The Final Cut
Since medical schools are inundated with applications, most
admissions committees use the interview as the final cut. Whereas
the initial step in the admissions process (reviewing your
numbers) may seem impersonal, the interview introduces an element
of humanity — it's where you can let your personality and charm
shine through.
Prepare
Once you have reached the interview stage, the academic
credentials of the group are probably pretty comparable. The
quality of your interview may make the difference. Remember, once
granted an interview, your fate is in your own hands. So by all
means, be prepared.
Many students go into their first few interviews completely
unprepared, hoping to get the hang of it as they go along. Few
people would attempt to run a marathon (or take the MCAT)
untrained. The same principle applies here. You want to
anticipate the questions and formulate the key points of your
responses, maximizing your potential for success.
More often than not, the interviewer will base his/her
questions on your personal statement and your application. This
is especially true if you have an "open file" interview where the
interviewer sees your application beforehand.
On occasion, an interviewer may ask you to comment on a
medically-related current event or ethical issue. It's not
expected that you be an expert on these topics — just that you
have thought about them and have something reasonably intelligent
to share. Read the newspaper and keep up on current events. Go
through some back issues of a newsweekly and read all the
pertinent medically-related articles.
Mock Interviews
Mock interviews are invaluable trial runs. Have someone
evaluate your speaking style, the content of your answers, your
body language, and your overall presentation. Some colleges offer
mock interviews, so check with your pre-med advisor or career
center.
Even if a formal mock interview is not available, you can
always have a friend or relative act as the interviewer and
evaluate your performance. You may even want to videotape it.
Honest feedback will help you realize if you speak too quickly or
softly or if you should enunciate more clearly, etc.
Lookin' Good
Whether you like it or not, your physical appearance will be
the first impression you make on the interviewers. You want to be
remembered as the self-confident candidate with loads of charm
and wit, not the one with the wacky hat or braided facial
hair.
Be Early
Your interview invitations usually arrive at approximately the
same time. The sooner you have your interview with a school, the
sooner you'll be considered for acceptance, so schedule the
interviews as early as possible.
Financial reasons may compel you to schedule groups of
interviews in particular geographical regions. Do not hesitate to
request alternate dates if available; this can save you
considerable time and money.
Try to arrive the night before the interview in order to
familiarize yourself with the area and the school. This will also
give you the opportunity to unwind and get a good night's sleep.
Nothing is more underwhelming than an inattentive and dreary-eyed
applicant.