Medical School Interview Questions
Describe a time where you faced failure and/or had to adapt in a hard situation.
-After moving across the country to prioritize a high-quality education in STEM, I struggled academically due to a lack of a support system. I also felt like I could not adequately balance my personal and academic responsibilities while taking much harder and faster-paced pre-medical course requisites. -However, I surrounded myself with people that could help me in these courses and devoted more time to studying and attending office hours to really absorb and understand the material -I learned active study habits like solving practice problems and spaced repetition, and these methods helped me receive higher grades in STEM-intensive courses -I am honestly very proud of myself for adapting my learning methods to fit the pace and workload of each class, and graduating with a biochemistry degree with an upward academic trend -Will help my adaptability in medical school
Tell me about a time you needed to get information from someone who wasn't very responsive
-As a virtual tutor, it was often difficult to engage with students via a screen and get them to participate and offer their ideas I remember a particular example when I was working as a Teach For America IGNITE Fellow -I remotely tutored a group of 5 seventh-grade boys from an underserved community in Arizona. My lesson plan was designed to strengthen algebraic understanding and confidence with factoring and multi-step equations They were initially shy, so I asked them questions about their interests and goals from the program -After hearing about their goals, I explained my personal struggles with math growing up, and shared a story about how I performed poorly in a college math course, but learned effective strategies that worked for me, and how that improved my future math course grades
How do you go about making tough decisions when you don't have much time?
-Ask questions/gain information -Pro/con list -Like to gain opinions and other perspectives -With all of that information, hopefully I could come to a decision that was effective in that scenario
What are your greatest weaknesses?
-Difficult to not do things the way I want to do them/perfectionist -Sometimes struggle with the need to be thorough rather than being efficient especially with multiple group projects in my current MPH program -I've been working on this by harboring respect for other's contributions, and thinking about how much time I can devote to a task from a realistic viewpoint -I do this by prioritizing assignments and deadlines, and making sure to set expectations as a team before beginning a project -Another: Keep thoughts bottled up, working on communicating better, I like to avoid conflict
Tell me about a specific patient interaction that made you choose medicine
-Dr. Baddi and cancer patient -Stage 3 breast cancer, patient was a nurse, had to begin chemotherapy -Told her to cut her hair so that it would be less of a transition for her children -Not exactly a medical diagnosis, but I remember this moment because it demosntrated empathy and I could see how the patient expressed appreciation for the doctor's advice -Dr Baddi also gave her a pep talk at the end of the visit and made sure the patient felt like she had adequate support for her treatment and battle with cancer
What would you do in a team environment where one person was not cooperating?
-First, I would reach out to them individually and ask them if they required something more from the team and/or felt like they were not benefiting from the environment to better understand their priorities and motivations to get a better sense of their perspective and the causes of their behavior -Reaching out individually takes away the pressure of a group, and allows the team member to express their thoughts and feelings in a non-confrontational manner -After this discussion, I would explain specific examples of their non-cooperation and explain how it affects others while concentrating on facts -Based on that conversation, I would reform our team expectations which we could discuss during a meeting. This may look like clarifying team roles or discussing suitability and switching jobs
Tell me about a time you set a goal for yourself. How did you handle it?
-Fitness
How will public health shape your future as a physician?
-From my MPH, I've learned about a lot of health issues that I did not know much about before and the inequities and injustices that public health practitioners are trying to improve -I think my MPH helped me put things into perspective and have a larger idea of why I am doing medicine, and how I hope to improve the health of my patients while addressing the barriers they face with humility -I hope to incorporate what I've learned in my MPH and highlight population health within my practice and research especially with preventative initiatives -These skills will also allow me to reflect and work towards quality improvement and guide research initiatives, healthcare delivery improvements, and improve accessibility of care
If you had to pick one quality, whats the most important quality of a leader?
-Good communication skills -Allows you to understand new perspectives and adequately convey your thoughts and ideas to the group -Leaders can regulated different opinions and communicate with their team to find the best solution possible
Talk about a situation you wish you had handled differently.
-Grandfather -Scribing medication mistake
What is the hardest thing you have had to do in your life? How did you deal with the situation?
-Grandfather story -Grandmother improvement -Surgery story
What is a quick decision that you made and were you proud or did you regret your decision
-Grandma being sick -Scribing with a patient that fainted
Tell me about a time you failed
-Grandpa -Giving Eyelea instead of Avastin -Made checking alerts part of the protocol
Tell me about yourself.
-Grew up in a suburb just outside of Chicago -Both parents are Pakistani immigrants and so I lived in a multigenerational household with my parents, my brother, and my paternal grandparents -Growing up in a predominantly homogenous neighborhood, I think it was hard for me to fit in and balance my Pakistani heritage so my parents did a great job of keeping me connected with my Pakistani community and also through traveling -I think traveling really helped me gain exposure to other areas, other populations, and other cultures and sort of introduced me to healthcare systems and how they function in different parts of the world -I also got exposure to health issues in different areas which futher motivated me to a path in medicine and inspired me to receive an MPH with a concentration in global health which I am currently working on at Northwestern University
If there's one thing you'd want us to remember you by, what would it be?
-I bring a diverse perspective to the medical school due to my biculutral upbringing and ability to connect with different people based on my vast experiences with different cultures and communities -My diverse experiences have instilled in me empathy, service, and inclusivity, and I feel that these qualities will make me an asset at CCOM and foster a community of similar values
How do you effectively prioritize when faced with multiple essential tasks at once?
-I have always carried a planner and utilized other organizational programs like Google Calender or a reminders app -This allows me to plan out my week, and plan ahead for important deadlines -When faced with multiple essential tasks, especially in my Master's program, I go by how fast I can get the task done and when it is due -I make sure to schedule when to work on each task so that I do not fall behind, and try not to procrastinate big assignments, working on them in chunks so that I am not overwhelmed closer to the deadline
What are your hobbies? What do you do to de-stress and relax?
-I honestly really enjoy spending time with friends and family -Now that I have moved to the city for my MPH program, I try to stay connected with my old work friends and those living in my hometown, and college friends -I find it relaxing to talk about what is going on in others lives and my life to stay connected and grounded -In addition, I love fitness as it always makes me feel energized afterward, and starting with an early morning workout helps me feel productive and ready for the day -I've been in love with strength training since my sophomore year of college, and recently tried Pilates -Thankfully I enjoy fitness because I also like baking and sharing my bakes with friends and family to receive critiques -I've tried easy to hard bakes, such as chocolate chip cookies to a chocolate almond souffle -I like the precise nature of baking and the science of how the ingredients come together to make something delicious
Tell me about a time you showed leadership
-I think that showing leadership implies values of passion, learning, and creativity -During the pandemic, I wanted to do more to learn and educate others on what I was seeing around me in terms of health disparities and inequities -I connected with a fellow university student who was working on launching a virtual magazine highlighting the experiences of BIPOC communities -As the public health columnist, I worked to create ideas for a public health column and networked with various healthcare professionals -I interviewed them on different topics related to the pandemic, focusing on vaccine hesitancy inequities with mortality rates, and broadened the column with other health-related issues -With many of the articles coming out, I successfully demonstrated my ability to conduct a project from start to finish and was happy to spread knowledge about the pandemic through my articles
What fields are you interested in?
-I'm not entirely sure, I've always been interested in surgery due to the practical use of anatomy and use of my hands -Also interested in OBGYN
Tell me about a time you did something you were proud of.
-In August of last year, I began working at a local ophthalmology clinic as a medical scribe and technician. I had no prior knowledge of the field, so I scrambled to keep up with training, feeling frustrated when I charted the wrong diagnoses in front of my coworkers. However, I knew that, with practice, I could learn to follow the physical examinations in an accurate and timely manner. -For example, I initially felt confused by the diagnostic methods used to diagnose glaucoma. After practicing the methods myself and studying after work, I understood the importance of intraocular pressure and visual field tests, eventually mastering how to chart relevant information. -Additionally, I asked my coworkers and managers questions about different diagnoses and the implications of testing results. After a few months, I became more efficient and knowledgeable, which benefited my patients, who felt more comfortable knowing that I could address their concerns.
What kind of physician do you want to be?
-Known for compassion, empathy, and integrity -Talk about how physician visits are usually quick, and I want to make patients feel heard and understood -Talk about Dr. Mata and dry eyes
Why do you want to attend our program/what questions do you have for us?
-Midwestern is close to home, I have a lot of friends in family in the area so I know that I would have a great support system while balancing the rigor of medical school -Chicago is a diverse area, allowing me exposure to different demographics and developing my cultural competence and adaptability -Already have experience with Chicago population -How do Midwestern students feel about rotating off-site at other hospital partners? How is it different from having a hospital on-site? -Can you tell me a little more about when students typically engage in research? Are there any summer programs or elective courses that are supervised by faculty members? -In terms of research, when I looked through the faculty members of CCOM, I didn't find much population or global health research-is that common at the school or are there other global initiatives like international rotations or electives?
Why medicine?
-My inclination towards medicine stemmed from my family's medical experiences. My grandfather suffered from laryngeal cancer, leading to his voice box being removed and his communication transitioning to esophageal speech. After he received a tracheostomy, I struggled to communicate with him via a whiteboard. Nevertheless, I admired the kindness and confidence of his medical staff and wanted to care for him as they did. His miraculous recovery stimulated my curiosity about the body's complex mechanisms. -For instance, I took a course called Medical Technology, where we had to dissect a cat. I could tell that others around me were frightened and disgusted, but I couldn't wait to see what was inside. I took an interest in anatomy and enjoyed understanding biological processes. -I followed my curiosity by working as a scribe. In this role, I learned more about the intricacies of the human organism and how problem-solving and shared decision-making are central to a physician's work.
What are your greatest strengths?
-One of my greatest strengths is that I am a good collaborator and take my responsibilities in a team very seriously, clinic is a combination of people of various roles working together towards a common goal -This also entails good communication and empathy skills, which I have strengthened in my position as a medical scribe, where I have interacted with patients about their treatment plans and discussed options based on their personal lives and obstacles to care. -I'm very organized, I know how to prioritize and work effectively, honed this skill while balancing different components of my master's program
Why DO? Why osteopathic medicine?
-Osteopathic medicine is valuable to me due to its wide breath of training in different disciplines -I want to be able to provide my patients with the best course of action possible through shared decision-making and not always succumbing to purely medical treatment which I feel like DOs emphasize -Holistic care - maintaining a healthy lifestyle is important to me (exercise, diet, stress) and these are things I want to bring to my care as well, I don't just want to focus on one aspect of the patient and ignore all of the other factors at play. -They aim to treat symptoms while also taking into account your lifestyle and environmental factors. -Heavy focus on prevention - similar to what I'm learning in my MPH program
What is a downside of working in a team?
-Pressure on individual opinions -Not always heard
What's a time you had to stick with a decision you disagreed with?
-Put on JV my junior year of high school, knew that I was qualified to be on varsity -I was the substitute for one girl who had been out on an injury -Upset with the decision, but I knew that if I kept at it and stayed determined, my coach would understand my work ethic and guarantee my position for varsity -Also learned a lot, played against challenging players -A few months into the season I was promoted to varsity
Tell me about a time you observed and served underserved communities
-STEM Alternative Spring Break -Engaged with teachers, reading level -Most students wanted to go straight into the workforce, educated myself about federal policies that prevented US Indigenous population from receiving medical care or an education -I tailored lesson plans to incorporate strength-based learning and culturally relevant pedagogies to engage students and accommodate diverse learning styles. For example, I developed culturally nuanced syllabi that connected traditionally sacred landscapes like the Cascade Mountains with the scientific concept of geology for members of the Yakima Nation. This teaching approach bolstered student participation rates and state examination scores, underscoring the impact of cultural deference in the ongoing fight for inclusive education. -I now understand that without equitable distribution of resources, students lack the capacity to fulfill their potential, contributing to the perpetuation of systemic educational inequities in the US
Tell me about your clinical experience.
-Scribing responsibilities -Shadowing Dr. Shapiro
Tell me about a time you have to make a quick decision
-Scribing with a patient that fainted
How would you go about delivering bad news to a patient or a family's patient?
-Sit them down -Allow for an open conversation so that they are able to ask any questions/speak their concerns -Tell them the bad news in a succinct manner, as prolonging it can make the situation worse
Give me an example of a time when you were able to successfully persuade someone to see things your way.
-Sophia referral
Tell us about a time where you had to come to a compromise with a fellow student or colleague.
-Sophia referral story
Tell me about a time when you were under a lot of pressure and how you got through it.
-Taking care of grandma without parents in the country
Tell us something about yourself that is not on your application.
-Thoroughly enjoy playing badminton -I played throughout high school and was on the varsity women's team by junior and senior year -Loved my team and made lifelong friends that I still connect with today even if we are spread throughout the country -Played club badminton in college -Lot of international students, was a bit intimidating, but was surprised that I could keep up -Got my family members into it, and now I go play on courts from time to time for fun and a healthy stress relief
Describe a time where you faced a challenge and had to come up with a unique solution. How did this help you learn?
-While working as a STEM alternative Spring Break coordinator, my team and I were staffed with creating a 1-week culturally relevant geology curriculum to promote interest in STEM We delivered this curriculum to students in the primarily Indigenous Yakima Valley of Washington in a virtual setting -At the beginning, we had trouble engaging students over a screen, and felt like students were nervous to demonstrate their ideas or ask questions they may have had -So as a team we reconvened after our first day of delivery, and I suggested creating an anonymous forum board so that students could ask questions -During this discussion, we also came up with the idea of using the Google Jamboard platform so that students could simultaneously put questions or ideas up anonymously as we were delivering the lesson for the day, so that we could answer questions or comment on ideas as they came up
What are you passionate about?
I am passionate about several things. One of course being medicine, but also the bigger picture of the problems our healthcare world faces today like inaccess to care due to barriers -- (health equity) this is something I hope to research and work on as a medical student and phyisican. In addition, I am passionate about mentorship, I think that helping young kids is significant to their life course, and providing them with resources and opportunities to learn and grow has extreme potential -- part of why I like the medical field is that there is continuous learning and teaching, I would also like to engage in programs that encourage more diversity and youth to involve themselves in STEM-based fields, I think a lot of them shy away because its too difficult, but helping them realize their interest is incredibly rewarding to me.
Why do you want to be a doctor and not another healthcare professional like a nurse, therapist, etc.?
I look at physicians as leaders of a healthcare team, meaning that they guide and collaborate with people like nurses and therapists, and I think my personality and qualities match with that leadership aspect
What is the most successful idea you have taken from concept to launch?
Public health column
Tell me about a time you had to explain something fairly complex to someone frustrated.
Research process while mentoring new students
Describe a time when you struggled to build a relationship with someone important.
Sister-in-law
Talk about a time you had to work closely with someone whose personality was very different from yours.
Sophia
What is OMT/OMM?
This is a set of hands-on techniques used by osteopathic physicians to diagnose, treat, and prevent illness or injury. Generally involves moving a patient's joints or muscles to do so. Students receive extra training on the body's musculoskeletal and nervous systems, thereby teaching them how each of the body systems are connected to one another. This brings another dimension to a physician's ability to provide care, providing another form of treatment that other professionals don't have - can replace drugs or surgery which is always beneficial.