Interview Workshop Fall 2010
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This document provides information and advice for students preparing for a health professional school interview. It discusses the purpose of interviews, common interview formats and questions, tips for preparing and conducting oneself during the interview, appropriate attire, and considerations for following up after the interview. Specific details are provided about typical medical and dental school interviews in Michigan.
![Questions? Seek us out! CNS Preprofessional Advisors Janae Currington, M.A., [email_address] Juan Flores, MSW, [email_address] Heidi Purdy, M.A., [email_address] Lyman Briggs Preprofessional Advisor Heidi Lang, M.A., L.P.C., [email_address] Compliments to Candice Eisenhauer, University of Illinois –Chicago, for sharing the framework for this presentation at CAAHP Conference, April 2009.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/interviewworkshopfall2009-091005151159-phpapp01/85/Interview-Workshop-Fall-2010-23-320.jpg)
Interview Workshop Fall 2010
- 1. Health Professional School Interview Workshop MSU Preprofessional Advising Team Janae Currington, M.Ed. Juan Flores, MSW Heidi Lang, M.A., L.P.C. Heidi Purdy, M.A.
- 2. Purpose of the Interview To get to know you beyond the numbers To assess your ability to interact with people To evaluate your maturity and motivation To set you apart from the rest To assess your fit with the program To answer your questions about the program Remember: YOU are interviewing the schools as well!
- 3. Interviewing Styles 1:1 Panel Blind Partial Blind Open Behavior-Based Multiple Mini Interview (U of Cincinnati Medical School & U of Michigan Dental School)
- 4. “ Typical” Interview Questions Tell me about yourself. Why do you want to be a _______? Why is our school a good fit for you? What are some concerns you have about this program? Name three strengths and three weaknesses.
- 5. Healthcare Interview Questions What are some of the issues presently confronting the field? Choose any ethical topic (abortion, genetics, etc) and tell me what you think about it? What do you hope to gain from your education? What are some disadvantages to becoming a _________? If you had a patient addicted to narcotics what would you do? What about this profession does not agree with your personality?
- 6. Specific Questions to Application Why this school, when you live in _____? You don’t have a significant science background, how do you think you’ll handle medical school? How did you become interested in culinary arts/food and wine? You have a busy life, what do you do to relax? You’ve done a lot of volunteering, can you explain a difficult situation you encountered while volunteering at _____ hospital? You were a restaurant manager, describe a particularly difficult customer encounter? Do you see a connection between restaurant management and being a physician? In your personal statement, you mentioned ________. Could you tell me more about that?
- 7. Non-Traditional Applicant Questions You’ve been out of school for awhile, why medicine now? How do you know? How do you know you won’t grow bored with medicine as you have with other jobs? What triggered the change of careers?
- 8. “ Random” Interview Questions If someone came in to the ER with ______ condition, what would be the first steps you would consider taking? What interests do you have outside of school? How do you handle disappointment? Where do you see yourself in 10 years? If you could invite three people to dinner, (living or dead) who would they be? If you don’t get in to your chosen field, what else would you do? What does integrity mean to you? What is the last non-academic book you read?
- 9. Behavior-Based Interview Questions Give an example of a situation in which you have developed and maintained a relationship with someone else in spite of a differing point of view. Tell me about a time when you set your sights too high, or too low. Tell me about a time when you were creative in solving a problem. Tell me about at time when you had to balance competing priorities and did so successfully. Describe a time in which you were forced to make an unpopular decision.
- 10. Behavior-Based Interview Questions Give an example of a time when you were unable to complete a project on time. Describe a time when you may have been disappointed in your behavior. Tell me about a goal that you set that took a long time to achieve, or one that you are still working towards. Give an example of a time you anticipated potential problems and developed preventative measures. Tell me about a situation where you had to be persuasive and sell your ideas to someone else.
- 11. Topics to Know “Something” About Healthcare System (HMO, PPO, Single Payer, etc) Current events related to healthcare Government efforts/reforms of healthcare Euthanasia Abortion AIDS Stem cell transplants/research Universal Healthcare Current Healthcare Legislation Current Events
- 12. Your Evaluation Criteria Curriculum Facilities Student Body Interdisciplinary/Extracurricular Activities Financial Aid Support & Administrative Services
- 13. Their Evaluation Criteria Motivation Professionalism Knowledge of health care field Adaptability Maturity Communication skills Consistency Your interview begins when you drive on campus & ends when you drive off!!
- 14. Proper Interview Attire Men Suit and tie Dress shoes Conservative colors Well-groomed Minimal or no cologne Women Suit (skirt or pants) Pantyhose/stockings Button-down shirt Conservative dress shoes (not open-toed) Appropriate Makeup/ Jewelry Minimal or no cologne/perfume Professional bag/coat
- 15. Reminders Ask questions Re-read your personal statement and supplemental application Make eye contact Turn your cell phone off Take a minute to think about about your answer Answer the question that was asked Be honest and upfront about your knowledge (or lack of knowledge) Be yourself Be on time, if not early Write thank-you notes
- 16. Preparing for the Interview Have “real” conversations with others List your strengths & weaknesses on paper. Get familiar with the school Prepare a list of questions that are not blatantly obvious on the website
- 17. Day of Interview Eat breakfast Plan extra time to get to the school, have a campus map to be sure you get to the correct building Aspects of the Day typically include: Actual Interview Financial Aid information Campus Tour by current students
- 18. Day of Interview – MI Medical School Specifics MSU COM – Typically NO interview, opportunity to come visit & attend financial aid presentation – GO if invited! MSU CHM *2 interviews – 30 minutes each *1:1 with faculty member & med student *Partial blind – Have access to personal statement, AMCAS experiences, and secondary essays but NO numbers.
- 19. Day of Interview – MI Medical School Specifics - continued U of M *3 interviews – 30 minutes each *1:1 with faculty members and med students *Open – have access to entire file WSU *1interview – 30-60 minutes each *1:1 with admission committee member, may also have med student participate *Open – have access to entire file
- 20. Day of Interview – MI Dental School Specifics U of M *Multiple Mini Interviews – 5 minutes at each of 10 stations *Blind – no prior info available to interviewer U of Detroit Mercy *1 interview – 60 minutes *1:1 – notified in advance who interviewer will be *Open – have access to entire file
- 21. Interview Tips for the Future Budgeting, start saving now Clothes, travel expenses Schedule enough travel time Be aware you might be missing classes to attend interviews, communicate with professors Take advantage of orientation programs at schools
- 22. Other Considerations Letter Writers – Keep them updated on your progress --- they WANT to know! Oct 15 th – earliest acceptance date for MD schools May 15 th – last date to hold multiple acceptances Deposits – typically refundable but check deadline dates
- 23. Questions? Seek us out! CNS Preprofessional Advisors Janae Currington, M.A., [email_address] Juan Flores, MSW, [email_address] Heidi Purdy, M.A., [email_address] Lyman Briggs Preprofessional Advisor Heidi Lang, M.A., L.P.C., [email_address] Compliments to Candice Eisenhauer, University of Illinois –Chicago, for sharing the framework for this presentation at CAAHP Conference, April 2009.
Editor's Notes
- #3: For the Applicant – project your unique image & gather info about the school For the School – Assess your personal characteristics (attitude, maturity, enthusiasm, commitment, etc) Clarify and/or confirm the image presented in your application Information Gathering- information not on your application Recruitment/Marketing- share about school and program
- #4: Panel: Applicant is interviewed by a couple of individuals usually with other applicants as well. Blind: Interviewer does not know any information about applicant Partial Blind: Interviewer has reviewed some application information (usually personal statement and secondary app) however does not know GPA or MCAT Open: Interviewer has every piece of information in the applicants application. Behavior Based: Questions revolve around real-world situations or the applicant must share an experience that provides an example of the question asked. Multiple Mini Interview: Students go through stations are assessed based upon different scenarios that focus on issues such as communication, ethics, critical thinking, teamwork and opinions on health care issues. If possible be familiar with the type of interview you will have at a school. Knowing what information the interviewer has potentially read about you already will be helpful. Example: In a blind interview be aware you might be sharing information that is already part of your application again. During an Open interview feel free to share new information that was not part of your application if that would be relevant.
- #15: Do a “mirror check” before leaving your house Check for tags, wrinkles Suggest students shop at a “2 nd hand” store perhaps if finances would prevent purchasing a new suit. Also, students could borrow from a friend- be creative.
- #17: Be familiar with the school you have applied to and are now interviewing with: What are the strengths of that school and perhaps how they align with your own strengths and interests. This could prompt questions to the interviewer at the end.