🧵 Part 3 of my Residency Interview Prep Series and the 7th thread in my #Tweetorial series for #Match2022 and #PedsMatch22: Questions About Medical School & ERAS 🧵
Featuring 23 questions you may get about medical school or your application! Ready? Let’s begin!
@FuturePedsRes
Featuring 23 questions you may get about medical school or your application! Ready? Let’s begin!
@FuturePedsRes
1. Tell me about a preceptor you liked and a preceptor you didn’t like.
This question does a good job of touching on a lot of things, including what you value in a teacher or mentor, interpersonal relationships, and the impact of role modeling on your growth.
This question does a good job of touching on a lot of things, including what you value in a teacher or mentor, interpersonal relationships, and the impact of role modeling on your growth.
2. Talk about a time you struggled in medical school.
Essentially the adversity question but in the context of medical school. It matters less what the struggle is and more what you did about it. However, I would suggest being mindful of what struggle you share.
Essentially the adversity question but in the context of medical school. It matters less what the struggle is and more what you did about it. However, I would suggest being mindful of what struggle you share.
3. What was the biggest challenge you faced in medical school?
Similar to the previous question. Your choice matters here, as it says something about the way you perceive challenges and the extent to which you may have faced hardships in your training.
Similar to the previous question. Your choice matters here, as it says something about the way you perceive challenges and the extent to which you may have faced hardships in your training.
4. What was your least favorite rotation and why?
Everybody will have rotations they enjoyed or disliked more than others. The same thing will happen in residency. How do you frame those experiences? What does this say about the kind of environment you do (and will do) well in?
Everybody will have rotations they enjoyed or disliked more than others. The same thing will happen in residency. How do you frame those experiences? What does this say about the kind of environment you do (and will do) well in?
5. What was your favorite course in medical school?
It’s typically easier to talk about things you like or enjoy, so hopefully this should be an easier question to answer more naturally. At the same time, this gets at what kind of a learner you are.
It’s typically easier to talk about things you like or enjoy, so hopefully this should be an easier question to answer more naturally. At the same time, this gets at what kind of a learner you are.
6. What is the biggest lesson you learned in medical school?
Your answer says a lot about what you take away from learning opportunities. It also shows your ability to reflect on past experiences and seek ways to continue building off of those experiences going forward.
Your answer says a lot about what you take away from learning opportunities. It also shows your ability to reflect on past experiences and seek ways to continue building off of those experiences going forward.
7. What would you change about your medical school?
This question challenges you to think about areas for improvement at the individual, community, and structural levels. Every student has his or her frustrations. What would you propose to do differently?
This question challenges you to think about areas for improvement at the individual, community, and structural levels. Every student has his or her frustrations. What would you propose to do differently?
8. If you could do medical school all over again, would you do anything differently?
Are there things you wish you had done that you didn’t, or vice versa? Some say things work out how they are meant to be, but I would imagine there’s probably something you would do differently.
Are there things you wish you had done that you didn’t, or vice versa? Some say things work out how they are meant to be, but I would imagine there’s probably something you would do differently.
9. How did you change during medical school?
This question helps interviewers see you reflect on your growth and development since day one of medical school. You’re obviously smarter, but how have you changed as a person?
This question helps interviewers see you reflect on your growth and development since day one of medical school. You’re obviously smarter, but how have you changed as a person?
10. What rotations have you done this year or are planning on doing?
What AIs or sub-Is have you done up to this point or will you do? What other rotations or experiences do you have in 4th year? Essentially, how much experience and preparation will you come to residency with?
What AIs or sub-Is have you done up to this point or will you do? What other rotations or experiences do you have in 4th year? Essentially, how much experience and preparation will you come to residency with?
11. What was something unexpected you encountered during your medical training?
Medical school has its ups and downs, and things don’t always go how you expect them to. How do you respond or react to those situations? How do they impact you?
Medical school has its ups and downs, and things don’t always go how you expect them to. How do you respond or react to those situations? How do they impact you?
12. Can you tell me about your acting internship / sub-internship experience on ___?
Be prepared to discuss your AI or sub-I experiences, including your role, level of responsibility, and clinical experiences. You may get some behavioral questions too (coming in my next thread)!
Be prepared to discuss your AI or sub-I experiences, including your role, level of responsibility, and clinical experiences. You may get some behavioral questions too (coming in my next thread)!
13. What advice would you give someone who will be starting medical school at your institution next year?
Now that you are wiser, what words of wisdom would you impart? What is truly beneficial to know?
Okay, let’s move on to some questions geared towards your ERAS application!
Now that you are wiser, what words of wisdom would you impart? What is truly beneficial to know?
Okay, let’s move on to some questions geared towards your ERAS application!
14. What research project that you worked on was the most meaningful to you?
Have one in mind if asked to highlight a single experience, but you need to be able to talk in depth about any project you listed, especially if interviewing with someone who does similar work/research.
Have one in mind if asked to highlight a single experience, but you need to be able to talk in depth about any project you listed, especially if interviewing with someone who does similar work/research.
15. I saw on your application that you volunteered at X doing Y / you worked as a X at Y. What was that experience like? How do you feel like that will help make you a better physician?
This can reveal your genuine reasons for involvement and uncover resume padding.
This can reveal your genuine reasons for involvement and uncover resume padding.
16. I saw your hobbies and interests and was fascinated by X. Tell me about that.
Arguably the most important part of your application. Hobbies and interests are conversation starters, make you relatable, and tell programs about your ability to find joy, cope, and destress.
Arguably the most important part of your application. Hobbies and interests are conversation starters, make you relatable, and tell programs about your ability to find joy, cope, and destress.
17. One of your letter writers mentioned a time when ___. Can you tell me about that?
Assuming you waived your right to view your LORs, you should not know what your letter writers wrote. Just know that topics and clinical experiences related to your letters may come up.
Assuming you waived your right to view your LORs, you should not know what your letter writers wrote. Just know that topics and clinical experiences related to your letters may come up.
18. I really enjoyed reading your personal statement, especially the part about ___.
Yes, those in recruitment do read your personal statements carefully, and they are important. You should be able to elaborate on experiences you highlight or mention throughout it.
Yes, those in recruitment do read your personal statements carefully, and they are important. You should be able to elaborate on experiences you highlight or mention throughout it.
19. What will you do here when you have a weekend off?
A deeper dive into your hobbies and interests, as well as a way to learn more things you may not have included on your application. This also helps to see if the program’s location is a good fit for you.
A deeper dive into your hobbies and interests, as well as a way to learn more things you may not have included on your application. This also helps to see if the program’s location is a good fit for you.
20. Tell me about what happened on your USMLE Step X / COMLEX Level Y exam. Are you satisfied with your score?
This gets at your drive, ambition, and determination. Moreover, it helps those with true extenuating circumstances to provide context about less desirable scores.
This gets at your drive, ambition, and determination. Moreover, it helps those with true extenuating circumstances to provide context about less desirable scores.
21. If you had to pick one thing from your application that stands out the most to you, what would you choose?
Another way this question may come up is in the form of “What do you want me to remember about you?” What makes you unique and speaks to who you are and what you value?
Another way this question may come up is in the form of “What do you want me to remember about you?” What makes you unique and speaks to who you are and what you value?
22. For those with other graduate degrees: Tell me about your experience in that program.
Not that many people have additional graduate degrees. These are incredibly valuable experiences, and you should elaborate on them and discuss how they relate to your career goals.
Not that many people have additional graduate degrees. These are incredibly valuable experiences, and you should elaborate on them and discuss how they relate to your career goals.
23. I saw you that also speak [insert language]. How fluent are you? Where did you learn it?
Be honest about language fluency. If you list yourself as fluent, you should be able to speak in that language for up to your entire interview (this has happened to some people I know).
Be honest about language fluency. If you list yourself as fluent, you should be able to speak in that language for up to your entire interview (this has happened to some people I know).
That's a wrap! In summary, take time to reflect on some of your formative medical school experiences. As for ERAS, you should be able to talk about ANYTHING in your application, including things I didn’t cover, such as awards and certifications.
Part 4 coming soon! Stay tuned!
Part 4 coming soon! Stay tuned!
Tags! Hope ERAS is going well! (lmk if you don't want to be tagged in the future) @DrEToBe @StuDrBrittany @StudyinAveryDay @wifemomfuturemd @KaitPardue @smalltownOMS @Shivam_Patel21 @doctortater @narcolepticsurg @kaushikganeshh @tjb518 @taylor_wintler @McmuffinsDoc @eli_harkins
@MichelleLButts @EveV_futureMD @Drdobidoesit @halfadrmassey @SomiPeds @Flowerquinolone @ashleymatter1 @SoniaParikh3 @sarinha317 @MoniqueMHuerta1 @sheilak94 @joannar1012 @randhashim95 @kellytran95 @EstherKwara @clairebethel @GraceOverturf @shancwalker @chrisaugustin_ @addie_witt_
@DoctorWannabeMD @Andi_N_Garcia @AliciaHanson21 @skhetarpal44 @pagepeds_zackb @DraRaygoza @TaylorWHamilton @jaime_weber_ @MarriamElf @beeotaibi @kwablaMD @TayMChristian @WinchellMorgan @lauramazap @TaneishaRenae @AObeng_ @TaylorKrat @jbsargon @SalikaGadiwala @jbsargon @NaaSey2
More tags! Hope ERAS is going well! (lmk if you don't want to be tagged) @liyana_k @AnthoulaChri @medstudentdani @jessie_davis13 @sahar_panjwani @shrebhan @UPcomingPedsDR @LuisaOrtizMed @lochoaaa @EllieSidler @jazmineelleston @hngosnell @swapnil_patel95 @laurenmholt @JoshuaSylvan
@MandaPanda_med @NaumescuAna @JennaAziz1 @KelseyMedicine @matt_a_crain @clarambosco @LeslieFShang @MikaLumsden @keirajhane @ChrisJMurdock @AubreySwilling @KoriPoRodri @powerMIAup @abbydillaha @megan_e_ward1 @BrookeBurkins @ICanTakeYourHPI @SarahBrnich @ThePriscaO @AmberPriester2
@SinmiOpeyemi @MatthewStankard @EmiBarnard @RaiterSimone @Katierose0 @jaime_weber_ @StudentDocJazz @MoriahMurray7 @Rajbanerjee_33 @SarahMerrillms @MadisonBompard @Miriannie_ @BaileyDecoursey @EshwarKishore22 @anjanipatel418 @koreewiller @bowler_elise @parisunshoga @TheAndrewWoods
@ElaineBlackman3 @drsania2289 @MarriamElf @nicollections @Yo_DrTesfaye @Rea_M_Cleland @Jen_L_Nelson @NikitaSonaliyaD @ChristianRHid @marjoriethmpsn @DrSStephens_ @HeavensstoBetsy @MakeevaW @Josh_Quast @camilojpardo @dr_jay125 @RupaliGautam_ @QuinonezMed @AmanahF22 @carolinebri_
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