The Interview

All of the work that you do as an undergraduate, your letters of recommendation, your MCAT score and your work as a volunteer in a health related area is focused on getting you an interview. Your strong academic performance does not guarantee you a seat at a medical or dental school. When you have been called for an interview, this indicates that after careful consideration of your application, the medical or dental school screening committee feels that you have the academic qualifications to be a physician. The interview determines if you have the interpersonal skills and motivation to be a successful physician. So the role of the interview is generally a screening process. The interview plays a major role in evaluating candidates. This reflects the increased competitiveness of medical school admissions and the desire of medical schools to recruit the very best from a very good pool of applicants. There has been a decrease in percentage (but perhaps not in actual number) of applicants interviewed, especially at highly competitive schools. Some state schools will interview all state residents; some institutions interview all applicants from their undergraduate college; some have specific agreements with feeder schools; some show a preference for faculty or alumni children or other special groups.

Most interviews are concentrated between October and April, although schools interview before or after that period. Early Decision Programs typically interview students in August and September. It should be noted that postponing interviews is usually a bad idea if an institution rolls admissions (as most do) and since institutions interview their strongest candidates early in the year.

Most schools interview small numbers of applicants several days during the week but others bring in larger groups in on a single day, often Saturday. The latter permits development of a more elaborate program and is better suited for recruiting. Most interviews last about 30 minutes, although a longer interview is not uncommon.

Virtually all schools use both clinical and basic science faculty but there is wide variability in the use of medical students, administrators, physicians from the community and others. Most interviews are one-on-one, but some institutions, especially osteopathic schools, prefer to have candidates interviewed by panels.

In addition to the interview, most schools have a group orientation session during which information on financial aid is often provided and opportunities to talk with medical students, tours and lunch.

Your job as an applicant in the interviewing process is to convince the interviewer that you deserve a seat in that medical school by convincing them that:

• you know what medical school is like (by talking to medical students or physicians)
• you have no doubts in your mind about a career in medicine
• you have taken the time to learn about the specific school and why you're applying to it
• you have the enthusiasm, drive or motivation to be a physician
• you express a clear empathy for those in need (which can be demonstrated in different ways)

Remember, most schools interview 3-5 students for each seat. Many students with outstanding academic credentials do not get accepted because they have not prepared for the interview and do not make the most of the opportunity it represents.