THE APPLICATION PROCESS: Preparing for the Interview
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A nice overview of the medical school interview process and how to prepare by the University of Louisville chapter of Alpha Epsilon Delta.

Preparing for the Professional School Interview
Taking Part in the Professional School Interview
Post-Interview Evaluation
Self-Analysis Prior to the Admissions Interview
What Interviewers Look For and Assess
What Turns Interviewers Off?
Questions Interviewers May Ask

Preparing for the Professional School Interview

A. Analyze yourself thoroughly.

B. Learn everything you can about the field you wish to enter: history, recent developments, trends, areas, leaders, problems, etc.

C. Learn everything about the school you wish to enter: faculty, curriculum, requirements, specialties, uniqueness, history, organization locations, expansion plans, reputation, major achievements, etc.

D. Learn everything you can about what happens during admissions interviews from friends, professionals, workshops, advisors, professors, etc.

1. What do interviewers look for and assess?
2. What turns interviewers off?
3. What kinds of questions are asked?
4. What kinds of interviewing approaches do students encounter?

E. Be aware of current events: local, state, national, and international.

F. Prepare your credentials carefully: What kind of image do you want to communicate prior to the interview?

G. Think of questions you would like to ask if given the opportunity during the interview.

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Taking Part in the Professional School Interview

A. Be on time -- even a few minutes early.

B. Be neat and appropriately dressed.

C. Be polite and courteous to everyone you meet.

D. Do not arrive at the interview expecting the worst; the worst may happen because you expect it to happen.

E. Remember that the first 3-4 minutes are crucial to a successful interview.

F. Be interested in the interview and the school and show it!

G. Answering questions:

1. Listen carefully to each question and to information given.
2. Do not interrupt or try to second guess the interviewer.
3. Think before answering tough questions.
4. Do not try to bluff the interviewer; if you do not know an answer, say so
5. Answer all questions thoroughly, honestly, to the point, and with good grammar and choice of language.
6. Avoid overkill in answers.
7. Avoid underkill in answers.
8. Do not make excuses, give reasons and explanations for weaknesses or past problems.
9. Refrain from developing phony, canned answers to commonly asked questions.
10. Do not dismiss a question too quickly as "irrelevant" or "dumb."
11. Do not try to match a stereotyped applicant, especially ones portrayed on television.

H. Ask intelligent questions if you have some to ask.
I. Be prepared to face a multiple-person interview committee.
J. Do nothing merely for the sake of making a good impression.
K. Close the interview in high gear, not a sigh of relief.

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Post-Interview Evaluation

A. Caution: Do not overreact to feedback or your perceptions that the interview did not go well.

B. Do a thorough review after each interview:

1. What communication problems did you encounter?
2. What information did you not have?
3. Which questions did you have trouble answering?
4. How well did you handle stress situations?
5. How did your questions come out?
6. How did this interview compare to previous interviews you have had: admissions, employment, counseling, job appraisals?
7. What background weaknesses were revealed, and what can you do about them?
8. What "surprises" did you encounter?
9. How can you prepare better for the next interview?

C. Give feedback to other students to help others in their "trials by fire."

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Self-Analysis Prior to the Admissions Interview

1. What are my personality strengths and weaknesses: dependable, honest, moral standards, motivated, assertive, outgoing, open-minded, ,mature, conscientious, ambitious, punctual, emotionally stable, ability to motivate others?

2. What are my intellectual strengths and weaknesses: creative, intelligent, analytical, organized, ability to follow instructions, ability to learn quickly?

3. What are my communicative strengths and weaknesses: ability to communicate with people, oral communication skills, written communication skills, poise, and ability to listen?

4. What are my professional strengths and weaknesses: formal and informal training, vocational and a vocational experience, references, membership in professional organizations?

5. What are my on-the-job strengths and weaknesses: attendance, willingness to work long hours, willingness to work evenings and weekends, ability to make good use of time, desire to work hard, ability to accept criticism, close detail work, ability to work under pressure?

6. What are my professional interests and disinterests: areas of study, specialization, administration, travel, relocation, short and long range goals?

7. Why do I want to be a physician, dentist, and veterinarian: challenge, responsibility, job security, contact with people, independence, involvement in decision-making, duties, benefits, salary, and prestige?

8. What are my most valued needs as a human being: possessions, salary, free time, recognition, advancement, success, family, lasting relationships, "roots?"

9. Why did I attend my University and how happy am I with this decision: size of school, prestige, areas of study, students, faculty, nearness to my home, recommendations of others, sports?

10. Why did I study . . . and how happy am I with this choice: job opportunities, personal abilities, reputation of the school, subject matter, challenge, advice from parents, advisors, faculty, or others?

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What Interviewers Look For and Assess

1. Integrity: ethics, morals, sincerity, honesty, responsibility, dependability, and genuineness.

2. Ability to communicate: nonverbal communication (voice, eye-contact, gestures, posture, nervous mannerisms, handshake, facial expressions), verbal communication (language, grammar, ability to organize and express ideas in answers and questions), ability to listen.

3. Physical bearing: poise, appearance (neatness, appropriate dress, grooming).

4. Personality and human relations skills: ability to create a favorable first impression, understanding of others, tolerance, empathy, sense of humor, warmth, ability to relate, interest in and desire to help people, compassion, objectivity, tactfulness, open-mindedness, independence, self-reliance.

5. Maturity: appropriate for age, status, and experience; reasons for wanting to be a . . .; understanding of the field and daily work of a . . . ; knowledge of trends, issues, problems, strengths and weaknesses, and developments in the chosen field, realistic self-concept.

6. Motivation: strength of desire to enter the field, desire to attend this school, initiative, drive, enthusiasm, perseverance, knowledge of this school.

7. Emotional stability: ability to handle pressure and stress, ability to carry out responsibilities, self-discipline, self-confidence, mental alertness.

8. Experiences: vocational (vocationally oriented curricular and extra curricular activities in college, work with people in the chosen field), and non-vocational (non-vocationally oriented curricular and extra curricular activities, work experiences, working with people).

9. Knowledge: of current events, of the theories and practical applications of these theories to the chosen field.

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What Turns Interviewers Off?

1. Applicant is caught lying.
2. Applicant is rude or impolite.
3. Applicant shows a lack of interest in the interview.
4. Applicant puts his/her feet on the desk.
5. Applicant lacks sincerity.
6. Applicant is evasive.
7. Applicant tries to bluff during the interview.
8. Applicant is unable to concentrate.
9. Applicant displays a lack of initiative.
10. Applicant is indecisive, lacks ability to make decisions.
11. Applicant has an arrogant, "know-it-all" attitude.
12. Applicant has a persecuted attitude.
13. Applicant tries to use pull to obtain admission.
14. Applicant has an offensive body odor.
15. Applicant has poor personal appearance.
16. Applicant is unable to express himself/herself clearly.
17. Applicant exhibits no planning for a career, no purpose or goals.
18. Applicant lacks confidence and poise.
19. Applicant shows a lack of tact.
20. Applicant seems immature.
21. Applicant condemns past employer
22. Applicant does not look the interviewer in the eyes.
23. Applicant has a limp, fishy handshake.
24. Applicant shows little sense of humor.
25. Applicant lacks knowledge about the field.
26. Applicant is cynical.
27. Applicant has narrow interests.
28. Applicant gives vague responses to many questions.
29. Applicant is too interested in money.
30. Applicant makes excuses for failures or weaknesses.

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Questions Interviewers May Ask

1. What personal characteristics do you have that would make you an outstanding . . .?
2. What are the strengths of your training? Weaknesses?
3. Which area of . . . interests you the most?
4. What do you hope to be doing ten years from now?
5. Fifteen years from now what would you like to look back upon as your major contribution in . . . ?
6. How do you feel about increasing governmental involvement in the health professions?
7. How do you feel about socialized medicine?
8. How has a major in . . . prepared you for . . . school?
9. If you had your education to do over again, what would you do differently?
10. Do you think medicine is an art or a science?
11. Describe yourself for me.
12. Tell me about your family background.
13. What experiences have you had in . .
14. Why do you want to be a . . .
15. Why should we choose you over the many other applicants we have?
16. What do you know about our school?
17. How do you feel about euthanasia? How is it similar and different from "mercy killing?"
18. What do you know about the history of . . . ?
19. What have you read lately?
20. What special area of . . . interests you the most? The least?
21. What do you think is the single greatest problem facing . . . today?
22. Would you tell a patient that he is dying? How would you go about it?
23. How do you feel about the XYZ (any recent controversial medically related incident) case?

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