Medical School Interview Tips 2023
After speaking to students last weekend on our medical school interview courses and our first 40 Station MMI Circuit Day, we can now report medical schools have started calling students for interviews 😀
However, about half our students did not have an invite yet, so again do not be disheartened 💔
Some medical schools have again taken the approach to release the questions candidates will face before the interview 🔎
Some medical schools have invited our students virtually. We can only speculate the reasons for this 🥸
During our courses, we give specific and individual feedback to students, but we will share come of the general comments the examiners made during the mock circuits. You will not get comments as detailed as this from your actual medical school interview and it is highly unlikely they will give you a copy of the examiners mark sheet.
Come to our Medical School Interview Course, taught in person by Dr. Abdul Mannan, fully qualified NHS doctor and medical school tutor.
Some students turned up late. As we are running a mock circuit, we permitted the student to join at station 4 (out of 10). The medical school will likely simply refuse you to sit your medical school interview and decline your application, so please turn up on time.
Take a toilet break before you start your interview. If the examiners do allow you to go to the toilet during your interview, they may not allow you any extra time in your medical school interview to make up for this and you will lose marks.
All students made good attempts at the interview stations, and it was clear that some preparation had been done before hand.
Students had problems with timing during their medical school interview. Many appeared to finish answering the question in under a minute in which case the answer was likely inadequate. This goes hand in hand with having a structure to your answer.
If you do get stuck, you can ask the examiners for clarification. If you need to pause for a few seconds to gather your thoughts let the examiners know, rather than just become silent which will feel uncomfortable.
Examiners will change as you go through the MMI circuit. Some students appear to be affected by this in their performance. You will likely be interviewed by several people that are strangers to you – don’t get put off by this.
Whilst it is good to establish rapport with the examiner during your medical school interview, don’t spend excessive time with pleasantries and small talk – it will eat into valuable time allocated for you to answer the question or perhaps read some material that you will be assessed on.
The examiners were surprised how poorly students performed on role play and practical tasks in a medical school interview, for example helping a disabled person put a jacket on. This is also testing your communication skills and if you can demonstrate empathy.
Performance tended to get better as the day progressed and students started their second and third MMI circuits, even though the topics were not repeated.
Students were more reticent at the start of the MMI circuit, but confidence did improve as they went through the MMI interview stations.
Students reported that it was useful to see other students sit a MMI circuit and learn from the positive points as well as mistakes. This stresses the point it is good to do your preparation with other students, or even better, one of your teachers.
Every student had a personal weakness, and this was identified and pointed out by the examiner.
Some examiners were more ‘straight faced’ than others and showed no emotion or facial expressions during the interview. You should expect this and not be put off. Our former students also inform us that in the real medical school interview they also have examiners with offensive body odour, an unkempt appearance as well as other less desirable qualities. Don’t get put off by this.
One topic that students demonstrated poor performance in their medical school interview was that of consent. Students clearly had deficiency in knowledge and skills in this area. It is important to know how the issue of consent varies age and parental consent.
Students were less prepared to deal with MMI interview questions where money and allocation of resources was discussed. This is more critical for dentistry candidates where there is established private dental services in the UK.
Another hot topic that students scored poorly on in medical school interviews was that of organ donation and the ethics relating to this.
Students are not expected to know extensive medical knowledge about a specific disease in their medical school interview. Some students started talking about disease that they knew very little about. Do not dig yourself a hole.
Draw on your own personal experience in your medical school interview, for example what you learnt during your work experience, and link this to the topic being assessed.
Do not only focus on the medical needs of patients in your medical school interview. Also consider social needs of patients including the basics of care such as washing, feeding and dressing needs and how this relates to the question.
With the problems of access to NHS services, consider other members of the healthcare team in your medical school interview. Does every clinical presentation need a doctor? Can the patient get medical advice from the pharmacy instead?
Some students did not answer in a structured or organised way during their medical school interview. Don’t waffle, beat about the bush, and waste time with irrelevant responses.
If it dawns on you that you have made a mistake during the medical school interview, do not compound that mistake by trying to defend your wrong actions. Admit to the examiner your mistake and try and move forward.
Do not lie or suggest an action that could be considered dishonest or immoral during your medical school interview. In postgraduate medical exams, such a response can result you in automatically failing the whole exam. Such an extreme response is less likely during your medical school interview but leaves a very poor impression which may well affect your ability get a place if your overall performance was perhaps borderline.
Candidates knowledge of the NHS was generally good and answered well in medical school interviews. Be aware of some of the current problems of the NHS and how this is affecting the patient, the doctor and you as a future medical student.
Students on our Medical School Interview Course are taught in small groups and have a historical offer rate of between 95-98%.
