Using Psychology to Further Your Residency or Medical School Application

In my last post, I spoke about the importance of knowing about a school or program in detail in order to show enthusiasm. This entry is a follow-up piece. Being genuinely complimentary (there’s no need to sell yourself down the river being disingenuous) can readily further your candidacy:
There is a psychological principle that asserts that if someone likes you, you tend to like him/her more. So, if I say, “I was just talking to Mike, and he always says the nicest things about you,” you now like Mike more (even though he’s not a real person in this case).

Use this strategy to your advantage. It’s hard to say, “I like you!” in an interview setting. But when speaking about a school or program during interview day, showcase what the institution’s strengths are and specifically, how they apply to you. If the program has a focus on public policy, mention your work with AMSA’s lobbying efforts. If the school is in Utah, note how much you like skiing. Demonstrating interest and zeal can go a long way to leverage simple psychology.
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About Dr. Michelle Finkel

Dr. Michelle Finkel

Dr. Finkel is a graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Medical School. On completing her residency at Harvard, she was asked to
stay on as faculty at Harvard Medical School and spent five years teaching at the world-renowned Massachusetts General Hospital.
She was appointed to the Assistant Residency Director position for the Harvard Affiliated
Emergency Medicine Residency where she reviewed countless applications, personal statements and resumes. Read more

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Listen to Dr. Finkel’s interview on the White Coat Investor podcast:

Listen to Dr. Finkel’s interview on the FeminEm podcast: