10 Medical School Interview Questions And Answers

All those years of watching “Scrubs” reruns have finally paid off — you’ve applied to med school, and you’ve been asked to come in to interview. Clearly, the school likes you, but through the interview process you have to convince them to love you. To make sure you ace this part of the med-school application process, review these 10 common medical school interview questions and answers:

1. Why do you want to be a doctor?

There’s pretty much a 100 percent chance you’ll be asked this question, so come prepared. Be honest about your reason (or more likely, reasons) for why you want to become a physician, but make sure you highlight how you’re motivated by your deep care for your fellow man (and woman!). You can also clarify why you want to be a doctor specifically, as opposed to other related professions in the medical or scientific fields, like nursing or research science.

2. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

This may seem like a fairly routine question that’s asked in any general interview, but when it’s asked in a med school interview, the interviewer is probably trying to suss out a few key details. For example, in your answer you may want to indicate literally where you see yourself in 10 years (a.k.a. what city or area of the country you’d like to practice in) and what area of medicine you see yourself practicing in. Highlight, though, that you’ll definitely be keeping an open mind as you encounter the many different practice areas as you go through med school.

3. What’s the difference between Medicaid and Medicare?

This is an example of a question designed to test your general knowledge about the medical field; other questions along these same lines include “What is the Hippocratic Oath?” and “Describe the difference between a PPO and an HMO.” There’s a right answer and a wrong answer here, so study up for these kinds of questions so you don’t stumble.

4. What is the biggest issue or challenge that the medical field faces today?

Here’s another question that tests your general knowledge of the medical field, but this time you get to add your own opinion in the mix. While there’s technically no “wrong” answer, you will want to reply with the right mix of confidence, thoughtfulness, and passion — and you should be able to cite some research or data points to back your stance up.

5. Why did you apply to this school?

This is your chance to show off your knowledge about the school. Highlight one or two unique aspects about the program that interested you, recent accolades the school’s received, or even faculty members you’re looking forward to working with. Concrete examples will be the most impressive, as opposed to generalizing about how “highly regarded” the school is.

6. Let’s say you’re rejected from med school this year. What would you do instead?

Yes, this question sounds like a bummer, but really, it’s designed to test your commitment to becoming a doctor. Mention a back up plan if you have one, but concentrate on highlighting your commitment to the profession. Tell the interviewer that you’d make a point to figure out why you were rejected, work on improving in the necessary areas, and that you’d plan on reapplying in the following year.

7. Two patients come into the emergency room at the same time, and both are seriously injured. One is 15, and the other is 65 — whose life would you save, and why?

Yikes — this is a tough one. Doctors, however, deal with moral quandaries on a daily basis, so you can expect a question or two like this one that’ll make you feel a bit uncomfortable. Take a moment to gather your thoughts before answering — rather than just hoping to come up with a solid answer once you start talking — and remember that with “moral dilemma” type questions, the key is to always put the patient’s well-being first.

8. What qualities do you think a good doctor should possess?

For this question, concentrate on the “soft skills” you think a good doctor should possess, as opposed to academic knowledge and training. If you’ve been brought in for a med school interview, then you’ve already impressed admissions with your academic record — now you need to show them that you understand that a warm, thoughtful bedside manner is just as important for a physician to have.

9. I see you received low marks on (insert course or section of the MCAT here). Why do you think you struggled with that?

If you’ve got some sore spots on your academic record, many interviewers will give you the chance to explain your less-than-stellar performance. Come prepared with an honest answer that still puts you in the best light, and be sure to highlight how you’ve worked on improving in theses areas.

10. Do you have any questions for me?

The answer to this question is most definitely “yes.” Applying to med school is a complicated process, and each school’s program has it’s own idiosyncrasies — come prepared with four to five questions about the school’s specific program. Not only will this show that you’ve done your research about the school, but it’ll help you decide if this is the right program for you. Remember, the interview process is a two-way street!

Do you have any tips on acing the med school interview? Share them with us in the comments below!