Product Description
SUNY at Stony Brook. Practical text for health professions students on interviewing. Includes samples of actual interviews and techniques for pediatric, elderly, and difficult patients. Previous edition subtitled: Primer for Students of the Art (c1992). Softcover. DNLM: Medical History Taking. … More >>

The Medical Interview: Mastering Skills for Clinical Practice

The best way to prepare for medical school interviews is to practice with someone and do mock interviews. Get a list of typical interview questions and have your friend ask questions. First, start off easy to get you used to being interviewed. At the same time, have the interviewer observe your gestures and body language. For example, do you slouch? Do you sit up straight? Do you lick your lips after you finish your sentences? Do you say “like” and “umm” when you speak? These are all things you want to work on before you enter the interview room. Interviewers will scrutinize you and you want to do your best to sound as professional as you can.

Once you feel comfortable answering questions, have your friend ask difficult questions and to put pressure on you as you speak. During certain medical school interviews, interviewers will intentionally ask questions that will make you feel uncomfortable. The point is to see how well you do under stress. When you’re a doctor, there will be patients who are rude and obnoxious, but you always have to keep your cool and be professional. Get used to being grilled. Fortunately, not every interviewer will grill you. On the other hand, you don’t know at which interview you will be grilled so it’s better to over prepare.

Finally, I would suggest to doing the following if you have time. Record yourself and study yourself. Try to see if there is anything else you can work out. Do you smile when you talk? Is there energy and sincerity when you speak? If you don’t want to record yourself, then go into your bathroom and talk to yourself in the mirror. Get comfortable looking at yourself as you speak because you want to be as confident as you can when you interview. It was really awkward at first when I looked into the mirror, but the more I did it, the more comfortable and confident I felt when I answered questions about why I wanted to be a doctor.

Once you’re done with your preparation, you have to perform well on the day of the interview. As you’ve probably heard, practice makes perfect. Well, this translates into medical school interviews as well. The more you practice, the better you’ll perform on the day of the interview. Now, things are never predictable. Maybe you’ll get a question you didn’t prepare for. It’s okay, when that happens, keep your cool and don’t panic. Take your time to speak and don’t babble. That’s the worst thing to do and if you really don’t know the answer, admit it. It’s better to admit you don’t know something rather than making answers up.

Also, on the day of the interview, it’s important that you show your energy and enthusiasm. You can talk very well without stuttering and whatnot, but if you have to have heart behind your answers. You have to sound like you really want it. Interviewers will be looking out for this. They don’t want to accept you if you don’t sound like you want be a doctor. Why should they? There are so many applicants out there who would make great doctors. So you have to stand out. You need to look your interviewers in the eye and mean every word you say. You have to convince your interviewers not with just your words, but with your sincerity and passion.

Good luck on your medical school interviews!

Your medical Interview will not only prove what you are but also will give you a chance to shine. Many candidates do not know that interview is a period to shine and sell your skills so they fail to do so. Its not that you are going to prepare few particular questions to face the interviewers but you need to be positive, enthusiastic and with the right attitude while you are answering the board. You are going to face many medical interview questions like first they will ask you that why are you opting for this particular medical school then about your experience that you are looking forward at medical school. Before choosing a medical school it is always wise to make a little research about it.

Medical school interviews can be a standard panel interview, blinded interview, which is not so common then partially blinded interview and open interview. Today there is a chance. Before facing the interview you can take up a medical interview course. This type of course provides valuable help to the interviewees. Many medical schools or institutions avail such courses in order to guide you to get success in the interview session. To get selected at medical interview its knowledgeable to opt for a course at any good medical school interview course. The previous day of the interview is really a vital one. If you stay away from the venue of the interview then you need to come and stay somewhere close so that you can reach early on the interview day. You have to be in a relax posture while answering anything. You can take time before answering but not more than two minutes. There will be various medical interview questions and all will clearly prove your brightness and willingness in this field.

Medical school interview is not a tough one to succeed but you have to give emphasis on few points like your attire.It must be appropriate, you have to have confidence but not over confidence. A balance between humility and confidence has to be maintained. While facing the medical interview you have to be confident enough to answer all the questions. All that require is a positive body language. You have to be responsive, eager to answer, a good attitude, a listener and attentive. Your answers must be concise, up to what is required, full of confidence and honest. You have to be positive at every step of you medical interview.