Brainstorm. Now is the time to make several lists. Make a list of the reasons you want to be a doctor or pharmacist, and list your strengths and weaknesses. For example, are you an excellent listener, making you an ideal candidate for patient care? Do you excel at organization skills, making you a productive student? List relevant extracurricular activities as well.
Sift through your lists to figure out what exactly you bring to the table. Preparing for medical school or pharmacy school interviews is kind of like mining. Here though, you are searching for the qualities to substantiate your candidacy, carry you through medical school and contribute to your becoming an excellent practitioner. List the best information about yourself in point form.
List the experiences that have enriched your character and have prepared you for the medical or pharmaceutical field. For example, perhaps you volunteered in a nursing home during your early college years and took a keen interest in geriatric medicine. You want your interviewers to know that you have some sort of plan for your professional life.
Be prepared for medical ethics questions at the interview, particularly when interviewing for medical school. Many interviewers will bring up questions about a sensitive issue, such as euthanasia, preventative medicine or immigrant healthcare. Do not prepare answers that you feel are socially acceptable. Be prepared to offer your own beliefs, but you should be able to support your answer.
Know the school. You are not applying to this school at random — or at least this is not the impression that you want to convey. Be prepared to discuss your particular interests in this school, such as the clinical exposure, patient population, volunteer opportunities or facilities.
Research the type of questions that are discussed at your school because the interview process varies. Some schools have undertaken the multiple mini-interview format, through which you interview several times within one visit with different relevant professionals. Look online to find previous students’ comments or talk to first and second year students at the school about their interview experience.
Practice but do not rehearse fielding interview questions. While you cannot predict the exact questions, you can rehearse and become comfortable with the interview process. Start in front of the mirror, and then practice with friends and family members. Provide a list of questions, or ask them to find fresh questions so that you can become familiar with providing unprompted answers.