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Premed Interview Info

For your info, some med schools only count interviews if they are bad ones! So they may not be that important, while some schools may base your entire acceptance on an interview. (Some schools will equalize every applicant at each stage. For example, after secondaries are given out, all applicants are considered equal. Then after interview offers are given out, all applicants are again considered equal. That way every interviewee has the same chance to get in.)

How many interviews do schools give out?
Private schools in general interview more students than public schools. Georgetown interviews 2000 people and Harvard around 1000. UC schools interview around 500-650ish students (but UC schools also have fewer applicants than Georgetown.) Do some math: If Medical School X has a class of around 150 students, and they interview about 550, then you will have a 50% of being accepted. A school usually accepts around 2x their entering class because not everyone that is accepted actually enrolls. Actually the odds here arepretty good. Compare that to Harvard (or Georgetown) 1000 interviewees for 150ish spaces. So you will have a potentially more difficult time at the private schools.

If you are a strong candidate and are lucky, you will have plenty of interview offers. ( I know people who have gotten only one interview and were accepted and I know people who had 3 interviews and were not accepted) Schedule them as early as you can. Watch out for your midterm schedule. Also remember that if you can stay over a Saturday night the price of a plane ticket can drop by 80%!! This more than covers a few nights in a hotel. Most schools tell you some nearby hotels (call for the cheapest and closest to campus) or better yet stay with a friend, one who knows the neighborhood well. Remember, even if a school tells you that your interview is at 11am, don’t schedule a 2 pm flight home! They usually will keep you a couple more hours for lunch, and a tour and maybe a presentation or two. You may have time to kill between interviews, look around campus, drop in on a lecture, or bring homework. You do not have to know a hell of a lot about a school before you go there, but when you are on the tours, soak in as much as possible. Read and re-read the med school’s website prior to your visit.

The interview. One chance to make an impression.
The first is the hardest. Many schools have only one interview, although a good number have two or more. Answer honestly. Dress neatly. If you need to carry a garment bag or backpack, no problem. Most admissions offices have a place for you to put your stuff in case you have to go straight to the airport after.
Your interviewers are usually spread out, so make sure you know exactly which building, floor and room they are in. Its a good idea to get there 5 minutes early just in case. I didn’t carry a briefcase or leather folder thingy, but some people do. Most interviewers are very pleasant and one may even buy you coffee or OJ. (one of mine did.) 

So what will they ask? Where do you go to school? Why did you apply to our med school? Where you born? Have any siblings? How old? What do your parents do ? How do they feel about you going to med school? What do you do for fun? Can you handle the rigors of med school? Tell me about (your extracurricular activities here) What have you done in hospital? What did you learn? What did you notice about hospitals? Health care is changing: What do you see the future like? How do you feel about government health care? What problems are med schools facing today? If you had a patient who’s parents refused a child a blood transfusion during surgery, would you operate? Why are your grades in (whatever class) so good? Where do you see yourself in 10-15 years?
Of course : Why do you want to be a physician? Did you do any research? Describe it. Why aren’t you an MD/Ph.D. candidate? Why don’t you go into research? Do you think a person can be physician and raise a family? What do you think you want to specialize in? ALL these are VERY popular questions.

I have found that most interviewers are only very slightly interested in research. They are much more interested in community service (like scouts) and hospital volunteer work.

ALL interviewers will ask you if you have any questions for them (the interviewers) You can ask if they have special programs in the department of your interest, questions about the curriculum, future of the school. Most of the time if you ask a question, the interviewer will talk for a LONG time and not really answer the question but at least will kill time. I’ve found that the best interviews are the one where each question leads to a new one, that is not off a generic list that they can ask you. Think of something to ask that is relevant to that med school/med center: What is your hospital doing to change medical education? What changes do you forsee in your school in the future? What’s the best part about being a med student here?

Also, you will find that the best interviews are more like conversations where THEY do most of the talking! Time flies usually and DONT glance at your watch unless you have a plane to catch ( tell your interviewer ahead of time!) Most interviewers don’t ask too many hard moral questions (although a I got a good number about affirmative action! and one on my political views!) but be prepared to discuss current trends in healthcare. Read a few articles to get set! (I didn’t!)

To thank you or not to thank you. 
It is a courtesy to write a short thank you to each interviewer. Though some people do advise against it, I don’t think it can hurt unless you totally kiss butt. I only sent letters to those interviews that I thought went especially well, including ones where the interviewers offered a phone number or address where they can be reached. If you don’t know the address, write one c/o (in care of) the admissions office. I usually try and throw in a few comments on what we talked about, to refresh their memory and I keep it short, half page typed. Do this within a few days of your interview, while you can remember stuff. And while they can remember you. Double check your names, addresses before sending them. You can address them in care of the med school admission office if you don’t have their address or email.