It's the med school interview season again!
If you've already received an interview call, CONGRATULATIONS! And if you haven't heard from the universities you applied to, don't worry, interview calls are sent out in batches all the way until March sometimes.
Here is a simple tried-and-tested manual you can use as a basic guide to answer just about any interview question.
STEP 1: LISTEN
It is no secret that active listening is a skill almost every interviewer looks for and an interview is the perfect place to show you have it. In order to actively listen and deconstruct the question into smaller answerable chunks, you first need to relax! There is no way you'll fully listen to and understand the question asked if you're too tense or conscious of what is happening.
Listen to and engage with the interviewer by responding with appropriate (don't overdo it!) non verbal cues like facial expressions or nodding. You may sometimes be asked multiple follow up questions at once, pay attention to all parts of the question.
One thing many students are afraid of is not understanding the question. This may happen irrespective of how much you prepared before hand. If it does, do not panic, just tell the interviewer that you didn't understand the question and ask them to explain what they meant. By not doing this and trying to wing it, you might just make a fool of yourself.
If you've completed STEP 1 of this manual, you're already showing that you are an active listener, are honest, and not afraid of saying you don't know!
STEP 2: THINK
A lot of the times, students think they need to get all the answers right in order to do well in their interview. But this is not true. The interviewers don't just want an answer so don't jump to it! Instead, tell them how you would get to that answer. Think out loud to let them know that you can solve problems in a logical manner.
Each time you answer an interview question, start with an open mind and consider all the different aspects and arguments relevant to the scenario. It's also fine if the approach you took didn't lead you to the answer the first time around, just say " This approach is not relevant because of so-and-so." and try taking a different route the next time.
It is important that the interviewer gets to know you as person, so try adding your opinion on the matter in question and why you think as you do towards the end. This will add a slight personal touch to your answer and make you stand out from the crowd. But make it clear that it is your personal opinion and that you appreciate all the different ways in which the question can be looked at.
STEP 3: CONCLUDE
So yeah...
A lot of us end our high school presentations with the above phrase, but how awkward and incomplete does that feel?
Make sure you conclude well, don't let your pitch slowly drop as you get towards the end of your answer. Wrap up with a quick summary of what you said in 1-2 sentences. This will give the impression of delivering a neat and well structured answer.
And with these 3 basic steps, you've got most of the common interview questions under your belt! We wish you all the best with your med school interviews and hope to see you joining your dream university with flying colors!
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