Interview Success Strategies
Brittany M. Wampler
Coordinator, Pre-Professional
Health Programs
b.m.garner71@csuohio.edu
218 Main Classroom Building
216.687.9321
Introduction & Expectations
• Welcome!
• Interview Experience
• Expectations for time together
– No Cell Phones
– Actively Listen & Engage
– Ask questions where appropriate!
What to Expect
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Interview Process/Timeline
How to prepare for interviews
What to expect in an interview
Interview Styles
Interview Questions
What happens after the interview
General advice/tips
So how important is the
interview?
It depends on the school, their class composition targets, special programs
and the applicant pool during any given year
TWO PERSPECTIVES FROM
ADMISSIONS OFFICERS…
For the applicant, the interview is an opportunity to cement the
impression he or she hopes to create. It is a chance to breathe life
into the cold statistics about academics and activities, giving the
school a glimpse of the person behind the statistics. For the
school, the interview is generally not a tool to determine if the
candidate is qualified to attend medical school, but rather is an
opportunity to get a sense of whether or not the institution and the
person are right for one another. It is also a moment for the
school to distinguish itself from the others by showing its
institutional personality, through the vehicle of the interviewer.
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, ADMISSIONS AT
BOSTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF
MEDICINE
Basically , the interview completes the picture for us.
We have already learned about academic
background, experiences and goals, but the interview
adds a personal perspective that allows us to make a
better decision about whether the candidate is a good
fit for our school.
DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS AT TUFTS
UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF VETERINARY
MEDICINE
Invitations and Preparation
Before Invitations Arrive
• Relax!
– You’ve submitted the application and this is the waiting
game.
• You’ve already somehow answered these
questions in your application to the school:
– Am I making an informed choice of a career?
– What do you still need to explore to know that this is
the career path for you?
When the Invitations Arrive
• Respond quickly and politely within the
school’s specific guidelines
• Make travel and lodging arrangements,
keep it organized
• Make work and school arrangements
• Make sure you have an appropriate outfit to
wear
• Prepare for the actual interview
The Outfit (Men)
• Suit
– Typically a traditional color (black, navy, grey)
• The Shirt
– Long sleeve button down
• Shoes, Belt, Accessories
– Everything needs to match! (No brown shoes
and black belt)
• Tie
– Traditional, not too flashy
The Outfit (Women)
• Suit
– Pants or skirt is acceptable
• Color
– Traditional color like men, but can be a little more
colorful depending on the prospective job
• Accessories
– Two accessories MAXIMUM! A purse and
portfolio OR one briefcase is enough!
• Makeup and Perfume
– Light on the makeup, little to no perfume
Preparing for the Interview
Research the Institution
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Mission
Curriculum
Clinical Site(s)
Research Agenda
Elective time away
Student Body
Class size
Atmosphere
Tuition
Calendar
• Questions about the school
should reveal the fact that
you’ve done your research and
you are excited about what you
have learned.
• Think about how your values
align with the institution
• Resources to consider:
– MSAR/ADEA
– Websites
– Contacts at the institution
Preparing for the Interview
• Finding a method for answering questions
– Introduction, Body, Conclusion
• Examine how your values align with the
profession
• Figure out the “Why?”
– Why do you want to attend this institution?
• Practice!
Preparing for the First Question
• Tell me about
yourself.
– Have a 30-90 second
response prepared.
– Practice!
 Where are you
from?
 Educational
Background
 Why you want to be
a…
 Pertinent
Experience
Highlights
Practice
• Find a partner and practice the first
question.
– Start with a handshake.
– Introduce yourself and your experiences.
– Smile!
Interview Types and Structure
Interview Types
Blind
The interviewer knows nothing or very little about you
Open File
The interviewer has been given all of your information before the interview (most common
type of interview)
Partial Blind
The interviewer has been given some of your information, usually a composite
Interview Structures
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Multiple Mini-Interview
One-on-One
Panel
Group
Panel Interview
• Panel –you and more than one of them
– It’s usually more difficult to gauge your
impression on individuals.
– Be aware of names and relationships
– Keep eye contact with ALL throughout your
answers
– Stay focused on their questions and not the
dynamics of the group
Multiple Mini-Interview (MMI)
• MMI (multiple mini interview) /stations think
doctor walking into exam room and not
knowing what s/he will encounter
One question with some follow-up questions
by one interviewer at a station
– Developed by McMaster Medical University (who
also developed problem-based learning)
– Designed to eliminate interviewer bias
– Mimics USMLE Clinical Skills test
Group Interview
• Group- you and at least one other
interviewee evaluated by one or more
interviewers or observers
– Sometimes used to process a lot of applicants at
once.
– Often used to observe your interpersonal skills,
including teamwork, listening and leadership skills
in a role-play or solving a group problem
– Example: Group will be asked to build/design
something
Meal/Tour/Day-Long Interview
• Seems casual and benign, but you may be
evaluated; usually by a current student
• Everyone you encounter throughout the day
could have a say in your admission
• It is likely that other applicants will be with
you for a portion of the day.
– Be friendly
– Engage in conversation
– Do NOT discuss other interviews/other schools
Day of Interview & After
Day Of Interview
• Get plenty of sleep the night before.
• Positive self-talk.
• Gather the materials you organized the night before
• Do not bring a large backpack.
• Do bring a portfolio with your questions inside and a smaller bag
or briefcase.
• Plan to arrive 30 minutes early to account for traffic
and parking issues, etc.
• Remember to smile!
• Have a small amount of cash on-hand just in case.
After the Interview
• Reflect on the experience.
• Make notes (journal) of your experience
• Keep log of expenses
• Review and organize documents they gave you
• THANK EVERYONE you saw that day
• Email within two days; otherwise USPS letter
or professional handwritten card
Your Questions
Bring a list of questions for your interviewers!
Topics to Consider
• General Information about the interviewer and their
perceptions about the school/program/area.
• Curriculum Questions (shows you’ve done research)
• Mentoring
• Rotations
• Research
• Student Life
CSU Pre-Professional Health
Programs Mock Interview Program
• Students must call office to schedule.
• Call as soon as you find out about the
interview.
• Mock Interviews should ideally be within 710 days of actual interview.
• 90 minutes in length: 60 with a blind
interviewer and 30 with Brittany
The number one element I see lacking in an
applicant is substantiation. Pretend an
interviewer asked you ‘Prove to me WHY
you will be a good doctor.’ Help them see the
M.D. (dentist, etc.) inside of you.
JEREMIAH FLEENOR, M.D.
University of Colorado
THE MEDICAL SCHOOL INTERVIEW
General Advice
• Prepare, research, practice!
• Practice a professional handshake.
• Be yourself and express yourself through the
questions.
• Be professional, all day long.
• Picture yourself at that institution.
• Remember that this is the next step in the
process and you are not admitted until you
receive the acceptance.
"Any person who has charm and some confidence
can move in and through societies ranging from the
most privileged to the most needy. Style allows the
person to appear neither inferior in one location nor
superior in the other."
--Maya Angelou
From CSU Students…
Be calm. Don't be afraid to relate questions
directly to yourself and the skills that you
bring to the table. Be humble, while still
pointing out your attributes.
Be prepared for both open and closed file interview
formats. I had two interviewers that used each of the
interview styles. Be calm, rehearse at home the basic
questions such as: tell me a little bit about yourself.
Elaborate if asked to do so, but do not repeat what is
on your application and personal statement. Dress
neutral and formal, the attention must be on the
conversation. Relax and speak clearly, they
understand the process has not been easy and you are
already vey lucky to have been given the opportunity
to interview. An interview is your opportunity to sell
yourself! Best of luck.
Practice by doing mock interviews with Brittany
Garner! Interviews are stressful, but practice can
make you feel a little bit more comfortable. You
have to overcome the stress and just be yourself in
the interviews. Know yourself and your answers to
their questions will be more genuine than trying to
remember answers to specific questions. It is
important to talk about some unique things about
yourself that will make you stand out. A lot of
schools will ask what you like to do outside of
school or how you relieve stress. Be expected to
answer who you are, why you want to become a PA,
what you think PAs do, and how you plan to get
through PA school.
THANK YOU!
Brittany M. Wampler
Coordinator, Pre-Professional Health
Programs
b.m.garner71@csuohio.edu
218 Main Classroom Building
216.687.9321