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Q. What is the difference between a medical school personal statement and interview? Aside from the obvious physical presence of an interview. I would assume both a personal statement and interview would include telling personal stories.A2A: You are right in assuming that both the personal statement and the interview involve telling personal stories.Applications to other professional schools like business and law schools also involve personal statements, which provide a tiny glimpse of what make the applicants tick. But a career in medicine requires longer/deeper commitments and personal sacrifices that cannot be assessed on paper alone.Although intellectual ability and record of achievement are important factors, the personal interview gives the admissions committee another dimension by which to evaluate and understand other traits necessary to foster the development of a competent, compassionate, and responsible physician. The ability to communicate and interact, social consciousness, maturity, personal integrity, tolerance, service to others, and motivation for a career in medicine are among the characteristics sought.The other purpose of the interviews is to serve as a valuable recruitment tool, provide a resource for answering questions, and help the applicant determine whether the institution is right for him or her. It is a perfect time to ask questions.All interviewees have a chance at acceptance. Certain “failed personalities” stand out, and can harm the applicants. To stand out by merit is more difficult. But doing well will help in the stratification of admittable applicants come time to make final admission decisions.You will need to take good notes at the end of the day as memory fades after going through so many interviews.Ask the Experts: Preparing for Medical School InterviewsAvoid Common Mistakes on the Medical School Personal StatementCreate an Artful Essay for a Standout Medical School ApplicationAsk the Experts: Preparing for Medical School InterviewsHow important is the interview in getting accepted to medical school?Filomeno MaldonadoThe interview is very important in getting accepted to medical school. Although intellectual ability and record of achievement are important factors, the personal interview gives the admissions committee another dimension by which to evaluate and understand other traits necessary to foster the development of a competent, compassionate, and responsible physician. The ability to communicate and interact, social consciousness, maturity, personal integrity, tolerance, service to others, and motivation for a career in medicine are among the characteristics sought.Norma WagonerThe majority of medical schools in this country interview applicants. It is an expensive and time-consuming process. Thus, one can assume that the schools will value what their faculty and students learn about an applicant. The interview process, in many respects, is designed for the applicant as much as the school. Interviews serve as a valuable recruitment tool, provide a resource for answering questions, and help the applicant determine whether the institution is right for him or her. From the school's standpoint, a sizable component of the information gathering focuses on important character traits that include such things as integrity, commitment to medicine as a career, conscientiousness, strength of interpersonal skills, empathy, and reliability. The transcript gives some indication of academic strength, but some aspects of the interview will focus on problem-solving skills, research interests, creativity, and challenges that bring out one's best potential.What general tips do you have for preparing for the medical school interview?Filomeno MaldonadoWhen one is invited for an interview, it is especially important to prepare for the interview visit in three distinct ways: timeliness, attitude, and uniqueness.Once invited do not procrastinate, confirm your interview immediately. Communication with the medical school is critical. Know the interview schedule in advance if it is at all possible. If the entire schedule is not available, find out at least the time that your interview will begin. Allow some time to be flexible. In other words, give yourself the time you need to get your bearings, find parking, and find the location of the interview. After your interview, don't run out early. Leaving early may give the impression that you are not interested. Give yourself the opportunity to explore the institution or ask more questions. Also, avoid scheduling multiple interviews too tightly. Again, don't be late. Faculty's time is valuable!Attitude, attitude, attitude - it is all so important! SMILE! Be pleasant to everyone you encounter during the interview and be pleasant at all times even if there are snags in the schedule, etc. Also, remember that you are under observation the entire time you interact with the medical school.You bring your own uniqueness to the interview, and it is essential that that uniqueness gets you noticed. For the most part, people notice exceptional deviations from the normal pattern, therefore, it is important to be noticed for something positively. Leave your mark. While you are at your interview, add to the positive feeling that you have already worked so hard to create via your application. Bear in mind that people forget much of what they learn, and forget it quickly. Make certain that the interviewers remember you.Lastly, convey a healthy self-understanding and demonstrate humility. BE YOURSELF, for interviews can bring out betrayals of character. Be prepared to respond to all kinds of questions, many unrelated to the study of medicine. Similarly, be prepared not only to discuss your motivation for a career in medicine, but also any activities or experiences that are relevant to your goal, and times you have served others.Norma WagonerHere are 10 tips that I have recommended to applicants:Prepare a few questions for the interviewer, but don't ask about strengths and weaknesses of a program - be more creative.Keep a positive, upbeat attitude. Be open, honest and believe in what you say. Stay away from a recitation of prepared answers.Be aware of your body language as it conveys a significant amount of information regarding your confidence and demeanor. While cultures may differ with respect to greeting others, a firm handshake will be anticipated in most cases. It is important to look at your interviewer when responding to questions. Sitting in a comfortable position also denotes a level of confidence when communicating with others.Find a way to convey some uniqueness about yourself in the interview.If questions are focused on the academic record, don't make excuses - provide the best forthright information or explanation of personal circumstances that were occurring at the time. The interviewer knows you are human.If you are unable to make the interview, don't just fail to show up. Professional demeanor dictates your telling the school the circumstances that prevent you from attending.BE ON TIME. If you are uncomfortable on how to get to the interviewer, call and get directions. Remember that traffic or weather conditions can create difficulties, so be prepared.Treat everyone with respect - courtesy leaves a lasting impression.Dress appropriately. Select a comfortable outfit and wear it in advance of the interview to ensure that no problems arise.Relax and be yourself. Confidence, poise, and thoughtfulness are important ingredients of success.How prepared do I need to be to talk about different topics?Filomeno MaldonadoBe prepared to respond to all kinds of questions-many unrelated to the study of medicine. Why not talk about genetics, chemistry, or for that matter social issues? How extensively you discuss a different topic like genetics or a societal problem depends upon the context in which the question is asked. Take your cue from the interviewer. Bear in mind that there is a purpose to these kinds of questions, which is often to derive your breadth of knowledge on a variety of topics and your ability to articulate your point of view. This gives the interviewer insight into your ability to communicate and interact, which obviously has many implications. Below is an example of an interview question that targets social issues:"If you were asked to give a keynote speech to your graduating class about societal problems, which problems would you focus on? What major points would you make?"Norma WagonerInterviewers are not likely to ask an applicant to recite the Henderson-Hasslebach equation, although for those interested in research, a question of why this equation is important in science could arise. In general though, the topics are more focused on learning about the applicant, his or her interests, challenges, commitment, and future plans. For the applicant, it becomes more valuable to convey information that reveals personal character traits, rather than the ability to demonstrate a depth of scientific knowledge across several disciplines.For those applicants who have extensive research backgrounds, being able to converse intelligently on their research projects is important. Many of the interviewers are engaged in research and often times the school tries to match the interviewer with an applicant doing similar work in order to get a more in depth analysis of the applicant's understanding of the project they are pursuing.What sorts of questions should I ask during the interview?Filomeno MaldonadoAsk questions that will help you become better informed about the school and its resources, accomplishments, and opportunities, such as inquiring about faculty, the student body, the research enterprise, internships, combined degrees, graduate studies, residencies, study abroad opportunities, health and fitness). If this is your first time in the community surrounding the medical school, inquire about local history and educational opportunities, particularly if you are married and have children. Ask about the location in proximity to other communities or major cities, the arts and culture, parks and recreation, and other attractions.Norma WagonerBe sure to read the information about the school on their web site, so that you don't ask questions about something for which information is readily available. Be creative in your questioning. A few examples might include: 1) "If I were to ask the students in your first-year medical school class what they would like to change, what areas do you think they would emphasize?" 2) "How do you see the cost of a medical education affecting the students here?" 3) "What do faculty members feel is the most unique aspect of this medical school, such that they would encourage their sons or daughters to attend?"Avoid Common Mistakes on the Medical School Personal StatementMany medical school essays start out the same way, so avoid common cliches to stand out.By Anthony Lafond, M.D., Contributor | July 7, 2015, at 10:40 a.m.A good medical school personal statement can be the difference between an acceptance letter and a rejection.​When I was applying to medical school, the MCAT still contained an essay portion, and a common maxim about the essay stated "A good one may not get you in, but a bad one could keep you out."This resulted in many students not working too hard on their essay techniques. Today the essay is gone, so students tend to focus on the numerical aspects of their applications, which are important. But some students focus on these to the detriment of their personal statement. Statistics from the Association of American Medical Colleges show that even students with stellar GPAs and top 5 percent MCAT scores can fail to gain admission.With the new MCAT, the association has highlighted its aim to widen the range of students admitted to medical school. The personal statement part of your application is the greatest opportunity you have to show schools why you should be admitted into medical school and what you will contribute to medicine – but there are a few pitfalls to avoid when crafting it.All students have their own reasons for wanting to be a doctor. The problem is most of these reasons are presented in a similar manner in personal statements. Many admissions committee members and advisers I have talked to report thousands of essays that all start the same way: "I have wanted to be a doctor since," "My dream of being a doctor began when I was a child playing" or "I have always wanted to make a difference."While these stories are likely honest and heartfelt, the essays risk getting pushed to the side in favor of an applicant with a story to tell that complements his or her application. While it is important to give your reasons for pursuing medicine, a more personal and engaging essay will resonate with readers.I was "lucky" enough to grow up in a family with extensive experience with hospitals, surgeons and medicine because of myriad medical complications resulting from birth defects, diseases and disabilities. When it was time to write my personal statement, I had ample material.This need not be necessary. Think outside the box. Even nonmedical or academic experiences can inform your decision to become a doctor. You should also browse online through sample essays to both be inspired and learn which cliches to avoid.The next most important point to get across to schools is to show – not tell – them why you will make such a great addition to the ranks of physicianhood. This does not mean summarizing all of the achievements, honors and experience you painstakingly outlined in your centralized application. Simply giving an executive summary of your accolades is not personal and does not offer any insight into what you can bring to a school.[Learn about four common mistakes that lead to medical school rejection.]If you had a great volunteer experience, show how it affected your life. Did you participate in some exciting research? If you can build a story around it or offer some insight as to how it will inform your career as a physician, then by all means bring it in as a part of your essay. Otherwise, leave it where it belongs.As a physician, you will spend your whole life learning and a great physician is not infallible. Not everyone who is admitted to medical school had a perfect academic record. Many of my successful students were nontraditional applicants, struggled during freshman year or overcame some personal obstacle to continue through school. They used these experiences.Don't ignore potential red flags – embrace them so that you can put them in the best light possible. This does not mean justifying or excusing mistakes. You cannot undo the past, but even education gaps, a C grade or a lackluster semester is a learning opportunity. Academic adversity can be used to show medical schools how these experiences have made you a stronger candidate. You will likely be asked about anomalies during your interviews so it is better to address them head on.You would never rush through your MCAT prep or final exam preparation, so do not throw four years of hard work away by cranking your personal statement out in a week. Take your time. Start early.Begin by thinking about experiences, people and activities that have brought you to this point in life. Ask yourself, why do you want to be a physician?When studying for the MCAT, I advise all of my students to take a day off per week to avoid burnout. I encourage them to use this day to work on other, less tangible parts of their application – and premeds will know how their peers hate doing something that's not premed related.The online applications are standardized, so it is easy to determine what you need long before the application is due. Work on your letters of recommendation. Why not use this time to also get started on your personal statement? This gives you time to draft and rewrite, and seek out as many eyes as you can get on your personal statement.Do not just ask physicians and medical professionals to read it. Many of the people evaluating your applications never attended medical school and are not clinical professionals of any kind. Have family, friends and even friends of friends read your drafts. The more varied an audience you can engage, the better your story will be told.Unlike the old MCAT essay, a good personal statement can get you in.Tags: education, graduate schools, medical school, medicine, studentsAnthony Lafond, M.D. CONTRIBUTORAnthony Lafond, M.D.-Ph.D., is the national MCAT curriculum director at Next Step Test Preparation, which provides one-on-one MCAT tutoring programs. He has scored a 42 on the exam and taught the test for over a decade.Create an Artful Essay for a Standout Medical School ApplicationMedical school hopefuls should be specific about past experiences and future career goals in their AMCAS materials.By Anubodh Varshney, Contributor | May 6, 2014, at 9:42 a.m.Taking time to outline your career goals and reflect on why you want to become a physician will help you submit a compelling, specific AMCAS application.Completing the American Medical College Application Service application is a crucial step in the medical school admissions process. The centralized online service, provided by the American Association of Medical Colleges, allows first-year students to submit a single application and send it to the participating schools in the U.S. where they want to apply.With admissions committees sifting through thousands of applications each cycle, it’s important for applicants to do everything they can to stand out from the crowd in a positive way. Below are some strategies to help medical school hopefuls ​accomplish just that.1. Take time for self-reflection: Having recently gone through the residency application process, I can tell you firsthand that the value of self-reflection cannot be overstated. Take some time to think about what you want out of your career as a physician.Explicitly identify and write out your career goals, as well as how you intend to get there. Some examples may include becoming a leader in academic medicine, focusing on medical education, building a career in global health or biomedical research or practicing in a rural community and helping the underserved.Also, use online sources, professors, mentors and peers to research what steps you need to take to achieve your goals. You should hopefully have at least an idea of the type of medical career you want.2. Tell a story: Now that you have identified your goals, craft your AMCAS application​, personal statement and secondary essays such that they tie together and exemplify your passions. Every activity you list and describe in your AMCAS should demonstrate how it has helped you in your pursuit of your goals.Though schools will have different secondary essay questions, make an effort to integrate your story into each essay. Use your personal statement to tie together any seemingly disparate involvements described in your AMCAS and secondary essays.3. Describe​ specific roles and actions:​ This ties back to developing and conveying your personal story. Make a conscious effort to describe your specific roles and the qualities you have that led​ you to success in these roles in the activities you list on your AMCAS profile.For example, rather than describing your role as recruitment chair for an organization as "oversaw the yearly recruitment process and budget,"​ try something like "worked to expand membership by 50 percent by increasing recruitment programming, developing a new marketing campaign and devising ways to expand the budget through novel fundraising efforts."[Find ways to weave a story throughout your medical school application.]The second description is much more specific and will give the admissions committee a better idea of the leadership and motivation it took for you to succeed in your position. Remember, admissions committees read thousands of applications touting multiple leadership positions. Keep things specific and interesting in order to stand out.4. Use the 80-20​ rule for your personal statement: Your​ personal statement should focus 80 percent on where you’re going in your education and ​20 percent on where you’ve been and how it relates to your​ academic and life journey.Keep the focus of your personal statement on the future, as the remainder of your application will detail your past accomplishments. Give admissions committees an idea of what you hope to contribute to society through a career in medicine.5. Have your materials proofread by multiple people from various backgrounds: Admissions committees are often made up of more than just medical school professors. They may include administrators, students, residents and others.To ensure that your overall message is being portrayed clearly, have your entire application proofread by both medical and nonmedical professors, your English major friends, family and other peers. The more perspectives​ you can get, the better.As you begin to fill out your application for medical school, you will have to deeply think about and understand why exactly you are pursuing a career as a physician. From there, everything in your application should be centered on conveying this message clearly to admissions committees, while highlighting which experiences you’ve had that have led​ you down this road.If you can do just this, you will likely stand out from the thousands of other applicants who simply regurgitate their resume in their application, without giving any real substance to their goals and reasons for applying to medical school.Tags: medical school, graduate schools, students, education, medicineAnubodh Varshney CONTRIBUTORAnubodh "Sunny" Varshney is a professional MCAT tutor with Varsity Tutors. He earned his Bachelor of Science from Washington University in St. Louis and his M.D. from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. He is a resident in internal medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.