Top Medical School Interview Tips

Medical School can be challenging but extremely rewarding in the future. Apart from earning a decent amount of money, you get a lot of respect from others for being a doctor. But getting into Medical School is not easy. Along with good grades, you will have to clear the interview round. Each Medical School has its admission board. While the questions might not be the same, here are some of the common questions asked in a Medical School interview. Read on to get prepared for your interview.

What will be your reaction, as a doctor, if a patient’s family asks for the patient’s private information?

It would be best to inform the interviewer that by the HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), which was passed in 1996, you are bound to protect your patient’s private information. It is a matter of medical ethics, and it cannot be breached. If the information that the patient’s family is asking for breaches the confidentiality clause, then you, as a doctor, cannot share that piece of information. If the family is confused, you need to understand why you cannot share confidential information and can only talk about non-confidential details in detail. It will be helpful if you can familiarise yourself with the general moral dilemmas health care professionals face. In the case of minors, there are specific criteria that you need to keep in mind in the US. In most states, 18 years is the minimum age limit. If the patient is below 18 years, that will require the physician to ask for consent from the patient’s parents before performing medical procedures on the patient.

 Why do you want to study medicine?

This is one of the most basic yet common questions that is asked in Medical School Interviews. It would be best if you mentioned that you have an interest in human anatomy and sciences. You can even highlight a particular medical condition or branch of medicine that you might interest in. Mention it to the interviewer that you want to contribute to medicine and make a difference in peoples’ lives. Let them know that it is a challenging and dynamic profession that lets you learn various skills.

What do you understand by the term ‘antibiotic resistance’?

This is a factual question that is used to test your knowledge. Antibiotics are used to fight disease-causing bacteria. It is the resistance displayed by a particular microorganism to an antibiotic used to treat the infection caused by that specific microorganism. It may occur naturally but can get accelerated due to the widespread use of antibiotics. It can happen when people do not complete their antibiotic course or use antibiotics excessively or unnecessarily.

As a pre-med, what skills do you have acquired that might help you in the future?

As a pre-med, you need to mention that you have worked on your time management and organizational skills. You made assignment lists and planned extensively to keep track of all your activities and study schedules. This question is asked to check whether you will thrive in the stressful environment of a med school.

What are the most concerning health issues that are faced by the country at the moment?

According to the CDC reports, some of the significant causes of death include Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, diabetes, flu, pneumonia, kidney disease, suicide, heart disease, and trauma from accidents. The primary health concerns also include AIDS ( as there is no fixed cure for it) and obesity. Do not forget to mention covid-19, one of the deadliest pandemics the world has ever seen. Make sure that you pay importance to physical as well as mental health issues.

How does the Japanese Healthcare system than the US healthcare system?

The Japanese Healthcare System is universal, which means that the fees are the same for all individuals. The Japanese government regulates the cost of the procedures. This is the polar opposite of that of the US, as only those who can afford health insurance can receive medical assistance. The cost of Japanese healthcare procedures is also much less than that of the US.

What are the qualities that can make one a good doctor?

A few individuals have these qualities, which gives them an edge over others who want to become doctors. You need to tell your interviewer that you need to be a good listener and a communicator as a good doctor. This is crucial as you will have to communicate regularly with the patient and his/her family.  It would be best if you are organized and vigilant. Being careless can lead to one missing out on small details that can hamper any medical decision. It would be best if you showed empathy and care for your patients. However, this doesn’t mean that you should become emotional and not make rational decisions. A doctor needs to work with other healthcare professionals to provide quality medical assistance. Lastly, the bedside manner of a doctor needs to be impeccable.

Is it legal for doctors to treat their family members?

While no rule stops doctors from operating on their family members, it is generally not encouraged. Operating on a family member can distress a doctor, and rational thinking might worsen by emotions. According to the ‘American Medical Association’s Code of Medical Ethics’s Opinion 8.19’, “physicians should not generally treat themselves or members of their immediate family.”

Is a lecture-based approach towards teaching medicine beneficial for medical students?

You need to understand that all medical schools use a lecture-based approach at one point or the other to teach their students. Hence, it would be best if you highlighted the pros and cons of the lecture method.  The cons of a lecture-based approach include lacklustre delivery of the curriculum through lectures. There is hardly any patient contact in a lecture-based teaching method, so the student might not get enough exposure. Unlike PBL courses, there is not much time to focus on other extra-curricular activities apart from the curriculum if taught by the lecture-based method. However, there are some pros as well. It allows the curriculum to be delivered in a systematic and structured manner. It can provide a good knowledge base for students before they operate on real patients.