By Samir P. Desai, M.D., and Rajani Katta, M.D.
Authors of The Successful Match: 200 Rules to Succeed in the Residency Match and
250 Biggest Mistakes 3rd Year Medical Students Make And How To Avoid Them

For most residency applicants, the arrival of November marks the beginning of the interview season. This often brings back memories of the medical school admission interview, with the ubiquitous “Why do you want to be a doctor?” question.

Four years later, you find yourself in a similar situation – this time, hoping to land a position in the specialty and residency program of your choice. “Why do you want to be a doctor?” is now replaced with “Why do you want to go into [this specialty]?” and “Why are you interested in our residency program?” While the questions will differ to some extent, you may be experiencing the same gamut of emotions – uncertainty, nervousness, and perhaps even fear.

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by Jeremiah Fleenor, MD, MBA
Author of The Medical School Interview: Secrets and a System for Success

“Man’s mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions.”
Oliver Wendell Holmes (1809 – 1894)

I’ve been most successful in life when I’ve stopped to see the situation from another person’s point of view. This is good to have in mind when facing a medical school interview. There are certain salient concepts an applicant must understand to communicate more successfully during the interview. This column will discuss some behind the scenes dynamics, which will give you the edge during your interviews. Read the full story

by Jeremiah Fleenor, MD, MBA
Author of The Medical School Interview: Secrets and a System for Success

Another summer is upon us. As you enjoy the warm days and break from classes, let’s consider another commonly encountered interview question. This one is almost certain to pop up during your interview conversation.

What would you do if you couldn’t be a doctor?

I’ve seen this question take many an applicant aback. When asked this question during my interviews I recall being confused and wondering whether there was a hidden meaning. Here’s what would go through my mind: “Why do they want to know what I’d do if I wasn’t able to be a doctor? Are they somehow trying to see if I’m really serious about my career choice? Is it appropriate to say there is no other option and that becoming a physician is the only reality for me?” Read the full story

by Jeremiah Fleenor, MD, MBA
Author of The Medical School Interview: Secrets and a System for Success

“It is better to know some of the questions than all of the answers.”
James Thurber (1894 -1961)

As the second half of the interview season begins, I want to provide some insight into one of the most common, but deceptively tricky, questions asked during an interview. This question was posed to me in every one of my interviews, and I suspect that many of you will also face this potentially silent killer: “So, can you tell me a little about yourself?”   Read the full story

by Jeremiah Fleenor, MD, author of “The Medical School Interview: Secrets and a System for Success”

“That which we persist in doing becomes easier, not that the task itself has become easier, but that our ability to perform it has improved.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 – 1882)

Part 1 of this series dealt with how to gather and organize the personal information you want to convey during interviews. Now that you have collected that information, you’re ready to practice delivering it in a smooth, professional way. Read the full story

By Jeremiah Fleenor, MD, MBA, author of The Medical School Interview: Secrets and a System for Success

“Never discourage anyone…who continually makes progress…”
Plato (427 BC – 347 BC)

When I look around, everything tells me fall is in the air: school is back in session, the weather is becoming slightly cooler and the smell of OChem lab lingers on my clothes. If you’re half the dork I am, the smell of a new textbook is a welcome aroma. It represents a fresh start and being one step closer to becoming a physician.

All of these indicate there is another interview season upon us. Accordingly, this two-part series is dedicated to helping prospective medical students prepare for upcoming interviews. Read the full story

By Jeremiah Fleenor, MD, MBA, author of The Medical School Interview: Secrets and a System for Success

Another admissions cycle is in the history books. For those of you who got accepted, congratulations! I hope medicine is everything you thought it would be and more. For those of you who didn’t, I’m sorry this wasn’t your year. This article is for you.

As any great athlete knows, performance level during the season is largely determined by the choices made during the off-season. Here are some options to consider as you make your summer plans.

What Worked and What Didn’t

In a perfect world you would be able to find out what a given admissions committee thought about your application, both good and bad. Fortunately, many schools offer such a service. This feedback is worth its weight in gold. If any of the schools you interviewed offer post-interview feedback, make sure to get it. Read the full story

By Jeremiah Fleenor, MD, MBA, author of The Medical School Interview: Secrets and a System for Success

To make a goal of comfort or happiness has never appealed to me; a system of ethics built on this basis would be sufficient only for a herd of cattle.

-Albert Einstein (1879 – 1955)

I was recently asked by an applicant how to approach ethical questions asked during an interview. His concerns about answering this type of question echoed those of many other applicants. In light of this common woe, I’d like to share a simple three-step approach for handling interview questions regarding ethics. You’ll be happy to know reasonable answers are probably easier to frame than you think. Further, interviewers are often as nervous about asking ethical questions as you are about answering them!

Abortion, euthanasia, stem cell research, and pharmaceutical “perks” are super-charged topics currently facing physicians and our health care system. It is a truly scary proposition to be asked about your stance on such issues, especially in the glare of an interview. When your goal is to make a good impression (and not rock the boat), it can be hard to share your views on these sensitive topics. What’s an applicant to do? Read the full story

By Jeremiah Fleenor, MD, MBA, author of The Medical School Interview: Secrets and a System for Success

“A wise man can see more from the bottom of a well than a fool can from a mountain top.” Unknown

So you’re not happy with your grades. Are they at the bottom of a well? Do you feel that the GPA and MCAT scores on your application don’t reflect the true brain power you possess? This firmly plants you in the majority of applicants. So what can be done to help this common situation? Here are some tips to help you be the “wise man” and make the most of your grades.

Overview of Problem Areas

During the course of the medical school interview, it is important to proactively bring up weak areas of your application. I liken this to telling your parents you’ve done something wrong before they find out about it. Although I rarely practiced this philosophy as I was growing up, the times I did usually resulted in less trouble. I think the same is true for admissions committees. Students who can assess their own weaknesses gain credibility. Those who come to the committee with an honest assessment and plan (not excuses) to address weaknesses look much stronger than those who ignore or try to hide their shortcomings. Read the full story

By Jeremiah Fleenor, MD, MBA, author of The Medical School Interview: Secrets and a System for Success

“Doubt is not a pleasant condition…” Voltaire (1694 – 1778)

If you are concerned about your grades (GPA, MCAT, etc.), you are not alone. As an advisor and interviewer, it’s one of the most common issues I encounter. Nobody thinks they have perfect scores. It’s the equivalent of looking in the mirror and being a little displeased with that sag or roll. We all wish something was different. Applicants view their grades the same way. The good news is that changing your scores doesn’t involve a nip or tuck.

The topic of grades is a big one. There are several key concepts that need to be addressed and are paramount to your success. It’s too large and important to adequately cover in one column. That is why the next two articles will be dedicated to this subject. Read the full story