MEDICAL SCHOOL AND RESIDENCY INTERVIEWS: “TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF.”

I am not sure if any surveys have been conducted to determine how many medical admissions officers start medical school and residency interviews with this request but, based on my experience, I can tell you that a very large percentage of interviews begin this way. Most applicants are terrified of this prompt. They don’t know what they should say, how far back they should “go,” and what topics they should cover. I advise applicants to capitalize on the opportunity that “tell me about yourself” presents. When you respond, you can provide information about topics that are most significant to you and then allow the interviewer to “cherry pick” and ask you about those topics that most interest him or her. Here are a few general guidelines on how to reply to “tell me about yourself”:

1) Before walking in to any interview, have a general idea of how you will respond to  “tell me about yourself.” As you prepare for your interviews, think about who you are and your path to the interview seat. One approach is to create an outline of your most meaningful experiences – both personal, academic, and extracurricular. Then “talk through” the outline.

2) Speak about those experiences and qualities that distinguish you most. These details will obviously differ for every applicant. Don’t feel that you must limit your reply to medically and scientifically related pursuits and interests; you should talk about your background and meaningful and significant extracurricular accomplishments as well.

3) Stay on topic and give a comprehensive overview of your candidacy and life. Some people make the mistake of responding to “tell me about yourself” by talking about why they want to be a doctor or rambling randomly about a variety of topics.

4) Don’t talk about any one experience in tremendous detail. You should think of your response in an “outline” format. You don’t want to elaborate about any one topic; give your interviewer room to ask about those topics she would like to hear more about.

In reality, “tell me about yourself” is what you want your interviewer to say first. It allows you to talk about those topics that are most important to your candidacy, and your answer sets the stage for what you most want to discuss. If you practice your response and know your general approach before walking into your interview, not only will you look forward to “tell me about yourself” instead of dreading it, but you will confidently deliver your reply, establishing a good tone for your entire interview.

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This information is based on content in The Medical School Interview, The Residency Interview, and The MedEdits Guide to Medical School Admissions, books that help applicants prepare for the interview processes. If you want help preparing for interviews, contact MedEdits.

MEDICAL SCHOOL INTERVIEW MYTHS

Some pitfalls of the medical school interview are obvious: Don’t ramble, don’t say “um” too much, don’t be rude to people, don’t chew gum and don’t greet your interviewer like this: “Hey Dave. It is great to meet you. I read everything I could find about you on the internet.” But what pitfalls might not be so obvious?

Not being prepared

You studied for the MCAT. You composed multiple drafts of your personal statement. So, why is it that you think walking in cold to your first medical school interview is acceptable? I find that many outstanding medical school applicants who have an impressive list of accomplishments are often not able to clearly articulate their motivations and paths to pursue a career in medicine. All great performances require practice, and speaking about yourself and essentially marketing your candidacy is not easy. So, practice, practice, practice. Most undergraduate career centers offer mock interviews. Or you can grab a friend, teacher, parent or relative who has more experience than you do in this arena. Practicing also builds confidence, which helps your performance.

Overpracticing

On the opposite side of the coin, practicing too much can also hurt you. Why? First of all, you don’t want your answers to sound rehearsed or canned. Ideally, you want your medical school interview to be conversational so if you are fixated on what you have rehearsed, a conversation pattern for which you didn’t prepare can make you overly anxious. In the same way, over-rehearsed applicants often stumble when they receive a question they weren’t anticipating. This is also an issue for the fortunate applicant who has multiple interviewers. Try to keep your answers fresh, which can be challenging after being asked “Why do you want to be a doctor” for the 17th time.

Getting psyched out before the interview

“Everyone there already had at least 5 acceptances.” “I was the only one at the interview from a non-Ivy League school. I have no chance.” Sometimes the interactions between candidates as they wait for their interviewer or a presentation about the school can be harmful. Obviously, you don’t want to seem like a social outcast and sit alone in a corner of the conference room while the other applicants are chatting. But at the same time, you don’t want these casual conversations to cause you unnecessary anxiety before you enter your interviewer’s office. Though it’s tough, try to stay away from, “So, where else have you interviewed/been accepted” type of topics. And, if such questions do arise, answer vaguely or change the topic without being rude. If you were invited for an interview, you are just as qualified as everyone else sitting in that room with you, and each interview is an opportunity for acceptance.

Adhering to strict rules

“I heard I should speak only for a maximum of three minutes per answer.” “I heard that I need to ask my interviewer at least three questions to seem interested in the school.” Many myths are out there about what you “must do” or “not do” on interviews. Remember that your interviewers are not robots; they are individuals. The vast majority of interviews are not scripted so the rhythm and flow of an interview will depend on many factors, including your interviewer’s style, level of experience and even his or her mood that day. It is important to enter each interview with an open mind as to how the interview might progress. For example, some less-experienced interviewers may feel uncomfortable having a fluid conversation whereas the more experienced medical educator might purposefully get off topic and start a conversation about something in your background that you didn’t expect.

Telling them what they want to hear

It is important to research your school before your interview so you have a clear idea of its mission and values. You also want to try and tailor your answers so you fit these ideals as best you can. But the applicant who says something that is not sincere or that is inconsistent with her background has fallen right into a major pitfall. For example, the school that values community service is seeking students who have a demonstrated commitment in this area but also wants students who have other interests. When an applicant who has no background in community service says that she hopes to become involved in helping the underserved during medical school, her assertion seems patently false. Be true to yourself and make sure that everything you say is consistent with your background and experiences.

Trying too hard to “stand out” or “be distinctive.”

Applicants are always concerned about standing out from the crowd. “What can I say that will make me different than everyone else?” “What can I do that will be unique?” First of all, you cannot change who you are on your medical school interview day. Most interviews are somewhat biographical so your experiences are what they are. I find that when applicants try too hard to be “different,” they often undermine their own success. Medical schools are not evaluating you on your distinctiveness, per se; they are trying to assess your motivation for a career in medicine, intelligence, communication skills and level of compassion, among other qualities. Sure, candidates who have accomplished something truly unusual are evaluated differently, but these candidates are the exception. Ironically, applicants who exude confidence, enthusiasm and authenticity and who are “comfortable in their own skin” are often the individuals who stand out. So, be yourself. A seasoned interviewer can sniff out insincerity. Trying to be someone or something that you are not will inevitably negatively impact your performance and your interviewer’s evaluation.

Ultimately, every interview dynamic is affected by the rapport between the interviewer and applicant, the interviewer’s approach and the applicant’s comfort level in speaking about himself, his motivations and his ideals. Be aware of the common pitfalls and be able to express who you are, why you want to pursue a career in medicine and how you got there.

By Dr. Jessica Freedman, www.mededits.com

Author: The Medical School Interview and The MedEdits Guide to Medical School Admissions

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THE MULTIPLE MINI INTERVIEW (MMI): DO EXTROVERTS HAVE AN ADVANTAGE?

A study about personality type and performance on  the multiple mini interview (MMI) found that extroverts do well in this format and that exhibiting extroversion and agreeableness boosts the likelihood of getting an offer. This finding, by researchers at the University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, is no surprise, though it’s great to have data to support the similar sentiments that Dr. Freedman expressed in a letter to the editor in the New York Times.

I find that medical school interviewees are often focused on giving “the right answer,” which is not really what the MMI interviewer is seeking. MMI interviewers instead are concerned with understanding your thought process, gaining insight into how you navigate a problem and work with others, and with getting a sense of your values and ideals. This is why extroverts, who are good at talking, discussing, and listening, and enjoy being around new groups of people, tend to perform better than introverts, who tend to be more reflective and comfortable with small groups of people whom they know well. For many extroverts, the MMI format is ideal. For introverts, however, it can be incredibly anxiety provoking and may hurt their chances of acceptance.

Perhaps MMI interviewers should take into account that introverts might have different interview styles and approaches and should be evaluated accordingly. Introverts prefer to be alone and like to “act” only after they have had time to reflect – they often don’t “move quickly enough.” Not great for an MMI interview. Is it time to evaluate applicants differently depending on whether they are introverts or extroverts?

Regardless of your personality type, everyone does better on medical school interviews if they practice with us. Let us hear from you if you are interested in our medical school mock interview services.  Contact MedEdits Medical Admissions at www.mededits.com

MEDICAL SCHOOL ADMISSIONS CONSULTING AND STORYTELLING

Storytelling is at the core of the profession of medicine – it is often the first exchange between doctor and patient as they begin their relationship. Similarly, when you tell your story during medical school and residency admissions processes, your future professor/colleague will be listening. Like the patient’s chart, your application will tell your story, but it will come to life only when you arrive on campus and meet people in the admissions or program office and interview with faculty members.

Interviewers often will ask you, “tell me about yourself” or “why medicine?” – this is your cue to tell your story. The better you know your story, the better you will tell it.  A great answer can convey how insightful you are, how thoughtful, how reflective. Are you familiar with yourself on a deep level? Have you reflected on your decision to pursue medicine and discussed it with a few trusted friends or family? Have you journaled about it, even your concerns? Every good story has a beginning and an end, one or more problems or dilemmas, and high and low points. To captivate your interviewer with how you arrived at this moment of pursuing medicine or residency, you need to go back a ways – to the beginning wherever that is for you – and be open to sharing some personal information that led to your decision. Think about your favorite work of fiction or non-fiction, or your favorite movie. Now go a step further and figure out why it resonates with you. Take cues from that story and craft your own.

Students often worry that whatever their story, the interviewer has “heard it before.” Not true. Just as every patient has a story uniquely his own, so too does the applicant. Before your interview, spend some time thinking about what your story really is. If you prepare for this question and then answer it honestly and engagingly, your story will be compelling.

By Laurie Brown Tansey, MA
Senior Consultant, MedEdits Medical Admissions

JULY MEDICAL SCHOOL INTERVIEWS

It may only be July 30th, but MedEdits clients already have medical school interview invitations!!! We congratulate our students and see this as a good sign of things to come!

However, it is still very early in the medical school admissions process so don’t worry if you aren’t at the interview stage yet! We can help you get there.

If you need help preparing for your medical school interview, click here.

Also be sure to read our book, The Medical School Interview.

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