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5 Top Tips from Real Medical School Interviewers: What are interviewers looking for?
5 Top Tips: What Medical School Interviewers are Looking For
It can often feel a little bit overwhelming in trying to impress Medical School Interviewers. There is an imaginary divide between those big, scary interviewers and what a lot of them are actually like. The key thing to remember is that every single Medical School interviewer who is also a doctor has been in the exact same position as you at some stage. In fact, a lot of them remember that situation well.
Here are some top tips from a real Medical School interviewer.
(N.B. We will not be revealing any of the admissions policies of Medical Schools, or of any of the questions that they ask. These are generic tips which we hope you will find helpful).
Tip 1: Sound enthusiastic!
Medicine is a long and hard course. You will see experience some real highs but sadly, you will also experience some lows. Based on this, one of the key things that I personally like to see is someone who is clearly enthusiastic about the career.
This can be hard to do, particularly when you are nervous, but do try to show off your love for medicine. In excellent cases, it can remind me of why I also love medicine, and this can translate into points at the interview.
Tip 2: Do not go over the top in trying to sound ‘unique’
Often, people get quite bogged down on wanting to sound ‘unique’. Whilst it is important to stand out, in my experience, the ones who truly stand out are those who have given some outrageous answer which we remember for the wrong reasons.
Therefore, don’t get too bogged down on this. In general, we are looking for someone who is sensible, has a clear structure to their answers, sounds enthusiastic and ultimately, is someone who we can see as a doctor. Whilst it’s always good to see something positively unique, it isn’t the be-all and end-all, and we can tell a mile off when someone is trying to be different for the sake of being different.
Tip 3: Don’t focus on your previous answer or station
Sometimes, a station or previous question will not have gone as well as you would have liked. Don’t worry - put it quickly behind you, and don’t let it affect your next answer.
The same is true for if you feel as though you’ve nailed a station or question. In fact, it’s not uncommon for people to end up complacent if they feel as though they are doing well - and this can end up with unexpected results. So, focus on the here and now, and don’t let either a good or bad experience affect the way in which you answer questions.
Tip 4: Give examples to back your points up
In general, a list of points or description is unlikely to go very far at interview. Instead, make sure you can back your points with examples. For example, don’t just say you are good at teamwork. Give an example of when you worked well in a team to back it up.
That makes your point a lot stronger, and it is these examples which will make you stand out more. Whilst everyone is likely to have similar points, not everyone will give an example.
Tip 5: Get your key point in early
In general, people lose concentration if you talk for too long, so avoid answers that are longer than about 1.5 minutes. People also lose concentration towards the end of the answer - so don’t use the ‘save the best until last’ strategy. Rather, get straight to the key point. This will ensure that the interviewer is able to give their full attention to you, and will also set you up to give an all round excellent answer.