The Interview

Student Being InterviewedThe interview is the most important part of the application process. Your personal statement and application present a significant amount of information in a static format that can be misinterpreted. The interview is your opportunity to clarify and correct any misunderstanding. You can also make up for any weak areas in your application with a good interview.

Do not neglect to spend a significant amount of time preparing for your interview. It is a good idea to make a list of possible questions, and then to write answers for each one on a separate sheet of paper. Write complete answers and edit them for length and clarity. Set them aside for a while and then review and re-edit them. Do not merely memorize the answers. Instead, think about your answers and refine them in your mind. This will make you think about different issues surrounding each topic. You will not be able to predict every question you might be asked. However, if you prepare in this manner it will help you to "think on your feet." You will be able to mentally draw on the information and ideas you used to answer these hypothetical questions and to use them to formulate your answers to the actual questions.  Get more advice from UW focus groups.

If you have been invited to interview for WWAMI, congratulations!  Get more information and an overview of the process.

What Will I Be Asked?

There is no method to predict every question you might be asked. However, there are some topics that are brought up frequently in medical school interviews. You will probably be asked why you want to be a doctor and what field of medicine you want to pursue. While you may not know exactly where you want to practice, you should already have examined the different specialties and identified a few that hold particular personal interest.

You should also be prepared to answer questions regarding your personal strengths and weaknesses, work and leisure habits, and value system. Before you go into the interview you should be very comfortable discussing current issues in health care practice, including the following: cost of health care, trends in insurance and other third-party payor arrangements, preventive and alternative health care, contemporary diseases, etc.

What Should I Wear?

Remember that you are going to a professional interview, and you want to present yourself in your best light. Business attire is recommended. Ideally you should wear clothing that is not too flashy or casual. A dark-colored, conservative suit is appropriate for both women and men. Keep jewelry and cologne to a minimum as they can be distracting. You want the committee to focus on your face so they can learn who you are.