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medicine interview help

I am applying for medicine, If I mention in my personal statement I am head of the school's genetics society for example (a dead society with a token "head position" for med applicants), will they question me on that in my interview? and what sort of questions could I expect?

Reply 1

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Original post
by hp49
I am applying for medicine, If I mention in my personal statement I am head of the school's genetics society for example (a dead society with a token "head position" for med applicants), will they question me on that in my interview? and what sort of questions could I expect?

Hiya,
Most universities don't look at your personal statement, so most likely you will be fine. Always have a think of what you might say though, as you never know.
Unis will differ greatly in what they ask, but its always recommended that you have think about issues going on within the health community and within the NHS, personal qualities which you think would make you a great doctor with examples to back this and why that university specifically.

Hope this helps!

Reply 3

Original post
by SomehowAMedic
Hiya,
Most universities don't look at your personal statement, so most likely you will be fine. Always have a think of what you might say though, as you never know.
Unis will differ greatly in what they ask, but its always recommended that you have think about issues going on within the health community and within the NHS, personal qualities which you think would make you a great doctor with examples to back this and why that university specifically.
Hope this helps!
Tysm for the advice! Do uni's not care about personal statements? I've heard they thoroughly examine you one them?

Reply 4

Anything you write in your personal statement is fair game and you may be questioned about it.

If they ask you about your interests then you would logically talk about an interest in genetics. If a candidate wasn't able to respond with some actual examples to demonstrate their interest, I'd be suspicious they weren't genuinely interested in a particular subject.

Find which research projects a particular University is involved in and research that particular field over time so you have some background knowledge if you are asked to discuss your medical interests.

Answers in medical interviews go best where you can evidence and support individual statements. Saying: 'I am interested in genetics' might outwardly be true but it looks more convincing if a person was to say 'I am interested in genetics, I tried to expand on this by becoming a member of the genetics society at school but I've also been reading about the research that has been on-going here at the University of X under Professor Y where they are using gene therapies to treat condition Z in knock-out mice'.

The second statement shows me as an interviewer this person isn't merely saying things to score in interview, they've thought about it a lot and gone to quite some lengths to research our University and the work that is being done here.

Be open to follow on questions. Suppose I am one of your interviewers and I am an intensive care nurse. I have no idea what knock out mice are or which condition you have mentioned or the clinical application of the research you have described. it is therefore logical that interviewers might ask a follow on question about these things. It's not trying to trip you up: it's an opportunity to shine.

I've written a lot of generalised interview advice on other threads also.

Reply 5

Original post
by ErasistratusV
Anything you write in your personal statement is fair game and you may be questioned about it.
If they ask you about your interests then you would logically talk about an interest in genetics. If a candidate wasn't able to respond with some actual examples to demonstrate their interest, I'd be suspicious they weren't genuinely interested in a particular subject.
Find which research projects a particular University is involved in and research that particular field over time so you have some background knowledge if you are asked to discuss your medical interests.
Answers in medical interviews go best where you can evidence and support individual statements. Saying: 'I am interested in genetics' might outwardly be true but it looks more convincing if a person was to say 'I am interested in genetics, I tried to expand on this by becoming a member of the genetics society at school but I've also been reading about the research that has been on-going here at the University of X under Professor Y where they are using gene therapies to treat condition Z in knock-out mice'.
The second statement shows me as an interviewer this person isn't merely saying things to score in interview, they've thought about it a lot and gone to quite some lengths to research our University and the work that is being done here.
Be open to follow on questions. Suppose I am one of your interviewers and I am an intensive care nurse. I have no idea what knock out mice are or which condition you have mentioned or the clinical application of the research you have described. it is therefore logical that interviewers might ask a follow on question about these things. It's not trying to trip you up: it's an opportunity to shine.
I've written a lot of generalised interview advice on other threads also.

ty for the advice! I'll keep it in mind😁
Original post
by hp49
Tysm for the advice! Do uni's not care about personal statements? I've heard they thoroughly examine you one them?

Which uni is this for? Most really dont look at them with a few exceptions (like oxbridge).
All of mine didnt (somewhat unfortunately as I loved my PS) and they were quite open about it. They even said at the beggining of my interview that the interviewers were blind to my application and that none of the questions would be based on my PS.
Again though, no harm to have a quick think about what you could say in the possibility that they always could ask- not worth risking it in case they do!

Reply 7

Original post
by SomehowAMedic
Which uni is this for? Most really dont look at them with a few exceptions (like oxbridge).
All of mine didnt (somewhat unfortunately as I loved my PS) and they were quite open about it. They even said at the beggining of my interview that the interviewers were blind to my application and that none of the questions would be based on my PS.
Again though, no harm to have a quick think about what you could say in the possibility that they always could ask- not worth risking it in case they do!

I'm going to be applying to a few in London, as well as to Oxford
Original post
by hp49
I'm going to be applying to a few in London, as well as to Oxford

Ohh right okay yeah Oxford is one of the exceptions. You would really need to have a look at what you would say for everything on your PS

Reply 9

If the best you have to put in your application is a token head of a dead society then you really need to get yourself organised with the real experience, voluntary work, research etc. Universities are unimpressed by lists of anything in personal statements - be they activities or work experience. They are looking for you to reflect upon experience and what you have learnt, and how that would be relevant to studying medicine.

Reply 10

Original post
by hp49
I'm going to be applying to a few in London, as well as to Oxford

I wouldn't put this on your PS - it is meaningless. If I was your referee I'd make you remove it.
(edited 1 month ago)

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