How to Answer Any Medical School Interview Question

If you look up tips for how to answer medical school interview questions, you'll find a bunch of different techniques and frameworks to follow. One of the most popular is the STAR technique. Today I'm talking about why you SHOULDN'T follow these frameworks—and what to do instead.

If you like these videos, check out my book all about the medical school interview on Amazon:

When going into your medical school interview, it's important that you remember the purpose of the interview, which we covered a few videos back. The purpose is to connect with your interviewer, have a conversation, and allow them to get to know YOU. It's not to sell yourself or pitch your skills.

And this point leads directly to today's topic: Should you use frameworks like the STAR technique for answering your med school interview questions?

STAR stands for situation, task, action, result. It's a framework for answering behavioral questions in all types of interviews. But I don't recommend using it, as an interviewee. Because it will most likely distract you from your most important goal—authentically connecting with the interviewer.

Remember, the medical school is interviewing YOU, not the STAR technique.

So drop the frameworks for how to answer med school interview questions. Be you. Be authentic. Share YOUR thoughts, experiences, and interpretations. Forget about the frameworks.

You want the med school interview to be a coffee shop conversation. Would you use the STAR technique when chatting with your friend in a coffee shop conversation? No, you would just genuinely and authentically share your thoughts in the most natural, authentic way that made sense.

When you are answering authentically, you can handle any question the interviewer throws at you: Just pause to think about the question, and then answer.

Also, you don't need to know all the laws and details about medical ethics in order to answer interview questions about them. You can share your thoughts and ideas without claiming to already be a physician who is prepared to act in all of these scenarios.

Way too many interviewers walk out of the med school interview not knowing who the student is. All they know is that you gave a canned answer or you regurgitated back some parts of your CV using the STAR technique.

The more rehearsed, frameworked, and scripted your answers are, the more barriers you are putting up between you and the interviewer. You want to CONNECT with the interviewer (and everyone else there) on your interview day. You want to come across like a real person.

Another point: Don't be afraid of silence. Don't be afraid of asking for more information. It's okay to say "I need a moment to think about it." This allows you to take your time and be concise, instead of just bouncing around between different threads of ideas.

Again, drop the frameworks. Be present. Have a real conversation. Be willing to pause and think about your answers before starting. Do this, and you will be able to answer any question they throw at you, and authentically, too.

[christopherlane]

This advice lines up very well with my experience. I left an interview worried that I came across as arrogant because I disagreed with the interviewers on several topics. I’m coming from an IT career where being willing and able to dissent / raise concerns is a critical thing I’m valued for. I was worried that I was too ‘myself’ with people who are used to being shown a lot of deference. Be respectful, and open to hearing new data / arguments, but don’t try to be who you think they want. I was myself with no schema for answers, and that school’s acceptance packet was in my mailbox 7 days after the interview.

[efenyves]

My best interview was during my second cycle and I did no "preparation" whatsoever. Maybe don't do this for your first interview ever, but the point is preconceived answers sound terrible and they sniff them out everytime. Be you and you'll be fine!

[elisavaezazizi]

All your interviews videos are so helpful!! I’m very worried about the interview process and these videos have helped so much!

[nicolemountz]

I felt truly inspired in the last part of the video when you were telling me to just be myself and the ambient, soft, relaxing music was playing in the background! LOL...Could have shed a tear of joy! LOL But seriously, thanks for the continually great content! I believe I've gotten multiple interviews because of you advice for filling out AMCAS and work/life experiences! Truly great stuff!

[ForsakenForWhat]

Thank you so much! This is great. Sometimes I think it is easy to get caught up in the whole end-goal of being a doctor and changing lives, and not really focus on what is actually going on around you in that room.

[leoartemis]

Really really helpful THANK YOU SO MUCHHH

[amydebra]

What happens if the medical school doesn’t like who you are as a person?

[Killavilla]

What’s your advice for approaching the VITA interviews for this cycle? Would you approach it the same way even though there is no dialogue, or would you approach it differently?

[kirtanpatel]

Just be yourself and answer the question. boom that's it.

[AverageMED]

What do you think the balance is between getting a medical job that pays well versus a medical job that doesn't pay well but learn alot? I need something for 3 months before I go really into a full time MA or clinical job

[Estrellas.Corner]

This video is probably the one thing I needed to hear right now.
I have an interview with a Postbac Director tomorrow and have been racking my brain on how to best do the interview. I’ve always “winged it” by just being myself, but somehow, I feel like I need to be more or better for med school.
A little reassurance was well needed 👍🏽🤞🏽

[tshum]

I’d love to see a video about the application process for athletes in the major D1 sports (football, basketball). No one ever addresses it, but the unanswered questions discourage a lot of us from pursuing medical school.

[lukearney]

Hi,

I currently am deciding between a top DO school and a MD school. I honestly feel as if I am a better fit for the DO school (near home/girlfriend/family) but am continually finding conflicting evidence on the match rate importance of MD vs DO... It is so natural to choose the MD program, but I wanted to see if I could garner any wisdom from your channel.

Do you have any guidance for someone like myself?

Thank you!!!

-Luke