Medical applications and interviews can vary slightly to those in other disciplines. An example of this is the possibility of Multiple Mini Interviews. In this setup, you will be required to move between a maximum of 10 stations, spending no more than 8 minutes at each, where you will be presented with different scenarios by the interviewers. You will then be expected to answer questions on the scenarios, or take part in a role-playing situation, which serves the purpose of identifying how composed you come across when under pressure, and the sensitivity of your responses.
Some medical schools, however, prefer to adopt a more traditional approach when interviewing candidates. This will usually be in the form of either a one-on-one interview, or in front of a panel, one of whom may not have read your personal statement. Although the interviewer may begin with the ambiguous questions typical of most interviews, these will be followed up by more niche questions, relating more specifically to the medical profession and the attributes you possess which will serve you well when studying under their tutelage. In this situation it is imperative that you are well prepared and researched by revisiting relevant work and news stories, and searching forums for typical questions.
Typical questions
Typical questions involve your understanding of the career progression of doctors in the UK, the General Medical Council, and the current status of the NHS. Similarly, the interviewer will want to see evidence of a contextual understanding of medicine. It is common for them to ask for your thoughts on a recent medical issue in the press. Ensuring you are well-read on recent relevant news stories and developing opinions on these will enable you to deliver a thoughtful and compelling response. Having clear and accurate answers for these questions proves you have an understanding of the medical profession. The interviewer will also look to assess how you would react to certain ethical scenarios, in a bid to confirm your relevant understanding and sensitivity to certain issues. Your answer should be clearly thought through, displaying an ability to see both sides of the argument. Problem-based learning is an integral part of medical curricula, and research into this form of teaching will help prepare you for questions on the advantages and disadvantages of it. Interviewers will also like to see a working knowledge of medicine, and will ask you about your relevant experience, and what this taught you about yourself and the profession. By giving this question some forethought, you can draw upon specific moments within your experience which has helped your understanding of certain situations. The interviewer will also want to ensure that you can cope well with stress. This may involve them asking you for a situation where you dealt with an issue under pressure, whilst maintaining composure. From a broader perspective, the way you compose yourself throughout the interview can also signify this, so try to give clear, considered answers, and don’t be afraid to ask for a question to be rephrased if you are struggling to comprehend its meaning.
Occasionally, you may be required to attend more than one interview, possibly combining the traditional format with role-playing scenarios. Confident, personable body language and smart appearance will reflect strength of mind, and help the interviewer to picture you in a public-facing role.