Interviews and Decisions

The interview is an important factor in the medical school application process. The invitation to interview generally means that you are academically qualified for admission; however, schools cannot admit all those who are qualified. The school wants to take a closer look as you and determine if you have the personal qualities they consider important. Qualities such as enthusiasm, integrity, leadership ability, decision-making skills, honesty, and empathy are important in a health professional.
The interview provides the school with the chance to evaluate you. It also provides you with a chance to learn about the school. Your interview should be a conversation in which you both answer and ask questions, as opposed to a firing line where you wait for the interviewer’s next question.

Types of Interviews

There are several types of interviews which can be conducted as open, semi-open, or closed file interviews. Medical schools can have anywhere from 1-3 interviews for each applicant on the day they are interviewed. Please look at Appendix D for examples of possible interview questions and questions you may want to ask during the tour and interview. Interviewers can have formal lists of questions for the interviews, a general guideline of topics, or complete freedom to structure the interview.

Individual Interview — is what it sounds like. This is an interview that takes place with one interviewer. The interviewer can be an administrator, clinical faculty, basic science faculty, current MD student or MD/PhD student, alumni member, and/or retired faculty. Never underestimate the importance of the student interviews.

Group Interview — involves many candidates and either one or several interviewers. In most cases, this scenario is used to determine how candidates interact with other members of a group. (i.e., do you listen? interrupt? clarify? dominate? never say anything?)

Board/Panel Interview — is one candidate with more than one interviewer. You need to make sure you establish eye contact with all members of the panel.

Open Interview — the interviewers have all your application materials.

Semi-Open Interviews — the interviewers have only some basic information. Either they have all the non-cognitive information (personal statement, experiences, letters of evaluation) or all the cognitive (GPA, MCAT Scores, Transcripts).

Closed Interview — They have nothing about you except your name and maybe where you went to school.

Important Interview Tips

You should be prepared to discuss yourself, the medical school, and general issues about health care.

Make an honest assessment of yourself—identify your strengths and weaknesses.

Review your application, secondary application, and transcripts before each interview. Make sure you are familiar with everything a potential interviewer may know about you.

The safest attire for an interview is a business suit. Blue is safe, but many people wear blue. If you look good in gray, brown, black, or tan this may be a better option—you will be appropriately dressed and not blend in to the others. Also, a fresh groomed appearance cannot help but make a good impression. This is not a time to make a statement, and avoid clothing or accessories, which may be distracting.

When meeting your interviewer, use a firm handshake; choose a seat which allows you good eye contact with the interviewer.

Be aware of any mannerisms or other personal habits that might detract from the interview. Do not twist in your chair, move your hands excessively while you talk, and fiddle with your clothing, hair or jewelry.

During the interview it is important to keep eye contact. Try not to mimic the facial expressions of interviewers—they may be very inexpressive on purpose to see how you react. Try not to look down.

Try to be comfortable and confident without appearing cocky or insincere. Smile and maintain a pleasant, interested manner.

Make sure you listen to each question carefully, and always provide specifics when giving your answers. Giving concrete answers that involve your academic and volunteer experiences give your answers tremendous credibility.

Remember to be yourself. Most interviewers want to get to know you. You are your own best advocate.

Be honest and do not embellish your history. Candor is essential. Any suspicion about your credibility or integrity can doom your acceptance.

Anticipate questions regarding any academic problems, and when you answer their questions do not be defensive or blame others for your shortcomings.

Do your homework about the schools. Go to their web sites and read about their histories, their rotation sites (hospitals/clinics), curriculum, and philosophy or mission statement. Formulate questions about the school which reflect your interest.

Expect questions about issues in modern society and medicine. When answering, organize your thoughts, state your opinions clearly, and be prepared to substantiate your opinions.

If you are treated inappropriately or asked illegal questions (e.g. personal, racist, and/or sexist) you should generally inform the admissions office/director you have interviewed with on the day it occurs so they can possibly make arrangements for you to have another interview. Please also contact us and we will discuss any additional appropriate follow-up. Many admissions directors will ask you to inform them the day of the interview if an interviewer asks any illegal questions such as are you married, do you have or are you planning to have children, etc… This happens very rarely.

Send a brief thank you to the people who interviewed you.

After your interview, you might receive an acceptance letter, a rejection letter or a letter saying you have been placed on hold. Schools vary greatly in the time they take to make and communicate decisions; you may hear nothing for quite a while.

Many medical schools begin interviewing in September and they continue to interview until all their spaces are filled. By March 15, medical schools are required to have made as many offers as they have places in the entering class.

After you receive an acceptance, you will have a certain period of time to make a decision. Consider carefully the school and its program and withdraw from schools you will not be attending. Except in certain circumstances, particularly regarding financial aid, you should not hold more than two acceptances at one time. By mid-May you should have decided on the medical school you will be attending.

Be optimistic if you are wait-listed. Many candidates move off the wait-list to acceptance during the spring and early summer.

Activities for a Year Off

During the glide year you will be filling out secondary applications, going to interviews, and wondering what you will be doing next year. You also need to keep your foot in the door of the medical field in order to show your continued interest and dedication. You do not need to do all of the following, but you should consider doing at least two of them in addition to applying to medical school. Do more if you are able to.

Things besides applying to medical school you should be doing:

1. Take additional courses in upper division biology and/or chemistry. Particularly useful subjects include: (if you haven’t had them already):
   • biochemistry
   • cell biology
   • genetics
   • molecular biology
   • neurobiology
   • physiology

2. Get a job in order to support yourself, pay for application fees, finance travel to interviews, and pay off educational debts. However, if you can find work in a clinical health care area, or biological/medical research environment you may strengthen your medical school application. Please see the attached pages that contain internship opportunities for the glide year.

3. If you are fortunate enough not to need to work, additional volunteer work in healthcare or research could also strengthen your application. Please see the attached pages that contain suggestions for internships for the glide year.

4. If you receive MCAT scores of 9 or lower you may need to retake the MCAT. This means that some of your time during the glide year should go toward studying for the MCAT or taking a review course. Please call us to consult about the best course of action.

5. Please see Appendix E, “Glide Year Volunteer Activities”.