Congrats to those who have already been invited for medical school interviews. It’s early in the season, so if you are an applicant who has not been invited yet, do not dismay.
Getting into medical school has gotten so competitive; the interview is critical. But what are medical schools looking for during the interview process?
1. They are seeking someone distinctive. Your goal is to distinguish yourself from all of the other applicants by showcasing your accomplishments. Anyone can say s/he wants to help people or is hard working. Fewer candidates can prove it with their pre-professional achievements.
2. They want to ensure you are committed to medicine and that you have an idea of what you are getting yourself into. Medical school is tough; the institutions are not seeking someone who is ambivalent and might quit. Giving examples of your clinical experience can help.
3. The schools want to ensure you are reasonable. They want to see that you don’t have a problem personality, aren’t going to harass your colleagues, aren’t going to cause them embarrassment or extra work. Being professional during the interview day and having strong letters are important.
4. They want to hear that you are particularly interested in their institution. You can convince them of your interest by knowing specifics about the school and city.
One would never take the MCAT without practicing first and yet, countless applicants go to medical school interviews without preparing. If you are interested in working with me, please hire me with at least two weeks’ advance, as I’m booking up quickly.
I get asked by clients about the best way to send post-interview thank you notes – email versus snail mail. I strongly advise sending hand-written notes. Email can be viewed as less labor-intensive or thoughtful.
