Free Resources
3 Common Medical School Interview Myths
Medical School Interview Myths
There is an abundance of information out there about how best to prepare for the Medical School interview. A lot of this information comes from people who have never sat on the interview panel. On this page, we will talk about 3 common myths when it comes to the Medical School interview - according to a real Medical School interviewer.
Myth 1: The interviewers are told to catch people out and are looking for special, hidden traits
Many people are taught about ‘hidden’ questions or traits that interviewers are supposedly looking for. As a Medical School interviewer, even I don’t know what hidden qualities or traits I am supposed to be looking for!
In general, medical school interviewers are not trying to catch people out. Remember that a lot of Medical School interviewers - especially if they are doctors themselves - remember quite clearly what it was like to be on the other side when they themselves were being interviewed. This means that they are often quite sympathetic, and trying to gain the best out of you. Don’t worry if they are probing you. This often means that they’re trying to get you the most marks possible, and it’s not because they’re trying to make you feel uncomfortable or trying to catch you out.
Myth 2: I need to sound a specific way because that’s how doctors speak
Yes, it is true that we are (obviously!) assessing your suitability to be a doctor. However, many applicants are told to speak a certain way, or to avoid certain phrases because it ‘doesn’t sound like a doctor.’
There is no one type of doctor - we all have different traits and personalities. In fact, it is very important for doctors to have different traits, as this allows us to all work together and provide better care for a patient population that is diverse. Therefore, don’t try to change the way you speak to something that is completely unnatural for you. It doesn’t work, and it can make people sound a bit robotic or rehearsed. Instead, ensure that you use your own traits as a strength, by letting your own unique, specific traits come out.
Myth 3: I need to give a unique or controversial answer to make myself stand out
Many applicants are told to sound unique or, even worse, a bit controversial to make themselves stand out. Whilst it’s true that competition ratios are fierce and there are many excellent medical applicants out there, you don’t need to sound unique or special to get into medical school.
Instead, you need to sound organised, have clear and valid points that are backed up by examples. In my experience, the ones who try hard to sound unique end up messing their interview up. This is because they clearly end up sounding robotic or, worse, they end up saying something controversial that doesn’t go down well at the interview. If you have a unique story, by all means mention it - but don’t make things up just for the sake of wanting to ‘stand out’.