300 Medical School Interview Questions & Answers

Common Medical School Interview Question #1/300: Tell Me About Yourself

Click here to view a sample response to this question.

Why is this question asked?

1. It’s an icebreaker -- This question is an icebreaker, but also to get a sense of whether or not you can provide an organized, meaningful answer to an open-ended question. The admissions committee can get an idea of who you are and what your motivations are. Often, they will use your answer to lead into other related questions.
2. It's transitional -- Similar to what was said above, this question is transitional. It allows the interviewer(s) to transition into more difficult or complex questions related to behavior or motivations. This is why this question is commonly the first one candidates are asked.
3. Tests your ability to articulate and summarize -- Because this question is more open-ended than most, it’s a good opportunity for candidates to summarize or highlight parts of their lives that they think are relevant to the interview. The answer will help the admissions team learn about what the candidate values and how they see themselves. They are looking for a concise response that highlights but doesn’t diverge from meaningful experiences.

How to answer this question:

1. Start at the beginning -- Start at the beginning, particularly if your beginning has some unique features or if you are a non-traditional applicant or if you are a former soldier who wants to become a military doctor. “I was born in…” or “I am from…” are useful starts. Then, work on characterizing your youth with something that you enjoyed or something that really sets you apart from other applicants. This helps distinguish you and your face in the interviewers’ mind. For example, if you say “I grew up really focused on gymnastics and was a competitor until I began University,” then the interviewer will have a clear and quick association with you and gymnastics. 
2. Choose experiences carefully -- Be sure to include in this section any landmark or life-changing events that helped build your character. Remember, you must always remain at ease during the interview. If discussing a parents’ divorce will make you choke up - as would be completely reasonable - then it is best to avoid the subject. If, however, you were really affected by moving with your family, at the age of 10, from your home country, then it is very useful to include this in your opening. Then, include contextual details about where you attended undergraduate and, if applicable, graduate studies. If you studied a particular topic, then include the general area of study or the problem of interest that you examined in your research.
3. Supplement or infuse with meaning -- After you establish a basic foundation, you should explain who you are at a more meaningful level. You want to avoid simply re-capping or summarizing your CV or medical school resume; focus on discussing one or two key characteristics that you believe truly demarcate you from the rest of the candidates and that are often attributed to a good doctor. Demonstrate how you possess these qualities or characteristics through a story about your life. If the characteristic that you choose is empathy, for example, tell us about a time where you put yourself in someone else’s shoes and helped solve a problem or helped someone cope. You could start this part of the answer by saying, “I think if I had to use one word to explain who I am…” and then share the experience. It is important that you support your claim with an anecdote or explanation – it is not enough to simply say, “I would consider myself an empathetic person.”

Check out our video below to see examples of the most intimidating medical school interview questions:

Common Medical School Interview Question #2/300: Tell Me About a Time When You Acted Unprofessionally

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Why is this question asked?

1. Lack of professionalism is a huge red flag -- Lack of professionalism is a very big deal in medicine. And it’s not just the obvious stuff like harming a patient unintentionally, lying, or being an awful colleague to the staff in the circle of care. Unprofessionalism is a lack of awareness about who you are serving when delivering care. It is not standing up for the patients’ best interests. It is not advocating for your patients. It is not following the standards of care. As you know, this is why medical schools value situational judgment tests like CASPer and AAMC Preview that test your preprofessional skills and maturity. It's also why you can expect to get some ethical questions in a medical school interview.
2. Evaluation of your maturity -- The key to this question is a mature answer. The goal of the admissions committee is to get an idea of how you behave when you make an error. Sometimes, mistakes are made. The committee isn’t looking for a candidate who never makes a mistake, but one that can acknowledge their wrongdoing and take the steps needed to remedy it.
3. How self-aware are you? -- Self-awareness is a leadership quality. Many leaders who lack the ability to reflect on themselves and their work are hindering teamwork and potentially damaging their relationships with colleagues. Self-awareness is shown by your ability to accept your role in a situation without making excuses, deflecting blame, or taking all of the credit.

How to answer this question:

Provide a clear instance of unprofessionalism -- Whenever you are answering this interview question, please know that whatever setting you describe will be automatically mapped onto the clinical setting by the interviewers. If you act a certain way outside of medicine, it is assumed that you will act similarly in medicine. As such, you want to be strategic in the example you choose and be prepared to explain what you learned or how you grew from the experience. This is why advanced practice and medical school interview preparation are key, so you are not caught off guard by such “negative” questions. Examples of unprofessional behavior you may have encountered that would be ideal to share:

• Not standing up for a study group member with a disability and lacking inclusivity.
• Intentionally providing bad service to a table/group of difficult customers at a job.
• Missing an important meeting or being chronically late to important things.
• Cutting corners in the lab.
• Any situation where you put yourself first, instead of the customer, client, or beneficiary. This excludes situations where your life may have been at risk.

1. Show that you worked on your mistake -- Whichever situation you choose, be sure that you worked on your error (e.g., you performed better the next time, you admitted your unprofessionalism and made amends, you picked up extra slack to prove your commitment, etc.). Be specific with what steps you took to become a better colleague. Tell the interviewers how you improved. Whether it was done by joining sensitivity training, doing research, or creating a checklists and organizing your study habits, showcase how you improved your actions and attitude.
2. Show self-awareness -- Ensure that you choose an experience that demonstrates self-awareness and hindsight. Then, make sure you identify scenarios in the field of medicine in which such an issue could potentially come into play. You could say something like, “I can see now that this kind of situation may arise in medical school or in medicine. Though I regret how I acted at the time, I feel fortunate to have had the experience, so that I could reflect on it and make more intentional choices in the future, ones that benefit my colleagues and patients.”
3. Be mature -- No one likes having to reflect on their times of failure, their weaknesses, their limitations, which is precisely why such questions are asked! Being able to maturely recount past mistakes and self-reflect on how to draw on those experiences to be better in the future demonstrates the professionalism admissions committees are seeking in their strongest candidates.

Want a recap of the 10 most common medical school interview questions? Read this infographic!

Common Medical School Interview Question #3/300: Have You Applied to Other Schools? Which Ones? Why Those Schools?

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Why is this question asked?

1. They want to know if you’ve really considered what’s best for your career -- News flash: they know you’ve applied to other schools! What they’re asking with this question is whether or not you have an idea for the kind of training you know will benefit your learning style and best prepare you for your career. If you have no knowledge of the schools you applied to, this will show a lack of resourcefulness and diligence, which are two substantial red flags.
2. Did you do your research? -- Schools are interested in candidates who are interested in their specific program and institution. They want the assurance that they aren’t your backup plan, or that the only reason you applied was for prestige. You have to research the program and know what it entails to answer this question effectively.
3. Do your goals line up with theirs? -- Outside of just the curriculum, the admissions committee wants to know what your career goals and interests are. If they aren’t able to support them adequately, then they will likely pass on you. If you can outline your career goals and then connect them with what the school offers, you’re on the right track for this question.

How to answer this question:

1. Be direct -- If you have only selected schools that rely on problem-based learning and social justice, say this. If you have only selected schools with strong MD-PhD programs in neuroscience, say that. If you are only applying to Ivy League medical schools, you can mention that also. It comes across as confident, planned, and structured.
2. Be honest -- If you have just applied everywhere, that’s okay, too. You can say that you have applied widely to allopathic and best osteopathic medical schools because you still have a lot of unanswered questions about the exact look and feel of your career in medicine. Also, emphasize that you know you’re adaptable, so you feel confident that you could hit the ground running wherever you go.
3. Don’t flatter other schools -- That said, don’t be overly complimentary towards other schools. If there are specific aspects of this school’s program, curriculum, or other opportunities that are particularly attractive, be clear about this. Keep your tone objective and moderate your body language to minimize and potential signs of flattery.

Common Medical School Interview Question #4/300: What Should Be Done About the Shortage of Medical Specialists and Adequate Resources in Rural Settings?

Click here to view a sample response to this question.

Why is this question asked?

1. Verifies that your knowledge of issues facing the medical field -- To answer this question effectively, you will need to be privy to the various trends in the medical field. Keep in mind that you may be asked a similar question involving a certain new technology, such as mRNA technology or telemedicine. The admissions committee is looking to see if you’re aware of the issues facing the medical community. Remember, the quality of the solution you present is directly proportional to the level of awareness your answer conveys. This does not mean that you have to be able to solve this issue right on the spot, but it is important to demonstrate unbiased awareness.
2. Tests critical thinking skills -- Critical thinking is an essential trait for any physician, regardless of speciality or work environment. This question works as a litmus test of that quality. Your deductive reasoning should incorporate objective facts about the issue before covering your personal opinion of how the situation should be handled.
3. This question entails answers to other questions as well -- This is a policy question, which means it can come up in any interview setting, including a traditional interview or as an MMI policy question. This question is asking for your perspectives on the following things, and your answer should respond to each of them:

• Do you know about the health disparities faced by rural areas?
• Do you know the drivers of these problems? There are health system drivers (e.g., lack of economies of scale, fewer specialist facilities for surgical care, lack of primary care practitioners, fewer specialist allied health to support efficient specialist care, limited resources from provinces, very few doctors actually come from rural areas themselves), and there are non-health system drivers (e.g. lack of access to reliable transit, poverty, limited educational opportunities, less access to social capital).
• Do you know some of the most commonly-touted solutions, from non-governmental and governmental organizations?
• Do you have an interesting, thoughtful take on these solutions?

How to answer this question:

1. Show awareness -- This question isn’t asking you to solve this major problem. Rather, it is asking if you know the landscape of this issue because it is a very real one that affects millions of patients and places great strain on emergency services in rural areas. As a future professional, you should be aware of some of the challenges facing the current system. To do this, restate the issue at the start of your question.
2. Offer pros and cons -- In questions involving policy or your opinion, you need to show that you understand each side of the argument. In this case, you should explain what some people argue about the shortage of medical specialists versus what others are saying. Knowing each side shows that you can think critically and that you’re aware of how to address the primary issue.
3. State your opinion -- Now it’s time for you to state your opinion on the issue of medical professional shortages in rural settings. You’ve outlined what both sides are saying about the cause and solution, it’s your turn to take a side. Use evidence to support your opinion. For example, you might say that you think because the problem is due to a large number of practitioners leaving the market vs the ones entering it, a solution would be to offer more incentives for entering medical school.

Wondering what are some common errors to avoid during your interview? Check out our video:

Common Medical School Interview Question #5/300: Teach Me Something That Most People Do Not Know How To Do

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Why is this question asked?

1. They want you to show your personality -- This is a quirky question, in the sense that it really has nothing direct to do with medical school. The admissions committee is trying to get a better sense of who you are; for this question, you are to tell them about a special skill or ability you may have.
2. They’re giving you an opportunity to distinguish yourself -- Ironically, applications often render the applicant invisible. Admissions committees can only learn so much from your medical school personal statement, recommendation letters, medical school secondary essay, and resume. In this question, you can forget all of those for a moment. If it helps to reframe the question, think of it like they’re asking “what makes you different from the rest of us?”
3. They want to see you explain something -- Simplifying and summarizing difficult concepts is a huge part of a physician’s job. Patients don’t need to know, for example, the neurochemistry involved in a case of depression, unless they are interested in that sort of thing. Their goal is to find a solution. A physician should be able to explain the relevant information to an audience of different ages and knowledge levels. This question tests that ability.

They’re asking you to be a real human and not an interview-bot. Relax and have fun, but be appropriate.

How to answer this question:

1. Don’t be too serious -- This is a moment of lightness in an interview that will feel heavy and intense. Take it. Roll with it. What is most important here is that you pay attention to the needs of your audience and give careful instruction with attention to detail. As you describe an element, check in with your interviewer to ensure they understand. How you teach is as important as what you teach in responding to this question.
2. Practice explaining -- Explaining things is often easier in our heads than it is in reality. You have to be cognizant of the people you’re explaining to. Assume they know nothing or very little, but don’t condescend. Use analogies or metaphors when you can and always try to show an example or visual.
3. Know your skills -- This isn’t a question you should really have to prepare for. Still, take a moment to reflect on what makes you different. Here are some ideas for you:

• Teach them how to say hello in another, obscure language.
• Teach them how to sing something.
• Teach them how to multiply large numbers easily.
• Teach them how to line dance.
• Teach them the meaning of an appropriate gesture in another culture.

Common Medical School Interview Question #6/300: If You Could Be Any Utensil in the Kitchen, What Would You Be and Why?

Click here to view a sample response to this question.

Why is this question asked?

1. It’s lighthearted, but revealing -- This is also a moment-of-lightness question, but it also provides an opportunity to shed light on your character in a way that applies to medicine. Say something that will help them see you as a doctor.
2. They gain insights into your thought process -- There are many skills that you can exemplify in your answer to this question. For example, with a spoon, you can break things apart, gather things up, and eat directly, so it’s probably the most adaptable. If you’re really into cooking and healthy living, you might choose something like tongs because you’re really into creative salads. You could also just say that your favorite utensil in the kitchen is your own hands because they’re the most tactile, most efficient way of getting from A to B, and you don’t mind getting your hands dirty.
3. Once again, they want to catch you off guard -- Questions like this are meant to catch you off guard so the “real you” comes out. So, by all means, let the “real you” out! But, as always, know who you are – at least who you are right now – before you knock on that door because they will ask you a question for which you have not prepared an answer and that’s when you’ll need to rely on your gut sense about yourself. In presenting your authentic self, ensure you’re offering your “best self”.

How to answer this question:

1. Choose based on the characteristics you want to highlight -- While this is a more lighthearted question, you should still answer strategically. The utensil you choose should be supported by characteristics you think you truly possess. For example, if you think you’re calculated and precise, you might say you’re a measuring cup.
2. Be authentic -- There’s no use in trying to lie or contrive an answer that isn’t genuine. The problem with that is that the admissions committee will know, and you are also missing an opportunity to present something interesting and descriptive of yourself.
3. Put your best foot forward -- Every interview question is a chance for you to show the best side of yourself. This question is no different. The utensil you choose to symbolize one of your qualities shouldn’t be arbitrary or random. Pick the quality that you think the admissions committee should know about in order for them to make an informed decision about your candidate profile.

Common Medical School Interview Question #7/300: Tell Me About a Time You Did Not Get Along With a Superior.

Click here to view a sample response to this question.

Why is this question asked?

1. They’re giving you an opportunity to reflect -- Interviewers love to ask questions like this. In addition to reading about your unparalleled skills and fantastic personality in the medical school recommendation letters written by superiors who respect and support you, the committee wants you to reflect on a time when you didn’t have the perfect relationship with a teacher or mentor. Let’s be honest; we all have professors, colleagues, or advisors that we don’t see eye-to-eye with.
2. They’re probing for an example of growth -- This is an example of a question that demands a reference to what you’ve learned or how you’ve grown. The process of professional and personal maturation isn’t always pretty, but there are lessons you’ve learned from those growing pains and you should be able to identify them and show that you can take accountability.
3. They want to evaluate your attitude -- When some people face difficulty or when they’re in the wrong, they refuse to admit it. Instead, they make excuses for what went wrong and find ways to avoid taking at least some of the blame. This will not suffice for a medical school student and a future medical professional. The admissions committee will need to see that you operate under an internal locus of control in most circumstances.

How to answer this question:

1. Provide context and take responsibility -- What the interviewer wants to see here is that you acknowledge that some relationships are difficult and that you’re able to navigate such relationships maturely and professionally despite that difficulty. They are looking for you to articulate the situation, using non-accusatory language, and explain how you approached the situation.
2. Prepare in advance -- This is a question you should prepare for in advance, as some students may need time to come up with a suitable answer. Reflect on the interactions you have had with faculty or even a boss. Chose a situation where you had a difference of opinion. When explaining the situation be careful to not assign blame. Speak in a neutral tone that isn’t explicitly saying s/he was wrong, s/he did me wrong, or I was right.
3. Demonstrate that you learned a lesson -- For example, you could use a time that a professor and you had a disagreement over a mark on an assignment. Clearly, state the situation. Say that you felt that x was the answer and you gave supporting information to back up your choice. However, your professor disagreed and explained the answer was y and then elaborated on his or her point. In the end, the professor does not change your grade and you came out of the situation with a better understanding of not only how to solve that specific problem, but how to approach a difficult situation wherein you disagree with someone in a position of power. It is important to reflect on what you learned and how you resolved the conflict.

Common Medical School Interview Question #8/300: Have You Completed Any Research Projects or Are You Interested in Research?

Click here to view a sample response to this question.

Why is this question asked?

1. They want to evaluate your scientific competencies -- While you might find this question redundant, as you would have listed the premed research opportunities you participated in in your application, not every interviewer is going to have read your application, or – at least – not in full. They get thousands of submissions and may just know your name as you’re walking into the interview room. This may seem obvious, but if you have completed research, be prepared to talk about it. You need to know the entire project in detail. Know the statistics, sample size, results, and type of study.
2. They want to see where your interests lie -- The admissions committee wants to see if you’ve developed any research goals that can align with the interests of their faculty members. If you haven’t done any research, you should still prepare to discuss what projects you might be interested in based on the research trends of the institution.
3. They want to see if you’ve done your homework -- Even if you haven’t done research, you should be prepared to talk about the type of research the institution has done recently. The best way to find this information is to go to the faculty directory page on the institution website and look under the ‘research interest’ tab. If for some reason you can’t find this page, you can email the school to ask where you can find its publications.

How to answer this question:

1. Read through your work and know it well -- Be honest about your involvement in the project. They will know by your answer how involved you were with the project. So, if some time has passed since you submitted your research, read through your abstract again. Refresh your mind and have clear talking points.
2. Don’t lie or stretch the truth -- This may also seem obvious, but if you did not complete a research project, do not lie about it. Some students try and pull one over on the admissions committee by embellishing or fabricating their involvement in research. I repeat, do not do this! It is dishonest and could really damage your career. Not having research is not the end of the world as it isn't usually considered in the same league as other medical school requirements. So, if they ask you and you haven’t done any research, be honest. State that, while you haven’t had the opportunity to get involved with a project yet, you are looking forward to completing such research when you get to medical school. Come up with some topics you would be interested in exploring and discuss them with your interviewer. It shows interest and also displays your future plans.
3. Connect the dots -- A lot of premed research is opportunistic, meaning there isn’t always a chance for you to have a well-structured portfolio of research experience. However, you should try to show that there was some intention behind the projects you chose to pursue. For example, if you were working on some psychology research, and then suddenly joined a biology research project, you should be able to state why your interests seemed to diverge. You might also need to explain why you chose to pursue virtual research opportunities over in-person projects – this is not a big deal as long as you provide some context as to why you chose to engage with one type of research over another. 

How long do you need to prepare for your interview? Find out in this video:

Common Medical School Interview Question #9/300: Why Should We Choose You Over Other Applicants?

Click here to view a sample response to this question.

Why is this question asked?

1. Evaluate your interest in the school/program -- The sneaky part of this question that applicants often miss is that the interviewers are trying to see if your abilities/interests align with what the school and program has to offer. In other words, they are trying to see whether you have reflected on how to choose a medical school that’s right for you. Let’s say that your clinical experience showed a lot of remote community volunteering, but the school’s system revolves around urban hospital locations. The interviewers will want to hear from you why your experiences, skills, and goals make you a great candidate despite seeming discrepancies with their own. They truly want to know!
2. They want to see how you see yourself -- If you’ve noticed a trend among these questions, you aren’t mistaken. You’re seeing that most of the time, you’re being asked to reflect on yourself. Talking about yourself from an objective standpoint is often a difficult skill to master. This is yet another chance for you to show that you can talk about yourself without bragging or being unrealistic.
3. They want to predict your ability to make meaningful contributions -- Every medical school wants to accept students who will make contributions to their schools and culture. If you aren’t able to explain how you think you can contribute, the school will lose interest. What you say about yourself also says a lot about how fit you are to promote and be a part of the school’s mission.

How to answer this question:

1. Resist the urge to humblebrag here -- It can be tempting to talk yourself up, but there is a right way and a wrong way to do so. Speaking in superlatives and exaggerated language may inflate your ego, but this will definitely deflate the interviewer's opinion of you. You need to find the appropriate balance when answering this question. Remember, everyone who has gotten to this stage – including you – is accomplished and worthy, and it’s not necessarily a “winner-takes-all” situation.
2. Talk about qualities that relate to medicine -- Before the interview day, come up with a list of qualities you like about yourself. Pick ones that are easy to remember and that can relate to medicine. They do not need to be medial per se (example: I am an excellent phlebotomist), but should be able to tie into the theme of a medical doctor. Perhaps you are an excellent communicator and believe that communication is key to dialogue between patient and physician. Whatever you choose, keep it short and sweet. The point of having this quick list of traits is to be able to easily recall them and use them to explain why they should pick you.
3. Don’t put down other applicants -- When talking about the traits that you have picked that set you apart, be careful to not put down other applicants. Saying something like, “I exceed all medical school GPA requirements and I have the highest MCAT score at my school,” will come off as boisterous and bragging. Talk yourself up without putting anyone else down. That’s the key to this question and it can be difficult for students. Highlight the things you want the admissions committee to know about you. If you want to know how to stand out in a medical school interview, make your answers genuine.

Common Medical School Interview Question #10/300: The “Wrap-Up” Question

Click here to view a sample question and response.

Why is this question asked?

1. Give you a chance to ask questions or discuss something that wasn’t on your application -- Now, this question could be a multitude of things. It may be an open-ended question. It may be extra time for you to ask questions. They may give you time to tell them something that isn’t on your application. They may ask you an ambiguous question that doesn’t have a clear answer.
2. Test your knowledge of your own choices -- Once, while interviewing, I was asked what I thought the definition of “still” was. For the osteopaths out there, you may have realized that it is the last name of the founder of osteopathic medicine and that was what they wanted to hear. This is why knowing the differences between DO vs MD is key when you are preparing for your interview, whether it's for an allopathic or an osteopathic school. If you are applying to DO schools or both MD and DO schools, make sure to go over some questions that are certainly going to come up in your osteopathic medical school interview, such as ‘why osteopathic medicine?”.
3. Once again, to catch you off guard -- If you haven’t been thrown one of these curveballs during the interview yet, the wrap-up question is often the time for the committee to do it. Sometimes, if the interview has been focusing heavily on items in your application, they might ask you about other aspects of your life to try to get you to talk about something you haven’t prepared or thought of an answer for.

How to answer this question:

1. Call their bluff; be prepared -- The best way to approach the "wrap-up" question, as always, is to be prepared. Research the institution, including the curriculum, unique opportunities, and its mission statement, so if they ask you a weird medical school interview question about the founder of the hospital, you will be ready. Be prepared to tell them something that you didn’t cover and that wasn’t in your application. They may ask you an oddball question like the kitchen utensil question.
2. Be ready to ask questions -- Make sure you have questions to ask during your medical school interview. It shows that you are serious about the school and that you took the time to come up with quality questions.
3. Remain calm -- Whatever they throw at you, take a breath and give yourself a few seconds to think before you answer. If you need more time, repeating the question back before you answer will buy you a few more seconds to sort out your thought process. You can even ask if you could take a moment to reflect on their question, like this “Wow, what a great question. Do you mind if I take a second to reflect?” and then, after a few seconds of brainstorming, provide your response. It’s much better than rambling on and laughing nervously without giving a real answer to their question.
4. Expect the unexpected -- Counter-intuitive as it may sound, you must be prepared for the unexpected. The entire interview is assessing how you will react to common challenges faced by doctors and being able to answer off-the-wall questions is part of that. Knowing that you will have some of these questions already puts you a step ahead.

If you can anticipate difficult or odd questions, you are already halfway there. When you answer their last question, incorporate the big takeaways you want them to know about you. Use it as a way to leave them with the highlights of who you are as a candidate. Feel free to redirect it, so it can be more of a wrap-up of who you are and what you will offer as a member of their institution.

One last thing about this “wrap-up” question – remember about the recency effect. Your last answer might be remembered more than anything else you say in the interview. Make sure that you leave the interviewers with the best impression by acing any question they ask at the end. 

Preparing for an MMI interview? Here are our top tips to ace it!

5 More Sample Interview Questions and Answers:

Common Medical School Interview Question #11/300: What Do You Think Makes a Good Team?

One of the most important core competencies for medical schools is teamwork. If you don’t exhibit teamwork or evidence of strong collaboration skills in your application materials and in the interview, that can be considered a red flag.

Why is this question asked?

1. Medicine is collaborative -- Any medical school curriculum will involve a great deal of teamwork and collaboration in a clinical environment, you will have to rely on others, and they will have to rely on you. This is also true for when you become a residency student, a resident doctor and an independent practician. If you are lacking this trait, medical schools will assume that you won’t be at the level needed to contribute to the learning environment.
2. Can you cooperate with others? -- Cooperating well with other professionals like nurses, physician assistants, and secretaries enables delivery of high-quality health services. Good cooperation also coincides with proper use of resources relative to patient needs. The admissions committee needs to know if this is a skill you possess because of how heavily medical professional rely on one another in various capacities.
3. Do you possess the qualities entailed in good teamwork? -- There are other secondary skills implied in your ability to work well in a team setting, such as communication, adaptability, coachability, and receptivity to feedback. In a learning environment, as well as in a professional one, you will need to demonstrate these qualities.

How to answer this question:

1. Give examples -- Giving one strong example of how you functioned in a team environment from your application materials is a good start. Describe the event or experience briefly and connect behaviors you think are conducive to strong teamwork to specific actions you or someone you worked with took.
2. Show that teamwork is a value -- Teamwork is an inherent expectation of medical school students and professionals because it is such a universal demand. It isn’t enough to do the bare minimum with this skill, you have to show that it’s one of your values. The best way to show that it’s a value is to show how you’ve used teamwork to work effectively.
3. Structure your answer to show growth -- You should apply this tip to almost any question, but for the teamwork one, it’s especially important. To structure your answer, start by explaining what the goal was, obstacles you faced, and how it went. Focus on your role within the team and what you did to contribute to success/failure.

Common Medical School Interview Question #12/300: What Was Your Favorite Extracurricular?

This question is designed to help the admissions committee learn about what you enjoy and how you seek fulfillment.

Why is this question asked?

1. They’re looking for a story behind your choices -- If you’re an applicant with too many or too few extracurriculars for medical school, this will be especially true. Sometimes it may appear as if your choices aren’t connected, or as if your time was spent elsewhere, or they don’t reveal anything specific about your personality. This is your chance to make your character, and suitability for medical school, clearer.
2. They want to see if you’ll fit in culturally -- Your extracurriculars say a lot about who you are and what you value. For example, if your materials indicate a preponderance of community service, then medical schools that emphasize this in their curriculum will certainly put an asterisk beside this finding.
3. They want to see what lessons you learned -- Extracurriculars can often be great skill development opportunities. For example, if you were a club coordinator, you would’ve learned organization and leadership skills. The admissions committee is looking for examples of any relevant skills you might’ve gained during these experiences.

How to answer this question:

1. Tell them something new -- You can certainly review your application materials such as AMCAS Work and Activities or AMCAS most meaningful experiences to highlight one of the experiences you already included, but you may also want to take this opportunity to talk about something you have not mentioned in your application components. This is especially true for those who have an open interview, i.e., an interview where the admissions committee has reviewed your entire application. You can reuse an experience but give a new perspective on what you already included in the experience description, or you can bring up an important extracurricular that did not make the final list. You can even mention this in the interview opening!
2. Align yourself with the school you’re interview with -- Remember, the purpose of this question is for the admissions committee to learn about your values and interests. While there is no right or wrong answer, you can try to use this question as another opportunity to convince the admissions committee that you are the perfect candidate. Keep in mind their mission statement and goals, and emphasize an extracurricular that would speak to them. As long as you’re genuine, your answer will make an impression.
3. Don’t hesitate -- If you hesitate, that will suggest that there wasn’t much thought put into your extracurriculars, or that you were doing them for the sake of optics. To be decisive and confident, you have to prepare. Decide which extracurricular you like best and practice rehearsing what you enjoyed about it.

Common Medical School Interview Question #13/300: Tell Me About a Time You Demonstrated Empathy and Compassion

Why is this question asked?

1. Empathy and compassion are mandatory for a physician -- You will need to be a compassionate and empathetic individual in order to succeed in medical school and as a future physician. The reason why this trait has always been highly regarded in health care is because it predicts better patient outcomes, according to a study. There are also other important qualities beget by the ability to empathize, such as responsibility and conscientiousness.
2. Improves rapport with patients -- Having rapport with your patients, especially in settings where you will see the same people over and over, will improve your ability to communicate and connect with those people. Having your patients’ trust will allow you to understand their needs and address their concerns.
3. Compassion reduces burnout -- As a medical professional, you will need strategies to handle stress and reduce compassion fatigue. One study showed that there was a positive correlation between compassion and reduced burnout. Medical schools know that a proclivity for compassion will help students succeed, so they are intentionally screening for this trait.

How to answer this question:

1. Use a clinical experience -- Ideally, you should use a clinical experience to demonstrate compassion and empathy. This will allow the admissions committee to assess an interaction directly translatable to your future as a physician. You can, however, use experience that aren’t clinical, but they should be related to medical school in some way.
2. Show, don’t tell -- For any question involving an experience, you must show, not tell. This means that you describe the experience, rather than telling the admissions committee that you exhibited a certain trait. Telling does not constitute substantial evidence that you possess that trait!
3. Focus on the outcome -- How did your compassion influence the person whom you were interacting with? This is a good indicator of the efficacy of that behavior, and how potent it was in the moment. 

Common Medical School Interview Question #14/300: What Was Your Favorite Thing About Your Undergraduate Major?

Why is this question asked?

1. The story your transcript tells is incomplete or confusing -- Your transcript might indicate an upward or downward trend in GPA, for example. Gaps or inconsistencies might be implied in a question like this. Some of the electives you took might also indicate a competing subject interest.
2. They’re looking to see where your interests lie -- This is a good opportunity for students to expound on interests that don’t relate to medicine. You might say, for example, that you enjoyed a calculus class. The admissions committee can use this information to decide if you’re a good fit for their program.
3. It’s an adjunct to “tell me about yourself” -- You might see this question shortly after you receive “tell me about yourself”, especially if your response has a lot to do with your undergraduate degree. In general, this is just a more specific offshoot of the above question.
4. They’re looking for evidence that you pursued your passion -- The admissions committee is looking for an answer that shows symmetry between the path you chose and the passions you exhibit in your materials and interview answers. They want to see, for example, that you didn’t just look at medical school acceptance rates by major to dictate your interests or choices. If your favorite part about your undergraduate major was one of the prerequisites for medical school, then you can use this as an answer.

How to answer this question:

1. Pick a class that can be a great tool for medical school -- It’s a good idea to show interest in subjects outside of ones directly related to medicine, but that can support your learning nonetheless. Such as… and what do they exhibit?
2. Reveal what you love about education -- A question like this gives you a chance to discuss what motivates you in life and in school. If you show passion for a specific activity or subject, this will show the admissions committee that you’re a well-rounded and learned individual. It is also another opportunity to stand out in your interview. For example, perhaps your major allowed you to conduct amazing research experiments or go on an exchange to another country. Choose elements of your program you truly loved – this will reveal something about you and your character that’s memorable.
3. You don’t have to pick a science class or any class, for that matter -- Remember, your goal is to stand out in the crowd. Most students would describe a science class that they enjoyed, because it’s directly related to medical school. However, feel free to be honest and describe a class or experience that doesn’t have an explicit connection to medicine. Furthermore, do not feel the need to speak to a specific class. Perhaps it was an instructor with whom you took several courses, or a co-op opportunity, or a lab experience, or something else that really opened up your horizons. Be creative! This is your time to stand out. 

Common Medical School Interview Question #15/300: What is the Most Unpopular Position You Have Taken? Have You Changed Your Opinion Since Then?

Why is this question asked?

1. You can show the admissions committee that you’re adept at handling conflict -- When you express a contentious or unpopular opinion, it might incite disagreement and even anger. Having experience handling and diffusing conflict will show that you have the skills to handle a similar situation in medical school.
2. You can show you aren’t afraid to speak your mind -- As a physician, there might be times when you and your colleagues disagree on something. A diagnosis, for example. It’s important to communicate your reasons for interpreting the results in a certain way so you and your colleagues can come to an agreement based on facts and evidence.
3. You can show that you can admit when you’re wrong -- Admitting a wrong or submitting to a better argument or justification shows maturity. If you’re unable to think of a good example to discuss for this question, the committee will have suspicions about your self-awareness, open-mindedness, and your ability to act professionally.

How to answer this question:

1. State a former opinion and how it’s changed -- This is the first strategy for answering this question. While you don’t need to choose a position that you’ve changed your mind on, it’s still a viable way to answer this question. The important thing to remember is that you need to have facts to support your side. This might require you to do some research, in most cases, and memorize information that can help you elaborate if you’re asked this question in the interview.
2. Current unpopular opinion -- The second strategy you can use for this question is to state an unpopular opinion. Again, as long as you have facts to support your position, your unpopular opinion isn’t off the table. For example, if you might say that older generations of medical professionals don’t adapt to new changes in their field effectively. Your evidence can involve a demographic demonstration of which age groups among medical professionals are more likely to use certain “new” technologies.
3. Pick a light-hearted topic -- For some, it’s best to avoid political quandaries to avoid offending the admissions committee. The reality is, you never know who the person is whom you’re speaking to in the interview, including their personal beliefs, so it’s often best to play it safe and pick a relatively innocuous topic. Avoid topics such as political parties, religion, money, and the like. A good example for this strategy would be to explain why you think “X band or celebrity” isn’t as great as most think they are.

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185 More Medical School Interview Questions to Practice With!

1. What are some of the advantages of working in a team? What are some of the disadvantages of working in a team? Would you say you are more of a team player or independent player?
2. What did you do during your gap year (if you had one)?
3. Was there a particular extracurricular activity or hobby outside of academia that prepared you for the study of medicine?
4. What are your greatest strengths as a potential future physician?
5. Were there any experiences that exposed you to other cultures? What did you learn?
6. What does “success” mean to you?
7. Tell me about your most memorable work with patients.
8. Does your academic record demonstrate any specific gaps or setbacks? If so, could you speak to the reasons they might have taken place?
9. What do you think are some of the responsibilities of physicians outside of medicine? What other roles should they fulfill?
10. What are the pros and cons of a universal healthcare system? Where do you stand on this topic?
11. How do you stay up to date with the most current news?
12. What can we do to make medical education more accessible to diverse populations?
13. Have you had any experiences working in diverse populations? What did you learn?
14. If you are a minority, how has your background and experience influenced your decision to pursue medicine?
15. If you come from a disadvantaged/underserved background, how has this experience shaped your choice to pursue medicine?
16. How did you choose which medical schools to apply to? What criteria did you look at?
17. What specific skills do you hope to learn in medical school?
18. What are your views on alternative medicine?
19. Why did you choose to become an MD (or DO) instead of pursuing another medical profession, such as physician assistant, nursing, paramedic, and so on?
20. Tell me about a time you received a rejection. How did you deal with this?
21. Do you have any fears about practicing medicine?
22. What are some of the cons of practicing medicine?
23. How do you think the environment affects patient populations?
24. Tell me about a time when you advocated for someone.
25. What have you learned about medicine from physicians you shadowed, volunteered for, or worked with? What was the most memorable moment?
26. What do you think is the most exciting discovery in the field of medicine in recent years?
27. If we colonize Mars, would you move there?
28. If your family had to describe you in three words, what do you think these words would be?
29. Do you know when and how to ask for help?
30. What was your favorite part of preparing your medical school application? What about least favorite?
31. How did you choose your referees? Why these individuals?
32. Most medical schools in the US/Canada give preference to applicants from specific locations, such as in-state and in-province, or specific rural areas. What do you think about such admissions policies?
33. What was the most stressful situation you ever faced? How did you handle it?
34. If you could start a student organization, what would it be?
35. What book character do you identify with the most?
36. Tell me about a time you were treated unfairly. How did you handle this situation?
37. Tell me about a time when you felt like fish out of water.
38. Tell me about your clinical experience.
39. How are you going to be able to handle the intense medical school workload?
40. Who has influenced your life the most? Why?
41. Do you think majoring in science should be a requirement for medical school?
42. What do you think is the relationship between science and medicine? What about research and medicine?
43. If you had to choose only one, what would be the quality necessary for a physician: intelligence, integrity, or empathy.
44. How do you respond to negative feedback and criticism from your instructors/supervisors?
45. What would you do if you suspected a friend of illegal activity?
46. How do you want me to remember you?
47. How do you handle change?
48. In what class/course did you receive your worst grade? Why do you think you performed poorly?
49. What are some of the sacrifices you will have to make when you become a practicing doctor? How do you think your life will change?
50. Who are your professional role models?
51. How do you handle praise? Is recognition important to you?
52. How would you handle a violent patient?
53. What are some of your hidden talents?
54. Tell me about a time you showed initiative.
55. What is your decision-making process?
56. What is your family like?
57. What was your childhood like? What is your most memorable childhood experience?
58. If you need advice, who do you approach for help?
59. If you could go anywhere in the world right now, where would you go and why?
60. What could your medical school classmates learn from you?
61. Who do you think is the most influential person in the world right now?
62. What steps have you taken to learn what a physician does?
63. For the US: If we switched to universal healthcare tomorrow, would you still want to be a doctor?
64. For Canada: If we switched to a private healthcare system tomorrow, would you still want to be a doctor?
65. Why do you think some physicians lose passion for medicine after a few years of practice? How can the system address this?
66. If you had to choose right now, would you want to practice in an urban or a rural setting? Why?
67. Have you applied to medical school before? If yes, why do you think you did not get in the first time? What have you done to improve?
68. Describe your regular day.
69. What are you passionate about?
70. What would you do with 5 million dollars?
71. Why are you here?
72. Is there anything else you would like us to know about you?
73. If you could create a new town, what would it be like?
74. If you could start a business, what would it be and why?
75. If you could cure any illness, what would it be and why?
76. What's the greatest invention in the history of humankind?
77. If you had to sacrifice one of the 5 senses, what would it be and why?
78. If you could be any fruit, what would you be and why?
79. According to you, what is the most important part of the human body?
80. If you had to eat only one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
81. What is the best gift you have ever given someone? Who was it?
82. Are you an introvert or an extrovert? How do you think this will affect your peers in medical school?
83. Describe the purpose of medicine to someone from another planet.
84. If you had a time machine, where would you travel or who would you want to meet from the past. Why?
85. Tell me about your hometown.  
86. What are you looking for in a medical school?
87. If you couldn't be a doctor, what would you be?
88. How would your friends describe you?
89. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
90. What accomplishment are you most proud of?
91. If you were selected to choose three items for a time capsule to be opened in 500 years, what would you pick?
92. After your college experience, what would you look back and say you wish you could have done?
93. What makes a good medical student and what qualities do you have that would make you a good student next year?
94. Is there anything about your application that you'd like to clarify?
95. What books have you read recently?
96. Can you tell me about a time when, intentionally or not, you harmed someone else?
97. Can you tell me about someone you admire?
98. Can you tell me about someone you’ve mentored or coached?
99. What is one thing you wish more people knew about you?
100. Can you tell me about a time when you disappointed yourself or someone else?
101. What is the number one issues facing the practice of medicine today and what can we do to fix this issue?
102. Why don't you want to pursue other healthcare professions?
103. Tell me about [an item from the application].
104. What are you excited about in the future regarding medicine?
105. What was your involvement in a research project?
106. Why do you think you will become a good doctor?
107. . From your shadowing experience, what was a behavior by a doctor that was inspiring?
108. . From your shadowing experience, what was a behavior you saw by a doctor that could have been better?
109. Where are you from?
110. What are your hobbies?
111. What specialty are you thinking of?
112. What makes you mad?
113. What do you want to be when you grow up?
114. What is your favorite song?
115. Who is your hero?
116. What do you really dislike doing?
117. What do you wish you still did?
118. What is your greatest achievement?
119. What is something that you regret?
120. What will you do if you're not accepted?
121. How would you balance your outside interests with studying a degree?
122. How do you cope with stress?
123. What responsibility do you have?
124. What do you think will be your greatest challenge in completing medical school and becoming a medical doctor?
125. What have you gained from your work experience?
126. Do you read any medical publications?
127. Why should we choose you?
128. I see that you did not perform well on x section, please explain
129. If you were to do anything differently in your preparation for medical school, what would that be?
130. What do you see yourself doing in ten or fifteen years from now?
131. Where do you plan to practice?
132. What field of medicine are you interested in? What branch of medicine most interests you?
133. What is your concept of the doctor/patient relationship?
134. What makes you a better applicant than others?
135. Is this school your first choice?
136. What role have your parents played in your decision to become a physician?
137. What is going on in your life?
138. What makes you happy?
139. What concerns you about medicine?
140. What other medical schools have you applied to and why?
141. Do you think that doctors are being paid too much or too little? Why?
142. What questions do you have for me about our school?
143. Describe a typical day from your elementary school days.
144. What is your weakness that concerns you most?
145. What would your best friend say about you in convincing me I should admit you to our medical school?
146. If you could be any character in history, who would it be, and why?
147. How do you view abortion?
148. What are three things you want to change about yourself?
149. How would you describe the relationship between science and medicine?
150. Name something you are most proud of…
151. What do you think is wrong with the current health care system in the US?
152. Which languages do you speak? Why?
153. Which of your college courses interested you the most?
154. In your present living situation, how do you settle disputes with your roommates?
155. What kind of community/volunteer work have you done?
156. What is the most rewarding experience of your life?
157. Who is your favorite author?
158. Have you worked while you have been in school?
159. Have you had the opportunity to travel abroad?
160. Tell me about the most difficult period of your life. How did you deal with this?
161. How do you handle adversity?
162. Can you see other careers in which you could achieve the same goals or meet the same needs?
163. What steps have you taken to find out more about medicine/dentistry as a career?
164. How do you study? How do you manage your time?
165. Describe a situation where you've worked with people from different backgrounds.
166. What type of person do you enjoy being with? What type of person irritates you most and how have you dealt with these types of people?
167. Do you have any particular populations you would like to work with? Have you worked with this type of population in the past?
168. What problems do you predict that medicine will face in the next decade?
169. How did you hear about our medical school?
170. How did you study for the MCAT?
171. Tell me about a time you had to step up as a leader and it didn't turn out well
172. If you could go back and change your study habits, how would you change them?
173. What is one thing you would want us to know about you that is not in your application or resume?
174. What do you do for fun?
175. What does integrity mean to you?
176. How do you handle failure?
177. What super power would you have if you could pick one?
178. Name an uncomfortable situation you previously found yourself in. How did you deal with it?
179. How do you learn?
180. What is professionalism?
181. Tell me about a time when you had to think outside of the box to solve a problem?
182. Can you talk about a time you experienced conflict with a coworker?
183. What are the 3 worst things about you?
184. What are you afraid of seeing in medicine?
185. When have you overcome adversity? 

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100 More Medical School Interview Questions!

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Conclusion

Give yourself time to answer these questions. Practice your answer and make sure you can say it fluidly and not like you are reading a script. You’ve already done half the work, you got the interview. Now, go practice so you can ace your interview! Looking for even more questions? Check out our MMI questions to keep practicing.

Be sure you understand how to prepare for your med school interview as you should prepare in advance to help you ace these types of questions and other common medical school interview questions. Lastly, check out our medical school interview attire blog to make sure you're dressed appropriately for your interview. Hopefully, you have some clear guidance on how to think about and approach these questions in a personal way that reflects who you are as a person.

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Sources: Royal College of Surgeons .Missouri State University, Berkeley University of California, University of Texas at Austin, Cedarville University Handbook, University of Pennsylvania, Nebraska Wesleyan University

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