Medical School

Interviewing Workshop

September 24th

6:30-7:30 PM5 Points (Academic/Workshop)

Format – “Speed Friending”• Review basic facts about UTSW and BCM

• Practice Questions• 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

Rules for workshop:• Shake hands at the start

• Thank the “interviewer” at the conclusion of the “interview”

• Constructively criticize the answers

• Act as if you have never met

• Be open and honest

• NO JUDGEMENT ZONE. What is said here stays here. • This includes information about personal hardships, grades, or

anything personal that is shared with you.

General Tips• Yes:

• Maintain good posture

• Sustain eye contact

• Be sincere and show your passion

• Talk slowing and enunciate clearly

• Prepare beforehand

• Be polite (Yes ma’am, yes sir)

• Thank them for their time

• Shake hand firmly

• Avoid:• “like,” “uhm,” and “you know.”

• fidgeting, playing with hair, and other extraneous movements.

• “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• US News and World Report: #25• Location: Dallas, TX• Class Size: ~230• Tuition

• Resident - $20,441• Non-resident: $33,512

• Averages• GPA: 3.8• MCAT: 33.7

• USMLE Pass Rates/Mean Score: 99%, 236• Match Rates

• #1 choice: >50%• Top 3 Choices; >85%

• Affiliated Hospitals• Parkland (county, Level 1 trauma center)• UT Southwestern University Hospitals (Zale Lipshy & Clements University Hospital)• Children’s Medical Center• Dallas VA

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

Baylor College of MedicineWhat are they known for?

BCM Quick Facts• US News and World Report: #21• Location: Houston, TX (in The Medical Center)• Class Size: ~185• Tuition

• Resident - $6,550• Non-resident: $19,650

• Averages• GPA: 3.84• MCAT: 11.37/section

• USMLE Pass Rates/Mean Score: 100%, 243• Affiliated Hospitals

• 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• 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:• Medical School Research• Global Health• Care for the Underserved • Geriatrics• Medical Management• Medical Ethics• Space Medicine• Genetics

• 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

Interview Day Formats• UTSW

• 25 minute “conversations”

• 1 open/1 closed interview

• Day before: rounds in the hospital, lunch with students, hospital tour

• Day of: breakfast, presentations, interviews, lunch, hospital tour, UTSW tour

• BCM• 30 minute interviews

• Open interviews

• Students could interview you – take this seriously!

• BCM tour, affiliated hospital tours, lunch

Questions!

Keep in mind…• Be relaxed

• The interviewers truly do want to get to know you.

• Have several things to reference for questions for when you draw a blank• Ex: meaningful leadership, service, personal experiences, etc.

• Some interviewers have your entire application and others have only your essays. • UTSW: 1 open, 1 blind interview

• BCM: both open

**UTSW – Tell me about yourself.• Often the first question if it is a closed interview

• Tips:• Start with family, where you grew up, what you enjoyed in high

school

• Talk about how you became interested in medicine

• Talk about Baylor, your major (why you chose it), experiences while at Baylor

• Talk about what you do for fun – they want to know that you are the pre-med that only studies

• 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?”• Tips:

• If you did research, be prepared to talk about it, especially at the research-oriented schools

• Be knowledgeable in the subjects that you researched

BCM: I am your patient. Explain your research to me.• They want to know that you really understand what you are

studying.

• Use plain terms.

**UTSW/BCM: What do you do for fun? What is the last book you read?

• Tips:• Read a book for fun before you start interviewing

• Take time to relax – 30 minutes a day doing something you love will not kill you

• Rediscover something you loved to do in high school.

• Join a club that allows you to explore what you love.

• Think of specific examples of what you do with your hobbies

Why did you apply to UTSW/BCM?• Tips:

• Research each school prior to the interview and have several facts in mind that you could reference

• Be genuinely happy about your interview

• 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?

• They may have your personal statement, but they want to know that the person on paper is the person you are in real life.

• Be open, honest, and share your experiences. Stay genuine

• DO NOT LIE! They are experienced interviewers and will be able to tell.

• Don’t say: “to help people” or “I love science” or “doctors make a lot of money” – go deeper and really figure out why. • This could be a learning experience for you and allow you to rediscover

your passion.

• Show that you have thought about your future• Why that field? Specific experiences, people you know, etc

• 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?• Tips

• get the CNN app and have notifications turned “on”

• Research a couple of medical issues to talk about• EX: Obamacare (a MUST) or vaccines

• Be general: types of people, be sure to include all sides of the issue

• 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?• Tips:

• Actually ask your friends

• 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?• Talk about why you joined, what you have learned, and why you

love it now.

• Examples:• An organization or event that you started

• A service event you have continuously attended

• A time when you helped someone

• Maintaining good grades while working, etc.

**BCM: What is the most intense medical experience you have encountered?• Tips:

• Show that you have medical experience (shadowing, working, volunteering)

• You may be asked how you would handle it differently

**BCM – What are 3 qualities that are essential for doctors to have?• Show that you have experience and understand what it takes to

be a physician

• 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. • Be ready to discuss weaknesses, how you have learned from

them

Extra Questions• BCM: What has been your favorite class?

• Maybe give favorite science and non-science class

• Show that you are not only about science classes

• BCM: What would you do with an empty room in your house? Decorations, etc. • Show the things that you are passionate about