COVID-19 can be a hot topic in medical school interviews, especially during and shortly after the pandemic's peak. Admissions tutors may ask questions related to COVID-19 to assess applicants' understanding of public health issues, healthcare systems, medical ethics, and motivations for pursuing a career in medicine during such challenging times.

Here are some potential aspects related to COVID-19 that could come up in medical school interviews:

• Public Health Response: You may be asked about your understanding of how governments and healthcare systems responded to the pandemic, including successes and challenges.

• Impact on Healthcare: Questions might explore how COVID-19 affected healthcare delivery, patient care, hospital operations, and the roles of healthcare professionals.

• Personal Experiences or Observations: Interviewers might inquire about any personal experiences or observations you've had related to COVID-19, such as volunteering, research, or community involvement during the pandemic.

• Medical Ethics: Ethical dilemmas arising from COVID-19, such as resource allocation, triage decisions, patient consent during a pandemic, and public health measures, could be discussed.

• Scientific and Medical Advances: Discussions might include developments in COVID-19 treatments, vaccines, testing methods, and how these advancements impact public health and clinical practice.

• Health Inequities: The pandemic highlighted health disparities and inequities. You might be asked about your views on these issues and how they relate to your future role as a healthcare professional.

• Adaptability and Resilience: Interviewers may explore how you adapted to challenges presented by COVID-19, personally and academically, and what you learned from those experiences.

It's essential to stay informed about current events, including the ongoing impact of COVID-19, and be prepared to discuss these topics thoughtfully and professionally during your medical school interviews.

Here are some up-to-date Medical School Interview Questions relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. How well did you do?

1. In care homes, mortality rates were notably high due to the vulnerability of residents. Can you think of ways that the number of deaths in care homes could have been reduced?

2. Black, Asian, and minority ethnic individuals were disproportionately affected by COVID-19 at its peak. How would you, as the medical director of a hospital, respond to this during the pandemic?

3. The decrease in emergency care usage contributed to increased non-COVID-19 deaths. Can you think of why fewer patients attended A&E during the pandemic?

4. Regional disparities in critical care facilities impacted the ability of different areas to handle COVID-19 cases, with London having more accessible intensive care beds than other regions. What issues does this disparity raise for the patient?

5. Primary care through GPs suffered from reduced accessibility during the pandemic, affecting the management of chronic conditions. How did primary care in the UK respond to the pandemic?

6. Mental health care provision declined, and patients suffered from enduring mental health effects during the pandemic. Why do you think patient’s mental health was negatively affected during the pandemic?

7. Restrictions such as lockdowns and social distancing had varying effectiveness in more socially and economically deprived areas, highlighting significant health inequalities. Why do you think this was the case?

8. The pandemic underscored weaknesses in the NHS. Was the NHS well prepared to deal with the pandemic?

9. Misinformation spread by anti-vaxxers online posed challenges to vaccination efforts. How can you increase the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine in your community?

10. Long COVID remains a newly recognised condition affecting some COVID-19 survivors. What are the ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK?