Interviewing

Here are some possible topics that may be covered in your interview, but there can also be many others.  

• How your interest in the profession developed.
• Your personal strengths.
• Experiences related to the profession.
• Additional experiences.
• Your academic preparation (major, significant courses, any special factors that have affected your record).
• Your personal interests.
• Extracurricular activities.
• Research.
• Honors and awards.
• Knowledge about health care and ethical issues in health care today.

Be ready to discuss the above topics in depth. 

• Be on time. Ten minutes is even better to get relaxed beforehand. However, don’t arrive/log-in more than 20 minutes early.
• Dress appropriately and professionally, even in a virtual interview. Think of appropriate attire for a job interview.
• If in-person, shake hands firmly and introduce yourself clearly.
• For virtual interviews, make sure your equipment is working and you have a quiet, non-distracting background. But don't panic if something goes wrong! How you handle the unexpected can also display your positive traits. 
• Do not stop at “yes”or “no” as an answer. Volunteer as much information as you can so you can tell what you want the interviewer to hear. Change the direction of the questions in the way you want to go. Interviewers prefer outgoing personalities which means willingness to initiate information.
• Do not be afraid of silence. Take time to think carefully about your answer, even if you pause a few seconds between statements. Collect ideas and be thoughtful.
• Maintain eye contact with the interviewer.
• Watch posture and avoid fidgeting! 
• Be prepared to discuss anything that is on your application. But also do not assume that the interviewer has read over your entire application. Every school can have different policies on how much information is given to the interviewers. 
• Research common interview questions, but also prepare for how you might handle something unexpected.
• Sometimes it is better to decline to give an opinion on the spot—it won’t be impressive to give a manufactured opinion or a cliché. It's also okay to say that you're not sure, or that you don't have enough information to fully answer. Don't pretend you know more than you do. 
• Better not to over rehearse the answers to probable questions. You want it to sound natural and in the moment, not like a robot. 
• Be confident, be able to handle difficult situations.
• Be honest, calm, composed and sincere.
• The person will most likely ask you about anything unique to you or your application, so review your application beforehand.
• It is as important HOW you say things as WHAT you say—how sure you are of yourself, how you conduct a conversation, etc.
• Another tactic is to ask indirectly, or talk around a subject. Also, you may be asked to place yourself in a hypothetical situation and to describe what you would do, e.g., when facing a crisis.
• ALWAYS think about your answer first; compose your thoughts. This will not only improve your ability to answer rationally, but it will show your command of the situation.
• You are not expected to arrive at the best POSSIBLE answer, but you should be able to provide a reasonable one without showing excessive strain.
• After the formal interview, ask questions about the school. You should be familiar with the school. Read their website thoroughly. Then you can answer (intelligently) your opinions on the school.
• After you receive one acceptance, be selective about interviews—go only to those that truly interest you—saves everyone’s time and effort.

• Interview information from the Career Design Center.
• AAMC Virtual Interview Tips