Preparing for the AAMC VITA Interview · 19 hours ago · Review process open from June 25, 2020 to...

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Preparing for the AAMC VITA Interview

Dana Dunleavy, Ph.D., DirectorRebecca Fraser, Ph.D., DirectorAdmissions and Selection Research and Development

August 4, 2020

© 2020 AAMC. May not be reproduced without permission.

Agenda• Overview of the AAMC VITA interview• AAMC VITA process, policies, and guidelines• Navigating HireVue• Preparing for the AAMC VITA interview• Question & Answer

© 2020 AAMC. May not be reproduced without permission.3

Overview of AAMC VITA


Challenges• Unprecedented challenges in conducting in-person interviews

for the AMCAS 2021 cycle• Possibility of additional stay at home orders this fall• Safety of airline travel• Financial hardship of traveling

• Additional challenges in coordinating virtual MMI or traditional interviews for the AMCAS 2021 cycle


What AAMC VITA is:• Developed in collaboration with

medical schools as another way to gather information about applicant’s competencies

• Designed to complement the live interview process

• Developed with applicants in mind

• Has the same technology requirements as other virtual/video interview platforms schools will use

• Free to all applicants

What AAMC VITA is not:• Designed to replace the live

interview process• Using Artificial Intelligence (AI)

technology or computerized assessment

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AAMC Video Interview Tool For Admissions (VITA)


What does AAMC VITA measure?Social Skills

Cultural Competence

Teamwork

Reliability and Dependability

Resilience and Adaptability

Journey on the Path to Medicine


What is the format?

• Online• Text-based questions• Audio/video response – can be

completed on a computer, tablet or smart phone

• 6 questions• 24 minutes of interview time

• 60 sec to read each question• 3 min to respond per question

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How are schools planning to use AAMC VITA?• AAMC VITA was designed to pair with school-specific live

interviews• Schools will decide how to incorporate AAMC VITA into their

admissions process, including:• Timeframes and deadlines for applicants to complete VITA• How they will review applicants’ responses• How they will score applicants’ responses• How they will consider VITA within the broader application• How much weight they will assign to VITA in their admissions

process

Visit aamc.org/VITA for a list of schools using the AAMC VITA

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AAMC VITA process, policies, and guidelines


AAMC VITA – Policies and Guidelines

www.aamc.org/vitaessentials• Invitation and interview process• Interviewee Agreement• Interview platform• Policies

• Retakes• Noncompletion• Accommodations• Technology disruptions

• Violations and investigations


AAMC VITA Interview Window

• AAMC VITA will be open from August 6, 2020 to April 30, 2021

• Schools will create their own deadlines that align with their admission processes


AAMC VITA Eligibility• AMCAS 2021 applicants who have been invited to interview by

one or more AMCAS schools using the VITA interview:• MD applicants• MD-PhD applicants

• You may only to take the core interview ONCE, even if you are invited by multiple schools• Only schools who invited you to take VITA will have access to

your videos


AAMC VITA process

Applicant identified to interview

• School notifies applicant and the AAMC

HireVue sends the applicant the interview link

• Weekly on Thursday at 8 AM ET

• August 6, 2020 to April 30, 2021

Applicant takes the interview once

• Internet-enabled device

• 24/7 access• Access to practice

questions

Interview available to schools

• Videos available to schools that invited the applicant only, immediately upon completion

Applicant identified to interview

• School notifies applicant and the AAMC

Schools will evaluate responses, not AAMC or

artificial intelligence


Interviewing with Accommodations• Review process open from

June 25, 2020 to April 16, 2021• AAMC began sending decisions

in late July for all requests submitted by July 24th.

• Do not take the interview before you receive a response to your accommodations request

• All interviewees have the opportunity to take untimed breaks between questions.

The AAMC is committed to diversity and inclusion in academic medicine. That

includes ensuring the AAMC Video Interview Tool for

Admissions (AAMC VITA™) is accessible to persons with

disabilities in accordance with relevant law.

[email protected]


Technology Disruptions

• Applicants (and schools) should report suspected technology disruptions to the AAMC.

• If AAMC determines a technology disruption occurred, applicants will be offered an opportunity to retake the interview.

• AAMC will notify schools that the issue occurred at no fault of the applicant and a retake was issued.

Possible technology disruptions

- Inability to launch or relaunch the interview

- Audio did not record- Video did not record - Other substantial

impairment to the audio quality of the interview


Navigating HireVue


Upon entering HireVue…

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Hello, Candidate!


Try a HireVue practice question before VITA

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Complete practice questions in HireVue• Record and playback

video-recorded responses• Test your microphone and

web camera• Assess your AV quality• Review and adjust your

setup

Take the AAMC VITA interview when ready by clicking “Continue without practicing”


Read, prepare, and record responses

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You will have 60 seconds to read and prepare for each question

If you are ready to begin the question before 60 seconds have passed, click “Start Recording”

Imagine you are working in a group project and one of your teammates is not doing their share of the work. What would you do?


Advance to the next question OR take a break

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After each question, you may:- Continue to the next

question by clicking “Next Question”, or

- Take an untimed break by closing HireVue


Preparing for the AAMC VITA Interview


Location, Technology, & Platform

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• Private, quiet• Free of potential distractions, to

the extent possible• Well-lit (window, lamp, etc.)• Neat backdrop, free of

distractions• Nearby outlet

Find a suitable environment

Think carefully and creatively about the interview space. Consider both traditional (e.g., room with a desk) as well as unconventional (e.g., car) spaces that will allow you to stay calm and remain focused.

What if you don’t have a suitable space at home?

Consider private spaces in:- A close friend or family

member’s home- Local libraries (if open)- Community centers (if open)- Local colleges or universities (if

open)

Ask a local medical school what space they may be able to make available.

Consider using untimed breaks between VITA questions.


Prepare and Practice• Consider the setup and position of

technology• Become familiar with the interview platform

• Complete the AAMC VITA practice interview

• Complete practice questions in HireVue to review audio/video quality

Final Check• Test the technology using HireVue practice

questions before starting the interview to confirm audio/video quality

Practice with technology and the platformWhat you need?

- Computer, tablet, or smartphone with:- Web camera- Microphone

- Stable internet connection- Access to the interview

platform*

*HireVue requirements- Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari,

Microsoft Edge- Latest version of Adobe flash- Internet speed of at least 350 Kbps

(.35 Mbps) per second, pretty typical


Possible obstacles• Computer or AV quality issues• Internet dropping• Interruptions (e.g., dogs, roommates, children)• Incoming calls, emails, messages

Prepare to overcome these obstacles• Keep the computer plugged in or have an outlet nearby• Notify others in the interview location that they will be interviewing• Close other applications while taking your interview• Turn off email or other message notifications• Review the AAMC VITA: Essentials for what to do if a technology disruption occurs• Keep HireVue technical support contact info nearby

Overcoming technology or location mishaps


If something goes wrong… keep calm, carry on• An unexpected interruption…

• Take a deep breath• Regain your focus• Continue with your interview

• A technical issue…• Stay calm• Follow instructions on what to do• Submit a technology disruption report, if

appropriate• A rough start to the response…

• Take a deep breath• Continue your response• Consider taking a break before advancing

to the next question

Reminder!You may take untimed breaks between questions during your

AAMC VITA interview.


Preparing for interview questions


Types of questions

BehavioralDescribe previous

experiences to demonstrate your level of knowledge and skills or extent of experiences

SituationalDescribe what you should

or would do in a hypothetical situation to

demonstrate your knowledge and skills or

extent of experience

GeneralDescribe yourself

broadly

Social Skills, Teamwork, Cultural Competence, Reliability/Dependability, Resilience/Adaptability

Journey on the Path to Medicine


Describe a time when you experienced a conflict with a classmate or a coworker. What did you do? What was the outcome?

Imagine you are working in a group project and one of your teammates is not doing their share of the work. What would you do?

Why did you decide to pursue a career in medicine?

Sample questions

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Behavioral

Situational

General


Consider the competencies or skills assessed in AAMC VITA

Review your resume or CV Reflect on your experiences and

learning Discuss your experiences with your

pre-health advisor Identify situations that allow you to

best exemplify your skills Create a brief list of experiences that

showcase your competencies and skills

Identify sample experiences


Situation/TaskWhat was the task, issue, or problem? What led up to the situation? Who was involved?

STActionsWhat did you do to address the situation? What did you consider when deciding on a course of action?

AResultsWhat were the results or consequences of the actions taken?

R

Use the STAR model

Details are critical to providing a complete, comprehensive response


Behavioral questions:• Share your past experience,

including the situation, actions, and outcome

• Describe a situation you witnessed

• Speak hypothetically about what you would do in the situation

Situational questions:• Describe what you would do • Draw on past experience to

explain why you would take certain actions

Options when responding to questions

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Complete an AAMC VITA Practice Interview

Free!Mirrors the AAMC VITA interview in both length and functionality Includes 6 questions written by the AAMC VITA question developersComplete as many times as desired


Summary


Ready…• Dress professionally• Identify a suitable environment• Practice using the technology and have a back up plan ready• Review your resume and reflect on relevant experiences• Complete the AAMC VITA practice interview

Set…• Scan your room• Setup your interview space• Minimize technology-driven distractions or interruptions• Complete a final technology check using HireVue’s practice questions

Go!• Stay calm, focused• Consider the interview question• Provide a detailed response

Applicant checklist


Questions

Preparing for the AAMC VITA Interview · 19 hours ago · Review process open from June 25, 2020 to...

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