Interviews

Interviews are a valuable tool for admissions committees to assess you on subjective criteria that cannot be determined by your test scores or GPA. They are also a useful opportunity for you to get to know the schools, their faculty and their students better, and determine whether the school would be a right fit for you.

Interview formats vary from school to school, and interviews can run from anywhere between 30 minutes to over an hour. Some school will set up a series of one-on-one interviews for you, while others organize panel interviews. Once you have been invited for an interview, call the admissions office to ask for specific information on the interview process and format. Most interview days will also include orientation and financial aid sessions, campus tours, and the opportunity to talk with current students. If you are interested and arrange to do so ahead of time, you may even be able to sit in on a class.

Remember, interviews are your opportunity to make a personal impression on the admissions committee. Be well-prepared, but also relax, be yourself, and be personable but professional.

Preparation

Good preparation is essential to making your best impression at the interview. Moreover, it will help increase your confidence on the interview day.
• Research the school—know what makes it unique, and why you would be a good fit for that particular institution.
• Ask ahead of time what the format of the interview will be.
• Re-read all your application materials, and make sure you talk meaningfully about any of the activities/experiences you reference in your application.
• Read magazines and newspapers to be informed about current issues in the health fields.
• Be prepared to discuss ethical issues and answer hypothetical questions.
• Utilize L&S Career Services. They offer mock interviews, will evaluate your interview, and give you tips for improvement and success.
• Have pre-prepared questions that are tailored to the specific program. Deep questions show that you’re genuinely interested and have done your homework.
• Look into feedback from students who have interviewed at the school previously on the Student Doctor Network. But remember, everyone’s interview experience is unique, so don’t plan for your interview based off of others’ experiences.
• Try to group interviews by geographic area to save yourself time and money. Most schools are willing to work through scheduling issues with applicants, so don’t be afraid to contact them to see if you can reschedule.
• Take a look at some sample questions (PDF). This are not a comprehensive list of possible interview questions, but will give you some idea for what interviews may look like.
• Another resource you may want to consult is the National Association of Advisors in the Health Professions’ brochure on interviewing. It is relatively inexpensive ($4), and can be ordered here.

Day of the Interview

Interview days can be long and somewhat hectic, so plan ahead to make your experience as smooth as possible.
• Give yourself plenty of time to get there. Budget a little extra time to make sure you can eat a full breakfast.
• Dress your best. Schools expect you to wear formal attire to your interviews.
• Bring water, a snack, extra copies of resume and application, a notebook and a pen.
• During the interview and orientation sessions, take notes on program information, or when you get responses to your questions.

During the Interview

• Greet everyone in the room individually. Wait to be asked to be seated before you sit down.
• Think and, if necessary, pause before answering questions, especially if they catch you off guard.
• Answer questions briefly but exhaustively. If questions have multiple parts, make sure you answer them all.
• Be honest!
• Think of each question as an opportunity to share a little more about yourself with your interviewer(s).
• Ask your own questions!
• Ask for a timeline for a decision at the end of the interview
• After the interview, consider sending a thank you letter to the admissions committee.