UGA AMSA Workshop #6 Mock Interview Workshop

Overview of the Interview Day at the Medical College of Georgia (MCG) If you interview at the Athens Campus, you must go on an official tour of the Augusta Campus before your interview. A campus preference is sent after your interview If you interview in Augusta (more likely) Meet around 8 and have an introduction with the dean of admissions 1 st interview (open-file) Lunch and tour with the medical students 2 nd interview (closed-file) You should plan on spending the night before in a hotel or MCG can set you up with a current medical student that will host you for the night. The day lasts around 8 am-4 pm. If you interview in Athens Meet around 10:30 and have an introduction with the dean of admissions 1 st interview (open-file) 2 nd interview (closed-file) Tour with the medical students Usually lasts from 10:30 am-1 pm

Interview Questions at the Medical College of Georgia (MCG) Interviews can be with a MD or PhD faculty or even a medical student! Open-file Interview (approximately minutes) Tell me anything that you would like me to know that is not on your application. Tell me about yourself What was your favorite class and why? Tell me about a time you failed Is there a part on your transcript that you would like to explain to me? This is typically if you made a C in a class They ask about specific extracurricular activities they wanted me to elaborate on What other medical schools have you applied to?

Interview Questions at the Medical College of Georgia (MCG) Closed-file Interview (approximately minutes) Why medicine? Where do you see yourself in 5 years? What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses? What are the benefits and drawbacks of working in a group? Tell me about a time you’ve been disappointed in a teammate or fellow group member. What happened? How did you approach the situation? Tell me about a time where you had to step back and reflect on a situation to help out another person Tell me about your research How do you deal with a crisis? What do you think some of the drawbacks of medicine are?

Overview of Interview Day at Mercer University School of Medicine (MUSM) Interviews are conducted in both Macon and Savannah Interview day lasts from 9 am-3 pm Introduction with admissions staff Interview #1 Interview #2 Tour and lunch with medical students Interviews can either be closed or opened! You do not find out until you enter the room Could possibly have 2 opened, 2 closed or 1 of each One interview with an admissions committee member (person who will represent you at the committee meetings), one interview with a non-committee member and 2 informal reports from the medical students that are touring you Each interview rates you on a score from 1-5 and the 2 medical school students informally score you Scored on you as a person, your transcript & MCAT score and how well you comply with the mission statement They decide on an average at the committee meeting and accept everyone that has that score or higher

Interview Questions at Mercer University School of Medicine (MUSM) 1 st interview (closed-file for me, minutes) Tell me about yourself Tell me about your extracurricular activities What is your GPA? Have you taken Genetics and CBIO? Why Mercer? Where do you see yourself in years?

Interview Questions at Mercer University School of Medicine (MUSM) 2 nd Interview (Open-file for me; minutes) Tell me about yourself. Why do you want to be a doctor? Why Mercer? How do you fit with our mission statement? Tell me about a situation that was difficult for you and how you handled it. What class that you did not take for your major do you think was most beneficial in preparing you for medical school? What do you think you can personally bring to the field of medicine? You want to be able to utilize your Spanish in an underserved area. Where do you think these areas are? Where do you see yourself in years? What is your experience in working with an underserved population? What would you want to improve about healthcare? What do you do in your free time?

How I Prepared for Interviews Mock interviews at the career center Practiced a list of 100 Medical School Interview Practice Questions (from the University of Colorado at Boulder) with friends and family Jotted down some ideas I had for each question Went onto Student Doctor Network (be careful!) to see past questions other students were asked Used MSAR to see more about what was unique particularly about their curriculum and what I admired most about that particular school Especially for Mercer, I took notes on their mission statement and incorporated it into my answers

Interview Tips! Try not to be nervous! If you are really nervous for the first one, the second one is usually easier since you are already in interview mode. Do not memorize answers for every question. Have ideas of what you would want to say if this question comes up, but be able to improvise Ask plenty of questions to the interviewers! Asking questions about the school shows that you are interested What would make a good doctor at this particular school? Is it a level I trauma center? If given the name of your interviewer in advanced, google them and see what research they are a part of! Be yourself! Interviews can be nerve-wrecking, but don’t forget the interviewers also want you to come to the school! They aren’t out to get you!