Interviews

All medical schools will want to interview their applicants who have passed the initial stage of the application process.

The interview is your chance to impress the admissions tutor and showing them that you can study medicine and train to become an effective doctor. If you get an interview - congratulations! You are halfway there to getting into medical school.

Advice on interviews:

Prepare and research the course and institution that you are attending

Practice draft answers to possible questions - but don't remember them parrot-fashion

Practice interviews with your friends

Read over your personal statement and try and see points that might be asked about e.g. an interesting hobby

Anticipate the kinds of questions that you may be asked

Try and influence the direction of the interview - answer your questions carefully and try and lead the discussion

Be polite and wear smart dress

Attend the open day/tour that may be offered to you

Keep up to date with medical news stories and developments

Possible questions that you may get asked:

Why do you want to study medicine?

Why do you want to be a doctor and not a nurse?

Are you able to face the academic challenges of medicine?

What did you learn from your work experience?

Do you have any special qualities that you could bring to medicine?

What recent medicine-related news stories have interested you recently?

Give an example of when you were a good leader?

Give an example of when you have worked well in a team?

Which part of medicine interests you?

Do you know what the career paths are following graduation with a medical degree?

Do you know what the course structure is like at this medical school?

Why do you want to come to this medical school, and not one of the others you have applied to?

What can you offer to our medical school?

What is the hardest decision you have ever had to make?

How long have you wanted to study medicine?

What characteristics should a doctor have? Do you have these characteristics?

How would you improve the health service?

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

These are just a guide to what you may get asked, so it is advisable to prepare wdely as you never know what they may ask you.

When you are in your interview - be calm and answer your questions confidently and clearly. Try not to talk too quickly - nerves can get the better of some people, so it is important to keep a clear head before you enter the room.

The interview panel may consist of the admission tutor, an additional member of the faculty and possibly a medical student. There could be up to 4 or 5 people in the room. But do not let this put you off - just see it as more people for you to impress and show off how good you will be as a doctor and as a member of their medical school.