I was wondering if anybody had any serious advice? Thanks!

Make eye contact with your interviewer as much as possible. It projects confidence even if you are nervous.

 

[tinkerbelle]

check out the interview feedback forum and think of answers for some of the most common questions

 

[Stendek]

Actually, I got the most flustered on questions I had "prepared" for. I think the best thing is to RELAX and not try to think about answers to every question under the sun. The interviews are actually very conversational and I think if you have too many pre-conceived ideas about what you are going to say, you will get flustered if the question comes from a slightly different angle. Also, be confident. It is ok to be friendly. Good luck.

 

[Blake]

Relax. Easier said than done, but every time I finished an interview, I was like " wow, it's not as bad as people make it out to be ". Don't take it too easy, but just relax. You'll be fine 😳

 

[qwerty one]

I have to echo some of the above sentiments. Just RELAX, as cliche as it may sound. Don't try too hard to come across as super eloquent. Just be yourself, make eye contact, and try to enjoy the moment - not very many people get interviews!

 

[pratik7]

read up on current medical issues such as medicare and nationalized healthcare

 

[fielight]

read up on current medical issues such as medicare and nationalized healthcare

that's something to consider, because it could help in an interview. (i went through a 8-year medical program, where i applied when i was in high school. at one med school i interviewed, the interviewer actually asked me what i thought about the current state of healthcare.) but if you don't have the time to read up on it, and are actually asked in the interview, just be honest and say that you are not knowledgeable enough to make a comment. if you bs (as i did when i was the naive high school kid), it will be disastrous.

be sure to express your compassion for people (med schools are big on the humanistic aspects of medicine), but know that the classic response "i want to help people" is not enough (because anyone who knows anything about medical education also knows that when you get that 70 on the biochem exam after having studied more than you thought yourself capable of, "helping people" is the last thing on your mind).

 

[nuclearrabbit77]

-know your AMCAS application cold. be able to talk about anything that you wrote on it. if you can't describe what it was like saving those beached whales two summers ago, or that super-semen project you published.....then that'll be a kiss of death fo' sho'

-don't be an idiot and try to show up the other interviewers with how i go to harvard and have a 5.0 gpa and 64.2 MCAT. they somehow were good enough to interview also, so don't be some pompous chode. also, talking about how you interviewed already at so and so gets annoying too. but what do i know, this is basically what everyone talks about during interviews. rather, be innovative and hit on another candidate for some drinks, and see if you can get laid. i mean, you are spending a boat load of money for your trip so you may as well get something out of it.

-sleeping with your interviewer can work, potentially. if they hand you knee-pads you know what to do. don't screw yourself on this one.

-get some propanolol if you know you are one of those freak-out types. you can try some scotch if you don't have any propanolol. however, i do recommend you cover up the smell with some really rank kim-chi or breath mint. vomiting booze on your interviewer would also be a big no-no.


any questions comments or complaints you know where to send them.

nuke

 

[Haybrant]

-know your AMCAS application cold. be able to talk about anything that you wrote on it. if you can't describe what it was like saving those beached whales two summers ago, or that super-semen project you published.....then that'll be a kiss of death fo' sho'

-don't be an idiot and try to show up the other interviewers with how i go to harvard and have a 5.0 gpa and 64.2 MCAT. they somehow were good enough to interview also, so don't be some pompous chode. also, talking about how you interviewed already at so and so gets annoying too. but what do i know, this is basically what everyone talks about during interviews. rather, be innovative and hit on another candidate for some drinks, and see if you can get laid. i mean, you are spending a boat load of money for your trip so you may as well get something out of it.

-sleeping with your interviewer can work, potentially. if they hand you knee-pads you know what to do. don't screw yourself on this one.

-get some propanolol if you know you are one of those freak-out types. you can try some scotch if you don't have any propanolol. however, i do recommend you cover up the smell with some really rank kim-chi or breath mint. vomiting booze on your interviewer would also be a big no-no.


any questions comments or complaints you know where to send them.

nuke

great post! I have my first interview comming up sometime soon. I was hoping there would be a hottie or two that I could hit on and possibly get some. Anyone have any stories about such a situation they would share...

 

[IndyZX]

great post! I have my first interview comming up sometime soon. I was hoping there would be a hottie or two that I could hit on and possibly get some.

nope... sorry. it wont happen.

i found the applicants here in texas to generally be pretty fun, cool people, though -- its not nearly as bad as i figured it would be.

 

[rgporter]

RELAX!
That's the best advice you can recieve for any interview. I was invariably waitlisted at every school before my 5th interview. I was so nervous that I just couldn't leave a good impression. After I was comfortable with the process it was smooth sailing.

 

[SaltySqueegee]

Go into the interview not caring. Almost as if you don't like the school, or that you've been accepted elsewhere.

For me, when I had this attitude I was most relaxed and myself.

Best of luck, and don't forget to do some mock interviews with your cat, parents, friends, etc.

 

[jonb12997]

be nice to everyone you're interviewing with... you never know if they're going to be your classmates next year, or even your anatomy lab partner. other than that, relax, and try not to have a scripted answer for every question in your head. Know yourself and know why you feel the way you do about different topics. The answers will come.

 

[IndyZX]

the best advice is try to interview at a "safety school" first. i went into my first one fresh, without any prep, and it taught me what to expect. now, i wouldnt recommend not prepping at all, but it does definitely help to have a warm-up. my next two interviews have been pretty good, since i was a lot less nervous.

 

[mcjay]

-know your AMCAS application cold. be able to talk about anything that you wrote on it. if you can't describe what it was like saving those beached whales two summers ago, or that super-semen project you published.....then that'll be a kiss of death fo' sho'

-don't be an idiot and try to show up the other interviewers with how i go to harvard and have a 5.0 gpa and 64.2 MCAT. they somehow were good enough to interview also, so don't be some pompous chode. also, talking about how you interviewed already at so and so gets annoying too. but what do i know, this is basically what everyone talks about during interviews. rather, be innovative and hit on another candidate for some drinks, and see if you can get laid. i mean, you are spending a boat load of money for your trip so you may as well get something out of it.

-sleeping with your interviewer can work, potentially. if they hand you knee-pads you know what to do. don't screw yourself on this one.


-get some propanolol if you know you are one of those freak-out types. you can try some scotch if you don't have any propanolol. however, i do recommend you cover up the smell with some really rank kim-chi or breath mint. vomiting booze on your interviewer would also be a big no-no.


any questions comments or complaints you know where to send them.

nuke

Agreed. Know your AMCAS. 👍

 

[MeowMix]

don't mention anything that you don't want to talk about in detail

e.g. age, children, family, significant other, sexual orientation, etc..

once you mention it, the door is open and the interviewer can legally ask you whatever they like on that topic

also, beware psychiatrists as interviewers; they will lead the unwary premed into topics that you really do not want to get into