Try doing some mock interviews with someone at your career center or with someone you do not know very well. It will be very important that you do these tin a setting similar to that in which you will be interviewing. Wear a suit, shake hands, sit across from your interviewer, have your interviewer prepare questions similar to those that may be asked. You will want to make this scenario as realistic as possible – and a little uncomfortable for you.
It is important that you interview well, but it is equally important not to sound rehearsed. If you do not know the answer to a particular question, it is okay to say that you do not know, but do your best to answer the question. The interviewer may not be looking for the “right” answer, but may instead be interested in seeing how you handle yourself or how you think.
You need to be able to answer basic questions. For instance, if you are asked what your three greatest strengths are, you need three, not two. You can find examples of frequently asked medical school interview questions online. You can also visit www.studentdoctor.net to view questions that other applicants were asked during their interviews. This preparation will help you to anticipate some of the questions that you many be asked.
This post is excerpted from 101 Tips on Getting Into Medical School by Jennifer C. Welch, who has served as the Director of Admissions at SUNY Upstate Medical School since 2001.
