Session 409

Today, we take a behind-the-scenes look at a mock interview with a student. At the end of the day, the medical school interview is just a conversation!

For more podcast resources to help you along your journey to medical school and beyond, check out Meded Media.

Listen to this podcast episode with the player above, or keep reading for the highlights and takeaway points.

[04:21] A Behind-The-Scenes Look at the Mock Interview

So our student today who’s doing this mock interview with me got into medical school. At this point in the interview, the student was freezing because he was losing his thought. He felt stuck in his head thinking it’s like the actual thing.

Our student noticed that his entire tone of the conversation shifted into a rehearsed response. It comes a little bit through practice, but it just comes through mindset.

[06:35] Mock Interview Question

Q: What do you think is the biggest problem with our healthcare system?

A: “What COVID has really brought me to be aware of is the lack of coverage so many people have, especially with their insurance that’s tied to employment. I think a big problem in the health care system is our insurance system. I think insurance has a large impact on choosing the treatments that people can get the medications that are covered, and the levels of treatment that are available for children and adults and elderly populations. I would like to see in the future, a system where we can expand coverage for every person. I think healthcare is a right that every person deserves. And I’ll be honest, I don’t have the answer to how that can be instituted right now. But I think that’s the direction I would hope our system moves to and or the system that I’m able to practice in my future.”

When I asked the student why he didn’t freeze on this one, he said there wasn’t that much pressure as compared to being asked “why do you want to be a doctor?” He just feels there’s too much pressure on such a question. And that’s because he feels his answer has to be something that sets him apart from everyone else.

[08:42] You’re Not Special!

As soon as you realize that you are one of tens of thousands of students interviewing and that your experiences are not special and that you are not special, what you say and what you have done aren’t any different. It doesn’t stand out.

And at the end of the day, what you need to understand is that you have the stats to get through this whole process. You’re smart enough to do it. You met some baseline level of genius there and that you have shown enough interest in this field to know what you’re getting yourself into.

You understand your journey and you’ve reflected on your journey. And that you’re someone cool they want to chat with for the next four years. That’s all there is. You’re not special.

[10:49] Be as Conversational as Possible

You can be as conversational as possible, but the interviewer may still just ask question after question and you just have to be okay with that.

And the answer needs to be as long as it needs to be no longer. It’s going to be different for everyone.

And when asking about your top strengths. Having one or two in the back of your mind is getting into the weeds of everything. Don’t get nuanced in what you’re trying to think about and what you’re worried about. Just focus on the big picture. 

[12:39] Are You Thinking of Doing Mock Interviews?

Please reach out to me if this is something you’re interested in. I’m thinking about switching a lot of things up in the next few months so that I can help more students. I want to focus more on the content that I provide, which I’m currently doing with Mappd.

Links:

Meded Media

Mappd

The Premed Hangout

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview