How to Answer the “Why Us?” Medical School Interview Question

While no medical school interview will be completely the same, there are a few questions you are guaranteed to be asked. The medical school interview “Why us?” question is one of them. You may think this is one of the easier questions to answer; after all, you know why you want to attend the program, right? But beware of this question’s deceptive simplicity; a surface-level or vague response can sink your interview.

The Purpose of the “Why Us?” Question

Medical schools ask the “Why us?” question to evaluate an applicant’s genuine interest in joining their program. Admissions committees do not want to accept someone if that person isn’t wholeheartedly enthusiastic about their school. Interviewers will pay close attention to how you respond to this question, as they only want to accept applicants who they believe will enrich the student body and make an effective and worthwhile contribution to the program.

If your response is vague or could be applied to any medical school, the interviewer will certainly take note. Repeating the school’s mission statement or saying you love the city will not wow them in any way—it will only show that you haven’t put proper thought into your decision or consider them to be a backup school. Interviewers are looking for the nitty-gritty details. They want to see that you’ve put a great deal of thought into this decision and have determined through ample research that their program is the best fit for you, and you’re the best fit for it.

How to Research and Prepare

This question is an opportunity for you to demonstrate to your interviewer how enthusiastic you are about joining their medical school. You know all that the school has to offer you, and what’s more, you know how much you have to offer it. To prepare the best possible answer:

• Complete plenty of research for each school.
• You must deeply research each program you’re interviewing for.
• Identify why you’re the best fit for the program and how you will enrich the student body.

The Medical School Interview Timeline

The medical school interview process is the final step to medical school acceptance after taking the MCAT, submitting your primary application, and submitting your secondary applications. Applying early is one of the most critical medical school admission strategies. The timeline for interviews generally follows this schedule:

• August: Some schools may send invitations as early as August if you meet certain GPA and MCAT cutoffs.
• September: Most schools won’t send out invitations until this month.
• Fall and Winter: Invitations will continue to arrive throughout this period.
• April or May: Interviews typically conclude in the spring of the following year.

Strategic Scheduling of Your Interviews

While you shouldn’t procrastinate, it is important to be strategic about how you schedule your interviews. It is absolutely vital to respond to your interview invitations as soon as possible, as the available dates will fill up fast. Rolling admissions means schools only offer spots while they’re available—you are actively lowering your chances of acceptance the longer you wait.

Best Practices for Scheduling

To maximize your chances, consider these strategies:

• Do not schedule your top choice schools before you’ve had a chance to practice.
• Interviewing at your lower priority schools first gives you a few opportunities to hone your interview skills before you dive into the interviews you care about most.
• Schedule interviews at your top schools toward the middle of the process to maximize your confidence level and maintain your enthusiasm.
• Ensure you have a relatively open schedule during interview season and be flexible with your commitments.

It doesn’t matter if you scored a perfect 528 on the MCAT or have an otherwise flawless application; if you give a poor interview, it will squander your chance of acceptance. Medical schools want to see that you’re sociable and easy to get along with, as you’ll be interacting with patients, nurses, and colleagues every day as a physician.