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. 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. Most offices will also call a cab for you if you need one.
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.