Tell Me About Yourself: How to Answer this Medical School Interview Question

[@user-qn2ey6gk4m]

Just remembering that I'll have to do an interview fills me up with anxiety. I'm shittiпg bricks just imagining it HELPP

[@darnashleyeustache3553]

😂😂😂😂

[@studywithclumsy]

Im doing it Monday and Im stressed 😢

[@hikmatquadri1262]

I totally understand. One thing that has helped me is to be as prepared as I can before the interview; practice possible questions, watch videos like this etc. Other things like getting to the venue early and wearing clothes that make you feel confident are good tips. I hope you are your next interview!

[@deuterium4.028]

​@@studywithclumsyhow was it?

[@studywithclumsy]

@@deuterium4.028 I got in! But because of family issues I couldn’t attend so I’m trying again this year. Stressed all over again!

[@TheLightSpacer]

Thank you for taking the time to put together this incredibly useful video!

[@Shemmassian]

Glad it was helpful! Stay tuned for more med school interview strategy videos :)

[@laineweis6024]

Dude I literally live by ur videos for college apps and now medical school!!! Your vids and website help so much and if anyone asks me "how I got into UChicago" I ALWAYS direct them to ur page

[@Shemmassian]

Congrats on getting into UChicago, Laine! So glad you're here and that you're finding our resources valuable :)

[@twoteen1716]

Thank you so much for this. I'll be having my interview tomorrow. Wish me good luck.

[@Shemmassian]

You're welcome! Good luck!

[@danam5764]

How was it?

[@twoteen1716]

@@danam5764 I did fine, unexpectedly. Haha, I didn't pass on my dream school due to my grades (i guess), but I did pass on my 2 other main med schools I applied. I am currently a 1st year med student, and now struggling with Biochem and Physio, since they were those premed subjects who made my card ugly (my grades). 😅 Just be confident, and study ahead of time. Expect very tricky questions during interviews. There are a lot of those when I was interviewed. :/

[@Grind03]

@@twoteen1716 could you please tell us some of those tricky questions

[@stevenn1973]

I have my EM residency interviews in 2 weeks! Going to live by your videos, wish me luck!

[@Shemmassian]

Good luck!!

[@cristiancarpio1814]

This was super helpful thank you! I love the interactive component and made connections I previously hadn't even thought of

[@nawshadnasreen6825]

Can I talk about how I love the part that People love to talk to me about their problems and they feel really comfortable.. because they actually think I'm really a good listener and it makes them feel good when they talk to me... Ik it's a bit weird.. bt there are people around me who says these things.. and they think I can really understand People...

[@fatimasameh958]

I am from Egypt and l want to study medicine abroad and take a schoralship ,how can l do it ,and thank you for these awesome videos

[@ananyap7713]

Great video, I was stuck on this question but I have a good idea of how to structure my answer now!

[@Shemmassian]

So glad to hear it! Such a tough question...

[@harineepriya]

Thank you so much. This video was helpful, and I can even relate to the sample example you gave.

[@Nicole-ug1ri]

This is truly the most useful video I have watched regarding how to answer this question! Thank you so much. I found the example especially useful, as this gave me the confidence to reflect on and share my own personal experiences which I think I would have avoided had I not watched this. I can understand the purpose of being asked this question now

[@Shemmassian]

So glad it was helpful, Nicole! Understanding the reasons why certain questions are asked is key!

[@lydiadunstan2793]

Thank you. Has been very helpful to me.

[@cerulean1602]

thank you for this!! I hope I get accepted cause this is my second and last chance of applying :(

[@Shemmassian]

Rooting for you!

[@DowellPa]

Best of luck!

[@cerulean1602]

@@Shemmassian and I passed it! I'm waiting for September for our first semester. thank you so much for the tips :)

[@danam5764]

@@cerulean1602 congratulations 🥳

[@ifeolaitan3001]

Congratulations

[@nickaiphone]

Thank you for the video, it has been immensely helpful! I was wondering if we should approach the interview differently if the interview is known to be a closed file interview. Should we spend more time highlighting things that we have on our resumes, considering they do not have it in front of them?

[@Shemmassian]

Great question! With open-file interviews, you want to make sure not to repeat much on your app but with closed-file interview, you can certainly use examples that might have been mentioned on your app. That said, all the interpersonal and most of the strategic best practices apply to both styles!

[@amiralikarimi6281]

Thanks for all your efforts and advice. Do you have any videos on how to apply for residency or guides for it?

[@Shemmassian]

We do! You can check them out here: www.shemmassianconsulting.com/blog/category/Medical+Residency

[@yoldaaluz3520]

I speak English slow it would take me 5 min to talk about myself but I will practice THANK YOUUU!

[@Shemmassian]

Day by day!

[@UgandaCODM]

Nice stuff bro, Ive got this now!

[@stephenbechtel8317]

I winged all my interviews applied to 11 interviews at 4 and have been accepted to two so far will find out in a few months at the others

[@Pickettland]

I have a medical condition (congenital glaucoma) that required me to have numerous surgeries as a child. This is at the heart of why I want to become a physician. Would you recommend that I go ahead and disclose this physical condition when applying for med school/in the interview, or do you think it would automatically put me at a disadvantage?

[@Shemmassian]

So long as it's described for the primary purpose of describing your path to medicine, sure!

[@Pickettland]

@@Shemmassian You don’t think the school would use my health condition as a reason not to choose me? They are not supposed to discriminate but, let’s face it, they probably do.

[@goodyangie1]

This video could have been cut to 5 minutes.

[@cakesinthecity]

Yasss thank you for this!

[@Shemmassian]

You're welcome! :)

[@Maryam-um7jq]

AKU (medical university ) in Pakistan once asked a student that have you ever cheated? I mean most of the students would say no but how would you answer this question?

[@venkatasubbareddymotakatla1700]

What do mean by ramblings

[@chandmirza350]

Great! really helpful!!

[@Shemmassian]

You're welcome!

[@rubikscubewiz100]

These videos are awesome !

[@Shemmassian]

Thanks for watching, Brooklyn! :)

[@zg7856]

How to not be nervous??

[@abcxyz-el5xk]

Before starting, one thing that has helped me personally is by saying "I have nothing to lose". Another strategy is accepting nerves because nerves actually help to perform. And of course, prepare as much as possible and when done, saying to myself that I've prepared enough and I'm ready has also been helpful for me.

[@FunfettiShortcake]

I have my sonography interview in a month. Will these tips apply to that interview as well? Or do these tips apply only when becoming a doctor?

[@itsalifrfr9705]

I have respiratory therapy interview in a week. These tips will apply since our interviews are health science interviews. Gooodluck!!!

[@veanne]

how did your sonography interview go? i'm having mine in a week!!

[@amarzaidan7004]

Your videos are very helpful! Can I wear a formal blouse to my medical school interview instead of a blazer?

[@Shemmassian]

Hi Amar! That would be fine.

[@ravenrose89]

What if I enjoy gaming? Are there topics that are “frowned upon” if raised? Great video nonetheless!

[@Shemmassian]

Thanks! It's ok to mention gaming as something you enjoy. However, since it is a more passive activity, you'll want to be sure to mention other hobbies that demonstrate your best qualities. :)

[@lydiadunstan2793]

How do you inform me about further videos?

[@Shemmassian]

Hi Lydia! If you subscribe to our channel, you'll get notifications for new videos :)

[@MrXxColexX1]

thanks bruh

[@Shemmassian]

Any time

[@hannah.shafer]

4:07

[@zoegwinn6554]

May I ask I have autism and want to go to med school I have a really hard time with interpersonal communication should I mention that

[@Shemmassian]

You could mention it in the context of how it's set you down the pre med path (eg, in your personal statement), but you probably shouldn't shine too much of a light on current social communication difficulties.

[@larabars7536]

thank you for this video! is it bad to say you're a kid at heart? does that come across as immature?

[@Shemmassian]

Hi Lara! We encourage you to use specific examples in your response to highlight this quality. For example, you could say something like "I've really enjoyed working with the students at the local elementary school because of their playful and inquisitive nature. They inspire me to stay curious and keep learning from others."

[@Ashelirria]

Every time that I have to read or listen to people say that "Oh show us you're human and that you have hobbies and interests" in fields that require people to essentially work hard and constantly IF they're humans, it just makes me retch. Because the only ones who are going to find the time to do stuff for these jobs that require a long time to prepare for through studying, work on the field, innate capability, etc. necessitate the candidate to actually NOT have a life, which means those who have the time are the only ones who aren't "human" (the average person) but are geniuses. It's such a stupid question to ask that anybody who finds themselves in this position to ask it, needs to seriously re-evaluate their own pathetic standards. Whoever you're going to meet at this stage isn't going to be "human", because they can't be, it's just ridiculous and insulting to even look at things this way and expecting this kind of person in front of you.

[@morticiansdaughter4011]

I got invited for an interview with a BS-MD program how will my interview differ from someone who has already done undergrad and has taken the MCAT?

[@riyam01]

ay me too! which bsmd? i think there's not gonna be a major difference, they'll obviously not ask questions about undergrad but they will abt high school. and maybe like why do u wanna be a doctor at this young age and how do u know that u rly want to?

[@Shemmassian]

Congrats! A BS/MD interview invitation is a major achievement. The interviews tend to be quite similar to MD interviews, so make sure to read this: www.shemmassianconsulting.com/blog/medical-school-interviews

[@morticiansdaughter4011]

@@riyam01 Rice-Baylor

[@laineweis6024]

@@riyam01 ahaha me too! I'm interviewing Tuesday for Univ. Missouri KC!!!

[@angelayu9361]

I enjoy drawing and writing fictional stories in my free time. How would I tie values from these into the interview?

[@Shemmassian]

If asked what you do for fun, that would be the time.

[@jodi9588]

maybe i shouldnt go to med school lol. Only activities I could come up with were video games and reading trashy fics. I'm done

[@techtipsreview7567]

me too but im planning to enroll on medschool today, im scared but ill gonna regret it if i dont try

[@user35741]

did u end up getting in

[@sharjjahnaziz4122]

I never had to answer these type of questions during my 1st interview at David Geffen School of Medicine - UCLA. I just met with one person. My interview was just under 5 minutes. Medical School was east for me. I had alot of support and people looking out for me. Basically, my mother got me in. Since, she managed 3 Neuroscientist in the Department of Neurosurgery for the past 18 years. It was just a breezefor me.

[@kathrinacaluza5392]

Is it okay to answer "I don't know yet" during an interview for med school? Thank you. 🥹

[@Shemmassian]

While we're not sure about the question you're thinking of, we recommend a different approach. For instance, if asked about your plans 5 or 10 years from now, you could begin with something like, "This is something I look forward to actively pursuing during med school. At this point, I've been very interested in..." But no, if your interviewer asks you to "tell them about yourself," we don't recommend an "I don't know" response. ;)

[@thskgneizf4334]

Thank you for taking the time to put together this incredibly useful video!

[@thskgneizf4334]

Thanks for all your efforts and advice. Do you have any videos on how to apply for residency or guides for it?

[@Shemmassian]

We do! You can check them out here: www.shemmassianconsulting.com/blog/category/Medical+Residency