Hello applicants!
I know quite a few of us have had medical school interviews so far, and others will soon. Anyone care to share tips, experiences, etc.? I think we would all understand if you prefer not to list a specific school, although I think I will be public about that myself (I don’t see why I should hide it, honestly).
I plan to post about my first interview experience, which was at Indiana University School of Medicine, later today. I hope to hear others’ stories as well!
My first medical school interview was at Indiana University School of Medicine (this was an MD program interview). IUSM has 9 campuses across the state, and I interviewed in Muncie, which is about 4.5 hours from where I live in the Chicago suburbs.
Funny story before I get to the interview part - Because Muncie is several hours away, the night before my interview I stayed at the Ball State University student union hotel, which is very close to the IUSM medical facilities. When I was checking in, the hotel clerk saw I was from Chicago and asked what brought me to Muncie.
“I have a medical school interview tomorrow!” I told her.
“Oh, you want to teach there?” she asked.
Ha. I’d heard of OPMers being mistaken for faculty, but this is the first time it had happened to me. At least I LOOK mature! 
In spite of the fact that I’ve been on countless job interviews, and as a journalist have interviewed countless people (and thus am familiar with the interview process), I’ll admit - I was a tad nervous going in to the interview. I just wasn’t sure what to expect. The staff at Muncie though, as well as the faculty, were quite warm and welcoming and that helped put me at ease.
All of us interviewees were together in a conference room while we waited for our interviews, watched a financial aid presentation, etc. I was (by several years) the oldest in the room, which I had pretty much expected. The thing that DID shock me was that one young woman brought her father. Yes, into the conference room. Where we were ll waiting. AWKWARD! Now, I get that they drove from several states away and probably had to check out of their hotel, but he could have gone to a restaurant, one of the university lounges, etc. Bringing your dad just doesn’t seem to send the right message, in my opinion. It seems inappropriate.
After a tour, I had my interview. The moment I walked into the interview room and shook hands with the interviewers, my nerves went away - I felt in my element, in a way. Two people interviewed me, an MD and a PhD. It was very conversational and comfortable. There were some difficult questions, but I think I handled them well. The interview lasted about an hour, and then I was headed back to Chicago.
I know every interview will be a bit different (especially MD/PhD), but having one under my belt gives me additional confidence. Which is good, considering I have another interview today (10/16)!
If anyone else would like to share their interview experiences, I’m sure we could all benefit from them.
Thank you for sharing! I have never been on a medical school interview, but I have more than a few job interviews under my belt so I hope that at least provides some kind of preparation for a med school interview.
What sort of practice/prep did you do for your interview? Did you practice answering questions at home, record yourself on video? Practice in front of your family, pets, etc?
Good luck today! You will do great
Hi Terra
Good luck. Please let us know whenever you get news.
Lorien -
Congratulations on your first interview! I’m not surprised you were able to handle it with aplomb! (gee - that looks like a word meaning a small plum-sized bomb!)
Kate
- Kate429 Said:
I'm not surprised you were able to handle it with aplomb! (gee - that looks like a word meaning a small plum-sized bomb!)
Hahaha! Thanks for the laugh - you are quite adroit at word use (which makes me think of our beloved android friend Data).
@thewayiam - In terms of prep, I did a number of things, but didn't go crazy (in all senses of that word). I did do a mock interview with someone asking me typical med school interview questions ("Why do you want to be a doctor?" "Why now?" "Tell me about yourself." etc.). Then they gave me feedback. This was immensely helpful. I also practiced a couple of answers in front of friends. But I didn't do a lot of that - having been a journalist, I consider myself pretty well spoken, and the interview process itself doesn't make me nervous. So I wasn't worried about freezing, talking too fast, etc. The amount of practice you need to do really depends on your own comfort level with talking about yourself in front of strangers.
One thing that is EXTREMELY important is researching the school. You are pretty much guaranteed to get the question "why do you want to go to this school?" or some variation on that theme. Vague answers will kill you. Find things that relate to your story, to your interests, things that are very specific.
I have found it helpful to keep bulleted lists of these answers (both the general and the school-specific ones), not so I am memorizing the answers per se (I think then you come off too rehearsed and like a robot), but so I can familiarize myself with them and they will flow naturally.
It is also important to be aware of current events in health care, i.e., especially Obamacare. There are going to be a LOT of questions related to that this season, and likely into the future, as its effects are uncertain.
Most importantly, I think, be honest. Be yourself. Adcoms can tell whether you are being genuine or putting on a show. You don't want them to perceive the latter.
This past Wednesday (10/16), I had my second medical school interview, at University of Illinois-Chicago. Having worked at UIC off and on for three years as a research assistant, I’m quite familiar with the campus, the med school admission offices, where to park, etc. So that definitely took a lot of the uncertainty out of the day.
Another funny experience - I ran into another applicant who was at my IUSM interview. Which might have not been so strange except that he is not from the Midwest - he’s from Connecticut. Strange coincidence. It was nice, though, to see a familiar face.
The UIC interview day lasted from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and included three, half-hour one-on-one interview sessions (with an MD, a PhD, and an M4). There was also a tour, an admissions office presentation, and lunch (Chicago-style deep dish pizza, of course). This was a (mostly) “blind” interview, meaning that the interviewers had read only our personal statements, but had not seen grades, ECs, and so on. I asked the rationale for this, and was told that the idea is to give them the opportunity to make their decision solely based on your interview, rather than have a pre-determined idea about what kind of candidate you are prior to the interview. I can see pros and cons for both types of interviews, and now have had both. At UIC, I was a practically blank slate to these people. That made for some interesting conversations, but also put pressure on to make sure I brought up some of the highlights of what I have done.
The interviewers’ styles were extremely different. The first (with the MD) was both off the cuff and spontaneous, while at the same time extremely professional. The M4 created a more relaxed and casual atmosphere. While we talked about serious medicine/medical school topics, he also wanted to know my hobbies, music tastes, etc. The PhD asked more traditional questions, which was fine and I was (mostly) prepared for.
The campus tour was mostly old hat to me, although we got to see the cadaver lab, which was new to me - very cool! I had never seen a cadaver before, and wasn’t sure what to expect. It was fascinating, and got me excited to dig into Gross Anatomy this coming fall.
All in all, I think it went very well, although that judgment is really up to the ADCOMS!
Next up: UIC MD/PhD interview, Monday Nov. 4. This one is significantly longer (has a Sunday evening dinner component, and lasts all day Monday). I will be meeting with staff, students, as well as faculty (I had to submit a list of researchers I am interested in meeting). I have interacted with the staff and students of this program before (attended MSTP seminars, etc.), so again there will be some familiarity, which is nice. Will keep you all posted!
Got my husband to watch Re-Animator with me this weekend…
Just had to laugh out loud…
Only geeks like us get totally excited about a cadaver lab…just gotta love it!!!
(My mental image was when Herbert West was touring the med school and met Kane…he was just wandering around reading toe tags and peeking under sheets in the MOST nonchalant manner. )
This is not about a med school interview, it is about a Post Baccalaurate interview.
I know when I was doing my best to prepare for this interview, I read tons of threads, looked at a million videos, read books and resources, practiced, and THOUGHT I was ready.
JHU Post Baccalaureate has close to 1500 applicants each year. They offer a Skype interview to about 80, invite about 45 to campus, and accept only 30.
I was blessed enough to be offered a Skype interview.
I wore a black suit, white semi sheer blouse with a tank underneath, that had a tuxedo style front on it and a “different” mandarin style collar with a little scarf piece that you put through a loop and dashingly drapes to one side. Wore my long hair back in a tightly groomed bun. Small brooch on the lapel. Checked my position, background, and presentation on Face Time at least 30 times, so I knew I would be centered in the Skype screen and not have a lot of glasses glare, and a plain wall behind me.
Had my PS with me, and memorized, my resume, and a notebook and pen on either side of the computer.
I had researched the most recent work by the Psychiatry chair, had a copy of the study, and was fully prepared to defend “Why” I wanted this school.
All for naught.
I was asked, “Why med school?” - the only question I was truly prepared for, and that I think I did well on.
I was asked “What are my learning styles?” Thought on my feet, but am pretty sure I answered that one well too.
I was asked “What questions do I have?” I talked about being a career changer and hoping for opportunities for research at Post Bacc, as I really have nothing in my background. She described those opportunities, I then cited that most of my questions had been answered by the website, and in my emails to admissions and that I was just looking forward to touring campus. She seemed OK with that.
Then I completely floundered. I was given the background of how one applies to med school, and what information an ad com usually has. I was told that instead of applying broadly, I could only apply to ONE school, and the ad com would have NONE of my materials - transcripts, PS, MCAT scores, nothing. In one or two sentences, convince them to admit me.
I was prepared to answer something of this type, but the “one or two sentences” part upended anything I had thought of. I suddenly felt as if I was writing a HAIKU about 50 years of life experience, 30 years of professional clinical experience, and all my academic background. I was overwhelmed with trying to compress it all in such a tiny, tiny framework of two sentences. I came up with something ridiculous like, “I am a highly talented clinician, and with the study of medicine, could give much greater service to my patients.” FLUB!!! The dumb old standard “I want to be a doctor to help people.” Which is not what they want to hear.
That was it. There was 30 minutes set aside for the interview, and we finished in 19 minutes.
I have not received a rejection letter, and neither have I been invited to a campus interview.
I’m just kind of hoping that the Skype was really to weed out any crazies or weirdos, or people who don’t know how to dress right, and they will forgive me for blowing my “one moment in time” and remember the strength of my application.
The two sentence limit was not anything I had seen mentioned in anyone’s interview experiences…I do not know what you are supposed to do with that when you are a non-trad. I was ready to defend my need to come there…but not in two sentences.
Chalk it up to experience.
I wanted to add this to the interview thread…so maybe I can help some other non-trad who gets that one thrown at them.
I just figure that making it to the 80 means that some program, somewhere, will take me.
Vicki - thank you for sharing your experience. It sounds like for the most part it went well, that you were very prepared, in terms of your very professional dress, questions for your interviewers, etc. I hope you are proud of getting the interview, and your overall performance in it!
The two-sentence statement they wanted is indeed a tough one. It’s gotten me thinking too … thanks so much for putting that out there.
- redo-it-all Said:
Hi Terra
Good luck. Please let us know whenever you get news.
Good luck. Please let us know whenever you get news.
I got an envelope in the mail yesterday from UIC COM.
A very big envelope.
It's official.
I'm in.
Wow! congratulations! I can’t wait to hear this kind of news next year.
Congratulations!!
A huge congratulations to you, Lorien!!! All of your hard work coming to fruition. I am thrilled for you.
Cheers,
Liza
Yippee!!! Skippeee!! Happy, happy dance!!!
Big HUGS!!
You go girl!!!
Thanks, everybody!
So. I know I’m going to medical school. The question is, MD or MD/PhD? That has yet to be decided …
I had my first MD/PhD interview this past week, also at UIC. I have had quite a bit of exposure to this program already, having attended its research seminars, met some of the students, etc. I think I have gotten a good sense of the program. I can see myself fitting in there.
I had to deal with a lot of FUD, though, in the days leading up to the interview. There were 12 interviewees (including myself); we received information about each other prior to the interview day. When I saw people’s accomplishments - mainly, their research experience - I felt out of place. (Not to mention that half of the applicants were biochem majors, one quarter engineering, one quarter biology of some sort … and then … me. Journalism.) The day before the interview, I came to the realization that no matter how much preparation I did, I couldn’t compete with these other students in terms of scientific exposure or knowledge. That’s impossible. What I could do, though, was talk about what other types of experience/skills I would bring to the program, and hope that resonated with someone.
Unfortunately, I don’t feel like I had much of an opportunity to do that (or I didn’t seize it) during some of the interview sessions. (And there were eight, yes, EIGHT, interview sessions total: three two-on-one sessions with adcoms, four sessions with faculty members of my choosing, and a session with the director of the program). I did talk about it with the program director, and he seemed very receptive to my being a non-trad, and told me that my enthusiasm shone through. I hope that counts for something!
Honestly, I don’t know how the interview went, overall. Some of the adcoms really seemed to appreciate and understand my story and path. Others were impossible to read. They interview people through February, so I may not hear until then. So I wait.
But it’s definitely a less tortured wait, knowing that I’m in, regardless of what they decide!
Don’t forget that you can also transfer into the combined program after year 1 or as another friend of mine did, do the programs completely separately. In that case, she was approved for a leave of absence after year 2 of med school, completed her PhD at a school 3K miles away, then came back to med school for the final 2 years.
There are MANY ways to skin the MD/PhD “cat”.
One of the first speakers at the OPM conference way back in the day and my boss did his PhD “on the side.” He took the PhD courses along with his MD courses and then took a year post graduation to complete his PhD. Once you’re in, you’re in and as long as you’re motivated you can get any other degree combination you would like. I’ve seen MBA, MPH, MDiv, MS (philosophy)… In is in and once you’ve been granted that golden ticket you can eat all the chocolate you can handle…
Congrats!
I had my interview at UAMS today. I felt like it went really well.
They do 100% blind interviews and I was interviewed by two people (a radiology resident and a hemato-pathologist). The interview itself only lasted about 30 minutes and it was very casual. We covered the standard kind of questions, and I wasn’t thrown anything really difficult. I was getting positive feedback during the interview and at the end one of the interviewers told me that I did an excellent job, so I m pretty hopeful.
Bennard
it sounds very good. I wish you the best, and let us know.