Medical school interviews are the most important event that will determine whether you are accepted into medical school or not. While it can be a very stressful event, there are some common mistakes most students make during interview that can easily be avoided.
Common Medical School Interview Mistakes
One of the most common mistakes a student can make during a medical school interview is assuming the interviewer knows how determined you are to become a doctor. A large part of the interview is demonstrating for the board how serious and passionate you are about medicine. You must show interviewers that you will be dedicated to school because becoming a doctor is your ultimate goal.
It costs quite a bit of money to train medical students, so it is your job to prove you are worth their investment. If you give any indication that you don’t plan on being in medical school for the long haul, you can kiss your chances goodbye. Be specific in your answers and don’t hide your love of medicine.
Another common mistake students make during medical school interviews is downplaying the difficulty school. Admissions officers want to find students who understand how difficult the road is that’s ahead of them and how much work it will take. You need to prove to the officers that you not only know the challenges that lie ahead, but you are ready to take them on head on.
During your interview, you want to display compassion. It’s important that interviewers see that you’re human, and compassion is a critical aspect of being a physician. Also keep in mind that if a student is interviewing you, it doesn’t mean you can relax. In fact, student interviewers can be even tougher to deal with than faculty members.
While interviewers will likely have your application in front of them, you should still know it like the back of your hand. You’ll likely be asked about portions of it, so your answers need to match what you wrote down.
Lastly, students may try to embellish some things or show they have no weaknesses. You’re human, everyone has weaknesses, and above all, interviewers want you to be honest with them. At the end of the day, honesty is always the best policy.