Clearing the Final Hurdle: The AMSA Interview Workshop

1
Clearing the Final HurdleThe AMSA Interview
Workshop

• Kevin Seals
• Morgan Wise
• Erika Korinke

2
Objective

• After this, you will more fully understand
• The importance of the interview.
• The content and logistics of the interview.
• How to prepare efficiently and completely.
• The key things the interviewer is checking for.
• How to reduce interview anxiety.
• How to convey comfort, warmth and confidence with
  body language and tonality.

3
Disclaimer

• This presentation is BROAD in scope. It will
  introduce you to everything you need to deliver
  an excellent interview.
• However, many aspects should be researched
  further.
• This is a launching pad to an excellent
  interviewwe cannot deliver the excellent
  interview to you.
• A TON of resources are on the Resource Handout.
  Research topics pertinent to your needs.

4
The Self Examination Handout(is glorious)

• This has been included to
• Keep the presentation interactive and fun.
• Allow the presentation to be tailored
  specifically to YOU.
• Get you started DOING the things needed to
  prepare. Not thinkingDOING.
• Help you learn about yourselfstrengths,
  weaknesses, and needs.

5
Some StatisticsYes, it is important!

• From Academic American
• 42 of candidates with completed applications
  were interviewed.
• Commonly interview over 1000 applicants for a
  class of 150. Interview matters!
• Conclusion Take the interview seriously.

6
Medical School InterviewsWHYYYY?!?!

• The Five Key Purposes of the interview
• (1) Assess non-cognitive skills
• (2) Predict success as a medical student
• (3) Determine potential psychological
  problems/immaturity (filter out weirdos)
• (4) Investigate fit with mission of the school
• (5) SELL students on attending! (implying that
  some of you can chill out)
• Use these as guiding principles in your interview
  preparation.

7
Strategies for Success

• We will divide these into two categories
• (1) The CONTENT of your presentation. What you
  know about medicine, ethics, etc.
• (2) OTHER factors. Body language, feeling
  comfortable, etc.
• Without BOTH of these categories tight, you will
  give a mediocre interview.
• Know everything, but seem lacking as a person.
• Appear great, but lack substance.
• It is amazing how rarely these other factors
  are considered.

8
Strategies for SuccessCONTENT
9
Question TypesThe standard stuff

• Personal
• Learn more about you. Develop a feel for your
  vibe.
• Ex. What do you do for fun?
• Ethical
• Can you think through complex medical issues
  maturely?
• Ex. What are your views on abortion?
• Hypothetical Situations
• Analyze you thought process as applied to a real
  problem.
• Ex. You feel like a terminally ill patient kept
  alive by machines should be taken off life
  support. What do you do?
• Healthcare Issues
• Assess whether you have studied medicine enough
  to know it is right for you. Can you
  intelligently discuss medical issues?
• Ex. What is the biggest problem facing medicine
  today?
• Acting Questions
• New question type! Used at UW specifically.

10
Question TypesSome crazy but real ones

• If you were a car what, kind of car would you be
  and why?
• How many 9s are there between 0 and 100?
• If my grandmother came to you saying she was
  sick due to a hex placed on her, what would you
  do?
• If the Earth colonized the moon and you were to
  make the first moon hospital, what would be your
  three biggest priorities?
• Who should DEFINITELY not be cloned?
• KEY POINT You CANNOT be prepared for everything
  the interview will offer. MUST be comfortable,
  dynamic, and flexible.

11
Question TypesThe stress interview

• Classic Scenario The interviewee is asked to
  open a window. It will not openbecause it is
  nailed shut.
• Sometimes they will INTENTIONALLY attempt to
  rattle you.
• They do not care about your 9-identification
  abilities. This question intentionally assesses
  how you handle failure.
• If it is gets rough, they are just assessing your
  ability to deal with pressure.
• Physicians must do this constantly!
• KEY POINT Chill out! Screwing up is an
  opportunity to display composure, and this is
  often the intention.

12
Questions They WILL AskLets practice!

• You have been given a worksheet. Fill this out as
  we go.
• Do NOT have fully scripted responses. Instead,
  have a feel for the basic angle of your response.
  Your dialogue must flow naturally.
• You will likely be asked
• Why do you want to become a physician?
• Tell us about yourself.
• Why are you considering medicine rather than
  social services? Other medical fields?
• Your record has this small problemwhy is this?
  

13
Getting KnowledgeableHow is it done?

• Some questions require specific knowledge and
  careful arguments.
• To maturely discuss medical issues, most need
  practice over time. Read read read, discuss
  discuss discuss (AMSA helps)!
• You must INTERNALIZE your knowledge and opinions.
  Waiting until the last minute places you at a
  significant disadvantage.
• Ex. Morgan. It is just part of him.
• Start studying this stuff TODAY! You should find
  this interesting. If not, reconsider your
  interest in medicine.

14
Getting KnowledgeableSpecific resources

• Journals aimed at medical/premedical students.
  Ex. The New Physician
• Novels with medical themes. Ex. Mountains
  Beyond Mountains
• Podcasts! Medical information streaming to your
  brain while you walk around!
• AMSA and all of the UW organizations with cool
  presentations.
• The Resources Handout contains many more
  suggestions.
• CRUCIAL POINT If you currently lack this
  knowledge, start fixing the problem TODAY. Easy
  to put it off WAY too long. Answer your Self
  Examination Handout questions.

15
Key FactorKnowledge of the school!

• Remember point four of the Five Reasons?
• Many schools have specific focuses
• Ex. Create strong researchers to advance medical
  research (Harvard, John Hopkins).
• Ex. Create physicians willing to serve rural
  areas (UW)
• By understanding what a school wants, you can
  optimize the sides of yourself you focus on.
• Example Do not emphasize your complete lack of
  interest in rural medicine at a UW interview
• NEVER LIE! Your interviewers are smart.
• How is this knowledge attained? See the
  Resources Handout

16
Interview FashionDress to (kind of) impress

• Dress classy and traditional. Avoid the frilly
  and gaudy.
• Dressing risky is dressing dumb.
• It may completely ruin you, but it will NEVER
  make you.
• Guys
• Dark suits are preferable (black, blue, grey).
  Simple tie.
• If funds are an issue, check out EBay, thrift
  stores, etc.
• With a suit, fit is infinitely more important
  than brand.
• Never jeans, sweaters, or t-shirts.
• Girls
• Slack suits should NOT be worn.
• Skirt suits, or a tailored skirt and blouse, are
  preferable.
• Avoid excessive makeup and jewelry.
• Keep the Louis Vuitton purse at home. People are
  starving out there!

17
Strategies for SuccessOTHER
18
Body Language and VoiceImportant stuff

• Although often forgotten in interview
  preparation, these factors are (at least) as
  important as content.
• This has been proven again and again
• Body language comprises 55 of total
  communicationverbal content only provides
  7...other 38 is intonation, tone, sighs...
  (Raudsepp 2002)
• Kennedy/Nixon debate.
• Almost every facet of our personality is evident
  from our appearance, posture and the way we move
  (BBC 2004)
• Important/trustworthy because it is generally
  unconscious.

19
Body LanguageSome basics

• Making eye contact is crucial.
• Telegraphs confidence and interest.
• Look at forehead if necessary.
• Maintain eye contact, but do not stare. Practice
  this.
• One CORE principle to appearing confident be
  comfortable taking up space.
• Slouching vs. good posture
• Keep your hands out of your pockets.
• Otherwise, you telegraph you have something to
  hide.
• Also, important to show palms (yields trust).
• SMILE!
• Telegraphs confidence, comfort and warmth.
• Verbal stuff
• Avoid um, uh, and like. Suggests you do not
  know what you are talking about. Some of us are
  BAD at thispractice early!
• If you are too quiet, consider voice coaching.
  SO MUCH of how people perceive you is
  voice-based. You want a voice that inspires
  trust.

20
Dealing with anxiety

• Interview anxiety is extremely common.
• It makes you uncomfortable, which makes you
  communicate poorly.
• We will provide two stress-management exercises.
• We will also list resources you can use to work
  on this further.
• You will not overcome this problem overnight.
  You will chip away at it over time until it is
  gone.

21
Exercise OneReframing

• This can be used fairly universally.
• Reframing involves simply looking at something
  differently. Assumes our emotions and state
  flow from our beliefs.
• Change beliefs, change state (potentially going
  from nervous to comfortable)
• Example Where have I already used reframing in
  this presentation?
• See activity on you worksheet.
• I encourage you to apply this technique as much
  as possible in your life. It is extremely useful.

22
Exercise TwoDiaphragmatic Breathing

• This is useful for a number of reasons
• When we are stressed, our breath becomes shallow,
  yielding more stress. This helps.
• Improves vocal resonance, which diminishes when
  one is stressed.
• Being stifled constriction ruining resonators
• With thanks to www.kittywigs.com for the
  arbitrary comedic relief.

23
Exercise TwoDiaphragmatic Breathing

• Breath DEEP. Feel your stomach slowly expand.
• Breath SHALLOW. Feel the contrast.
• It is possible to breath by simply expanding
  chest. This is BAD (shallow).
• Figure much more oxygen volume with diaphragm
  involvement.
• Make this a habit, slowly over time, and
  experience great benefits.

Space!
Diaphragm
24
Questions With Jesse

• Jesse is a first year medical student at UW.
• Good friend of mine, very nice, even sort of
  smart.
• He has been through the process and succeeded.
• Despite having an exam tomorrow, he is kind
  enough to offer his time.
• What questions do you have for him? He is an
  AMAZING resource, please take advantage.