What to bring along to medical school interview?

[desertcactus123]

Hi all,

I am curious to know what to bring to interviews. I have heard of people printing out resumes and personal statements?? I am also curious to know how much info the interviewers will have about applicants? Will they know my scores and GPA?

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[deleted987519]

Will they know my scores and GPA?

Open-file: Yes (though I think sometimes they have access to just your essays)
Closed-file: No

You can check interview feedback for each school to see which type of interview they hold (if its not disclosed by the school). I think most people bring with them their AMCAS application and secondary application to review what they wrote/will likely be asked about.

 

[The Knife & Gun Club]

You can probably get away without bringing anything.

I brought one of those little fake leather folders from Office Depot. Inside it had a copy of my CV, a note pad, and a pen. I had one interviewer ask to see a CV, I’m pretty sure just to see if I had it on my.

The note pad was pretty useful for recording details like financial aid, curriculum, and unique features.

 

[LizzyM]

It doesn't hurt to bring a pen although one may be provided by the school. In all likelihood the school will provide a folder filled with paper and you'll have something to jot a note on. Nothing wrong with bringing a note pad in a folder or as is and your own pen, just in case.

You might bring a tissue or a packet of tissues, lip balm, if you use it, your picture ID (some schools will ask to see it when you check in at the admissions office).

The admissions office will provide the interviewer with the information that the admissions office wants the interviewer to have. Some will conduct "blind" interviews or interviews that provide access to the secondary (without MCAT and GPA) but not the other stuff to reduce the "halo effect".

 

[Cornfed101]

You might bring a tissue or a packet of tissues

Should it be an expectation that we will leave the interview in tears?

 

[LizzyM]

Should it be an expectation that we will leave the interview in tears?

No, but there is nothing worse than the expectation that I will want to shake hands with you at the end of the interview after you have sneezed and coughed and had nothing with which to blow your nose.

 

[Xander Cruz]

For interviews at both levels (medical school, residency) I brought a small notebook I could tuck into my jacket pocket and 1-2 pens. I don't recall ever needing anything other than that.

 

[cactuscomma]

I once shadowed a surgeon who was a very talented artist and he included this in his ECs when applying to med school. He brought a copy of a comic he had made along with him and pulled it out when the interviewer ended up bringing up the subject of art. He said the interviewer was very impressed by his work and he ended up getting an acceptance into the program. He had good stats anyway, but I think him showing that he was so great at working with his hands and was passionate about a hobby outside of medicine was a plus.

 

[Cornfed101]

I once shadowed a surgeon who was a very talented artist and he included this in his ECs when applying to med school. He brought a copy of a comic he had made along with him and pulled it out when the interviewer ended up bringing up the subject of art. He said the interviewer was very impressed by his work and he ended up getting an acceptance into the program. He had good stats anyway, but I think him showing that he was so great at working with his hands and was passionate about a hobby outside of medicine was a plus.

I think something like that would be easy to bring and would leave an impact. I thought about what I could bring, and I think if I brought a guitar I would just be like the guitar guy at the party...

 

[907914]

Just bring a warm body and a smile.

 

[ciestar]

I never took anything other than my ID for the most part. For one interview, I had to bring Dayquil and use my inhaler because I was sick. Other than that, you’ll find that not even a pen is really necessary.

 

[babykarat]

Just bring a warm body and a smile.

True- interviewers would probably be taken aback if you brought a cold body into the room

 

[907914]

True- interviewers would probably be taken aback if you brought a cold body into the room

I meant..like...show up alive...

 

[gyngyn]

I once shadowed a surgeon who was a very talented artist and he included this in his ECs when applying to med school. He brought a copy of a comic he had made along with him and pulled it out when the interviewer ended up bringing up the subject of art. He said the interviewer was very impressed by his work and he ended up getting an acceptance into the program. He had good stats anyway, but I think him showing that he was so great at working with his hands and was passionate about a hobby outside of medicine was a plus.

Do not whip anything out at your interview.
He probably got in in spite of this, not because of it.

 

[Tenk]

Bring your A game.

 

[desertcactus123]

True- interviewers would probably be taken aback if you brought a cold body into the room

This is useful insight

 

[PA_dud3]

True- interviewers would probably be taken aback if you brought a cold body into the room

"Ready for Cadaver Lab! Why are you looking at me like that? Should I have brought my scalpel too?"