Medical School Interview Questions

8th June 2023

So you’ve made it to the interview stage. Congratulations, just one final hurdle to overcome before you can start your career in medicine.The medical school interview. The format in the UK can vary slightly between universities, but generally, it consists of a panel interview conducted by faculty members, doctors, and sometimes current medical students. The interview aims to assess your suitability for a career in medicine by evaluating your communication skills, critical thinking abilities, ethical awareness, and motivation to study medicine. While the specific questions asked may vary, here are some examples of the types of questions you might encounter during a medical school interview in the UK:

  1. Personal and Motivational Questions:
    • Why do you want to study medicine? What experiences have influenced your decision? How have you prepared yourself?
    • What qualities do you possess that would make you a good doctor?
  2. Ethical and Situational Questions:
    • Describe a situation where you faced an ethical dilemma. How did you handle it?
    • How would you prioritize patients in a resource-limited setting? What would you do if you made a medical error?
    • How would you approach delivering bad news to a patient or their family?
  3. Communication and Interpersonal Skills:
    • Describe a time when you effectively communicated with someone from a different background.
    • How do you handle difficult patients or colleagues?
    • How would you break down complex medical information to a patient with limited health literacy?
    • Give an example of a teamwork experience that demonstrates your ability to collaborate effectively.
  4. Knowledge and Understanding of Medicine:
    • What challenges do you anticipate facing during medical school?
    • Discuss a recent medical news article that caught your attention.
    • How do you stay up to date with medical advancements and research?
    • Describe a medical condition or procedure that interests you and why.
  5. Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking:
    • How do you approach solving complex problems or making decisions under pressure?
    • Give an example of a time when you adapted your thinking to a new or unexpected situation.
    • How would you handle a patient who disagrees with your recommended treatment plan?
    • How do you manage your time and prioritize tasks in a high-pressure environment?
  6. Empathy and Patient-Centered Care:
    • Describe a situation where you demonstrated empathy towards a patient or person in need.
    • How would you ensure equitable healthcare for patients from diverse backgrounds?
    • What steps would you take to develop a strong doctor-patient relationship?
    • How do you handle patients who are anxious or frightened about their medical condition?
  7. Professionalism and Integrity:
    • What does professionalism mean to you as a medical student and future doctor?
    • How do you handle situations where your personal beliefs conflict with a patient’s needs?
    • Discuss a time when you witnessed unprofessional behavior in a healthcare setting. How did you respond?
    • How would you maintain patient confidentiality in the era of electronic health records and social media?
  8. Health Policy and Public Health:
    • What role should doctors play in advocating for public health initiatives?
    • Discuss a prevalent health issue and propose strategies to address it.
    • How would you contribute to reducing health disparities and improving healthcare access?
    • What are your thoughts on the balance between individual patient autonomy and public health measures?
  9. Self-Reflection and Personal Growth:
    • Describe a challenging experience or setback and how it influenced your personal development.
    • How do you handle stress and maintain well-being while studying medicine?
    • Discuss a time when you received feedback and incorporated it into your growth.
    • How will you address weaknesses or gaps in your knowledge or skills before starting medical school?
  10. Medical Ethics and Decision-Making:
    • What ethical principles are essential for a doctor to uphold?
    • Describe a medical case where you had to consider ethical implications of treatment options.
    • How do you handle conflicts between patient autonomy and the patient’s best interest?
    • Discuss a controversial medical issue and present arguments from different perspectives.
  11. Critical Evaluation and Research Skills:
    • How do you assess the reliability and validity of medical research studies?
    • Describe a research project you were involved in and its impact on your understanding of medicine.
    • How would you communicate research findings to patients to help them make informed decisions?
    • Discuss a medical intervention or treatment that has raised ethical or scientific debates.
  12. Future Goals and Specialization:
    • What area of medicine interests you most and why?
    • How do you plan to contribute to medical research or advancements in your chosen field?
    • What steps will you take during medical school to explore different specialties and make an informed career choice?
    • How do you envision your role as a doctor evolving in the future?

Remember to prepare and practice your responses to these questions, considering your own experiences and perspectives. Good luck with your medical school interview!