So, it is almost time for your medical school interview. You will soon be sitting in front of an interview panel and convincing them that you belong on the Medicine course.
But exactly what are the 10 most common interview questions and answers medical field?
In this article, we will outline some of the most popular questions you will be asked at the interview stage, which we hope you find informative.
What are the 10 most common interview questions and answers medical field?
We are not going to write out model answers for you, because your interview experience needs to be totally unique to you.
However, we will talk you through some of the most common interview questions, and outline a few pointers on how to tackle them.
This should help you with your interview preparation when you are brainstorming your answers to possible questions.
So, what are the 10 most common interview questions and answers medical field?
1. Why Medicine, and not Nursing/Dentistry/Veterinary Sciences/Pharmacy?
The interviewers will be intrigued about your motivation to study Medicine.
Explain why you are drawn to a Medicine degree and career. Why do you want to become a doctor? Are you drawn to the idea of caring for patients? Are you fascinated with the human body?
Outline the steps you have taken which helped you decide that Medicine is the right path for you. Have you undertaken any relevant work experience, such as shadowing a GP?
Don’t be critical or negative about non-Medicine degree courses or other healthcare workers. Always be courteous and respectful when talking about other people and groups.
2. Why do you want to study Medicine at our university?
You should demonstrate your enthusiasm for the possibility of studying Medicine at this particular university you are interviewing for.
Pick out aspects of the curriculum that excite you, and explain why they are appealing.
Make sure you have conducted plenty of research into the university beforehand. Are there any societies you are hoping to join? Are there any medical lecturers whose research interests align with yours?
Avoid speaking harshly about other universities- you should display a professional attitude at all times.
3. What do you hope to achieve with a degree in Medicine?
There is no doubt that the interviewers will ask you what your future ambitions are.
Explain to them what your career goals are, and how a Medicine degree will help you achieve them.
For example, which field of Medicine do you wish to specialise in? Perhaps you are interested in treating eye diseases, so ophthalmology is your ideal field. Or maybe you want to work with children, so paediatrics is your dream career.
Think beyond the years of medical school and postgraduate training. After you have qualified as a doctor and gained experience, what else do you dream of doing?
With a degree in Medicine, your job opportunities are endless. Have you considered working in medical relief work, to help people in emergencies and natural disasters? Or maybe you are interested in joining a public health team so you can keep the population healthy and safe.
4. How prepared are you for the challenges of being a doctor?
You should have a clear understanding of what being a doctor entails and have evidence to prove this.
For instance, have you spent time volunteering at a hospital or clinic? Do you have a part-time job in a care home, where you have interacted with vulnerable patients? Do you attend medical lectures, read scientific journals, or listen to podcasts?
You should also understand the intense pressures of being a doctor, due to cuts to NHS funding, high volumes of patients, etc.
How would you cope with this heavy workload and build a healthy work-life balance?
5. What skills do you have that make you suited to be a doctor?
This is your opportunity to sell yourself.
Think about the qualities that a good doctor needs, such as:
- active listening
- desire to care for others
- empathy
- conscientiousness
- teamwork
- leadership
- excellent communication
- ability to work under pressure
- ability to make sound decisions.
Then, demonstrate how you have gained those qualities, through your time spent studying, volunteering, attending work experience, or working.
Your skills don’t need to be just science-orientated. Highlight the transferable skills you have. For instance, if you have recently run a marathon, then this demonstrates that you are dedicated and committed to taking care of your health.
6. How do you cope with a pressurising environment?
Illustrate examples of how you have coped under pressure.
Did you observe a stressful situation during your work placement at a GP or clinic? Have you dealt with difficult customers at your part-time job? How have you managed the stress of balancing multiple A-Level subjects?
Describe what the stressful factors were, and explain how you stayed calm and dealt with the situation.
7. Tell me about a time where you showed empathy.
Empathy is one of the main characteristics that medical school interviewers are looking for in candidates.
After all, nobody could practice as a doctor if they were not empathetic towards patients. Every doctor has to show sensitivity to the patient’s feelings and understand where they are coming from, in order to provide the best care.
You should describe a time where you consciously showed empathy for somebody and had a positive impact on them. For example, have you listened to somebody’s concerns, to make them feel better? Have you delivered bad news to somebody, in a respectful manner?
8. What would you do if you don’t get into any medical schools this year?
Don’t just say ‘well, I’d just apply for something else, like Biomedical Sciences’. This might signal to the interviewer that you are not really committed to getting a Medicine degree.
The interviewer wants to see your passion and dedication to studying Medicine and becoming a doctor, so you should show you would do anything possible to get accepted onto the course.
For example, perhaps you would take a year out to get some more Medicine-related work experience and re-apply for the following academic year.
9. Describe a recent challenge and how you overcame it.
Use the STAR method to answer this question, as research has shown that this technique can increase your success rate in your interview by 50%!
- Situation: Describe what the situation was.
- Task: Explain what the task was and what your goal was.
- Action: Outline what steps you took to achieve the goal.
- Result: Discuss what the result of your action was.
The interviewers will be curious about your reactions to obstacles, and what steps you take to resolve them. They want to see examples of your problem-solving, conflict resolution, resilience and initiative.
10. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Explain to the interviewers where you want your journey in Medicine to take you.
Once you have qualified as a doctor, you don’t have to work in the same hospital for the rest of your life, if you don’t want to.
Do you want to contribute to medical research and help come up with cures and treatments for diseases?
Or perhaps you are interested in eventually becoming a medical lecturer, and training a new generation of medical students?
Think about the big picture. You will learn so much knowledge and pick up amazing skills in 10 years time, so what do you want to do with it? The world is your oyster!
How can I get help with preparing for my medical school interview?
Here at The Future Medic, our Interview Coaching package is perfect for students who will soon be attending interviews at the medical schools to which they have applied to.
We will provide you with expert coaching on how to put your best foot forward and impress those interviewers. With our guidance, you will nail your interview and increase your chances of landing a place on your desired Medicine course.
Starting from only £100, our Interview Coaching package offers advice and guidance from our expert tutors. All of our tutors are fully qualified British doctors, specialists in medical education and interviewers at their respective medical schools. This level of tutoring is not guaranteed by any competitors.
You will have access to Interview Online Courses and personalised 1-to-1 lessons with a highly qualified tutor.
You will get to work on topics such as:
- Motivation for Medicine
- Interpersonal skills
- Communication
- Academic ability
- Lateral thinking
- Problem-solving
- Work experience
- NHS & Hot Topics
- Medical ethics
- GMC/ Good Medical Practice
Choose from between 1 to 20 hours of coaching, to prepare for a medical school interview and set you up for the best chances of success.
At The Future Medic, we have helped thousands of aspiring medical students successfully enter the medical schools of their choice.
Click here to book our Interview Coaching package or learn more about this service.
Read more articles about medical school interviews
To learn more about medical school interviews, click here to read our blog articles on:
- What Are the Interviews for Medical School?
- How Do You Introduce Yourself in a Medical Interview?
- How Do I Ace a Medical School Interview?
- What Questions Are Asked In Medical Interview?
- What Are 10 Good Interview Questions and Answers for Medical School Interviews?
- What Should You Not Say in a Medical Interview?
- What Should I Prepare for a Medical Interview?
- What Is Your Goal as a Medical Student?
- How do I Prepare for an MMI Interview?
- How to Prepare for Oxford Medicine Interview – Medical Interview UK
About The Future Medic
We are a team of experienced GPs. We understand the challenges and pressures of applying to medical school- whether you are a home student in the UK or an international student.
That is why we coach students on every aspect of the medical school application process.
With our services, we have helped thousands of students successfully enter the medical schools of their dreams.
For a full list of our services, visit our website.
We provide Medicine interview tutoring services, personal statement coaching, and UCAT coaching.
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We hope this article has answered the question, ‘what are the 10 most common interview questions and answers medical field?’
