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Be Authentic, Thoughtful for Medical School Interview Success

By WTOP Staff

If you feel very nervous before your first medical school interview, don’t be surprised. This is perfectly normal. Here are five tips that will help you make it through your medical school interview with confidence.

1. Be respectful to everyone you meet: During your medical school interview, imagine that you are in a fishbowl. Everyone is evaluating you either consciously or subconsciously. This includes current medical students, secretaries, tour guides and anyone else who observes you that day.

Assume that each person you meet during your interview day will affect the day’s outcome. If you make a very positive or negative impression on someone, including someone other than your interviewer, that person will likely speak up. Being on your game for a full interview day is exhausting, so be prepared to be tired when you are done.

[Here are five more ways to ace a medical school interview.]

1. Stay off your phone and turn off the volume: Though everyone is on their phones all the time, there is no consensus about cellphone use and professionalism during the interview day. So to stay on the safe side, be 100 percent attentive during your interview day and leave your cellphone off and in your suit pocket or purse.

Do not pull out your phone to check texts, emails or make a call unless you are someplace where no one will see you, such as in a car or a hotel room.

3. Don’t tell the interviewer what you think they want to hear: It can be tempting to try and “psych out” the interviewer, but he or she can often sense dishonesty. The best interviewees are sincere, authentic and completely honest.

One student I worked with was interviewing a top NIH-funded medical school. When asked about plans for her future career, she said that she wanted to pursue research in addition to being a clinician and public health advocate. Her application, however, showed little evidence of an interest in research.

So the interviewer probed further, making the student feel uncomfortable. She told me that for the remainder of the interview the interviewer questioned everything she said. Needless to say, the applicant wasn’t accepted to this medical school.

Interview questions have no really wrong or right answers, so be yourself. This is almost always the best way to make an ideal impression.

[Take time to address strengths and weakness in med school applications.]

The interviewer wants to know who you are, why you want to be a doctor and if you possess the qualities and characteristics he or she would like to see in medical students. As long as you have the right intentions, which the overwhelming majority of medical school applicants do, you will make a positive impression.

4. Make sure to listen carefully and address the question: I find that some applicants go into an interview with their own agenda and notions about what they want to discuss. It is a fine idea to have some speaking points at the ready and to know what distinguishes you as an applicant.

For example, if you know that your deep interest in global health or unusual background distinguishes you from other candidates, try to bring up these particulars at some point during a traditional and more conversational interview. Do so at an appropriate time by listening carefully and answering what the interviewer asks.

Showing that you are a good listener is important because excellent communication skills are necessary to practicing medicine. So it will hurt you if you instead demonstrate that you do not listen attentively.

[Learn strategies for answering ethics questions during interviews.]

5. Go with the flow: Every interviewer has his or her own style of interviewing. One interviewer might prefer a conversational type of interview, while another may have a distinct list of questions that everyone interviewee is asked. Another might systematically ask you about each of the experiences you listed on your application.

The best way to prepare for these different styles is to enter each interview without expectations. Go into each interview with an open mind and get to know your interviewer and his or her approach to the interview. Adapt to that style as the interview progresses.

Always review your application before an interview so you are prepared to discuss any topic about which you have written. Remember that no two interviews will ever be the same.

If you have many interviews over the course of the medical school admissions season, you will find that each one will get easier and you will be less nervous as the season progresses. Like being extremely nervous for the first interview, that is also perfectly normal.

More from U.S. News

Tips for a Successful Medical School Admissions Interview

Navigate Challenging Ethics Questions in Medical School Interviews

Learn to Show Professionalism in Medical School Applications

Be Authentic, Thoughtful for Medical School Interview Success originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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