BCN Flights

Archive for the ‘General’ Category

You probably know the cliché, “You only get one chance to make a first impression.” And given the volume of applicants that interviewers must see, the first impression is often the only impression. This means that for men, a suit, and for women, a conservative dress or suit, are mandatory. And don’t neglect grooming. Get a haircut, trim your beard, clean your fingernails, etc. We don’t mean to sound like your mom, but the informality of dorm life at college can make you forget how people dress and behave in the real world.
Before the interview, review your photocopy of the application you sent to the school. Often, interviewers will ask you to clarify or elaborate on something in your application. Chances are, you filled it out two months ago, and if you don’t review it beforehand, you probably won’t remember what the point was. This looks bad.
Also, read the catalog the school sent you. Having a little substantive knowledge about the school looks impressive.
Above all, remember to pronounce the interviewer’s name correctly, since you’ll want to say, “Thank you, Dr. Radiziewski. It’s been a pleasure speaking with you,” or whatever. No sound is more important to people than the sound of their own names. In medical school interviews and in life in general, always refer to people by their names. It makes them feel, consciously or subconsciously, important—and they’ll remember your kindness.
Being polite and personal also helps with the secretaries in the admissions office. More than one applicant has been derailed by being rude to the secretary. The secretary often attends the final admissions committee meeting, and since she has met all the applicants, she may occasionally make a negative statement—guaranteed to sink that student. No medical college wants someone who brown-noses professors and physicians while treating nurses, secretaries, and administrators with contempt. Besides, being on a first-name basis with the secretaries can help tremendously when you are curious about the status of your application.