How to Prepare for Ethical Questions in a Medical School Interview

Whether you have an MMI or traditional interview coming up, you should learn how to prepare for ethical questions in a medical school interview. Not knowing what kind of questions to expect is one of the biggest challenges when it comes to preparing for a medical school interview. There are some common medical school interview questions that are incorporated into most interviews, but ethical questions are perhaps one of the toughest categories you can face. These scenarios can be incorporated as different types of MMI questions, including acting stations and collaborative stations, panel and traditional questions, MPI questions, and more.

Why Interviewers Ask Ethical Questions

The interview landscape has drastically changed over the last couple of decades. Admissions committees want to assess your ability to think on your feet, your decision-making process, and your ethical values. Talking about your journey to medical school is one thing, but to be asked to talk about a moral dilemma in a mature and professional way is a totally different thing. Ethical questions allow interview committees to evaluate some of the most important qualities required for a good physician:

• Communication skills
• Non-bias attitude
• Sound judgment
• Empathy

Today, ethical questions are incorporated by a variety of professional schools in their admissions processes. Understanding what is expected of you and having a solid answer strategy is key. Proper interview prep for these types of questions can help you articulate your position and devise a solid decision-making plan that will impress your interviewers.

The Fundamentals of Ethics Questions

First things first: it’s important to note that you are presented with ethical questions not to solve a world problem, but to demonstrate your decision-making process and the logic behind your decision. And here’s the first important rule of answering questions about ethical dilemmas: you must act.

You cannot simply read or hear a prompt, decide it's too difficult, and say "I will delegate the decision to my manager/supervisor". This is not an acceptable answer. The interviewers expect you to come up with the best possible solution to a dilemma you are facing, even if there is no perfect way to solve the problem. They do not expect you to eradicate world hunger, but your answer must demonstrate sound judgment and a mature attitude.

A Step-by-step Guide to the Answer Strategy

Introductions and Professional Conduct

How you set up the answer is just as important as its content. If your ethical question is asked during an MMI interview, do not forget to greet your interviewer(s) when you enter the room and ask for their name if they did not disclose it. Repeat their name(s) when you are leaving the station by thanking them for their time. These little details will help make a great first and last impression.

Recap the Prompt

Your answer must always start with a quick recap of your prompt. Whether you read it on a door before you enter an MMI station or whether you are given it verbally by your interviewers, a quick recap will show that you understand the situation you are in. A good recap will take 15-20 seconds and will incorporate all essential elements of the scenario seamlessly.