With regard to interviews, I remind applicants that sitting up straight, speaking slowly and looking an interviewer in the eyes conveys confidence and honesty. Although it might sound silly, if you feel too awkward, you can imagine a third eye on the bridge of the interviewer’s nose and focus there. This technique helps some shier applicants.
For assistance with your interviews, contact me.
Whether to address weaknesses in your application during the interview is a difficult topic. Generally, what I recommend is as follows:
1. If you have a mild weakness (one mediocre grade/evaluation), there is no need to bring it up with the interviewer.
2. If, on the other hand, you have a major weakness (very low MCAT/failed the USMLE, large chronological gap, etc.) then you are better off addressing the issue head on. Think of the politicians who are caught in scandals: Those that ‘fess up early manage their problems. Those that don’t let the press interpret them. (I’m not saying that a weakness in one’s application is equivalent to some politicians’ misconduct; I’m just using this as an analogy.) If you have a glaring problem, go ahead and confront it head on. It will demonstrate integrity and will allow you to mold the admission committee’s perception.
For individualized mock interview assistance, contact me. I am booking 2-3 weeks in advance, but I try to squeeze in clients sooner when I’m able.
A few simple rules regarding clothes and interviews:
1. Do not be noticed for your clothing. You do not want to be the “guy with the Bugs Bunny tie.” This is not the time to be creative, unfortunately.
2. Be professional but comfortable. You may have to walk a mile between interviews. I still remember a miserable ten minutes in a Manhattan winter, getting from one building to another.
3. Pack carry-on. I won’t forget the embarrassed applicant who came to our institution in jeans when his suitcase was lost by the airline.
Contact me for mock interview assistance soon.
Most medical school, residency and fellowship applicants schedule their interviews according to convenience and cost, but you may be asked why you arranged your interview so early or so late in the season. The real concern behind this question is that you are interviewing early because you are using the institution for a practice session or that you are interviewing late because you had considered leaving the institution to the end in case you wanted to cancel.
Reassure the interviewer that you are serious about the program. If you are interviewing early you might say, “As soon as I was offered an invitation I took the opportunity to visit because I am very enthused about this institution.” If late, you might say, “I wanted to maximally prepare for this interview because I am very interested in being here.”
Contact me soon for mock interview assistance. I am scheduling two to three weeks in advance.
For those of you who will be seeking mock interviews please email me as soon as you receive your first invitation so that we can schedule a slot. Although it is early in the season, I am already booking two to three weeks in advance. Giving me as much notice as possible is really helpful. My email: insidermedical@gmail.com .
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
