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 arent
• 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 arent new,
  doesnt mean they arent perfectly adequate.
  Dont be fooled by shiny things
• The cyclohexojumbodubotron may be impressive, but
  you probably wont 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? (youll be there some late
  nights)
• Are there comfortable spaces for studying and
  relaxing?
• Ask about their exam schedulesdo 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 (dont want to be sleepy)
• Use good manners
• Avoid foods that can cause embarrassment to
  eatsoups 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 dont 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 interviewers
  namedont know how to pronounce Dr. Swnolwyg?
  Ask around
• Look confidanthead up, shoulders back, looking
  poised
• Shake handsfirm 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 phototake 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 (dont fidget or blather on)
• Reassuring (active listener type)
• Angry-guy (doesnt seem to want to be there)
• Conversational (chatty, but doesnt ask
  questions)

15
Types of Questions

• Closed looking for specific infogive 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 dont 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 schools
  curriculum
• How much of an administrative, legal, and
  bioethics curriculum is taught
• How do your students 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/31ques
  tions.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

• ArroganceGuess 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 werent 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