Your interview will likely be a full-day event that includes a welcome session, a school walking tour, a financial aid session, lunch, and of course the interview itself.
Here are some recommendations for the day of your interview:
- Dress right.
For men, suits are most common. You want to dress neatly and professionally with groomed hair and business-style shoes (that are comfortable enough for walking around in all day). For women, wear a suit or some other professional attire. Some color is fine but make sure it’s in good taste – not overdone (same goes for makeup and jewelry). Definitely wear shoes that are comfortable.
The key is to wear something you feel comfortable in and even more importantly, something you feel confident wearing. Be professional. Remember you have been selected based on your credentials on paper. The interview is your chance to present yourself personally. You want to look and act like a physician, someone that will be treating future patients. - Plan to arrive 10-15 minutes early for the start of the day.
You definitely DO NOT WANT TO BE LATE. Map out your journey in advance and pad your time in case of traffic, rain, or other last-minute circumstances.
- Make sure you get a good night’s sleep before the big day.
Yes, that means shutting down your devices early, avoiding late-night activities, and laying off the heavy food and drink before bed.
- Don’t overeat.
Eat a reasonable breakfast so that your stomach isn’t empty but not too much. You don’t want to have the stress of the day affect you physically.
- Check your nerves at the door.
There are many ways to reduce stress (meditation, visualization, etc.). Another way to reduce anxiety levels is to minimize your coffee consumption on the days leading up to the interview.
- Be prepared to wait.
If you arrive to campus early, pick up a school paper (or other reading material) to keep you occupied while you are waiting and to get a more personal feel of the school.
You’re almost there! You’ve prepped for this day, dressed to impress, and checked off all your to-do’s for interview day. Now it’s time to sit down and ace that interview!
Need more advice on how to ace your med school interview? Join us for our webinar, How to Nail Your Medical School Interview. The event is free but you must reserve your spot!
For personalized assistance, check out Accepted’s Mock Interview Services.
For 25 years, Accepted has helped applicants gain acceptance to their dream healthcare programs. Our outstanding team of admissions consultants features former admissions directors, admissions committee members, pre-health advisors, postbac program directors, and doctors. Our staff has guided applicants to acceptance at allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) medical schools, residencies and fellowships, dental school, veterinarian school, and physician assistant programs at top schools such as Harvard, Stanford, Penn, UCSF, Johns Hopkins, Columbia, and many more. Want an admissions expert to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!
Related Resources:
• The Ultimate Guide to Medical School Interview Success, a free guide
• 7 Steps to Acing Your Med School Interview
• Practice, Practice and More Practice to Prep for Your Med School Interview
