Difficult Interview Questions: Learning to Hit a Curveball Out of the Park

You put your heart and soul into your compelling, charismatic personal statement; you showcased your accomplishments and drive to succeed in your activities section; and you demonstrated the endorsement of respected faculty allies in your letters of recommendation. Now your hard work has paid off and helped you get a foot in the door: You’ve been invited to interview at your dream medical school or residency program.

Like the ghost stories we told around a campfire as children, interview horror stories have a certain inexplicable staying power. I can still recall a friend’s recounting of an acquaintance’s experience in an Ivy League faculty member’s office: The acquaintance was asked to open the window, only to find (after sweating bullets for several minutes) that it was nailed shut. This trick was allegedly this professor’s cruel attempt to assess how the interviewee coped with adversity. Some weeks later, I recounted the tale to a mentor, who told me that the same story had made the rounds 20 years earlier. The power of this terrible tale faded once I recognized it for the myth it was. This ability to demystify the medical school or residency interview is crucial to framing it as an opportunity for showcasing your strengths. Read more...

Women, Make Sure you Practice Before Heading off to your Medical School and Residency Interviews

I found this article about the need for women to be seen as warm in order to be seen as confident troubling, but it's worth noting the facts so that you can strategize accordingly. Previously, these authors published data that women tended to rate their abilities accurately, while men tended to be overconfident about theirs. All of this is to say, that women (and men!) need to practice interview skills prior to the big day. Growth mindset and power posing are also important concepts to review before you interview. 

Medical School and Residency Interviews - Power Posing

As medical school and residency interviews approach, I want to remind everyone about Amy Cuddy, the Harvard faculty member who speaks about the psychology of power, influence, and nonverbal communication. Her research shows that a "fake it until you make it" philosophy and "power posing" practices improve your performance in interviews. Cuddy's TED talk has been viewed over 42 million times.

NRMP® Data Suggests Residency Applicants Should Apply Broadly

In their publication Impact of Length of Rank Order List on Main Residency Match Outcome:2002-2016, the NRMP reports that matched applicants consistently have longer rank order lists than unmatched applicants.

What that means to those approaching the residency application process is that candidates should throw a wide net in choosing programs at which to apply. Of course, there is a cost to this strategy, and that expense needs to be balanced. However, if you can afford it, starting out with more options usually will provide more opportunities to interview and thus, the ability to create a longer rank order list.