Everyone seems to bring a schnazy leather legal pad on interviews. But have you ever seen someone actually taking notes? Why bring it if you don’t use it? There’s no need to take notes during the actual interview, as that may seem pretentious. But definitely jot down your thoughts after each interview making note of:
Interview date
Interviewer name and title
Topics discussed
School positives
School negatives
Overall gut reaction
Taking 5 minutes to log your thoughts will be helpful in keeping the details of each school straight in your mind and remembering specifics to put in thank you notes. These notes can also be very helpful when you are making your final decision of where to attend medical school.
Interviews not going as well as you had hoped? E-mail info@MDadmit.com for a one-on-one practice session with a Harvard/Stanford MD and medical school admissions expert!
Dr. Suzanne M. Miller, a Harvard/Stanford MD, admissions expert, and best-selling author, has dedicated herself to helping pre-meds and medical students succeed in their journey to doctorhood. Here, Dr. Miller provides tips, updates, and great insight on how to get into medical school and residency.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
Medical School Interviews – Interview Etiquette
I am sure these tips will seem obvious to you, but you’d be surprised what some people try to get away with. During an interview, please avoid:
1. Chewing gum
2. Swearing
3. Racial slurs
4. Slang
5. “Um,” “like,” “ya know,” and other verbal fillers
5. Ticking anybody off
Be as nice to the receptionist as you are to the interviewer. Rude behavior to any of the medical school staff often gets back to the admissions committee and has been known to sink many an exceptional candidate.
Good luck!
Want more practice? Medical school mock interview sessions are filling quickly. E-mail info@MDadmit.com for a one-on-one practice session with a Harvard/Stanford MD and medical school admissions expert!
1. Chewing gum
2. Swearing
3. Racial slurs
4. Slang
5. “Um,” “like,” “ya know,” and other verbal fillers
5. Ticking anybody off
Be as nice to the receptionist as you are to the interviewer. Rude behavior to any of the medical school staff often gets back to the admissions committee and has been known to sink many an exceptional candidate.
Good luck!
Want more practice? Medical school mock interview sessions are filling quickly. E-mail info@MDadmit.com for a one-on-one practice session with a Harvard/Stanford MD and medical school admissions expert!
Monday, December 14, 2009
Medical School Interviews – Final Prep
It’s game time. You’ve polished the shoes, reviewed the application, and practiced and practiced and practiced questions. Before you leave, remember these final details:
1. Pack all clothes in a carry-on. Airlines lose baggage – frequently. Always carry on your luggage.
2. Bring copies of all publications in case the interviewer would like to see them. You can keep them safe in the pocket of leather legal pad. The legal pad can be used to take notes.
3. Ensure you have all directions or public transit options mapped out. Being late to a medical school interview is NOT an option.
4. Bring:
Blank thank you notes
A snack
Extra pantyhose/stockings in case of runs (if you are wearing hose)
Dental floss (very handy for post-lunch interviews)
5. Ensure a good night sleep not just the night before the interview, but the “night before the night before.” Studies have shown that sleep two nights before an event most dramatically effects performance.
Nervous about your interviews? A MDadmit mock interview can give you that advantage. E-mail info@MDadmit.com to put a Harvard/Stanford MD and medical school admissions expert to work for you!
1. Pack all clothes in a carry-on. Airlines lose baggage – frequently. Always carry on your luggage.
2. Bring copies of all publications in case the interviewer would like to see them. You can keep them safe in the pocket of leather legal pad. The legal pad can be used to take notes.
3. Ensure you have all directions or public transit options mapped out. Being late to a medical school interview is NOT an option.
4. Bring:
Blank thank you notes
A snack
Extra pantyhose/stockings in case of runs (if you are wearing hose)
Dental floss (very handy for post-lunch interviews)
5. Ensure a good night sleep not just the night before the interview, but the “night before the night before.” Studies have shown that sleep two nights before an event most dramatically effects performance.
Nervous about your interviews? A MDadmit mock interview can give you that advantage. E-mail info@MDadmit.com to put a Harvard/Stanford MD and medical school admissions expert to work for you!
Monday, December 7, 2009
Medical School Interviews – Current Events
Many interviews now include questions regarding ethics, policy, and current events. During interview season, be sure to stay up-to-date on all current events, but especially those related to health care. Health care reform has dominated headlines recently – do you know what’s going on? How do you feel about the current health care reform debate. What do you think about a public option or healthcare mandates? You don’t have to be an expert, but you should know the lingo and be able to intelligently express your opinion. Ethics questions on issues such as abortion, euthanasia, physician-assisted suicide, and stem cell research have also become popular.
How can you prepare? I suggest reading your local paper but also browse national papers such as the New York Times. The Economist politics and business in review sections at the beginning of every magazine provide excellent current event summaries. Subscribing to The Economist is pricey but you can read these two sections at the library in less than ten minutes.
Want to practice your medical school ethics and policy interview answers? Mock interview sessions are filling quickly. E-mail info@MDadmit.com for a one-on-one practice session with a Harvard/Stanford MD and medical school admissions expert!
How can you prepare? I suggest reading your local paper but also browse national papers such as the New York Times. The Economist politics and business in review sections at the beginning of every magazine provide excellent current event summaries. Subscribing to The Economist is pricey but you can read these two sections at the library in less than ten minutes.
Want to practice your medical school ethics and policy interview answers? Mock interview sessions are filling quickly. E-mail info@MDadmit.com for a one-on-one practice session with a Harvard/Stanford MD and medical school admissions expert!
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