Medical School Interviews

Analysis of 150

questionson ISC

Medical website

Gives advice on medical interviews

Minimum of 20 hours preparation Substantiate and personalise: use evidence and personal

experience Choose clear examples and focus on them Keep to the point Don’t volunteer negative information Conclude your answer briefly No-one liners and long enough to be interesting No more than two minutes for most questions Choose and prepare examples before the interview

Suggests range of techniques for answering questions: 4 Rs

For questions such as: How would you deal with stress or a difficult person? This is looking at your general approach to the problem.

R recognise the situation

R recruit information about the situation

R resolve the situation

R reflect on the situation

Star technique

This is used for questions which ask you to give examples: Could you talk about a stressful situation that arose in your work experience?

Situation or Task: Describe the situation or task

Action: What you did and how you did it. Why you did it Be personal, go into detail, don’t get technical

Result: What happened. Describe what you accomplished

Prepare well thought through personal examples which demonstrate:

The ability to take initiative

Effective teams skills

Leadership skills

Effective leadership skills

Caring attitude

Ability to be sensitive

Ethical issues which arose on placements

Ability to seek help when needed

Links for lists of medical interview questions

ISC Medical : http://www.medical-interviews.co.uk/interview-questions-

medical-school-interviews.aspx

Imperial College: http://www1.imperial.ac.uk/medicine/teaching/undergraduate/medicine/admissions/interviews/

Medschoolsonline: http://www.medschoolsonline.co.uk/index.php?pageid=85

WAMS: http://www.wanttobeadoctor.co.uk/main.php?page=7#Practicequestions

Podcast on Oxford website

Student Room: What should you expect at a medical school interview