Mastering the Medical School Interview

By this stage, you’ve gotten your predicted or achieved grades, written an amazing personal statement, and smashed the UCAT. All that stands between you and that spot at medical school is an interview. Personally, as a professional waffler, I found the interview stage as the most enjoyable part of the application process. It was the first opportunity to truly showcase my personality and show the universities why I was unique and deserved a place. I can understand, however, that interviews can be a very daunting experience. It can be easy to feel interrogated and that you’re under a microscope when sitting in front of an interviewer. Not to mention the added pressure of potentially tripping up at the final hurdle. These are some tips that helped me calm my nerves and manage to walk out of all three interviews with an offer.

1. They aren’t looking for a finished product.

This may seem like an obvious point, but it’s often overlooked. Much of the pressure felt by applicants during interviews stems from trying to answer questions in a way they believe a doctor would. Whether facing ethical scenarios or addressing global medical issues, it’s crucial to remember that interviewers aren’t expecting you to recite guidelines and policies. What they want to see, is an individual who thinks empathetically and adopts a patient-centered approach.  If you were already thinking and acting like a doctor, there would be little need for the five years of medical school. Instead, what interviewers are truly looking for are the foundational qualities that they can shape into brilliant doctors – qualities such as empathy, compassion, confidence, and leadership.

2. Don’t memorise answers.

With a medical school interview, there are a few questions that you could practically bet your house on coming up. Questions like “why medicine?”, “What’s your biggest weakness?” or “What makes you different?” Now I’m not saying don’t prepare for these questions. You’d be silly not to. However, overpreparing by writing and memorising an answer like a rehearsed speech is not the way to go. Irrespective of how good an actor you are, giving a response that you have memorised beforehand, will never seem natural or genuine and an interviewer will see right through it. My advice is to jot down some bullet points outlining key ideas you’d like to mention and practice giving some answers based on those. Avoid writing an answer word for word because, in an interview, it’s glaringly obvious who is speaking from the heart and who is trying to remember what they scribbled down on that piece of paper last night. 

3. Do your research. 

Now this point may seem a bit contradictory because I’ve just stressed the importance of keeping things natural and letting your personality do the talking. However, not doing proper research and preparation beforehand is basically just shooting yourself in the foot. When I say research, I mean being clued up on topics such as current medical issues, the four pillars of medical ethics, NHS values, and so on. Having a good level of background knowledge gives you a solid foundation to construct well-informed answers on the spot. There is nothing worse than being questioned on a topic you know little about, especially when a quick Google search would’ve made all the difference. Demonstrating that you have done your homework, not only showcases your seriousness but also works in your favor with the interviewer. Even if your answer isn’t exactly what they were looking for, they will still appreciate that you were dedicated and well-prepared for the conversation.

4. Know your university.

Every medical school has its unique teaching philosophies and daily routines. The easiest way to impress an interviewer is to demonstrate that you’ve taken the time to understand those philosophies and incorporate them into your answers. For example, my medical school had a teaching approach centered around technology and small group sessions. Consequently, my responses highlighted my appreciation for technology in learning and my ability to thrive in small group settings. It’s crucial not to mention something that the university doesn’t offer or doesn’t highly value. Doing so not only makes your answer irrelevant but also signals to the interviewer that you haven’t specifically researched their medical school, and you’re just providing a safe, generic response. 

5. Be yourself and relax.

You haven’t gotten this far by pretending to be someone else, or by adopting an emotionless facade. Despite this, when many applicants reach the interview stage, they feel the need to drastically change how they act. Showing that you are a genuine student who is trying to pursue something they are passionate about is the best thing you can do. The more natural you are the better. Whether you have a nervous laugh, a stutter, or occasionally stumble over your words, embrace it. Interviewers are well aware of nerves, especially considering it might be your first time in such a crucial interview. So there’s no need to strive for absolute perfection. Simply smile, be kind, and be truthful. Ultimately, if you remain true to yourself and respond in your own way, you’ll likely find success.