Interview Preparation
Health profession schools that are still interested in you after reviewing your composite letter, primary application (such as AMCAS), test scores, and secondary application will invite you for an interview. The nature of these interviews varies from school to school. You may sit for more than one interview during your visit. Interviews will generally be with members of the admissions committee, which is typically composed of faculty and administrators, and sometimes students. Your interview day will usually include other activities such as a tour of the facilities, meals, and a chance to talk to current students.
Admissions committees meet regularly throughout the application cycle and offer interviews to students with completed applications. Completing your applications early will certainly increase your chances of being interviewed early in the cycle. However, even if your applications are finished early, invitations to interviews can come at any point in the cycle, which runs roughly from September through early April.
Sample Interview Questions
- How would you describe yourself?
- What do feel are your biggest strengths? And weaknesses?
- Where do you see yourself in 15 years?
- What do you do to relax?
- When did you first become interested in medicine (dentistry, veterinary medicine, etc)?
- No career is perfect. What do you think are the downfalls of the profession?
- What qualities do you have that would make you a good health care provider?
- How would you change the health care system?
- What are the biggest problems in the country other than healthcare?
- What is it about our school which makes you think it would be a good fit for you?
- I have to present your candidacy in front of the admissions committee – what do you want me to tell them about you?