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FOR Med/Vet/Dental School

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Give yourself time to become ready for your interviews. It willmake all the difference!

1. Know yourself, gather your thoughts.

2. Practice speaking.3. First Impressions: you can only make them once.

4. The Interview experience.5. Question hints

6. Types of Questions

7. Learn about the school you are visiting.

8. Anticipate logistics.

9. Consider your clothes.10.Styles of Interviews

11.Be yourselfBe honest

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SIT DOWN AND WRITE!

GATHER AS IF DOING A RESEARCH PROJECT. There are many common questions that are askedyou can have

already thought through many of them.

An interview can have surprises, but if you gather your thoughts aboutkey questions you will be more flexible and at the ready for any

questions.

When your stories and experiences are easily available in your mind,you will feel much more at ease.

Question examples include: Why do you want to practice medicine?

What are some of your strengths and weaknesses? Tell us about a timewhen you overcame a challenge? Tell us about yourself? . (Moreabout questions posted at end of pwrpt)

A good resource= 100 Medical School Interview Practice Questions @http://www.colorado.edu/aac/PreMed_interviewquestions.pdf

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This Cant Be Overstated. Your interview is aconversation. Whether you are shy orextroverted, you can become more at easewith expressing yourself skillfully.It is a huge leap from thinking your thoughts to SPEAKINGthem aloud. Practice so you can easefully translate yourthoughts into verbal communication with others.

Get together with friends or family and have them ask youquestions. This gives you the chance to build your capacityto respond coherently and be more relaxed, moreyourself.

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Smile, Connect! BODY LANGUAGE SPEAKS

DO

Arrive on time (aka, 15minutes early)

Dress appropriately Treat everyone you meet

well-interview starts whenyou enter front door. Have a firm handshake Make good eye contact Use good (nice long

spine), and attentive

posture.

o t

Be late Be sloppy Look down or disconnect

during greeting. Bring food Slouch Put arms in defensive

position Play with your hair or

face.

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If you are at an interview: Congratulations! This is already a greatstep. Now you have a chance to be met in person, use it well.

Interviewers are often very experienced. They genuinely want toget to know you better and want to have a conversation with you.The interview is not meant to be scary though you might feelnervous (which is natural). It is meant to engage you.

If you need a moment to answer, take a moment. Hmmm, good

question.. If you stumble, its okay to laugh at yourselfrecover, move on.

Talk WITH the interviewer, not AT the interviewer. If you dontunderstand something, ask for clarity. This is a conversation.

Answer the question asked. If its repeated, they want you to give

more of an answer. If you dont know or have, the answer to something, let them

know, dont fake it. They can tell.

Confidence is different than arrogance. Be sincere.

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Theyre not trying to trick you!Each Q is an opportunity to let them know moreabout youhow you engage is as important as

what you say!

Q: why do you want to be aphysician? *Remember what a physician does.

Theyre not just looking for a greatstudent or researcher, but alsosomeone with the spirit/desire to helppeople.

Q: Describe a weakness. Turn this around. Think of a quality of

yours that at its best is a strength butsometimes is a challenge. IE: I love totake initiative and enjoy the challengeof helping start projects. However,sometimes I have to be very mindfulbecause I can take on too much.

Q. What would you do if a parent refused acontroversial, but life-saving treatment for

their child? Questions like these are chances for them to

learn about your reasoning skills, empathy,understanding of first do no harm. Therearent right answers. Be thoughtful andgenuinely consider your answer.

Q: How do you spend your free time? They really want to know! What do

you enjoy in life? Talk about aninterest, a passion: Nature? A sport?Time cooking with friends? Begenuine!

Q: Tell me something about yourself? Think of this as an icebreaker vs. an

overwhelming blank slate. Anopportunity to suggest a topic ofconversation by mentioning somethingmeaningful to you. Is there somethingyoud love for them to know tha tdidnt make it onto your application?

Q: What will you do if you dont getinto Medical School? Do you really want to go? Tell them

about your plans to become a betterapplicant next time around. Theyrelooking for applicants who really WANTto practice medicine, not just think itsa good idea.

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Personal Your Motivation and

Commitment Knowledge of

Program Education &

Experience Goals and Plans

Current Events andIssues in Medicine Behavioral/Choices

Practice Questions in all

these areas and you

will be FABULOUSLY

preparedeven if you

cant have predicted aquestion you actually

get. You will have

greater access to

yourself and yourability to be flexible

and creative!

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Before any interview, read up on the school you are

visiting! Look at any info on the schools own website.

Read what you can from other sources. If you want to

be taken seriously, you need to know something about

who you are meeting!

Are there any programs you are curious about?

Are there any projects that youve noted with interest?

Are you aware of any unique attributes about the institution?

Anything YOUD Like to know??

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Do make sure to dress appropriately! Its not ablack tie affair, but even if THEY are casual,

and many interviewers will be, You need to bespiffy.

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STRUCTURES Individual, one on one

interview

Panel: several

interviewers at once Multiple Mini Interview

= MMI

OTHER INFO about interviews:

Some are blind ie: theyhavent seen any other partof your app.

Some are partial blind,

usually have seen everythingbut your scores Some are Open, so its up

to the interviewer whethertheyve read your app.

**So you many get questionsthat sound like they knownothing about you, or quite abit

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The more prepared you are the easier it is to be

comfortable in this unique experience, and to be yourself.

Always be honest. After interviewing perhaps 100s ofcandidates over the yearsinterviewers are excellent at

discerning sincerity, honestly and a true desire to becomea medical professional!

Good Luck!!!