This is a particularly challenging year for med school interviews, not least due to the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic and the unavailability of testing in the spring. Now comes the newest change, entirely virtual interviews and in some cases a video interview: AAMC’s Video Tool for Admissions (VITA) program, which launched this year to…
Medical School Interviews: 7 Things You Need to Know
Think you know everything there is to know about interviewing, and that interview prep and mock interviews just aren’t for you? “It’s sad to see an applicant do well throughout the entire application process, only to crash and burn during their interviews,” says Accepted consultant Dr. Barry Rothman. “Many applicants assume that an interview is…
How to Approach VITA, AAMC’s New Video Interview
To address the novel challenges the pandemic has created, the AAMC will be using a video recording in place of in-person interviews. They are calling it the AAMC Video Interview Tool for Admissions (AAMC VITA). It is being offered at no cost to applicants since it is a pilot program and will be available from…
The Anatomy of a Post-Interview Thank You Email
After your medical school interview, it is appropriate to send thank you notes to all of the people who helped you throughout the day. These days it is rare to receive a thank you card. You can easily set yourself apart by sending out handwritten notes. If, like most people, you only have time to…
The Art of Interviewing—Are You a “Can” or a “Cannot”?
“I am doomed… This is a disaster… I really never expected this… What am I going to do?” This from Daniel, a prospective PhD student. I couldn’t imagine what had happened to cause such a negative response, especially as Daniel is a very strong candidate with impeccable credentials. My shock was further compounded when he…
Check Out Our Q&A on the MMI!
If you missed our live Q&A on the MMI, don’t worry – you can now view it on demand! If you’re preparing for an interview at a med school that uses the MMI method, this is a must-see: Accepted med experts Dr. Barry Rothman and Dr. Herman Gordon answered frequently asked questions and helped the…
7 Steps to Acing Your Med School Interview
Congratulations! You have been identified as one of the most promising applicants for medical school during this application cycle. Follow these seven steps to ensure that you ace your interview and receive an acceptance: Step 1: Celebrate! While you may be nervous about embarking on the next step of your journey, don’t forget to celebrate…
Allopathic Medical School Interview Styles: From Traditional to New Approaches
Your interview is the next and hopefully final step in your journey to medical school acceptance. Are you ready for it? Before prepping for your interview, you’ll need to know what type of interview you’ll be having. There are four main types of medical school interviews that you can expect at an allopathic med school:…
How Can Introverts (And Anyone Else) Do Well on the MMI?
The Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) was designed at McMaster University in Canada to better evaluate an applicant’s interpersonal skills and predict performance in medical school. Like all other interviewers, MMI interviewers are looking for problem solving, communications skills, and the ability to listen to and respond to another person. The benefit of the MMI (to…
Ask Away at Your Admissions Interview!
An interview works in two directions: The interviewer asks you questions to see if you’d be a good fit for the school in question, and you ask the interviewer questions to help you determine if this program is right for you. In order to come up with some good questions, you’ll want to make sure…
6 Tips for Talking About Your Weaknesses
How do you react when you read/hear the weakness question? With this question, schools are assessing how well you self evaluate. Like a business problem, they want to hear your plan of action, your implementation, and your success rate. Here are some tips to help you a) think about and evaluate your weaknesses, and b)…
Prepare for Interviews with Positive Imagery
Imagine yourself standing on a tennis court: Picture yourself tossing the ball into the air and then smashed an ace serve right past your opponent. Then, walk into your interview and nail that too. Why should you think about tennis when you could be spending your last pre-interview moments recalling formative leadership experiences and key…
7 Medical School Acceptances: The Early Bird’s Story
Cydney Foote, one of Accepted’s most experienced medical school admissions consultants, worked with a client, Ben (not his real name). Ben started working on his personal statement in February and received medical school acceptances by October. He certainly had good grades and MCAT results, but he also actively maximized those assets by applying early. Read…
Post-Interview Advice for Med School Applicants
As the interview day is nearing its end, you may find yourself in the company of other applicants. Try not to engage in discussion about your interview in detail. These conversations only serve to increase anxiety and often lead to self-doubt. Talking about the school or topics you may have discussed with current students is…
Did You Watch Our MMI Webinar?
If you missed 12 Tips for MMI Success don’t worry – you can now view it on demand! If you’re preparing for an interview at a med school that uses the MMI method, this is a must-see: Accepted med expert Alicia McNease Nimonkar helps you understand the MMI format and gives you clear, effective strategies…
What Should You Do During Your Medical School Interview?
Some of these tips are obvious, some less so. All are important and will help you maintain a sense of professionalism, project confidence, reduce anxiety, and prove to the interviewer that you’re a top med school shoo-in. Make sure you smile. Chances are, your interviewer will smile back. This will help set the tone for a…
Last-Minute Pre-Interview Day Pointers (Including What to Wear)
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…
Sample Questions to Ask Your Interviewer
When your interviewer asks if you have any questions, you don’t want to draw a blank! Since your goal should be to come up with questions that are specific to your situation, I can’t give you a list of must-ask questions without knowing who YOU are. But here are a few sample questions that you…
Typical Medical School Interview Questions
Enter interview day ready to show how you can contribute to the entering class and why you are confident you are a good match for this particular program. You will have already spent loads of time looking inward at yourself and outward at your target program – so these points should be no-brainers by now!…
Preparing for Your Medical School Interview
When should you start prepping for your interview? As soon as you get that invite! So let’s jump right in… Below you’ll find 9 tips to help you become perfectly prepared for your interview: Stay informed. It’s important that you know what’s going on in the world of medicine. Stay abreast of issues by reading…