Interviewing for Medical, Dental, and Health Professional School Applicants 

Core competencies: 

The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) defines 17 competencies for entering medical students across three categories: professional, science, and thinking/reasoning. Dental and other health professions use different frameworks but assess similar qualities.  

In interviews, professional competencies drive most questions — empathy, ethical responsibility, resilience, teamwork, service orientation, and self-awareness (which the AAMC defines as reflecting on personal assumptions and considering alternative viewpoints, not simply knowing your strengths and weaknesses). Have concrete examples ready for each. 

Clinical experience: 

Schools expect you to understand what the profession actually entails. Be prepared to discuss what you observed during shadowing or clinical volunteering, how it shaped your understanding of the field, and specific moments that affected you. Your exposure doesn’t need to be extensive, but it should show genuine familiarity. 

Knowledge of current issues: 

Demonstrate awareness of challenges facing healthcare: access and disparities, insurance and managed care, ethical dilemmas (end-of-life care, resource allocation, informed consent), provider burnout, and regulatory changes relevant to your field. You don’t need all the answers — showing you’ve engaged with the landscape signals serious interest. 

Motivation and fit: 

Articulate why this profession specifically, what aspects of the work appeal to you, what you hope to contribute, and why this particular school fits your goals. “I want to help people” isn’t enough — connect your motivations to specific experiences and a clear vision for your career. 

Know your application inside out. Revisit everything in your AMCAS, AADSAS, or equivalent application. For every experience listed, be ready to explain: 

• why it matters to you,  

• what you learned, and  

• how it connects to your goals.  

If you completed a Committee Letter Interview, make sure you can answer all those questions confidently. 

Research each school deeply. Spend real time on each school’s website. Understand their: 

• mission,  

• curriculum structure,  

• clinical placements,  

• board pass rates,  

• research expectations, and  

• patient populations served.  

Be prepared with 4–5 specific reasons why this school — not just why healthcare. 

Find a mentor. Ask your Prehealth Office to connect you with an alum at your target school. A brief conversation with someone who’s been through the interview and is in the program can sharpen your preparation significantly. 

Practice aloud. Record yourself answering questions using Big Interview (select “Custom” → “Medicine” for healthcare-specific prompts). Watch it back — are you concise, confident, and genuine? Then schedule a practice interview with a Career Counselor for experienced feedback. 

Questions to expect: 

• Why this profession? Why this school? 

• Tell me about yourself. Tell me about your hobbies. 

• What’s the most meaningful thing you learned from [something in your application]? 

• Describe a time you failed. 

• If you don’t get in anywhere, what will you do? 

• Where do you see yourself in 20 years? 

One-on-one interview: A single interviewer asks you questions in a conversational format. Focus on building rapport and letting your personality come through. 

Panel interview: Multiple interviewers — faculty, students, or staff — question you simultaneously. Use their names, make eye contact with each person (or connect with a Career Counselor to learn alternatives that fit your cultural background), and tailor questions to their roles. 

Multi-Mini Interview (MMI): You rotate through 6–10 timed stations (typically 2 minutes to read a prompt, then 6–8 minutes to respond). Stations may involve only an interviewer or include an actor in a role-play scenario. Expect ethical dilemmas, hypothetical challenges, and interpersonal situations. Think through both sides of any issue, show your reasoning and values rather than jumping to a conclusion, and read the prompt carefully — those two minutes matter. 

Group interview: Multiple candidates are interviewed together through individual questions or group problem-solving exercises. Schools are watching how you collaborate: Do you listen? Do you build on others’ ideas or compete with them? Show genuine interest in your peers’ perspectives — don’t try to dominate. 

Respond in a timely manner. When invited to interview, accept promptly. Schools note your responsiveness. 

Dress professionally. Consider wearing a suit or blazer in a conservative color (navy, charcoal, black, gray) with closed-toe shoes and minimal accessories. Bring comfortable shoes if you’ll be touring campus. 

Plan your travel carefully. Book flights and accommodations early, arrive the day before if possible, and build in buffer time, you cannot be late. Know your route from the airport or hotel to the school. 

Pay attention during tours. Notice the facilities, how students interact, and the overall feel of the campus. These impressions matter when deciding where you actually want to spend the next four years. 

Send personalized thank-you notes. Within 24 hours, email or handwrite a note to each interviewer. Reference something specific from your conversation — a program detail they shared, a topic you discussed — and connect it to your interest in the school. Generic thank-yous don’t help you. 

If the school is your top choice, say so. Many schools ask directly. Be honest — if they’re your first choice, state it clearly. If they’re not, don’t claim otherwise.