E303 University admission interview

Interviewer: Hello Harry.

Harry:  Sorry I’m late [Example of behavior that creates bad first impression]

Interviewer: No. Thanks for coming. It’s good to meet you.

Harry: You too.

Interviewer:  So, first of all, can you tell me about yourself, please?

Harry: [Example of bad answer] Well, my name is Harry, 18 years old. Currently doing my A-levels at the moment. I’m doing pretty well actually.  And, yeah, I like to be a doctor when I’m older

Interviewer: First of all, can you tell us a little bit about yourself please?

Harry: [Good answer] Sure my name is Harry. I’m eighteen years old and I’m currently studying Biology, Chemistry and Maths at school. As you are aware, I hope to pursue a career in medicine.

Interviewer: So, why do you want to be a doctor, and what would you like to achieve in medicine?

Harry: [Bad answer] Ah well, everyone in my family is a doctor, so I think it just follows on nicely that I am too, really. I think I’d be a great doctor, to be honest. I’ve got great people skills.

Yeah, I’d also like to be a director, have a nice big salary for myself.

Interviewer : OK.  Thank you.

Interviewer:  [Repeating the question, followed by the good answer] Why do you want to be a doctor? And what do you hope to achieve in medicine?

Harry: [Good answer] Well, I’ve done a lot of work experience in many different areas, for example the local hospital radio, I’ve done some volunteer work on the wards there, and also at the Jersey Hospice, and the Cheshire Holmes. In everything I did there, I saw patients in their environment and doctors working alongside them in the multidisciplinary team that they have. It was absolutely fascinating, and everything I did there just really made me want to continue my research and be successful in getting a place at Medical School

Interviewer : So, apart from treating patients, Harry, what do you think being a doctor is going to entail?

Harry: [Bad answer] Well, it’s a lot of paperwork obviously, not really looking forward to that at all, to be honest. I think it’s a bit of a faff. But, yeah, there is a bedside manner part as well. I suppose. Yeah.

Harry:  [Good answer] Well, obviously,  the treatment is very important part, but alongside that you also need to very academic and very studious to keep up-to-date with the constantly changing and evolving field that you are in. You also have to be an excellent communicator with your team and with the patients.

Interviewer: What steps have you taken to really find out that you want to be a doctor?

Harry:  I’ve done a lot of work experience and volunteer work. Yeah.

Interviewer : OK. Harry moving on to more of an ethical question. Do you think NHS (National Health Service)  doctors and staff should be looking after private patients?

Harry:  [Bad answer] Uh…umm…I’m not really sure actually. Umm… I don’t know, maybe yeah.

Interviewer : Do you think NHS doctors and staff should be treating private patients?

Harry: [Good answer] Well, it is a vey hotly debated topic. Is it right for private patients to have priority over the NHS patients who are not paying? That’s something which needs to be thought about a little bit. At current it seems that the overall consensus is that yes, they are allowed to have precedence over non-paying patients. But however the NHS will benefit from this, as they will receive the extra costs that the private patients have to pick up then.

Interviewer : Can you perhaps tell me about some significant advances you’ve read about in science or in medicine?

Harry:  [Bad answer] Well there’s been a lot really, hasn’t there? Lots of stuff. Read everyday in the newspapers.

Harry:  [Good answer] I recently have read a study on a cancer drug named “Cetuximab” which is a really interesting thing, just the action of it on the body. However, it has been found that the tumors actually become resistant toward Cituximab, and that is a very interesting field of research in oncology that really interested me recently.

Interviewer : Can you give an example of a situation where you have supported a friend in difficult circumstances, and what issue they faced and how you helped them?

Harry:  Sorry, could you repeat the question?

Interviewer : OK, Harry, any question for us?

Harry: [Bad answer] Umm… Nope. No, I don’t think so, no..

Harry:  I was wondering, do you encourage students to take rotations abroad