Tips for a Great Interview

It is full on interview season for Med Schools (and lots of other grad schools). Spence was able to meet with a few Northwestern interviewees this past week. It got us thinking about his interviews and how this time last year was for us. I posted a few ideas of how to save money on interview travel here.  But today I wanted to give a few tricks that we used to help Spence in the interview process.

1. Practice Interview: I actually set up a practice interview for Spence with my boss. Potentially awkward...yes. Helpful...oh yeah! My boss has interviewed a lot of individuals in all different settings. He was the perfect person for Spence to practice with. It was a great experience. Boss was helpful in giving tips and tricks. Spence was able to experience the awkward first time experience in a non-threating setting. This really helped him feel better with his first interview.

2. Have a Plan: It's important to have a plan when going into an interview. Have an idea of things you want to say, do, and see. An interview isn't only about the face to face. It includes getting a feel for the school, experiencing new things, and showing your stuff. For each school we had a separate plan. What questions Spence wanted to ask about the school. What areas did he want to learn more about. What sites did he want to see of the city.

3. Do Your Research: Every school runs their interview process differently. We spent plenty of time reading about each school and trying to learn about their interview process. This was great to help give Spence and idea of what to expect. Taking out as many surprises as possible really helped with the stress of the day.

4. Have Fun: These schools want you. Yes, they want the best and the brightest. They choose to interview you because you fit the mold. Let them show you that. Now don't act like you are all that and a bag of chips, but do enjoy yourself. Enjoy the free stuff they offer. Enjoy getting to know professors and educators. Enjoy being at a new school experiencing new things. By enjoying yourself it will help you relax.

Those are just a few of our tips. Do you have any tips to share?

Helpful Links:
http://www.princetonreview.com/medical/med-school-interview-tips.aspx
http://studentdoctor.net/2009/01/interview-tips-and-techniques/
http://gradschool.about.com/od/medicalinterview/Medical_School_Interview_Advice.htm