Two of the most important factors that could give your med school application the much-needed boost are the admissions essay and the interview. Acing these two is not that easy. However, with some good tips, there’s a good chance that you can make it to the cut. Tech Blog discusses about how the admissions essay and the interview can help you in your college application. According to the blog:
There are two ways to grab the attention of the admissions panel. One is through medical school application essays, and the other is through the interview.
Medical school admissions essay
Medical school admissions essay is your chance to show to the admissions committee that you are unique. You may have the same accomplishments and test result scores with other applicants, but with your essay, you can stand out as a unique individual.
The evaluation of admission essays becomes critical as a determining factor when indicating preference between applicants who share similar profiles. However, it is important to note that different colleges/educational institutions place varied levels of emphasis put on evaluating medical school admission essays.
As different institutions give different credits to the admissions essay, you have to inquire about the institution first before writing your personal statement. Generally, admissions essays are given much importance. They can put you in the priority or waiting list.
When you write your essay, it is important that you write as flawlessly as you can. Usually, essays are judged according to style and content. The blog adds that:
It enables institutions to assess and evaluate the potential of the applicants based on the quality, clarity and flow of informative content in the admission essay.
Because of this, you have to ensure that you include only ideas that are relevant, interesting, and substantial.
Med school interview
The med school interview is as important as your admissions essay. According to another article:
A personal interview is required for admission and is initiated by invitation of the Admissions Committee. The committee invites applicants to interview who have excellent academic qualifications or who demonstrate convincing evidence of commitment to an area of medicine
You have to review your essays and resumes because some of the interview questions might be based on them. You have to be prepared for whatever question will be thrown at you. You might only have a single chance to prove yourself worthy of getting admitted to your school of choice.
If you fared well on your admissions essay and interview, you can guarantee a successful application. To do this, you need to make your personal statement as remarkable as possible. You also have to prepare yourself for the interview and leave a good impression to the selection panel.
Though a graduate school admission interview is not the main basis for the final decision for being accepted, conducting yourself properly during the interview is still important. Some universities do not even conduct graduate admissions interviews. However, you can decide to request one if you want to get to know the school better. Whatever the purpose, you must present yourself well to what may be your second home in the next two or three years of your life. Your interview may be a confirmation of your claims in your graduate admission essay.
Before the interview
* If you have not been formally interviewed yet, read books on how you should present yourself.
You can visit the university’s website, or you can visit the university itself through a requested campus tour. This way, you get to know what to expect from the graduate school. Also, taking the initiative to know important information about the school says something about your determination to be accepted.
* Know more about the degree you want to enroll into, and your possible instructors. You can find out about the faculty through an informal interview with current students or through reading their published articles.
* Stage mock interviews with family or friends so can practice your verbal skills. Ask for feedback from your friends including answers that were unclear and unneccessary expressions that you exhibited.
* Read your graduate school admission essay and find points that may be touched on during the interview.
During the meeting
* Dress neatly and appropriately.
* Do not smoke or drink alcohol right before your interview. These can be detected by the interviewer especially if you will be seating near him or her.
* For interviews in social settings, drink little or not at all.
* Follow the rules of interviewing well. These include maintaining eye contact and displaying well-balanced self-confidence.
* Make sure you discuss your compatibility with the school’s program.
* Ask relevant questions that show your interest in the program.
* Make sure what you say is consistent with what is written in your graduate admission essay.
After the interview
* Immediately send follow-up thank you letters (or even emails), showing your appreciation for the interviewer’s time.
* Politely ask for an update on the status of your application after a week or so.
Graduate-school specifics
* Come to the interview early so that you can have time to assess different programs and universities.
* Find out the situation of present graduate students in your targeted field of study.
* Make sure you know how to justify your interest in your targeted field of study if your college degree is completely unrelated.
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