Medical School
Interviewing
Workshop
September 24th
6:30-7:30 PM
5 Points (Academic/Workshop)
Format – “Speed Friending”
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Review basic facts about UTSW and BCM
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Practice Questions
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Group A and Group B
1 min  discuss things to keep in mind
• 3 min (90 sec/person)  answer question
• 1 min  review good/bad answers
• Switch groups and repeat 
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Rules for workshop:
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Shake hands at the start
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Thank the “interviewer” at the conclusion of the “interview”
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Constructively criticize the answers
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Act as if you have never met
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Be open and honest
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NO JUDGEMENT ZONE. What is said here stays here.
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This includes information about personal hardships, grades, or
anything personal that is shared with you.
General Tips
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Yes:
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Maintain good posture
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Sustain eye contact
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Be sincere and show your passion
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Talk slowing and enunciate clearly
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Prepare beforehand
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Be polite (Yes ma’am, yes sir)
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Thank them for their time
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Shake hand firmly
Avoid:
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“like,” “uhm,” and “you know.”
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fidgeting, playing with hair, and other extraneous movements.
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“Do you know what I mean?” and “Does that make sense.” Say instead, “Did I answer your
question?”
UT Southwestern Medical School
What are they known for?
UTSW Quick Facts
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US News and World Report: #25
Location: Dallas, TX
Class Size: ~230
Tuition
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Resident - $20,441
Non-resident: $33,512
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GPA: 3.8
MCAT: 33.7
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#1 choice: >50%
Top 3 Choices; >85%
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Parkland (county, Level 1 trauma center)
UT Southwestern University Hospitals (Zale Lipshy & Clements University Hospital)
Children’s Medical Center
Dallas VA
Averages
USMLE Pass Rates/Mean Score: 99%, 236
Match Rates
Affiliated Hospitals
UTSW Curriculum
Pre-Clerkship: 1.5 years, Post-Clerkship: 2.5 years
Grading Scale: P/F
Scholarly Activities (research project)
Graduation Distinctions
• Research
• Healthy Policy
• Global Health
• Quality Improvement and Patient Safety
• Dual Degree Programs
• MD/Ph.D
• MD/MBA
• MD/MPH
• Colleges
• 40 people/college
• 5-6 people/mentor
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Baylor College of Medicine
What are they known for?
BCM Quick Facts
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US News and World Report: #21
Location: Houston, TX (in The Medical Center)
Class Size: ~185
Tuition
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Averages
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Resident - $6,550
Non-resident: $19,650
GPA: 3.84
MCAT: 11.37/section
USMLE Pass Rates/Mean Score: 100%, 243
Affiliated Hospitals
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Texas Children’s, MD Anderson, DeBakey VA, Ben Taub General Hospital
(County), Memorial Hermann (Level 1 trauma center), Menninger Clinic (psych),
Children’ San Antonio
BCM Curriculum
• Fall I
• Integrated traditional medical school classes
(biochemistry, contains integrated material from the
traditional disciplines of Biochemistry, Genetics,
Molecular Biology, Physiology, Gross and Microscopic
Anatomy)
• Patient, Physician, and Society
• Spring:
• Principles of Pathology and Immunology
• Pharmacology
• Head and Neck Anatomy
• Nervous System
• Components of Infectious Disease
• Behavior Sciences
• Bioethics
• Patient, Physician, and Society
• Fall II
• Organ-based teaching, including pathophysiology,
pathology, and pharmacology
• Patient Safety
• Transitions to Clinical Rotations
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Pre-Clerkship: 1.5 years, Post-Clerkship: 2.5 years
Grading Scale: P/F
Dual Degree Programs
• MD/Ph.D
• MD/MBA
• MD/MPH
• MD/JD
• No required research, but opportunities if desired
• Specialized Tracks:
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Medical School Research
Global Health
Care for the Underserved
Geriatrics
Medical Management
Medical Ethics
Space Medicine
Genetics
Interview Day Formats
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UTSW
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25 minute “conversations”
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1 open/1 closed interview
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Day before: rounds in the hospital, lunch with students, hospital tour
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Day of: breakfast, presentations, interviews, lunch, hospital tour, UTSW tour
BCM
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30 minute interviews
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Open interviews
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Students could interview you – take this seriously!
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BCM tour, affiliated hospital tours, lunch
Questions!
Keep in mind…
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Be relaxed
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The interviewers truly do want to get to know you.
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Have several things to reference for questions for when you draw a blank
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Ex: meaningful leadership, service, personal experiences, etc.
Some interviewers have your entire application and others have only your
essays.
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UTSW: 1 open, 1 blind interview
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BCM: both open
**UTSW – Tell me about yourself.
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Often the first question if it is a closed interview
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Tips:
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Start with family, where you grew up, what you enjoyed in high school
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Talk about how you became interested in medicine
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Talk about Baylor, your major (why you chose it), experiences while at Baylor
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Talk about what you do for fun – they want to know that you are the pre-med
that only studies
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Don’t be alarmed if they stop to ask questions, this is a good thing because they
are interested in you!
UTSW – Tell me about your research. Why
did you do research? Do you plan to
continue or did you only do it for your
application? What makes data “good?”
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Tips:
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If you did research, be prepared to talk about it, especially at the researchoriented schools
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Be knowledgeable in the subjects that you researched
BCM: I am your patient. Explain your
research to me.
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They want to know that you really understand what you are studying.
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Use plain terms.
**UTSW/BCM: What do you do for fun?
What is the last book you read?
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Tips:
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Read a book for fun before you start interviewing
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Take time to relax – 30 minutes a day doing something you love will not kill you
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Rediscover something you loved to do in high school.
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Join a club that allows you to explore what you love.
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Think of specific examples of what you do with your hobbies
Why did you apply to UTSW/BCM?
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Tips:
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Research each school prior to the interview and have several facts in mind that
you could reference
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Be genuinely happy about your interview
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Talk about personal experiences (ex: talking to students, internships, etc.)
**UTSW/BCM: Why do you want to be a doctor?
What specialty are you interested in?
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They may have your personal statement, but they want to know that the
person on paper is the person you are in real life.
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Be open, honest, and share your experiences. Stay genuine
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DO NOT LIE! They are experienced interviewers and will be able to tell.
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Don’t say: “to help people” or “I love science” or “doctors make a lot of
money” – go deeper and really figure out why.
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This could be a learning experience for you and allow you to rediscover your
passion.
Show that you have thought about your future
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Why that field? Specific experiences, people you know, etc
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How do your skills fit with that field?
**UTSW – What is the most controversial
issue in medicine today? If you could go
talk to Obama today and take 3 people
with you to discuss this issue, who would
you take?
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Tips
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get the CNN app and have notifications turned “on”
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Research a couple of medical issues to talk about
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EX: Obamacare (a MUST) or vaccines
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Be general: types of people, be sure to include all sides of the issue
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Express your POV on the subject and stick to your guns! Sometimes they will play
Devil’s advocate and try to make you change – don’t do it!
**UTSW: What would your friends say is
your general weakness?
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Tips:
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Actually ask your friends
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Turn the weakness into a strength by showing how you are trying to improve the
weakness (give specific examples)
**BCM - What are you most proud of in
your college career?
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Talk about why you joined, what you have learned, and why you love it now.
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Examples:
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An organization or event that you started
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A service event you have continuously attended
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A time when you helped someone
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Maintaining good grades while working, etc.
**BCM: What is the most intense medical
experience you have encountered?
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Tips:
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Show that you have medical experience (shadowing, working, volunteering)
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You may be asked how you would handle it differently
**BCM – What are 3 qualities that are
essential for doctors to have?
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Show that you have experience and understand what it takes to be a
physician
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Give examples of why you think those qualities are important
**BCM: Tell me about a difficult experience, how
you recovered, and how you have/will use that
knowledge in the future.
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Be ready to discuss weaknesses, how you have learned from them
Extra Questions
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BCM: What has been your favorite class?
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Maybe give favorite science and non-science class
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Show that you are not only about science classes
BCM: What would you do with an empty room in your house? Decorations,
etc.
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Show the things that you are passionate about