MEDICAL SCHOOL INTERVIEWING WORKSHOPOctober 8th, 6:30-7:30 PM

5 points (Academic/Workshop)

FORMAT – “SPEED FRIENDING” Review basic facts about UTMB and UT Houston

Practice Questions Group A and Group B

1 min discuss things to keep in mind 3 min (90 sec/person) answer question 1 min review good/bad answers Switch groups and repeat

RULES FOR WORKSHOP: Shake hands at the start

Thank the “interviewer” at the conclusion of the “interview”

Constructively criticize the answers

Act as if you have never met

Be open and honest

NO JUDGEMENT ZONE. What is said here stays here. This includes information about personal hardships, grades, oranything personal that is shared with you.

GENERAL TIPS Yes:

Maintain good posture Sustain eye contact Be sincere and show your passion Talk slowing and enunciate clearly Prepare beforehand Be polite (Yes ma’am, yes sir) Thank them for their time Shake hand firmly

Avoid: “like,” “uhm,” and “you know.” fidgeting, playing with hair, and other extraneous movements. “Do you know what I mean?” and “Does that make sense.” Say instead, “Did I answer

your question?”

UT MEDICAL BRANCH SCHOOL OF MEDICINE - GALVESTON

What are they known for?

UTMB QUICK FACTS Location: Galveston, Texas

Class Size: ~220

Tuition: Residents: $6,550.00 Non-residents: $19,650.00

Averages: GPA: 3.76 MCAT: 30

USMLE Pass Rates/Mean Score: 96%, 230

Match rate: Top 3 choices: 84%

Affiliated Hospitals: John Sealy Hospital in Galveston Clear Lake Regional Hospital St. Joseph Medical Center Texas Department of Criminal Justice Hospital (TDCJ)

UTMB CURRICULUM Pre-Clerkship: 2 years, Post-Clerkship: 2 years ½ days! – Year 1: finish by noon/ Year 2: start at noon Test format: USMLE-type questions Grading Scale: P/F Dual Degree Programs

MD-MPH PHD-MPH MD-MS MD-MA MD-MBA

Special Tracks and Opportunities (5-6 months of electives) Global Health Rural Health Care Aerospace Medicine Bilingual Health Geriatric Track Medical Humanities Physician Healer Public Health Translational Research Study Abroad

UT HEALTH – UT HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AT HOUSTON

What are they known for?

UT HOUSTON QUICK FACTS US News and World Report: #57 Location: Houston, Texas Class Size: 240 Tuition:

Residents: $6,550.00 Non-residents: $19,650.00

Averages: GPA: 3.84 MCAT: 33

USMLE Pass Rates/Mean Score: 99%, 224 Match rates

Top 3 Choices: 81% Affiliated Hospitals:

Memorial Hermann Hospital Texas Heart Institute The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research UT Harris County Psychiatric Center Lyndon B. Johnson General Hospital Children’s Memorial Herman Hospital

UT HOUSTONCURRICULUM

UT HOUSTON CURRICULUM

Pre-Clerkship: 1.5 years, Post-Clerkship: 2.5 years Grading Scale: H/HP/P/MP (Below Pass)/F Dual Degree Programs

MD/PhD MD/MPH MD/MBA MD/OMS MD/MS in Health Informatics

New Anatomy lab MS1 Retreat No required research, but opportunities if desired Finals Week

Scholarly Concentrations Child Health and Advocacy Clinical Quality, Safety, and

Evidence-Based Medicine Emergency Preparedness & Response Geriatric and Palliative Medicine Global Health Medical Education Medical Humanities Molecular and Translational Medicine Nanomedicine and Biomedical

Engineering Neurosciences Primary Care/Family Medicine

INTERVIEW DAY FORMATS UTMB

2-30 minute interviews (1 open/1 closed) 1 asked very “interview-y” questions, 1 walked through entire app and said explain more about X

Introduction to the school/curriculum Campus tour (LOTS of walking/humidity) Student panels

UT Houston 2-25 minute interviews

VERY relaxed Dr. Sutton is an interviewer; many ask ethical questions

Introduction to the school/curriculum Optional panels Tour of the Medical Center (Helipad) and school with current students Breakfast and lunch

QUESTIONS!SOME REPEATS FROM LAST

TIME, BUT YOU CAN NEVER PRACTICE ENOUGH

KEEP IN MIND… Be relaxed

The interviewers truly do want to get to know you.

Have several things to reference for questions for when you draw a blank Ex: meaningful leadership, service, personal experiences, etc.

Some interviewers have your entire application and others have only your essays.

***UTH: TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF. Often the first question if it is a closed interview

Tips: Start with family, where you grew up, what you enjoyed in high school Talk about how you became interested in medicine Talk about Baylor, your major (why you chose it), experiences while at Baylor Talk about what you do for fun – they want to know that you are the pre-med that

only studies Don’t be alarmed if they stop to ask questions, this is a good thing because they

are interested in you!

***UTMB: WHY MEDICINE? They may have your personal statement, but they want to know that the

person on paper is the person you are in real life.

Be open, honest, and share your experiences. Stay genuine

DO NOT LIE! They are experienced interviewers and will be able to tell.

Don’t say: “to help people” or “I love science” or “doctors make a lot of money” – go deeper and really figure out why. This could be a learning experience for you and allow you to rediscover your

passion.

Show that you have thought about your future Why that field? Specific experiences, people you know, etc How do your skills fit with that field?

***UTMB: TELL ME ABOUT A TIME YOU WORKED AS PART OF A TEAM Talk about:

Your role on the team How you encouraged other members What all you accomplished What you learned from that experience

***UTMB: TELL ME ABOUT YOUR STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES. Tips:

Talk to friends and family Turn the weakness into a strength by showing how you are trying to improve the

weakness (give specific examples) Talk about strengths is a humble way

***UTMB: WHAT IS THE LAST BOOK YOU READ FOR FUN? WHAT DO YOU DO FOR FUN? Tips:

Read a book for fun before you start interviewing Take time to relax – 30 minutes a day doing something you love will not kill you

Ex: wear workout clothes to a meeting and then you have no excuse not to run! Rediscover something you loved to do in high school. Join a club that allows you to explore what you love. Think of specific examples of what you do with your hobbies

UTMB: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN UTMB AND UTSW? They may ask what other schools you applied to and why you chose their

school over the others

Kind of an uncomfortable question – they were looking for UTSW’s emphasis on research

*** TOGETHER:UTH: DIFFERENT ETHICAL SCENARIOS Abortion

End of life care

Euthanasia

Vaccines

Stem cell research

OBAMACARE!

IVF

Contraception – Planned Parenthood

Healthcare and the Criminal Justice System

***TOGETHER: WHAT QUESTIONS DO YOU HAVE FOR ME? How has medicine changed since you got involved in medicine?

What characteristics are you looking for in an applicant?

What is your favorite part about this medical school?

What would you change about this medical school?

Could you tell me more about ___ at this medical school?

UTMB: TELL ME ABOUT YOUR RESEARCH Tips:

If you did research, be prepared to talk about it, especially at the research-oriented schools

Be knowledgeable in the subjects that you researched

WHY UTMB? WHY IS THIS BUILDING ON LOCKDOWN? / WHY UT HOUSTON? HOW DO YOU LIKE THE LARGE TOWN? Tips:

Research each school prior to the interview and have several facts in mind that you could reference

Be genuinely happy about your interview Talk about personal experiences (ex: talking to students, internships, etc.) Be familiar with the area the school is located in

UTH: in the medical center UTMB: on an island

***UTH: WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT ___ FROM BAYLOR/YOUR HOMETOWN? Be familiar with:

Current events around Baylor/Waco (ex: new business school, Title IX, biker shooting)

Different programs Baylor has (ex: Neuroscience) Current Research out of Baylor (ex: phubbing)

If from well-known town or town of the medical school, be familiar with: Current events in that area Things you like/dislike about that area How you flourish in that area vs in the medical school’s town