Mastering Ethics and Judgement Questions in Med School Interviews
Navigating ethical questions in a med school interview can be challenging, but with the right preparation, you can confidently tackle even the most sensitive questions.
Today, we're diving into key ethics questions that you're likely to encounter and providing you with expert tips to help you stand out.
Here are the questions and our top tips:
- What is the biggest problem facing healthcare today?
- Why They Ask: To gauge your awareness of current healthcare issues and your ability to discuss them thoughtfully.
- Rob's Tip: Stay updated on recent healthcare issues. Show you have a good level of knowledge and can discuss topics tactfully.
- Ryan's Tip: Reference outside sources and past discussions with professionals.
- Ethics questions (e.g., What do you think about abortion?)
- Why They Ask: To assess how tactfully you can discuss sensitive issues and see multiple perspectives.
- Ryan's Tip: Use conditional statements to avoid black-and-white answers. Acknowledge what you don't know.
- Rob's Tip: Show you can handle sensitive issues with tact and see multiple perspectives.
- Why do you want to be a physician?
- Why They Ask: Although this question primarily explores your motivations and strengths, it often touches on ethical considerations as well. Interviewers want to understand the ethical motivations behind your desire to pursue such a demanding profession and how you view your role in addressing public health issues.
- Ryan's Tip: Be authentic and articulate. Avoid lengthy, tangential stories.
- Rob's Tip: Have a short and long version of your answer depending on the vibe and format of the interview. Focus on a combination of intellectual stimulation, emotional fulfillment, and personal fit.
4. Why should we accept you?
- Why They Ask: This question isn't just about your qualifications—it's also an opportunity to discuss how your unique perspectives and experiences contribute to the ethical diversity of the medical profession. Interviewers want to know how you can bring a fresh perspective to patient care and ethical decision-making.
- Ryan's Tip: Think of it as a diversity question. Highlight unique perspectives or experiences and their value to your future patients, classmates, and colleagues.
- Rob's Tip: Reiterate your strong points and how they give you important insights into medicine and its challenges. It's okay to repeat significant experiences already mentioned.
By preparing thoughtful, well-rounded answers to these ethics questions, you'll not only demonstrate your knowledge, but also your ability to navigate complex issues with care and consideration.
Best of luck with your interview preparation!
- Ryan