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Getting into med school is no easy feat, so if you’re currently preparing for a med school interview then congratulations! Just by getting an interview invite, you’re one step closer towards starting a career in the health service. Don’t worry if you’re feeling nervous about the next step though. The odds are that you’re not the only hopeful applicant breaking out in cold sweats in anticipation of their dreaded med school interview. There are so many things you can do to impress admissions officers and prepare for the big day, so calm your nerves by reading our med school interview guide.
Prepare for the specific type of interview you will be having
Not all medical schools follow the same interview format. While some universities favour panel-style interviews, applicants to UCLan’s bachelor’s of medicine should prepare for multiple mini interviews, a recruitment method that involves getting applicants to go around a room and complete activities with various members of staff.
Your assessors could be a scientist, clinical teacher, patient or even an actor charged with the task of evaluating your medical knowledge, interpersonal skills, ability to think on your feet and predisposition to be a doctor.
The best way to prepare for a multiple mini interview is to anticipate different scenarios and questions you might face during the interview.
Situational questions, for example, might test your ethical decision making, including hot button issues like patient autonomy, vaccines, euthanasia and medical cultural practices. Other areas you may be tested on include your communications skills, critical thinking and your awareness of healthcare-related news, so you may want to brush up on the latest health stories in the national and international newspapers.
Do some digging of your own
The QS World University Rankings by Subject for Life Sciences and Medicine are a good starting point for comparing medical schools worldwide, but if you’ve already set your heart on a particular medical school, try to find out as much as you can about how their medical degree programs differ from the ones offered by their competitors.
For example, UCLan’s medicine degree offers clinical experience very early on, from year one. Students are asked to complete two placements in a GP practice and community clinic in their first year, and gradually given work placements as they progress through the degree. Students on the course get first hand experience at National Health Service Trusts, including the Royal Blackburn Hospital, one of the busiest hospitals in North West England with large inpatient and outpatient departments, world-class medical facilities and a learning centre.
Reflecting on your motivations for joining a particular degree program will help you make sure it’s right for you, and having a list of reasons at the ready will also come in handy during your interview as you’ll almost certainly be asked about it.
Don’t be afraid to grill your interviewer
During an interview it can be easy to let your answers run away with you, so don’t forget to pause and take your time before giving your answers. If you are confused about any questions, ask for further clarification as to what the interviewer is asking or ask them to kindly reword their question – it shows you are conscientious and want to give the best answer you can.
Keep in mind that being inquisitive during the interview will not just help you give better answers: it’ll help make it clear to the admissions officer that you’re a thoughtful applicant who is seriously considering the university and the program.
Good general questions to ask at the end of your med school interview could include queries like:
- What areas does the program need to improve in?
- What are the course’s strongest aspects?
- What’s the most exciting research project in your department this year?
You may also want to ask about where graduates of this program end up practicing, what fields they end up going into, and what kind of support is offered to students in terms of mentoring, counselling or financial advice.
