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Talking the Talk

Talking the Talk. Acing your Professional School Interview. 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)

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Talking the Talk

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  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

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