Med School Interview Tips, Part II

I’ve been wanting to write up a post with another “weird medical question”, but I haven’t had the time. I’m currently researching American super utilizer programs for Dr. Buck, and let me tell you… there is a LOT going on. That means tons of reading and database-creating I have to do, but this is fantastic news, because it shows that there are health care providers who actually do want to efficiently fix our broken health system.

Also, I still have yet to make my second post about shadowing this past Monday. That will happen at some point as well. Please give me a little time!

So here is your post for today: part 2 of my mini-series “Med School Interview Tips.” The following advice is given by my friend who goes to an allopathic school in the south, and she majored in economics.

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WHAT TO WEAR
I wore gray pencil skirt/jacket suit. I would recommend to stay with the safe colors, though you can jazz it up by wearing a noticeable shirt under the jacket. Many girls also get compliments on their shoes, so you can use those to make an impression.

APPEARANCE/PRESENTATION
I tried to sit straight, but in retrospect, that might have looked too stiff. You should sit comfortably, lean back on the chair…just don’t slouch. When we have our standardize patient interviews (I know these 2 things aren’t exactly the same, but) they told just to make ourselves comfortable since we’ll be sitting there for a while.

WHAT TO DO BEFORE THE INTERVIEW (EX. THE NIGHT BEFORE) / WHAT TO ASK THE INTERVIEWER
I looked at SDN, tried to have 1 or 2 questions, usually about curriculum, alternate degree tracks, other opportunities, general school atmosphere…But as I got on more interview, I find that it’s easier to come up with the questions during the school’s presentation right before the interview

GENERAL INTERVIEW SCHEDULE
Usually starts at 8 or 9, ends variably, depending on when they schedule you for interview. 3PM if you’re lucky and 5 if you’re unlucky

HAVE YOU HAD A DIFFICULT INTERVIEWER?
Try not to argue with them, sometimes they purposefully act difficult to test your reaction, keep your cool. The most “difficult” ones were at UTH, I basically got criticized for helping out my family too much “you’re going to be busy, can’t let family distract you, your mom needs to learn how to do things by herself”—uuuuh ok, still don’t know how I should have reacted to that. Most awkward one was at UTMB, somehow we ran out of things to talk about in 15 minutes. Uncomfortable silence ensued.