You may have heard the term “elevator pitch,” a short summary a business person uses to describe and – hopefully – sell her product or service. In preparing for medical school and residency interviews, you, too, should create an elevator pitch to sell – you.

Create a 1-2 minute “summary statement” that recaps your candidacy. If you have this elevator pitch at the tip of your tongue, you’ll be at a great advantage, ready to answer questions like “Tell me about yourself” and prepared to showcase your accomplishments in other answers throughout the interview session.