Sample MCAT Interview Questions - Southwest Missouri State University

August 3, 2007 | By admin In Mcat Exam |

Department of Biomedical Sciences
Southwest Missouri State University

Open-Ended and General Questions:
Basically, open-ended questions are designed to assess the interviewee’s (1) knowledge and information, (2) mental organization, (3) ability to express and defend opinions and positions, and (4) personality.

Tell me about yourself. (Don’t give a complete life history. Summarize the key points in a chronological manner and sprinkle with few details in your more recent history.)
Why do you want to be a doctor? (Give several key points in summary form). Replace very general responses like “I want to help people” with more specific intentions.
Why should we choose you?
I note that you did not perform well on the (section of the MCAT). Explain why you are weak in this area.
Why did you apply to this medical school?
What are your positive and negative qualities? (Pick one or two of your strengths and at least one of your weaknesses, but be sure you pick a weakness that you have recognized earlier, have improved upon, and indicate how you have done so.)
If you were to do anything differently in your preparation for medical school, what would that be?
What do you see yourself doing in ten or fifteen years from now? (Include personal goals and professional goals. You may specify a general area of interest but qualify your specific interests in medical specialties by acknowledging you have yet to experience the range of opportunities in medicine. Do indicate your interests in the general environment where you intend to practice, such as small town, large city, and region of the country. This question encompasses the next two more specific questions.)
Where do you plan to practice?
What field of medicine are you interested in? What branch of medicine most interests you?
What other health care professions have you considered and why did you select medicine?
What most recent advances in medicine have occurred that you believe will have the greatest impact on how you will practice medicine?
Who are your heroes and why?
I see you got a “C” in (an undergraduate course). Why was that course so difficult? Explain.
What is your concept of the doctor/patient relationship?
Why do you want to come here? (Be sure to have reasons that involve the unique qualities of the school. Mention also some personal reasons if these are applicable.)
What makes you a better applicant than others?
Is this school your first choice?
What role have your parents played in your decision to become a physician?
What is going on in your life?
Tell me what you know it is to be a physician?
What makes you happy?
I see that you have had a research experience in college. What have you leaned about that process?
Let us say that you are rejected for admission into all medical schools to which you have applied. What would be your second career option?
Who are your role models?
What are your goals in medicine?
What causes your greatest frustrations in life?
What kinds of experiences have you had in the medical field?
List several qualities that you feel are the most important in being a good physician.
List several qualities that you feel are the most important in being a good medical school student.
What other medical schools have you applied to and why? (Be honest)
Which primary care area of medicine would be the greatest interest to you?
What do you believe in?
What do you care about? How does that caring express itself?
What concerns you about medicine?
What is your concept of the biopsychosocial model of medicine?
Tell me what you know it is to be a physician.
Who was your greatest source of inspiration in deciding to pursue medicine?
What aspects of medicine draw you to this profession?
What haven’t we talked about?
Do you have any questions to ask me? (You must have questions at this point, but engage the interviewer as much as possible by having questions about his attitude or opinion of the school.)