Monday, August 19, 2013

Common Medical School Interview Questions


Once you have submitted your applications to medical school, you will hopefully get asked for an interview. If you apply to a number of schools, you may even be asked for multiple interviews. The initial feeling is great, but once the reality sets in, it often comes with a certain degree of stress. However, if you know the most common questions in advance, as well as tips for answering them, you wont need to be worried.

One of the most common questions asked in an interview is why you want to become a doctor or what makes you want to go to medical school. This is a basic question that should be easy to answer. If you are honest and let your genuine passion for the medical field shine through, you will do great. It is also a great time to share any specific areas of interest as well as any similar experiences you have accomplished. For example, if you volunteered in a clinic or did any research work, this is an excellent time to share it.

Another commonly asked question is why you chose that particular school. This is a question you really do need to prepare for. While it is a basic question, it is expected that you will have thoroughly researched the school, its program, and what it offers before you go on the interview. You need to show that you know the school and be able to connect the things you like best about the school with how and what you are looking forward to learning.

You will likely also be asked both your best and worst qualities. These are much tougher questions. You need to take the time to honest analyze yourself in order to see what areas you are strong in, as well as the areas that need work. You can ask friends, family, colleagues, or even professors for help with this, as long as you don't get upset with their answers. It is important to really know yourself. Never suggest you don't have any worst qualities. Not only is it obviously untrue, but it also puts you in a negative light. When you do share the areas you are weak in, you should also be able to give the interviewer information on how you working on these areas. This is an important step, because it shows both that you understand your weaknesses, and that you are willing to work on them.

You may also be asked to share your experiences and, in all your answers, you want to let them know why you deserve a space in their program. You need to be honest, and remember they aren't trying to get you. They merely want to challenge you and ensure the best candidates are getting into their school. If you prepare in advance, you will be able to do well and ensure you get a spot in their program.


Thursday, August 1, 2013

Choosing the right medical school

It is common knowledge that the medical field is seeing tremendous growth. This isn't expected to change, making it a good career prospect. However, in order to make the most of the possibilities offered by the medical field, it is important to choose the right medical school. Luckily, this isn't as difficult as it used to be with the current popularity of the World Wide Web.

The first step to finding the right medical school is to look online. You will quickly be able to find lists of medical schools, both in the United States as well as accredited foreign medical schools. The websites of these schools are the best, as well as the easiest way, to take a good look at them and see what they have to offer. IT is important to take a look at all of the information they have to offer. You need to find out about their application, as well as the prerequisites they require. While many of these prerequisites are uniform, such as how many years of the different sciences they require, some schools will have other prerequisites you need to know about. You will want to look at the curriculum the school offers, as well as the costs of their program. This includes the cost of tuition, as well as accommodations. In addition, you need to consider the cost of living at the school's location, as well as the cost associated with traveling there. Getting an idea of the total cost is important for planning purposes. You will be able to see how much financial assistance, in the form of loans, aid, and scholarships you will need to make it a viable option. You also need to make a list of their application requirements and any related expenses. You should take a look at the application periods, as well as deadlines for submission. In addition, you should look at the interview schedules, and what the application consists of. You need to ensure that you have both the time and financial resources to apply. This is particularly important to help you decide how many schools you can afford to apply to. In addition, having a list of information about a variety of medical schools will help you decided what they can offer you, as well as which ones offer the best balance between the quality of their education and the cost associated with attending.

You should consider some of the foreign options, such as the top Caribbean Medical Schools. These can provide, not only a good program at a better overall cost, but also a chance to help ensure your future as a medical professional. While the medical field is more popular than ever, making the US schools increasingly more competitive, the overseas schools are often easier to get into, as well as more affordable. While some of them have a bad reputation, there are a number of reputable options available that will be able to help you achieve your dream job.