The idea of attending a medical school interview can be daunting… but Year 2 medics Kamil and Harriet are here to help. Having gone through the process themselves as candidates, and now supporting this year’s in-person interviews as fully-fledged medical students, Kamil and Harriet bring you this pre-interview guide full of handy tips to navigate any anxiety around the big day.
Note: At BSMS, we use the Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI) format. This consists of five stations each lasting 10 minutes with a short break between each station. Candidates will move from each station in turn until they have completed a full circuit – this takes roughly one hour.
So, you have completed the work experience, personal statement, UCAT, and now you can finally breathe a sigh of relief. That is until the interview invitation arrives and the panic resumes …
Interviews are an inevitable part of any application process no matter what field you choose to enter, from university to the workplace and beyond. Having been through the process ourselves, and meeting the incoming BSMS applicants this cycle, we can absolutely assure you that interviews are not the enemy you think they are. In this article, we are going to not only give you some tips and tricks, but also try to change the perception that interviews are intimidating, and suggest how you can actually utilise them to your advantage.
So, where to begin?
First and foremost, let’s talk imposter syndrome. To get to interview, you have passed the UCAT and grades threshold, and you have more than proved your academic ability. It is now your personality that the interviewers are interested in. It is important not to confuse the style of answering interview questions with the style of answering exam questions: people often get their wires crossed over this disparity and it creates an unnecessary layer of stress. In your mind, you should replace the word ‘interview’ with ‘discussion’ – it’s more conversational and relaxed than you would expect. And remember, there is no right answer!
Now that you’re reminded of your capability, let’s focus on some of the initial thoughts which may be floating about in your mind:
- How much do I need to prepare?
- What are they going to ask me about?
- Will they like me?
These are very common and, rest assured, not unique thoughts. Even the most confident and well-qualified candidates will have similar concerns.
Getting comfortable
During your interview prep, it’s important to remain yourself. What do we mean by this? It’s important to play to your strengths and recognise your weaknesses (which are ok to have!). What might work for your friend might not work for you. For us, we worked these things out about ourselves separately, by talking to and getting feedback from anyone we could – from parents and friends who know nothing about the medical field, to people working directly in medicine. The bigger range of people you speak to, the better.
This ties in with the question, how much do I need to prepare? Instead of putting an exact time frame on it, the end goal should be when you feel comfortable talking in a formal and structured way, and when answering questions feels natural to you. It can be an unexpectedly awkward way of speaking initially, which requires practise to get comfortable with. Preparing little and often for a few weeks before our interviews worked for us. And don’t forget to read up on NHS hot topics and keep up to date with current affairs in healthcare and science leading up to the interview!
Will they like me?
At the start of each MMI station, don’t forget to introduce yourself before you begin. This might seem like basic advice, but you’d be surprised how many people forget to do this, or how nerves can make you forget basic etiquette. This simple and effective gesture not only makes a good first impression on the interviewer, but it introduces a positive tone for the rest of the station which will put you both at ease.
Whatever happens in one station does not influence the others. It is unlikely that you will have an accurate gauge of how you’ve done in a station; you can’t be sure of what the interviewers will look for, so don’t overthink it and keep it moving. One interviewer may be very friendly, whilst the next one could have a more intimidating attitude. Don’t let that spook you, every interviewer has their individual style of interviewing. Try to remind yourself that they are not there to catch you out on what you don’t know, they are just trying to see your thought processes and how you suit the course and the university.
Final checks
So, you’re feeling prepared and confident, and the interview date is looming. What are some final checks you should do before the day?
Sort any practicalities in advance to minimise stress on the day: travel, accommodation (may be necessary if you are travelling far), having an adequate breakfast, and no last-minute cramming! Have confidence in the prep you have done leading up to this and focus on remaining relaxed on the day – this is your day to show off!
We hope this pre-interview anxiety guide will come in useful during your preparation for your medical school application. For when you receive your invitation to interview – congratulations and good luck. And for any last-minute butterflies – remember what you know and forget what you don’t!