The Medical School Interview Day

In an earlier post I talked about what to expect during an interview.  This time I want to touch upon travel logistics and the day outside the interviews.

Here's an inside look to the whole process.

Planning Interviews

After submitting your applications, you should get confirmation from AMCAS/TMDSAS that your application is complete.  The same goes for the secondary applications.

Scheduling

The earliest time you'll find out that you have an interview is late July of the application cycle.  If you're a strong applicant, you'll get many offers through August and September.

The earliest interview I had was in early August.  However, I received more offers in a short window of time.

Go ahead and relax because knowing when you'll interview is unpredictable.

I suggest taking a schedule-as-you-go approach, because the medical school will give you only a few interview dates to choose from.  What you'll end up doing is scheduling interviews so you'll be in the region for multiple interviews.

The latest interviews are in February, so don't feel bad if you're not interviewing right away.

Also, I believe your chances of getting into medical school are higher the earlier you interview (spots in the entering class are given  throughout the interview season),

Insider tip: relax the night before the interview, get proper rest, but don't forget to review your applications and CV in case you get asked questions over them the next day.

Travelling to Interviews

What should you expect?

Bouncing back and forth between regions of the US or a state is something that might happen.  If you have more than one interview in the region/city but the dates are far apart, tell the medical school your situation and they'll do their best to accommodate you.

Regarding actual transport: drive comfortable distances, and plan flights as soon as you find out about a new interview.  I recommend staying with a medical student host when it comes to lodging, because it's free, usually close to the medical school, and you'll get some good advice for the interview.  Also, they'll help you get to where you need to be in a timely manner.

Insider tip: Sometimes during interviews, an interviewer will ask if you stayed with a medical student or went to the interview social, in order to gauge your interest in the medical school and how social you are.  It won't hurt if you don't do it, but this can only help you.

The Interview Day

Usually you will show up anywhere from 7am to 9am.  Expect a fairly warm atmosphere, with many people eager to help you find out where to sit and where you need to go.  There'll usually be a breakfast, but it doesn't hurt to have a bit of caffeine, water, and something to eat before you set out.

I timed my coffee intake about 2 hours before getting to the interview site so I'm awake, but not consistently urinating all the time, or jittery.

You'll likely be given a folder with an itinerary and something cool like a bag.  Expect some break time as well before and between interviews, where you can get to talk to other applicants and medical students, and most importantly, to relax.

Most people think they're being watched closely and judged by others during tours, but I found it to be untrue.

At the end of every interview, I was sure to shake hands with my interviewer and thank them for their time. A lot of them are practicing doctors on faculty who volunteer their time from research and clinical duties to get to know the new applicants.

After your interviews, head back to your hotel room, or car, relax, and get ready for the next interview.

Relaxing and focusing is the best thing to do on the interview trail, as well as sleeping and eating well.

Make interviewing a fun and exciting time, and enjoy it!