An interviewer will use situational/hypothetical questions to establish how you would react to and handle real-life situations. For situational/hypothetical questions, candidates must have a good understanding of the profession and its requirements. Here are some examples of this type of question:

• How would you tell a patient that they can no longer drive?
• How would you handle cyber bullying?
• How would you tell parents of a 10-year old child that s/he has a brain tumour?
• A patient has been in a car accident and requires a blood transfusion, but won’t accept it because of her religious background. How will you handle this situation?
• What do you do if two of your project group members are constantly quarrelling with each other?
• One of your patients is always late for an appointment. How do you address the issue?

When answering problem-solving questions demonstrate your ability to process information quickly, think logically, and solve creatively. Interviewers place emphasis on the thought process rather than on the conclusion. Examples of problem-solving questions include the following:

• Why is a manhole cover round?
• How many automobiles are there in Toronto?
• Estimate the size of the DVD rental market in Tokyo, Japan
• How would you project the future rate of PC game purchases in Canada?
• As a physician you need to decide who should receive a liver transplant. Should it be given to a successful older community leader, or a 23-year old alcoholic?
• What approach would you take in identifying a problem and reaching a resolution?
• As a university administrator you need to make the case that smaller class sizes are a better option for students; however, your university is facing funding cuts. How will you make this case?

The key is not to worry about getting the “right” answer but, rather, to demonstrate your logical thought process in solving the problem. The following five-step process is appropriate for handling most problem-solving questions:

1. Listen carefully to what is being asked
2. Ask clarifying questions to determine exactly what the interviewer is looking for
3. Respond by first explaining how you would gather the data necessary to make an informed decision
4. Discuss how you would use that data to generate options
5. Based on the data you have gathered, the available options, and your understanding of the position, explain how you would make an appropriate decision or recommendation

Keep in mind, there is no right answer, only your answer.

In addition to asking the other types of questions mentioned, many interviewers rely on a series of standard questions, and you should prepare for them. Occasionally, classic interview questions are used in the MMI interview format as well.

Common classic questions for all interviews:

• Tell me about yourself. What brings you here today? Tell me about why you are here.
• What are your short-term goals? What about in two and five years? How are you preparing to achieve them?
• Why did you apply to this program? This school?
• What is your vision/mission statement?
• How did you prepare for this interview?
• What have been your most satisfying/disappointing experiences?
• What is your greatest accomplishment?
• What are your strengths/weaknesses?
• What kinds of problems do you handle best?
• How do you reduce stress and try to achieve balance in your life?
• What courses did you like best/least? Why?
• What did you learn or gain from your part-time/summer/co-op/internship experiences?
• Why were your grades low in one term?
• How do you spend your spare time?
• If I asked your friends to describe you, what would they say?
• What frustrates you the most?
• Why should we choose you over another applicant?
• Why should we accept you into this program?
• What will you do if not accepted into this program?

Common health-related profession classic questions:

• What is your experience in this profession? What do you know about this profession? How will this profession change in the future?
• What recommendations would you make for this profession?
• Why do you want to be a ...? (e.g., Pharmacist)
• Why do you want to be a ... and not a ...? (e.g. Why do you want to be a Doctor and not a Researcher?)
• What are the disadvantages of this profession?
• How did you prepare for the admission test?
• What was the toughest decision you have had to make in the last year? Why was it difficult?
• What is your most painful experience and how did you cope with it?
• What would you do if you saw another student cheating on an exam?
• How have you contributed to your community?
• What specialty interests you?
• Describe your clinical/hospital experiences.
• Who would you describe as your role model in pursuit of this profession?
• Of all people, dead or alive, who would you most like to have dinner with and why?
• Tell me about a book that you have read recently. Why did it interest you?

Common graduate, business, law, and teaching classic questions:

• What is your area of research?
• Describe any research project you have worked on. What was the purpose of the project, and what was your role?
• How did you hear about our program?
• Which faculty members are you interested in working with and why?
• Where else have you applied?
• Have you thought about a topic for your thesis?
• What could you do to increase your effectiveness?
• Why do you need an MBA? Why now? Why this program?
• What do you believe your greatest challenge will be if you are accepted into this program?
• Why do children misbehave?
• Why do you like working with children?
• What would you contribute to an after-school program?

While preparation is key, it is not possible to predict and prepare for all interview questions. Instead, review your résumé, application, and research the profession (current and future state). Then put information into different categories (e.g., accomplishments, understanding of profession, unique qualities, challenges/weaknesses) enabling you to provide examples as necessary.

PAWS model

The “PAWS” model is a useful method for answering classic questions such as “Tell me about yourself” and “Why do you want to be a ___________?”

When an interviewer asks this question, s/he is looking for those aspects of your life that are relevant to the profession/field, such as how you became interested in the field, related experience, and courses taken. “PAWS” stands for Profile, Academic, Work, and Skills. Include all or as many of the four (in any order) to reinforce your fit for the field/profession.

Here are some examples of what to discuss in each of the four areas:

Please read Delivering bad news stations. This type of question is found in both Standard and MMI professional school interviews.

Please read Ethical scenario stations. This type of question is found in both Standard and MMI professional school interviews

To supplement the information you obtained before the interview, you should ask questions during the interview (although you will not have this opportunity with MMI interviews). Some questions will arise naturally during the interview, but it is wise to prepare a number of questions in advance. Asking questions will demonstrate your interest and help you determine if the program/school fits your personality, skills, interests, and values.

Your questions should pertain to the program/school and show your enthusiasm and knowledge. By asking intelligent, well-thought-out questions that genuinely matter to you, you will convince the interviewer that you are serious about the program and institution. If a question has been answered during the interview, do not ask it again; such repetition will suggest that you were not listening. It is important to compose your own questions; however, the following may give you a starting point:

• What do you view as the strengths of this program?
• Will there be any changes to the curriculum? Will there be any changes in faculty members?
• What is the academic background of faculty members?
• Is the atmosphere among students competitive or co-operative?
• How is the interaction between professors and students?
• What types of research opportunities are there?
• Ask directed questions to each interviewer, for example:
  • Professional (e.g., physician, pharmacist, optometrist):
    • Physician: What is your area of specialty? Do you conduct research or teach in addition to practising medicine?
    • Pharmacist: What type of pharmacy do you work in? Are you involved in any profession-specific associations that would be helpful for me to join as a student?
    • Optometrist: What type of patients do you interact with the most? What has been the most interesting patient case?
  • Student in program: What do you wish you had known before you started this program? What has made you successful in this program?
  • Community member: There are many volunteer opportunities in this community (list a few); can you recommend one where students in this program can make a difference? Have you interacted with students from this program in any capacity?

Review professional and regulatory bodies’ websites to be familiar with the current profession, future directions, and the competencies important for someone in the field. It is important to demonstrate your genuine interest in and fit for the profession. Read the notes you made as you reviewed print and online materials, during volunteer opportunities/job shadowing, and when you talked with others. Keep current with events and new research. Many of the MMI stations will be relevant to current topics in the news, both health- and non-health related. The best way to gather this information is to follow the news, review association websites, and to speak with professionals in the field. Your interpersonal skills will be a particularly important factor in people-focused professions as you will be required to be approachable and to work closely with patients/students/clients.

To prepare for the interview, ensure that you research the faculty/program and, if appropriate, the interviewers’ areas of expertise in order to understand the nuances of each. If possible, visit the campus and talk to current students in the program, attend classes, and visit labs.

The order in which you deliver the content of your answer indicates your priorities. For example if your answer to: “Why do you want to be a doctor?” is “... to help patients, conduct research, teach” this will create a more positive impression than “... a high income, prestige, to help patients.”

If you answer a question and there is no prompt response or follow-up question, try to remain calm and collected. Silence may not be a negative sign; the interviewer could be taking time to process and record your answer, and/or be considering the next question.

In response to uncomfortable silence, ask the interviewers if they require any further details regarding your last response, shifting the responsibility to them. Resist the temptation to ramble because you may provide irrelevant information that may hurt your chances of being offered admission.

Although the interviewer will likely take notes, generally you should not. If you have your head down writing, the conversation will be uncomfortable and unengaging because of your lack of eye contact and inability to show enthusiasm.

Making brief notes is acceptable when you need to record information that may be easily forgotten, such as a key word, phone number, or contact information. If you fear you may not recall other pertinent details, document the information immediately after the interview.

You may have difficulty communicating your thoughts clearly and concisely, especially when you are not sure how to respond to a question. The key is to remain calm and positive, focus on the question, and continue to remind yourself that you are doing well. You may request clarification if you are not sure what the interviewer is asking, or pause and politely ask for a few moments to consider your response; however, don’t take too much time because interviewers want to see that you can think well under pressure.

After a brief pause, if you still cannot respond to the interviewer’s question, you may ask to defer your answer to the end of the interview. The risk is that interviews usually follow a certain structure and the question might be missed entirely, leaving the interviewer with an unanswered question. If you’re stumped because you simply do not know the answer, be honest with the interviewer and, depending on the type of question, discuss how you would handle the situation or resources you would use to find the answer.

Interviewers will often ask negatively phrased questions to assess your perceived weaknesses and strengths. The following are a few examples:

• What are your weaknesses?
• Recall a time when you made a bad decision or mistake. How did you get beyond it?
• Give me an example of a time you did not meet a deadline. How did you handle the situation?

Be honest and discuss a real weakness or past event that would not negatively impact performance for the profession/field you are applying for. Avoid the popular advice to turn a weakness into a strength (e.g., “I’m a perfectionist...”) because this kind of response is unconvincing and over used. Be sure to end your “weakness” response on a positive note by indicating what steps you are taking to overcome the weakness.

It is important to keep your answers short and to be as positive as possible, even when answering a negatively framed question.

It is a pleasure to be interviewed by someone who is enthusiastic about the profession, but it is not desirable if you aren’t able to market yourself because the interviewer monopolizes the discussion. Tactfully break into the conversation to help keep the interview focused on the subject you know best: you! You might say, “I had a similar experience...” or “It’s interesting that you say that because I am also skilled in...”

Is your body or verbal language contributing to the problem? Without being rude, offer less acknowledgement (e.g., nodding, “that’s interesting,” “really?”). If you are not given adequate time to market your qualifications and the interview is drawing to a close, request a few moments to summarize your qualifications for the profession/field, highlighting key points you had planned to discuss.

What should you do if you’re in the middle of an interview and have just been asked what is clearly an illegal question? There is no clear-cut answer. Much depends on you.

In some cases, you may be able to answer the “hidden” question. Think of what information the interviewer is trying to elicit. For example, “Do you have or plan to have children?” may indicate a concern about your ability to put in the time to complete the program.

You may elect to say “Why do you ask?” or “Would you explain how this point is connected to the qualifications for this program?” This could cause the interviewer to reconsider or clarify the question. It may offend some interviewers, but probably not the majority.

If you feel that you should not answer the question (you shouldn’t have to, after all) or that you are not interested in attending the program, you may state, “I don’t feel obligated to answer that” or “That question is inappropriate.” If you choose this option, you will either enlighten (the interviewer may not realize it is illegal and will be happy that you pointed it out), or offend (the interviewer may not consider you for the program). At some schools there is a post-interview evaluation, so a candidate can report illegal questions.

It is best not to bring up your religious beliefs in your answers. Interviewers for health-related professions could worry that when you are practising in your profession, and not being supervised, you might present different religious options to a patient and this isn’t the expected practice. As a health-care provider you need to look at things objectively and not present your own ideologies.

This is an interview where one interviewer conducts an interview with one candidate. This is typical for MBA and graduate school interviews.

For health-related interviews it is common for there to be a panel of interviewers. Often this consists of a faculty member or someone in the profession, a current student, and a community member. Each interviewer will be assessing you differently (e.g., a community member will assess if they would choose you as a professional).

Although it is important to have good eye contact with the person who asks you a question, also look at the other interviewers frequently to include them in the discussion. Try to remember each person’s name and use his or her name during the interview.

The interview process often includes meeting with current students and a tour of the site, so wear comfortable shoes.

If given the choice between an on- or off-campus interview (common for MBA), try to arrange an on-campus interview. This will give you the opportunity to talk to current students, sit in on a class, see the campus, and get a better sense whether this is the right school and location for you. However, if you are not able to attend an on-campus interview, you will not be penalized.

All of the usual advice about interview skills still applies. Your attire is your choice, but you may find that dressing professionally increases your confidence and allows you to perform better. Keep your application, school information, points that you want to highlight, and list of questions handy; in fact, keep these in front of you during the interview for easy reference. (Don’t shuffle your papers though!) Have a pen and paper available to note any comments or questions that may occur to you during the interview. Choose your words carefully and be succinct. It is also important to vary your voice tone, tempo, and pitch to keep the interviewer’s attention. Ensure that you are in a private setting to eliminate any distractions or background noise.

In this type of interview, interviewers use video technology to conduct interviews at a distance. Use the same strategies as you would if you were meeting in person. Depending on the sophistication of the technology, you may experience short transmission delays. Make eye contact with the camera, which, to the interviewer, appears as direct “eye contact.” Remember to check the monitor periodically to observe the interviewer’s body language.

After each interview, evaluate how well you did by completing the following “Interview evaluation worksheet”

An interviewer will use situational/hypothetical questions to establish how you would react to and handle real-life situations. For situational/hypothetical questions, candidates must have a good understanding of the profession and its requirements. Here are some examples of this type of question:

• How would you tell a patient that they can no longer drive?
• How would you handle cyber bullying?
• How would you tell parents of a 10-year old child that s/he has a brain tumour?
• A patient has been in a car accident and requires a blood transfusion, but won’t accept it because of her religious background. How will you handle this situation?
• What do you do if two of your project group members are constantly quarrelling with each other?
• One of your patients is always late for an appointment. How do you address the issue?

When answering problem-solving questions demonstrate your ability to process information quickly, think logically, and solve creatively. Interviewers place emphasis on the thought process rather than on the conclusion. Examples of problem-solving questions include the following:

• Why is a manhole cover round?
• How many automobiles are there in Toronto?
• Estimate the size of the DVD rental market in Tokyo, Japan
• How would you project the future rate of PC game purchases in Canada?
• As a physician you need to decide who should receive a liver transplant. Should it be given to a successful older community leader, or a 23-year old alcoholic?
• What approach would you take in identifying a problem and reaching a resolution?
• As a university administrator you need to make the case that smaller class sizes are a better option for students; however, your university is facing funding cuts. How will you make this case?

The key is not to worry about getting the “right” answer but, rather, to demonstrate your logical thought process in solving the problem. The following five-step process is appropriate for handling most problem-solving questions:

1. Listen carefully to what is being asked
2. Ask clarifying questions to determine exactly what the interviewer is looking for
3. Respond by first explaining how you would gather the data necessary to make an informed decision
4. Discuss how you would use that data to generate options
5. Based on the data you have gathered, the available options, and your understanding of the position, explain how you would make an appropriate decision or recommendation

Keep in mind, there is no right answer, only your answer.

In addition to asking the other types of questions mentioned, many interviewers rely on a series of standard questions, and you should prepare for them. Occasionally, classic interview questions are used in the MMI interview format as well.

Common classic questions for all interviews:

• Tell me about yourself. What brings you here today? Tell me about why you are here.
• What are your short-term goals? What about in two and five years? How are you preparing to achieve them?
• Why did you apply to this program? This school?
• What is your vision/mission statement?
• How did you prepare for this interview?
• What have been your most satisfying/disappointing experiences?
• What is your greatest accomplishment?
• What are your strengths/weaknesses?
• What kinds of problems do you handle best?
• How do you reduce stress and try to achieve balance in your life?
• What courses did you like best/least? Why?
• What did you learn or gain from your part-time/summer/co-op/internship experiences?
• Why were your grades low in one term?
• How do you spend your spare time?
• If I asked your friends to describe you, what would they say?
• What frustrates you the most?
• Why should we choose you over another applicant?
• Why should we accept you into this program?
• What will you do if not accepted into this program?

Common health-related profession classic questions:

• What is your experience in this profession? What do you know about this profession? How will this profession change in the future?
• What recommendations would you make for this profession?
• Why do you want to be a ...? (e.g., Pharmacist)
• Why do you want to be a ... and not a ...? (e.g. Why do you want to be a Doctor and not a Researcher?)
• What are the disadvantages of this profession?
• How did you prepare for the admission test?
• What was the toughest decision you have had to make in the last year? Why was it difficult?
• What is your most painful experience and how did you cope with it?
• What would you do if you saw another student cheating on an exam?
• How have you contributed to your community?
• What specialty interests you?
• Describe your clinical/hospital experiences.
• Who would you describe as your role model in pursuit of this profession?
• Of all people, dead or alive, who would you most like to have dinner with and why?
• Tell me about a book that you have read recently. Why did it interest you?

Common graduate, business, law, and teaching classic questions:

• What is your area of research?
• Describe any research project you have worked on. What was the purpose of the project, and what was your role?
• How did you hear about our program?
• Which faculty members are you interested in working with and why?
• Where else have you applied?
• Have you thought about a topic for your thesis?
• What could you do to increase your effectiveness?
• Why do you need an MBA? Why now? Why this program?
• What do you believe your greatest challenge will be if you are accepted into this program?
• Why do children misbehave?
• Why do you like working with children?
• What would you contribute to an after-school program?

While preparation is key, it is not possible to predict and prepare for all interview questions. Instead, review your résumé, application, and research the profession (current and future state). Then put information into different categories (e.g., accomplishments, understanding of profession, unique qualities, challenges/weaknesses) enabling you to provide examples as necessary.

PAWS model

The “PAWS” model is a useful method for answering classic questions such as “Tell me about yourself” and “Why do you want to be a ___________?”

When an interviewer asks this question, s/he is looking for those aspects of your life that are relevant to the profession/field, such as how you became interested in the field, related experience, and courses taken. “PAWS” stands for Profile, Academic, Work, and Skills. Include all or as many of the four (in any order) to reinforce your fit for the field/profession.

Here are some examples of what to discuss in each of the four areas:

Please read Delivering bad news stations. This type of question is found in both Standard and MMI professional school interviews.

Please read Ethical scenario stations. This type of question is found in both Standard and MMI professional school interviews

To supplement the information you obtained before the interview, you should ask questions during the interview (although you will not have this opportunity with MMI interviews). Some questions will arise naturally during the interview, but it is wise to prepare a number of questions in advance. Asking questions will demonstrate your interest and help you determine if the program/school fits your personality, skills, interests, and values.

Your questions should pertain to the program/school and show your enthusiasm and knowledge. By asking intelligent, well-thought-out questions that genuinely matter to you, you will convince the interviewer that you are serious about the program and institution. If a question has been answered during the interview, do not ask it again; such repetition will suggest that you were not listening. It is important to compose your own questions; however, the following may give you a starting point:

• What do you view as the strengths of this program?
• Will there be any changes to the curriculum? Will there be any changes in faculty members?
• What is the academic background of faculty members?
• Is the atmosphere among students competitive or co-operative?
• How is the interaction between professors and students?
• What types of research opportunities are there?
• Ask directed questions to each interviewer, for example:
  • Professional (e.g., physician, pharmacist, optometrist):
    • Physician: What is your area of specialty? Do you conduct research or teach in addition to practising medicine?
    • Pharmacist: What type of pharmacy do you work in? Are you involved in any profession-specific associations that would be helpful for me to join as a student?
    • Optometrist: What type of patients do you interact with the most? What has been the most interesting patient case?
  • Student in program: What do you wish you had known before you started this program? What has made you successful in this program?
  • Community member: There are many volunteer opportunities in this community (list a few); can you recommend one where students in this program can make a difference? Have you interacted with students from this program in any capacity?

An interviewer will use situational/hypothetical questions to establish how you would react to and handle real-life situations. For situational/hypothetical questions, candidates must have a good understanding of the profession and its requirements. Here are some examples of this type of question:

• How would you tell a patient that they can no longer drive?
• How would you handle cyber bullying?
• How would you tell parents of a 10-year old child that s/he has a brain tumour?
• A patient has been in a car accident and requires a blood transfusion, but won’t accept it because of her religious background. How will you handle this situation?
• What do you do if two of your project group members are constantly quarrelling with each other?
• One of your patients is always late for an appointment. How do you address the issue?

When answering problem-solving questions demonstrate your ability to process information quickly, think logically, and solve creatively. Interviewers place emphasis on the thought process rather than on the conclusion. Examples of problem-solving questions include the following:

• Why is a manhole cover round?
• How many automobiles are there in Toronto?
• Estimate the size of the DVD rental market in Tokyo, Japan
• How would you project the future rate of PC game purchases in Canada?
• As a physician you need to decide who should receive a liver transplant. Should it be given to a successful older community leader, or a 23-year old alcoholic?
• What approach would you take in identifying a problem and reaching a resolution?
• As a university administrator you need to make the case that smaller class sizes are a better option for students; however, your university is facing funding cuts. How will you make this case?

The key is not to worry about getting the “right” answer but, rather, to demonstrate your logical thought process in solving the problem. The following five-step process is appropriate for handling most problem-solving questions:

1. Listen carefully to what is being asked
2. Ask clarifying questions to determine exactly what the interviewer is looking for
3. Respond by first explaining how you would gather the data necessary to make an informed decision
4. Discuss how you would use that data to generate options
5. Based on the data you have gathered, the available options, and your understanding of the position, explain how you would make an appropriate decision or recommendation

Keep in mind, there is no right answer, only your answer.

In addition to asking the other types of questions mentioned, many interviewers rely on a series of standard questions, and you should prepare for them. Occasionally, classic interview questions are used in the MMI interview format as well.

Common classic questions for all interviews:

• Tell me about yourself. What brings you here today? Tell me about why you are here.
• What are your short-term goals? What about in two and five years? How are you preparing to achieve them?
• Why did you apply to this program? This school?
• What is your vision/mission statement?
• How did you prepare for this interview?
• What have been your most satisfying/disappointing experiences?
• What is your greatest accomplishment?
• What are your strengths/weaknesses?
• What kinds of problems do you handle best?
• How do you reduce stress and try to achieve balance in your life?
• What courses did you like best/least? Why?
• What did you learn or gain from your part-time/summer/co-op/internship experiences?
• Why were your grades low in one term?
• How do you spend your spare time?
• If I asked your friends to describe you, what would they say?
• What frustrates you the most?
• Why should we choose you over another applicant?
• Why should we accept you into this program?
• What will you do if not accepted into this program?

Common health-related profession classic questions:

• What is your experience in this profession? What do you know about this profession? How will this profession change in the future?
• What recommendations would you make for this profession?
• Why do you want to be a ...? (e.g., Pharmacist)
• Why do you want to be a ... and not a ...? (e.g. Why do you want to be a Doctor and not a Researcher?)
• What are the disadvantages of this profession?
• How did you prepare for the admission test?
• What was the toughest decision you have had to make in the last year? Why was it difficult?
• What is your most painful experience and how did you cope with it?
• What would you do if you saw another student cheating on an exam?
• How have you contributed to your community?
• What specialty interests you?
• Describe your clinical/hospital experiences.
• Who would you describe as your role model in pursuit of this profession?
• Of all people, dead or alive, who would you most like to have dinner with and why?
• Tell me about a book that you have read recently. Why did it interest you?

Common graduate, business, law, and teaching classic questions:

• What is your area of research?
• Describe any research project you have worked on. What was the purpose of the project, and what was your role?
• How did you hear about our program?
• Which faculty members are you interested in working with and why?
• Where else have you applied?
• Have you thought about a topic for your thesis?
• What could you do to increase your effectiveness?
• Why do you need an MBA? Why now? Why this program?
• What do you believe your greatest challenge will be if you are accepted into this program?
• Why do children misbehave?
• Why do you like working with children?
• What would you contribute to an after-school program?

While preparation is key, it is not possible to predict and prepare for all interview questions. Instead, review your résumé, application, and research the profession (current and future state). Then put information into different categories (e.g., accomplishments, understanding of profession, unique qualities, challenges/weaknesses) enabling you to provide examples as necessary.

PAWS model

The “PAWS” model is a useful method for answering classic questions such as “Tell me about yourself” and “Why do you want to be a ___________?”

When an interviewer asks this question, s/he is looking for those aspects of your life that are relevant to the profession/field, such as how you became interested in the field, related experience, and courses taken. “PAWS” stands for Profile, Academic, Work, and Skills. Include all or as many of the four (in any order) to reinforce your fit for the field/profession.

Here are some examples of what to discuss in each of the four areas:

Please read Delivering bad news stations. This type of question is found in both Standard and MMI professional school interviews.

Please read Ethical scenario stations. This type of question is found in both Standard and MMI professional school interviews

To supplement the information you obtained before the interview, you should ask questions during the interview (although you will not have this opportunity with MMI interviews). Some questions will arise naturally during the interview, but it is wise to prepare a number of questions in advance. Asking questions will demonstrate your interest and help you determine if the program/school fits your personality, skills, interests, and values.

Your questions should pertain to the program/school and show your enthusiasm and knowledge. By asking intelligent, well-thought-out questions that genuinely matter to you, you will convince the interviewer that you are serious about the program and institution. If a question has been answered during the interview, do not ask it again; such repetition will suggest that you were not listening. It is important to compose your own questions; however, the following may give you a starting point:

• What do you view as the strengths of this program?
• Will there be any changes to the curriculum? Will there be any changes in faculty members?
• What is the academic background of faculty members?
• Is the atmosphere among students competitive or co-operative?
• How is the interaction between professors and students?
• What types of research opportunities are there?
• Ask directed questions to each interviewer, for example:
  • Professional (e.g., physician, pharmacist, optometrist):
    • Physician: What is your area of specialty? Do you conduct research or teach in addition to practising medicine?
    • Pharmacist: What type of pharmacy do you work in? Are you involved in any profession-specific associations that would be helpful for me to join as a student?
    • Optometrist: What type of patients do you interact with the most? What has been the most interesting patient case?
  • Student in program: What do you wish you had known before you started this program? What has made you successful in this program?
  • Community member: There are many volunteer opportunities in this community (list a few); can you recommend one where students in this program can make a difference? Have you interacted with students from this program in any capacity?

Review professional and regulatory bodies’ websites to be familiar with the current profession, future directions, and the competencies important for someone in the field. It is important to demonstrate your genuine interest in and fit for the profession. Read the notes you made as you reviewed print and online materials, during volunteer opportunities/job shadowing, and when you talked with others. Keep current with events and new research. Many of the MMI stations will be relevant to current topics in the news, both health- and non-health related. The best way to gather this information is to follow the news, review association websites, and to speak with professionals in the field. Your interpersonal skills will be a particularly important factor in people-focused professions as you will be required to be approachable and to work closely with patients/students/clients.

To prepare for the interview, ensure that you research the faculty/program and, if appropriate, the interviewers’ areas of expertise in order to understand the nuances of each. If possible, visit the campus and talk to current students in the program, attend classes, and visit labs.

The order in which you deliver the content of your answer indicates your priorities. For example if your answer to: “Why do you want to be a doctor?” is “... to help patients, conduct research, teach” this will create a more positive impression than “... a high income, prestige, to help patients.”

If you answer a question and there is no prompt response or follow-up question, try to remain calm and collected. Silence may not be a negative sign; the interviewer could be taking time to process and record your answer, and/or be considering the next question.

In response to uncomfortable silence, ask the interviewers if they require any further details regarding your last response, shifting the responsibility to them. Resist the temptation to ramble because you may provide irrelevant information that may hurt your chances of being offered admission.

Although the interviewer will likely take notes, generally you should not. If you have your head down writing, the conversation will be uncomfortable and unengaging because of your lack of eye contact and inability to show enthusiasm.

Making brief notes is acceptable when you need to record information that may be easily forgotten, such as a key word, phone number, or contact information. If you fear you may not recall other pertinent details, document the information immediately after the interview.

You may have difficulty communicating your thoughts clearly and concisely, especially when you are not sure how to respond to a question. The key is to remain calm and positive, focus on the question, and continue to remind yourself that you are doing well. You may request clarification if you are not sure what the interviewer is asking, or pause and politely ask for a few moments to consider your response; however, don’t take too much time because interviewers want to see that you can think well under pressure.

After a brief pause, if you still cannot respond to the interviewer’s question, you may ask to defer your answer to the end of the interview. The risk is that interviews usually follow a certain structure and the question might be missed entirely, leaving the interviewer with an unanswered question. If you’re stumped because you simply do not know the answer, be honest with the interviewer and, depending on the type of question, discuss how you would handle the situation or resources you would use to find the answer.

Interviewers will often ask negatively phrased questions to assess your perceived weaknesses and strengths. The following are a few examples:

• What are your weaknesses?
• Recall a time when you made a bad decision or mistake. How did you get beyond it?
• Give me an example of a time you did not meet a deadline. How did you handle the situation?

Be honest and discuss a real weakness or past event that would not negatively impact performance for the profession/field you are applying for. Avoid the popular advice to turn a weakness into a strength (e.g., “I’m a perfectionist...”) because this kind of response is unconvincing and over used. Be sure to end your “weakness” response on a positive note by indicating what steps you are taking to overcome the weakness.

It is important to keep your answers short and to be as positive as possible, even when answering a negatively framed question.

It is a pleasure to be interviewed by someone who is enthusiastic about the profession, but it is not desirable if you aren’t able to market yourself because the interviewer monopolizes the discussion. Tactfully break into the conversation to help keep the interview focused on the subject you know best: you! You might say, “I had a similar experience...” or “It’s interesting that you say that because I am also skilled in...”

Is your body or verbal language contributing to the problem? Without being rude, offer less acknowledgement (e.g., nodding, “that’s interesting,” “really?”). If you are not given adequate time to market your qualifications and the interview is drawing to a close, request a few moments to summarize your qualifications for the profession/field, highlighting key points you had planned to discuss.

What should you do if you’re in the middle of an interview and have just been asked what is clearly an illegal question? There is no clear-cut answer. Much depends on you.

In some cases, you may be able to answer the “hidden” question. Think of what information the interviewer is trying to elicit. For example, “Do you have or plan to have children?” may indicate a concern about your ability to put in the time to complete the program.

You may elect to say “Why do you ask?” or “Would you explain how this point is connected to the qualifications for this program?” This could cause the interviewer to reconsider or clarify the question. It may offend some interviewers, but probably not the majority.

If you feel that you should not answer the question (you shouldn’t have to, after all) or that you are not interested in attending the program, you may state, “I don’t feel obligated to answer that” or “That question is inappropriate.” If you choose this option, you will either enlighten (the interviewer may not realize it is illegal and will be happy that you pointed it out), or offend (the interviewer may not consider you for the program). At some schools there is a post-interview evaluation, so a candidate can report illegal questions.

It is best not to bring up your religious beliefs in your answers. Interviewers for health-related professions could worry that when you are practising in your profession, and not being supervised, you might present different religious options to a patient and this isn’t the expected practice. As a health-care provider you need to look at things objectively and not present your own ideologies.

This is an interview where one interviewer conducts an interview with one candidate. This is typical for MBA and graduate school interviews.

For health-related interviews it is common for there to be a panel of interviewers. Often this consists of a faculty member or someone in the profession, a current student, and a community member. Each interviewer will be assessing you differently (e.g., a community member will assess if they would choose you as a professional).

Although it is important to have good eye contact with the person who asks you a question, also look at the other interviewers frequently to include them in the discussion. Try to remember each person’s name and use his or her name during the interview.

The interview process often includes meeting with current students and a tour of the site, so wear comfortable shoes.

If given the choice between an on- or off-campus interview (common for MBA), try to arrange an on-campus interview. This will give you the opportunity to talk to current students, sit in on a class, see the campus, and get a better sense whether this is the right school and location for you. However, if you are not able to attend an on-campus interview, you will not be penalized.

All of the usual advice about interview skills still applies. Your attire is your choice, but you may find that dressing professionally increases your confidence and allows you to perform better. Keep your application, school information, points that you want to highlight, and list of questions handy; in fact, keep these in front of you during the interview for easy reference. (Don’t shuffle your papers though!) Have a pen and paper available to note any comments or questions that may occur to you during the interview. Choose your words carefully and be succinct. It is also important to vary your voice tone, tempo, and pitch to keep the interviewer’s attention. Ensure that you are in a private setting to eliminate any distractions or background noise.

In this type of interview, interviewers use video technology to conduct interviews at a distance. Use the same strategies as you would if you were meeting in person. Depending on the sophistication of the technology, you may experience short transmission delays. Make eye contact with the camera, which, to the interviewer, appears as direct “eye contact.” Remember to check the monitor periodically to observe the interviewer’s body language.

After each interview, evaluate how well you did by completing the following “Interview evaluation worksheet”

An interviewer will use situational/hypothetical questions to establish how you would react to and handle real-life situations. For situational/hypothetical questions, candidates must have a good understanding of the profession and its requirements. Here are some examples of this type of question:

• How would you tell a patient that they can no longer drive?
• How would you handle cyber bullying?
• How would you tell parents of a 10-year old child that s/he has a brain tumour?
• A patient has been in a car accident and requires a blood transfusion, but won’t accept it because of her religious background. How will you handle this situation?
• What do you do if two of your project group members are constantly quarrelling with each other?
• One of your patients is always late for an appointment. How do you address the issue?

When answering problem-solving questions demonstrate your ability to process information quickly, think logically, and solve creatively. Interviewers place emphasis on the thought process rather than on the conclusion. Examples of problem-solving questions include the following:

• Why is a manhole cover round?
• How many automobiles are there in Toronto?
• Estimate the size of the DVD rental market in Tokyo, Japan
• How would you project the future rate of PC game purchases in Canada?
• As a physician you need to decide who should receive a liver transplant. Should it be given to a successful older community leader, or a 23-year old alcoholic?
• What approach would you take in identifying a problem and reaching a resolution?
• As a university administrator you need to make the case that smaller class sizes are a better option for students; however, your university is facing funding cuts. How will you make this case?

The key is not to worry about getting the “right” answer but, rather, to demonstrate your logical thought process in solving the problem. The following five-step process is appropriate for handling most problem-solving questions:

1. Listen carefully to what is being asked
2. Ask clarifying questions to determine exactly what the interviewer is looking for
3. Respond by first explaining how you would gather the data necessary to make an informed decision
4. Discuss how you would use that data to generate options
5. Based on the data you have gathered, the available options, and your understanding of the position, explain how you would make an appropriate decision or recommendation

Keep in mind, there is no right answer, only your answer.

In addition to asking the other types of questions mentioned, many interviewers rely on a series of standard questions, and you should prepare for them. Occasionally, classic interview questions are used in the MMI interview format as well.

Common classic questions for all interviews:

• Tell me about yourself. What brings you here today? Tell me about why you are here.
• What are your short-term goals? What about in two and five years? How are you preparing to achieve them?
• Why did you apply to this program? This school?
• What is your vision/mission statement?
• How did you prepare for this interview?
• What have been your most satisfying/disappointing experiences?
• What is your greatest accomplishment?
• What are your strengths/weaknesses?
• What kinds of problems do you handle best?
• How do you reduce stress and try to achieve balance in your life?
• What courses did you like best/least? Why?
• What did you learn or gain from your part-time/summer/co-op/internship experiences?
• Why were your grades low in one term?
• How do you spend your spare time?
• If I asked your friends to describe you, what would they say?
• What frustrates you the most?
• Why should we choose you over another applicant?
• Why should we accept you into this program?
• What will you do if not accepted into this program?

Common health-related profession classic questions:

• What is your experience in this profession? What do you know about this profession? How will this profession change in the future?
• What recommendations would you make for this profession?
• Why do you want to be a ...? (e.g., Pharmacist)
• Why do you want to be a ... and not a ...? (e.g. Why do you want to be a Doctor and not a Researcher?)
• What are the disadvantages of this profession?
• How did you prepare for the admission test?
• What was the toughest decision you have had to make in the last year? Why was it difficult?
• What is your most painful experience and how did you cope with it?
• What would you do if you saw another student cheating on an exam?
• How have you contributed to your community?
• What specialty interests you?
• Describe your clinical/hospital experiences.
• Who would you describe as your role model in pursuit of this profession?
• Of all people, dead or alive, who would you most like to have dinner with and why?
• Tell me about a book that you have read recently. Why did it interest you?

Common graduate, business, law, and teaching classic questions:

• What is your area of research?
• Describe any research project you have worked on. What was the purpose of the project, and what was your role?
• How did you hear about our program?
• Which faculty members are you interested in working with and why?
• Where else have you applied?
• Have you thought about a topic for your thesis?
• What could you do to increase your effectiveness?
• Why do you need an MBA? Why now? Why this program?
• What do you believe your greatest challenge will be if you are accepted into this program?
• Why do children misbehave?
• Why do you like working with children?
• What would you contribute to an after-school program?

While preparation is key, it is not possible to predict and prepare for all interview questions. Instead, review your résumé, application, and research the profession (current and future state). Then put information into different categories (e.g., accomplishments, understanding of profession, unique qualities, challenges/weaknesses) enabling you to provide examples as necessary.

PAWS model

The “PAWS” model is a useful method for answering classic questions such as “Tell me about yourself” and “Why do you want to be a ___________?”

When an interviewer asks this question, s/he is looking for those aspects of your life that are relevant to the profession/field, such as how you became interested in the field, related experience, and courses taken. “PAWS” stands for Profile, Academic, Work, and Skills. Include all or as many of the four (in any order) to reinforce your fit for the field/profession.

Here are some examples of what to discuss in each of the four areas:

Please read Delivering bad news stations. This type of question is found in both Standard and MMI professional school interviews.

Please read Ethical scenario stations. This type of question is found in both Standard and MMI professional school interviews

To supplement the information you obtained before the interview, you should ask questions during the interview (although you will not have this opportunity with MMI interviews). Some questions will arise naturally during the interview, but it is wise to prepare a number of questions in advance. Asking questions will demonstrate your interest and help you determine if the program/school fits your personality, skills, interests, and values.

Your questions should pertain to the program/school and show your enthusiasm and knowledge. By asking intelligent, well-thought-out questions that genuinely matter to you, you will convince the interviewer that you are serious about the program and institution. If a question has been answered during the interview, do not ask it again; such repetition will suggest that you were not listening. It is important to compose your own questions; however, the following may give you a starting point:

• What do you view as the strengths of this program?
• Will there be any changes to the curriculum? Will there be any changes in faculty members?
• What is the academic background of faculty members?
• Is the atmosphere among students competitive or co-operative?
• How is the interaction between professors and students?
• What types of research opportunities are there?
• Ask directed questions to each interviewer, for example:
  • Professional (e.g., physician, pharmacist, optometrist):
    • Physician: What is your area of specialty? Do you conduct research or teach in addition to practising medicine?
    • Pharmacist: What type of pharmacy do you work in? Are you involved in any profession-specific associations that would be helpful for me to join as a student?
    • Optometrist: What type of patients do you interact with the most? What has been the most interesting patient case?
  • Student in program: What do you wish you had known before you started this program? What has made you successful in this program?
  • Community member: There are many volunteer opportunities in this community (list a few); can you recommend one where students in this program can make a difference? Have you interacted with students from this program in any capacity?

An interviewer will use situational/hypothetical questions to establish how you would react to and handle real-life situations. For situational/hypothetical questions, candidates must have a good understanding of the profession and its requirements. Here are some examples of this type of question:

• How would you tell a patient that they can no longer drive?
• How would you handle cyber bullying?
• How would you tell parents of a 10-year old child that s/he has a brain tumour?
• A patient has been in a car accident and requires a blood transfusion, but won’t accept it because of her religious background. How will you handle this situation?
• What do you do if two of your project group members are constantly quarrelling with each other?
• One of your patients is always late for an appointment. How do you address the issue?

When answering problem-solving questions demonstrate your ability to process information quickly, think logically, and solve creatively. Interviewers place emphasis on the thought process rather than on the conclusion. Examples of problem-solving questions include the following:

• Why is a manhole cover round?
• How many automobiles are there in Toronto?
• Estimate the size of the DVD rental market in Tokyo, Japan
• How would you project the future rate of PC game purchases in Canada?
• As a physician you need to decide who should receive a liver transplant. Should it be given to a successful older community leader, or a 23-year old alcoholic?
• What approach would you take in identifying a problem and reaching a resolution?
• As a university administrator you need to make the case that smaller class sizes are a better option for students; however, your university is facing funding cuts. How will you make this case?

The key is not to worry about getting the “right” answer but, rather, to demonstrate your logical thought process in solving the problem. The following five-step process is appropriate for handling most problem-solving questions:

1. Listen carefully to what is being asked
2. Ask clarifying questions to determine exactly what the interviewer is looking for
3. Respond by first explaining how you would gather the data necessary to make an informed decision
4. Discuss how you would use that data to generate options
5. Based on the data you have gathered, the available options, and your understanding of the position, explain how you would make an appropriate decision or recommendation

Keep in mind, there is no right answer, only your answer.

In addition to asking the other types of questions mentioned, many interviewers rely on a series of standard questions, and you should prepare for them. Occasionally, classic interview questions are used in the MMI interview format as well.

Common classic questions for all interviews:

• Tell me about yourself. What brings you here today? Tell me about why you are here.
• What are your short-term goals? What about in two and five years? How are you preparing to achieve them?
• Why did you apply to this program? This school?
• What is your vision/mission statement?
• How did you prepare for this interview?
• What have been your most satisfying/disappointing experiences?
• What is your greatest accomplishment?
• What are your strengths/weaknesses?
• What kinds of problems do you handle best?
• How do you reduce stress and try to achieve balance in your life?
• What courses did you like best/least? Why?
• What did you learn or gain from your part-time/summer/co-op/internship experiences?
• Why were your grades low in one term?
• How do you spend your spare time?
• If I asked your friends to describe you, what would they say?
• What frustrates you the most?
• Why should we choose you over another applicant?
• Why should we accept you into this program?
• What will you do if not accepted into this program?

Common health-related profession classic questions:

• What is your experience in this profession? What do you know about this profession? How will this profession change in the future?
• What recommendations would you make for this profession?
• Why do you want to be a ...? (e.g., Pharmacist)
• Why do you want to be a ... and not a ...? (e.g. Why do you want to be a Doctor and not a Researcher?)
• What are the disadvantages of this profession?
• How did you prepare for the admission test?
• What was the toughest decision you have had to make in the last year? Why was it difficult?
• What is your most painful experience and how did you cope with it?
• What would you do if you saw another student cheating on an exam?
• How have you contributed to your community?
• What specialty interests you?
• Describe your clinical/hospital experiences.
• Who would you describe as your role model in pursuit of this profession?
• Of all people, dead or alive, who would you most like to have dinner with and why?
• Tell me about a book that you have read recently. Why did it interest you?

Common graduate, business, law, and teaching classic questions:

• What is your area of research?
• Describe any research project you have worked on. What was the purpose of the project, and what was your role?
• How did you hear about our program?
• Which faculty members are you interested in working with and why?
• Where else have you applied?
• Have you thought about a topic for your thesis?
• What could you do to increase your effectiveness?
• Why do you need an MBA? Why now? Why this program?
• What do you believe your greatest challenge will be if you are accepted into this program?
• Why do children misbehave?
• Why do you like working with children?
• What would you contribute to an after-school program?

While preparation is key, it is not possible to predict and prepare for all interview questions. Instead, review your résumé, application, and research the profession (current and future state). Then put information into different categories (e.g., accomplishments, understanding of profession, unique qualities, challenges/weaknesses) enabling you to provide examples as necessary.

PAWS model

The “PAWS” model is a useful method for answering classic questions such as “Tell me about yourself” and “Why do you want to be a ___________?”

When an interviewer asks this question, s/he is looking for those aspects of your life that are relevant to the profession/field, such as how you became interested in the field, related experience, and courses taken. “PAWS” stands for Profile, Academic, Work, and Skills. Include all or as many of the four (in any order) to reinforce your fit for the field/profession.

Here are some examples of what to discuss in each of the four areas:

Please read Delivering bad news stations. This type of question is found in both Standard and MMI professional school interviews.

Please read Ethical scenario stations. This type of question is found in both Standard and MMI professional school interviews

To supplement the information you obtained before the interview, you should ask questions during the interview (although you will not have this opportunity with MMI interviews). Some questions will arise naturally during the interview, but it is wise to prepare a number of questions in advance. Asking questions will demonstrate your interest and help you determine if the program/school fits your personality, skills, interests, and values.

Your questions should pertain to the program/school and show your enthusiasm and knowledge. By asking intelligent, well-thought-out questions that genuinely matter to you, you will convince the interviewer that you are serious about the program and institution. If a question has been answered during the interview, do not ask it again; such repetition will suggest that you were not listening. It is important to compose your own questions; however, the following may give you a starting point:

• What do you view as the strengths of this program?
• Will there be any changes to the curriculum? Will there be any changes in faculty members?
• What is the academic background of faculty members?
• Is the atmosphere among students competitive or co-operative?
• How is the interaction between professors and students?
• What types of research opportunities are there?
• Ask directed questions to each interviewer, for example:
  • Professional (e.g., physician, pharmacist, optometrist):
    • Physician: What is your area of specialty? Do you conduct research or teach in addition to practising medicine?
    • Pharmacist: What type of pharmacy do you work in? Are you involved in any profession-specific associations that would be helpful for me to join as a student?
    • Optometrist: What type of patients do you interact with the most? What has been the most interesting patient case?
  • Student in program: What do you wish you had known before you started this program? What has made you successful in this program?
  • Community member: There are many volunteer opportunities in this community (list a few); can you recommend one where students in this program can make a difference? Have you interacted with students from this program in any capacity?

Review professional and regulatory bodies’ websites to be familiar with the current profession, future directions, and the competencies important for someone in the field. It is important to demonstrate your genuine interest in and fit for the profession. Read the notes you made as you reviewed print and online materials, during volunteer opportunities/job shadowing, and when you talked with others. Keep current with events and new research. Many of the MMI stations will be relevant to current topics in the news, both health- and non-health related. The best way to gather this information is to follow the news, review association websites, and to speak with professionals in the field. Your interpersonal skills will be a particularly important factor in people-focused professions as you will be required to be approachable and to work closely with patients/students/clients.

To prepare for the interview, ensure that you research the faculty/program and, if appropriate, the interviewers’ areas of expertise in order to understand the nuances of each. If possible, visit the campus and talk to current students in the program, attend classes, and visit labs.

The order in which you deliver the content of your answer indicates your priorities. For example if your answer to: “Why do you want to be a doctor?” is “... to help patients, conduct research, teach” this will create a more positive impression than “... a high income, prestige, to help patients.”

If you answer a question and there is no prompt response or follow-up question, try to remain calm and collected. Silence may not be a negative sign; the interviewer could be taking time to process and record your answer, and/or be considering the next question.

In response to uncomfortable silence, ask the interviewers if they require any further details regarding your last response, shifting the responsibility to them. Resist the temptation to ramble because you may provide irrelevant information that may hurt your chances of being offered admission.

Although the interviewer will likely take notes, generally you should not. If you have your head down writing, the conversation will be uncomfortable and unengaging because of your lack of eye contact and inability to show enthusiasm.

Making brief notes is acceptable when you need to record information that may be easily forgotten, such as a key word, phone number, or contact information. If you fear you may not recall other pertinent details, document the information immediately after the interview.

You may have difficulty communicating your thoughts clearly and concisely, especially when you are not sure how to respond to a question. The key is to remain calm and positive, focus on the question, and continue to remind yourself that you are doing well. You may request clarification if you are not sure what the interviewer is asking, or pause and politely ask for a few moments to consider your response; however, don’t take too much time because interviewers want to see that you can think well under pressure.

After a brief pause, if you still cannot respond to the interviewer’s question, you may ask to defer your answer to the end of the interview. The risk is that interviews usually follow a certain structure and the question might be missed entirely, leaving the interviewer with an unanswered question. If you’re stumped because you simply do not know the answer, be honest with the interviewer and, depending on the type of question, discuss how you would handle the situation or resources you would use to find the answer.

Interviewers will often ask negatively phrased questions to assess your perceived weaknesses and strengths. The following are a few examples:

• What are your weaknesses?
• Recall a time when you made a bad decision or mistake. How did you get beyond it?
• Give me an example of a time you did not meet a deadline. How did you handle the situation?

Be honest and discuss a real weakness or past event that would not negatively impact performance for the profession/field you are applying for. Avoid the popular advice to turn a weakness into a strength (e.g., “I’m a perfectionist...”) because this kind of response is unconvincing and over used. Be sure to end your “weakness” response on a positive note by indicating what steps you are taking to overcome the weakness.

It is important to keep your answers short and to be as positive as possible, even when answering a negatively framed question.

It is a pleasure to be interviewed by someone who is enthusiastic about the profession, but it is not desirable if you aren’t able to market yourself because the interviewer monopolizes the discussion. Tactfully break into the conversation to help keep the interview focused on the subject you know best: you! You might say, “I had a similar experience...” or “It’s interesting that you say that because I am also skilled in...”

Is your body or verbal language contributing to the problem? Without being rude, offer less acknowledgement (e.g., nodding, “that’s interesting,” “really?”). If you are not given adequate time to market your qualifications and the interview is drawing to a close, request a few moments to summarize your qualifications for the profession/field, highlighting key points you had planned to discuss.

What should you do if you’re in the middle of an interview and have just been asked what is clearly an illegal question? There is no clear-cut answer. Much depends on you.

In some cases, you may be able to answer the “hidden” question. Think of what information the interviewer is trying to elicit. For example, “Do you have or plan to have children?” may indicate a concern about your ability to put in the time to complete the program.

You may elect to say “Why do you ask?” or “Would you explain how this point is connected to the qualifications for this program?” This could cause the interviewer to reconsider or clarify the question. It may offend some interviewers, but probably not the majority.

If you feel that you should not answer the question (you shouldn’t have to, after all) or that you are not interested in attending the program, you may state, “I don’t feel obligated to answer that” or “That question is inappropriate.” If you choose this option, you will either enlighten (the interviewer may not realize it is illegal and will be happy that you pointed it out), or offend (the interviewer may not consider you for the program). At some schools there is a post-interview evaluation, so a candidate can report illegal questions.

It is best not to bring up your religious beliefs in your answers. Interviewers for health-related professions could worry that when you are practising in your profession, and not being supervised, you might present different religious options to a patient and this isn’t the expected practice. As a health-care provider you need to look at things objectively and not present your own ideologies.

This is an interview where one interviewer conducts an interview with one candidate. This is typical for MBA and graduate school interviews.

For health-related interviews it is common for there to be a panel of interviewers. Often this consists of a faculty member or someone in the profession, a current student, and a community member. Each interviewer will be assessing you differently (e.g., a community member will assess if they would choose you as a professional).

Although it is important to have good eye contact with the person who asks you a question, also look at the other interviewers frequently to include them in the discussion. Try to remember each person’s name and use his or her name during the interview.

The interview process often includes meeting with current students and a tour of the site, so wear comfortable shoes.

If given the choice between an on- or off-campus interview (common for MBA), try to arrange an on-campus interview. This will give you the opportunity to talk to current students, sit in on a class, see the campus, and get a better sense whether this is the right school and location for you. However, if you are not able to attend an on-campus interview, you will not be penalized.

All of the usual advice about interview skills still applies. Your attire is your choice, but you may find that dressing professionally increases your confidence and allows you to perform better. Keep your application, school information, points that you want to highlight, and list of questions handy; in fact, keep these in front of you during the interview for easy reference. (Don’t shuffle your papers though!) Have a pen and paper available to note any comments or questions that may occur to you during the interview. Choose your words carefully and be succinct. It is also important to vary your voice tone, tempo, and pitch to keep the interviewer’s attention. Ensure that you are in a private setting to eliminate any distractions or background noise.

In this type of interview, interviewers use video technology to conduct interviews at a distance. Use the same strategies as you would if you were meeting in person. Depending on the sophistication of the technology, you may experience short transmission delays. Make eye contact with the camera, which, to the interviewer, appears as direct “eye contact.” Remember to check the monitor periodically to observe the interviewer’s body language.

After each interview, evaluate how well you did by completing the following “Interview evaluation worksheet”

An interviewer will use situational/hypothetical questions to establish how you would react to and handle real-life situations. For situational/hypothetical questions, candidates must have a good understanding of the profession and its requirements. Here are some examples of this type of question:

• How would you tell a patient that they can no longer drive?
• How would you handle cyber bullying?
• How would you tell parents of a 10-year old child that s/he has a brain tumour?
• A patient has been in a car accident and requires a blood transfusion, but won’t accept it because of her religious background. How will you handle this situation?
• What do you do if two of your project group members are constantly quarrelling with each other?
• One of your patients is always late for an appointment. How do you address the issue?

When answering problem-solving questions demonstrate your ability to process information quickly, think logically, and solve creatively. Interviewers place emphasis on the thought process rather than on the conclusion. Examples of problem-solving questions include the following:

• Why is a manhole cover round?
• How many automobiles are there in Toronto?
• Estimate the size of the DVD rental market in Tokyo, Japan
• How would you project the future rate of PC game purchases in Canada?
• As a physician you need to decide who should receive a liver transplant. Should it be given to a successful older community leader, or a 23-year old alcoholic?
• What approach would you take in identifying a problem and reaching a resolution?
• As a university administrator you need to make the case that smaller class sizes are a better option for students; however, your university is facing funding cuts. How will you make this case?

The key is not to worry about getting the “right” answer but, rather, to demonstrate your logical thought process in solving the problem. The following five-step process is appropriate for handling most problem-solving questions:

1. Listen carefully to what is being asked
2. Ask clarifying questions to determine exactly what the interviewer is looking for
3. Respond by first explaining how you would gather the data necessary to make an informed decision
4. Discuss how you would use that data to generate options
5. Based on the data you have gathered, the available options, and your understanding of the position, explain how you would make an appropriate decision or recommendation

Keep in mind, there is no right answer, only your answer.

In addition to asking the other types of questions mentioned, many interviewers rely on a series of standard questions, and you should prepare for them. Occasionally, classic interview questions are used in the MMI interview format as well.

Common classic questions for all interviews:

• Tell me about yourself. What brings you here today? Tell me about why you are here.
• What are your short-term goals? What about in two and five years? How are you preparing to achieve them?
• Why did you apply to this program? This school?
• What is your vision/mission statement?
• How did you prepare for this interview?
• What have been your most satisfying/disappointing experiences?
• What is your greatest accomplishment?
• What are your strengths/weaknesses?
• What kinds of problems do you handle best?
• How do you reduce stress and try to achieve balance in your life?
• What courses did you like best/least? Why?
• What did you learn or gain from your part-time/summer/co-op/internship experiences?
• Why were your grades low in one term?
• How do you spend your spare time?
• If I asked your friends to describe you, what would they say?
• What frustrates you the most?
• Why should we choose you over another applicant?
• Why should we accept you into this program?
• What will you do if not accepted into this program?

Common health-related profession classic questions:

• What is your experience in this profession? What do you know about this profession? How will this profession change in the future?
• What recommendations would you make for this profession?
• Why do you want to be a ...? (e.g., Pharmacist)
• Why do you want to be a ... and not a ...? (e.g. Why do you want to be a Doctor and not a Researcher?)
• What are the disadvantages of this profession?
• How did you prepare for the admission test?
• What was the toughest decision you have had to make in the last year? Why was it difficult?
• What is your most painful experience and how did you cope with it?
• What would you do if you saw another student cheating on an exam?
• How have you contributed to your community?
• What specialty interests you?
• Describe your clinical/hospital experiences.
• Who would you describe as your role model in pursuit of this profession?
• Of all people, dead or alive, who would you most like to have dinner with and why?
• Tell me about a book that you have read recently. Why did it interest you?

Common graduate, business, law, and teaching classic questions:

• What is your area of research?
• Describe any research project you have worked on. What was the purpose of the project, and what was your role?
• How did you hear about our program?
• Which faculty members are you interested in working with and why?
• Where else have you applied?
• Have you thought about a topic for your thesis?
• What could you do to increase your effectiveness?
• Why do you need an MBA? Why now? Why this program?
• What do you believe your greatest challenge will be if you are accepted into this program?
• Why do children misbehave?
• Why do you like working with children?
• What would you contribute to an after-school program?

While preparation is key, it is not possible to predict and prepare for all interview questions. Instead, review your résumé, application, and research the profession (current and future state). Then put information into different categories (e.g., accomplishments, understanding of profession, unique qualities, challenges/weaknesses) enabling you to provide examples as necessary.

PAWS model

The “PAWS” model is a useful method for answering classic questions such as “Tell me about yourself” and “Why do you want to be a ___________?”

When an interviewer asks this question, s/he is looking for those aspects of your life that are relevant to the profession/field, such as how you became interested in the field, related experience, and courses taken. “PAWS” stands for Profile, Academic, Work, and Skills. Include all or as many of the four (in any order) to reinforce your fit for the field/profession.

Here are some examples of what to discuss in each of the four areas:

Please read Delivering bad news stations. This type of question is found in both Standard and MMI professional school interviews.

Please read Ethical scenario stations. This type of question is found in both Standard and MMI professional school interviews

To supplement the information you obtained before the interview, you should ask questions during the interview (although you will not have this opportunity with MMI interviews). Some questions will arise naturally during the interview, but it is wise to prepare a number of questions in advance. Asking questions will demonstrate your interest and help you determine if the program/school fits your personality, skills, interests, and values.

Your questions should pertain to the program/school and show your enthusiasm and knowledge. By asking intelligent, well-thought-out questions that genuinely matter to you, you will convince the interviewer that you are serious about the program and institution. If a question has been answered during the interview, do not ask it again; such repetition will suggest that you were not listening. It is important to compose your own questions; however, the following may give you a starting point:

• What do you view as the strengths of this program?
• Will there be any changes to the curriculum? Will there be any changes in faculty members?
• What is the academic background of faculty members?
• Is the atmosphere among students competitive or co-operative?
• How is the interaction between professors and students?
• What types of research opportunities are there?
• Ask directed questions to each interviewer, for example:
  • Professional (e.g., physician, pharmacist, optometrist):
    • Physician: What is your area of specialty? Do you conduct research or teach in addition to practising medicine?
    • Pharmacist: What type of pharmacy do you work in? Are you involved in any profession-specific associations that would be helpful for me to join as a student?
    • Optometrist: What type of patients do you interact with the most? What has been the most interesting patient case?
  • Student in program: What do you wish you had known before you started this program? What has made you successful in this program?
  • Community member: There are many volunteer opportunities in this community (list a few); can you recommend one where students in this program can make a difference? Have you interacted with students from this program in any capacity?