Medical School Interview Tips and Personal Insights

Medical school applicants should connect personal experiences to their reasons for choosing a school during interviews.

### Tips for Medical School Interviews: Answering Key Questions Effectively
* 🦠 Fingers crossed to avoid any wasps, as the speaker shares their **excitement about moving into medical school in three days** and the challenges of filming in the heat **without a fan**.
* 🎥 The video aims to provide insights on two important interview questions: "**Why did you choose our school?**" and "**Do you have any other questions?**"
* 🔍 To answer why a specific school is chosen, the speaker advises researching the school's website to find aspects that align with one's application, such as **strong research programs**.
* 👥 Personal connections can also enhance responses; knowing students or physicians from the school can provide **valuable insights to mention during the interview**.
* 🏥 The speaker emphasizes the importance of a **supportive community** in medical school, sharing their own experience of thriving in **collaborative environments** rather than competitive ones.
* ❓ When it comes to the final question of whether you have any other questions, the speaker suggests asking about **clinical rotation locations** and the **best aspects of the school** to gauge fit and gather more information.
* 🗣 The speaker reflects on their own interview experiences, noting they used the opportunity to **discuss their gap year activities** and reaffirm their **dedication to the school**, especially since they were **reapplying**.
* 👋 The video concludes with hopes of **starting medical school orientation soon**, thanking viewers for watching despite the **uncomfortable heat**.

Fingers crossed we don't come across any wasps in here because that's why I couldn't film before in here. It is so incredibly sweaty in here, but I don't want to turn on the fan because I don't want it to be loud. Hi guys, so I'm gonna be moving into medical school in three days, and I'm super, super excited. I thought it would be smart to pre-film this video since once I'm in medical school, I'm probably not gonna have a ton of time to film. So without further ado, I wanted to do another video in the interview series today. So this time, I wanted to talk about two different questions. So the first question is, Why did you choose our school? or Why do you want to go to our school? And the second question, kind of, it's not really a question, but it's the statement, Do you have any other questions? And this might be applicable to some interviews, and it might not. So I just wanted to talk a little bit about things you can say at the end of your

interview to help you. Alright, so let's start with why our school. The first thing I recommend you do is you comb their website and find something on their website that really speaks to your application. For example, if your application was really strong in research information, then go online to their research programs and check out programs that you think you might be interested in. Another thing you might want to consider is if you know somebody at the school already. If you know someone at the school, ask them what they really like about the school, and then in your interview, you can bring up that personal connection. Along those same lines, do you know a physician who went to the school that you're applying to and that really inspired you? This is a little bit more applicable if the school is near where you live or where you work or where you grew up, but it's another thing to keep in consideration. Another thing to consider is if you're interested in association with a big Research Hospital. Some schools have them, and some schools don't, so if that's something that's really attractive to

you. I would mention that at the end of the day you want to make sure that whatever you say relates back to your application in some. You don't want it to just come out of the blue or you don't want it to seem like you just pick something random off their website. So, this is what I said when I was asked that question. I talked about the fact that I actually knew some students at the school already and that those students praise the school for its collaborative community. When I was an undergrad, I struggled really, really hard to learn on my own, and I only started doing well when I became a part of the pre-med community. So, having this community of people who are really hard-working and supportive is something that was really important to me when looking at medical schools, and this is one of the reasons why I applied to this school in particular. I didn't think I would perform well in a school that was very cutthroat. I also discussed that the school's physicians have a pretty large influence in the community where I grew.

up which I've mentioned in videos before, but a lot of the physicians in my community come from this school. So, that's what I said when I was asked why our school. And there are tons of different answers. You just need to find the one that fits you and fits your application. Next, I want to get into what will probably be the last thing that they ask you in your interview, and that is, Do you have any other questions? or Would you like to add anything? Some schools allow time at the end of your interview for questions that you want to ask the administration, and some schools actually don't allow you to do this because they think that it puts pressure on the students to find the perfect interview question that will make them look good. In reality, it's just an opportunity to get to know more about the program that you couldn't find online somewhere. So, all of the interviews I went to didn't allow me to ask questions, but I do have a couple of questions that I probably would have asked if I had been given the

opportunity. So, the first question I probably would have asked is if they have a typical location for most of their clinical rotations, excluding away rotations. And this is just for my personal interest, so that I can figure out where I'm gonna be in 3 to 4 years. I would probably also ask what they thought the best aspect of their school was, especially if I didn't have a contact already at that school, a student that I could talk to and learn things from. Ask things that you're really interested in, in general. You kind of want to use this as an answer opportunity to give the school a chance to sell itself, because you as an applicant do have to sell yourself. But at the end of the day, they want you to pick their school if you're accepted, so they need to do a little bit of work and sell themselves as well. So, like I said before, all of my interviews didn't allow me to ask questions at the end, and that's to reduce that pressure of having to ask the perfect question. If I had

questions I asked them to the first and second years who were giving us our tours. However, the interviews did give me an opportunity to talk about anything else that I wanted to mention that either wasn't on my application or wasn't touched in the interview. So, I used this time to talk about what I had done during my gap year, and that included volunteering, scribing, doing research, taking an extra course, and improving my MCAT score. And I also talked about the fact that because the school is relatively close to my hometown, I would have a good support system nearby when medical school inevitably becomes really hard. I wanted them to know that I was reapplying to their program again this year, and that showed that I was dedicated to this school in particular. I also noticed that one of the interviewers at the school that I was accepted to was also my interviewer the previous year when I applied the first time. So, I made sure to say things like, Oh, it's really good to see you again. I'm really glad to have this opportunity.

once again, just so that they could pick up on the fact, and they really understood the fact that I was reapplying to the school after being wait-listed and rejected, and that I was extremely dedicated to this school in particular. Yes, so those are my suggestions on answering the questions why our school and the end question of do you have any questions or is there anything else you would like to add. Hopefully, by the time I post this video, I will already have started medical school orientation. Alright guys, thanks for watching. Bye bye. [Music] It's hot in here. [Music]

Interview Series: Why Our School / Any Other Questions

Ariella Anthony

The speaker is moving into medical school in three days and is pre-filming a video on interview questions.

They recommend researching the school's website for programs that align with the applicant's strengths and making personal connections with current students or alumni.

Additionally, they suggest considering the school's association with a big research hospital as a factor in the decision.

Making a Strong Case for Your Medical School Application

Highlighting a collaborative community and supportive peers was key in the author's decision to apply to the school.

The school's physicians' influence in the author's hometown also played a significant role.

The author emphasizes the importance of finding a personal connection to the school when answering interview questions.

It's important to ask about typical locations for clinical rotations and the school's best aspects to gauge fit.

Use the interview as an opportunity to share unique experiences and demonstrate dedication to the school.

Building a connection with interviewers and expressing gratitude for the opportunity can leave a positive impression.

Reapplying to Medical School: Tips and Dedication

The speaker emphasizes their dedication to the school by reapplying after being wait-listed and rejected.

They suggest highlighting this commitment when answering the school's questions.

The speaker hopes to start medical school orientation by the time the video is posted.