Talking the Talk

1. Talking the Talk Acing your Professional School Interview

2. Most Important! • Be yourself!!! • They talk to a lot of people and will sense if you are trying to be someone you aren’t • Be “on” at all times • Do not look at your cell phone at all until the process is over (be sure it is off) • Do not take family members with you • Be sure you listen • Wear comfortable shoes

3. Typical Med School Visit • Generally divided into orientation (and description of financial aid), tour, and interviews • Just because some of the facilities aren’t new, doesn’t mean they aren’t perfectly adequate. Don’t be fooled by shiny things • The cyclohexojumbodubotron may be impressive, but you probably won’t use it

4. Assessing the School • Rather than focusing on the shiny and new • Is the library open 24 hours a day? • Is the complex safe? (you’ll be there some late nights) • Are there comfortable spaces for studying and relaxing? • Ask about their exam schedules—do they fit your learning style? • Do they have learning skills specialists?

5. Talk to Students • If possible, speak with some of the med students • Ask about the library, student housing, extracurricular facilities, computers • What contact they have with clinical faculty • Do you need a car • What support staff are available • What is the patient population you will see • On what school committees do students have representation • Do students socialize

6. If there is a Meal • No alcohol • Do not eat too much (don’t want to be sleepy) • Use good manners • Avoid foods that can cause embarrassment to eat—soups and dressings that drip, spaghetti, greasy food, tacos, onions, garlic

7. Before You Go • Learn everything you can about that school • Think in advance about possible questions and how to answer (though don’t rehearse these) • Reread the application materials you submitted • Prepare questions for them • Spend some time relaxing the night before

8. Basic Skills • Learn how to pronounce the interviewer’s name—don’t know how to pronounce “Dr. Swnolwyg”? Ask around • Look confidant—head up, shoulders back, looking poised • Shake hands—firm but not bone-crushing • Be enthusiastic and animated • Look interviewer(s) in the eye • Acknowledge interviewer statements with a nod, or “I see” not “wow,” “yeah” or “cool” • Show enthusiasm for that school

9. The Graceful Exit • People remember what is said at the end so prepare for a final comment • Shake hands and look them in the eye • Thank them for their time • Offer to send any additional information • Make a final statement (would be honored to be associated with this school…) • Smile

10. Be sure to bring • Directions to interview • Phone number in case you are lost or delayed • Information they sent about the interview • List of your questions for them • Pad of paper, pen • If your appearance has changed since you sent in an application photo—take them a new one • Bring something to do in case you have wait time (newspaper, sudoku, crossword)

11. Why put you through this? • They are assessing • Motivation for and interest in this field • Interpersonal skills and character • Maturity • Communication Skills • Empathy and concern for others • Social awareness and self-awareness • Knowledge, judgment, problem-solving

12. Open & Closed Interviews • Open Files • They have read your materials or at least had access to them • Closed Files • Your interviewer knows basically only your name

13. Interview Types • Structured: • Most interviewers simply ask their favorite questions • Stressful: • Less common now • Try to put you on the spot to see what you do • Group Interviews: • Several individuals are interviewing with you

14. Interviewer Types • Rude (sometimes on purpose to see if you are easily flustered) • Silent (don’t fidget or blather on) • Reassuring (active listener type) • “Angry-guy” (doesn’t seem to want to be there) • Conversational (chatty, but doesn’t ask questions)

15. Types of Questions • Closed: looking for specific info—give simple answer • Open-ended: require more in-depth answer eg: what clinical experiences have you had so far? • Open-ended attitudinal: determines how well you organize your thoughts before speaking eg: What do you think of direct pharmaceutical advertising to consumers? • Probing: used as follow-up to open-ended questions eg: Why do you feel that way? • Impossible questions: ok to admit you don’t know

16. Questions to ask them • Do not ask anything easily found on their website • How many courses use problem based learning • How much flexibility is there in timing of course work • Any anticipated changes in the school’s curriculum • How much of an administrative, legal, and bioethics curriculum is taught • How do your student’s do on their board exams

17. Questions for them continued • What are the clinical opportunities for students during the preclinical years • What types of clinical sites are used • How many students involved in required or voluntary community service • What research opportunities available • What types of student evaluations are used • What is your retention rate • How does your mentor/advisor system work

18. When asking questions • Make sure you go beyond what is available online • Make sure you go beyond the AAMC list at http://www.aamc.org/students/applying/about/31questions.htm • Try not to ask in a confrontational way • Do not ask about vacation time or who their competing schools are

19. What not to do • Disparage other schools, faculty, or applicants • Falsify background • Use inappropriate humor • Drink coffee, smoke, chew gum, or bite nails • Steer interview • Dress inappropriately • Bring family along

20. Interview Killers • Arrogance—Guess what? Just about every interviewee is equally qualified to you • Not being prepared • Applicant does not listen to questions and/or answers their own version of the question • Being distracted • Answering questions that weren’t asked • Rambling

21. Wardrobe • Males: Suit, slacks and sport coat, slacks, shirt with collar and sweater. Always a tie. • Females: Suit, slacks and jacket, dress • No open toed shoes, no stilettos, cover tattoos, take out facial piercings, jewelry at minimum, hair should be out of your face, conservative hair & make-up

22. Thank yous • Sending a thank you note is a very good thing to do • Interviewers give a lot of time for this • An email is ok, but a written note is better • Immediately following interview jot down some notes on your thoughts, questions you might want to think about, and names of those you want to thank!

23. Interview Feedback • Generally you will be asked to give feedback on your interview day by the school • Report any weirdness • For more examples of questions, check out interview feedback from students at http://www.studentdoctor.net