Medical School Interviewing Workshop AMSA - 5 points (Academic/Workshop) November 19, 2015

Workshop Format - Speed Friending Review basic facts about TAMHSC and UTHSCSA Practice Questions Group A and Group B 1) Discuss things to keep in mind 2) 3 min (90 sec/person) - answer question 3) review good/bad answers 4) Switch groups and repeat :)

Rules for Workshop Shake hands at the start Thank the “interviewer” at the conclusion of the “interview” Act as if you have never met Be open and honest Constructively criticize the answers NO JUDGEMENT ZONE. What is said here stays here. This includes information about personal hardships, grades, or anything personal that is shared with you.

General Tips Yes: Maintain good posture Sustain eye contact Be sincere and show your passion Talk slowing and enunciate clearly Prepare beforehand Be polite (Yes ma’am, yes sir) Thank them for their time Shake hand firmly Avoid: “like,” “uhm,” and “you know.” fidgeting, playing with hair, and other extraneous movements. “Do you know what I mean?” and “Does that make sense.” Say instead, “Did I answer your question?”

Texas A&M Health Sciences Center What are they known for?

TAMHSC Quick Facts Location: Bryan/College Station, Texas (main campus) Class Size: Applications Received: 2898 Total Interviewed: 865 Acceptances Offered: 447 Matriculated Students: 200 Tuition: Resident: $16,432 Non-resident: $29,532 Averages GPA: 3.72 MCAT: 30 USMLE Pass Rate/Mean Score: Step %/ 229; Step %/236 GREAT Student Academic Support 1-on-1 consultation, USMLE Prep, study skills, test-taking strategies, test analysis, Stress Management Strategies, regular seminars, Academic Success Plans, Content Peer Review Large military presence

Different Tracks Bryan/College Station College Station Medical Center, Scott & White Hospital - College Station, St. Joseph Health System, The Physician’s Centre Dallas Baylor University Medical Center, Cook Children’s Hospital, Timberlawn Mental Health System Round Rock/Austin Dell Children’s Medical Center, Lone Star Circle of Care, Scott & White Hospital - Round Rock, Seton Medical Center Williamson, St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center, Austin State Hospital Houston Houston Methodist Hospital Temple Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Temple

TAMHSC Curriculum 1.5 years pre-clerkship, 2.5 years clerkship Self-contained blocks Patient Encounters Foundational Medicine for first 8 months, organ blocks for last 8 months Optional classes, mandatory labs Built in Opportunity Time Special Programs A&M Integrated Medicine Track (AIM) Medical Spanish Immersion in Costa Rica Dual Degree Programs MD/Ph.D MD/MPH MD/MS (Master of Science) MD/MS (Master of Science in Education for Healthcare Professionals) MS/MBA Grading Scale: H/P/F H = top 15% of class for pre-clerkship, top 20% for clerkship

CSIE: Clinical Synthesis and Integration Exercises - small group, Team-based learning

A&M Integrated Medicine Program (AIM) For students who are on the Bryan/College Station track Great for those interested in primary care Longitudinal integrated clerkships, allows for continuous exposure to different specialties Built in Opportunity Time Each week you go to: Family Medicine OB/GYN Surgery Psychiatry Pediatrics Emergency Department Internal Medicine Sample Schedule:

University of Texas Health Sciences Center San Antonio What are they known for?

UTHSCSA Quick Facts Location: San Antonio, Texas Class Size: 220 Tuition: Resident: $17,133 Non-resident: $31,540 Averages GPA: 3.6 MCAT: 30 USMLE Pass Rate/Mean Score: 95%, 225 Residency Match Rate: 97% Affiliated Hospitals: University Hospital, Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital, University Family Health Center

UTHSCSA Curriculum CIRCLE curriculum- Curricular Integration: Researchers, Clinicians, Leaders, Educators Pre-Clinical Component: taught in sequential systems-based learning modules( 9 organ systems) and two longitudinal modules (language of medicine and clinical skills) Third Year Clinical Component: core clerkships 6-12 week blocks per clerkship electives-explore specialties or engage in research Fourth Year Clinical Component: students learn additional specialties or return to a core specialty with additional responsibility 8 weeks of selectives, 18 weeks of electives, 5 weeks of didactics, and 10 weeks of vacation (USMLE prep, interviews) Grading Scale: Honors, A, B, C, D, F

UTHSCSA Curriculum

Interview Questions! There may be repeats, but this is great practice!

Interview Day Formats TAMHSC - LONG day Day before: dinner with current students. Breakfast, lunch (provided by military programs) - discussions with current students presentation about TAMHSC & Academic Support Tour of Teaching Hospital - Scott & White Campus Tour, BRAND-NEW anatomy lab, LRC Army/Navy Presentations Student Panel Diversity and Curriculum Presentations Interviews minute interviews UTHSCSA breakfast and lunch provided - discussions with current students Introduction to UTHSCSA Senior medical student panel University Hospital and campus tour 2 30-minute interviews in the library

Keep in Mind... Be relaxed The interviewers truly do want to get to know you. Have several things to reference for questions for when you draw a blank Ex: meaningful leadership, service, personal experiences, etc. Some interviewers have your entire application and others have only your essays.

**Why medicine? They may have your personal statement, but they want to know that the person on paper is the person you are in real life. Or they have your personal statement and just want to clarify or learn more. Be open, honest, and share your experiences. Stay genuine. DO NOT LIE! They will be able to tell. Don’t say, “to help people” or “I love science” or “doctors make a lot of money” - go deeper and figure out why Show that you have thought about your future. Which field? Why? Specific experiences, people you know, etc. How do you skills fit with that field? Make sure you know that this could change as you go through medical school.

**Explain your/you family member’s experience with ___ (medical condition) as if I were your medical colleague. Now explain it as if I am your patient’s child. Discussion with colleague: show you did your research about the conditions you or someone close to you dealt with show that you understand treatment plans from the physician’s perspective Discussion with child: show that you truly understand the condition because you can use more simply words and still get the point across shows your empathy and ability to break bad news to a patient I LOVED this question!

**Tell me about an experience you had with a physician that you really enjoyed. Talk about clinical experiences (jobs, shadowing, etc) Do not violate HIPAA Why did you enjoy it? learned a lot about medicine had a “click moment” where you realized you wanted to be in healthcare learned about the life of a physician developed a relationship with a mentor literally anything else

**Tell me about an experience you had with a physician that you didn’t enjoy. What would you have done differently? Talk about clinical experiences (jobs, shadowing, etc) Do not violate HIPAA Specify why would didn’t like it - how it made you feel, the reactions you saw in the other staff members/in the patient Show that you have thought about ways to improve that interaction and how you would handle a similar one in the future.

**Would you perform plastic surgery on a child in order for him/her to look more “normal” and to have a more “normal” life? Devil’s advocate question Whatever you choose, just stick to your guns! - be confident and show that you can hold your ground

**How do you feel about your MCAT score/grade in ___ class? Are you happy with it? Opportunity to explain specific negative circumstances that caused a bad grade/less than stellar MCAT score DO NOT BLAME OTHERS! Use this to show that you have changed since ___ class and in the next class you did much better. Turn a bad grade into a strength - you learned from it, learned how to study, etc.

**What has been your favorite and least favorite class at Baylor? You don’t have to choose a “pre-med” class Favorite class example reasons: class that was difficult but taught you study skills class that allowed you to explore a passion, discover skills, work off stress class where you met your BFF/mentor Least Favorite Class: don’t say because it was hard or because the teacher gave you a bad grade Show what you learned by the fact that you didn’t enjoy that class needed to change majors needed to switch to your pre-health field

**What are you most proud of in your college career? Look for specific examples that show your passion and show what you would bring that is unique to the medical school class. Choose topics that you haven’t discussed yet or use this as an opportunity to elaborate on a previously discussed topic. Examples: An organization or event that you started A service event you have continuously attended A time when you helped someone Maintaining good grades while working, etc.

Which part of the interview day did you enjoy most? Shows you were paying attention Use this to show the reasons why you are interested in the school

Tell me more about ___ from your application. This gives you an opportunity to elaborate on things that you wrote about in your personal statement. Be sure to review your application before your interview so that you remember everything

Where did you grow up? What kind of education do your parents have? Question-guided “tell me about yourself.” They may ask about: family, where you grew up what you enjoyed in high school how you became interested in medicine Baylor, your major (why you chose it), experiences while at Baylor what you do for fun