Strategy 3: Carefully review each medical school’s mission statement and communicate fit in your application.
Although most top medical schools are seen as “one and the same”, you’ll still need to communicate how your experiences and interests make you a great fit for that program. To learn what each program cares about specifically, read each school’s website and get in touch with current students.
Many students mistakenly believe that by being overly complimentary of a school’s offerings, location, or reputation for excellence, they can win over admissions committees. However, schools already know what they have to offer! Instead, you should aim to discuss your background and why you would be a good fit for the school.
The good news is: there will be many opportunities to do this through your secondary essays and responses to interview questions.
Strategy 4: Don’t forget to prepare for interviews
Once you’ve sent off your secondary applications, you may be tempted to just sit back and anxiously await a response. However, this is a losing strategy as it wastes critical time you have to prepare for interviews.
Performing well in medical school interviews is a skill that requires a different kind of effective communication from writing your essays. Your mannerisms, personability, and thoughtfulness are all on display in real time. You’ll want to practice your answers to common questions so that you’re not caught off guard in the moment.
Additionally, knowing which interview style to prepare for is extremely important. Will you be encountering a traditional interview or the MMI? Ensuring you’re fully prepared for any situation will go a long way to leaving a lasting positive impression with adcoms.
Furthermore, make sure you read up on what interview day entails at the schools you apply to. What does the day’s schedule look like? Will you have a chance to meet with other students and ask questions of your own? Remember, interview day is not just a question and answer session with faculty, you’ll be on display throughout the day.