Indiana University School of Medicine Mock Interview
Master 40 IU School of Medicine interview questions covering clinical scenarios, research, and mission alignment.
Question 31 of 40
Describe a time when you were faced with a stressful situation that demonstrated your coping skills.
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Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.
This behavioral question is on the Indiana University School of Medicine's list of possible questions that may be asked during your interview. If you want to review more questions that could be asked, you can find them on the IU website under the Medical Student Portal. On their website, they recommend using the STAR method when answering behavioral-based interview questions by discussing the specific Situation, Task, Action, and Result.
- Situation: Describe the situation you were in or the task you needed to accomplish.
- Task: The goal you were working toward.
- Action: Describe the actions you took to address the situation, keeping the focus on YOU.
- Result: Describe the outcome of your actions, while not being shy about taking credit for your actions.
The interviewer wants to see how you handle stress and gain insight into your communication skills. As you know, both are required to work as a physician, so you must demonstrate how you can remain calm and professional in high-pressure situations.
Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.
"By far, the most stressful situation I was faced with that demonstrates my coping skills was a life-or-death situation two months ago. I was on a boat with some friends, and one of them fell off the back of the boat and was struck by the propeller. Immediately, there was a lot of blood in the water. I told the driver to turn the boat around and instructed another friend to call 911. When we got to my friend, a few of us were able to reach over the boat and pull her in. The propeller had sliced her leg, and she was bleeding profusely. I instructed a friend to apply direct pressure while I made a makeshift tourniquet out of a beach towel. The tourniquet stopped the bleeding, and we reached the dock soon after, where an ambulance and fire crew were waiting. We followed my friend to the hospital and waited for her while she was in surgery. The attending physician said my quick thinking helped save my friend's life, which proved to me that this is the career path I am meant to pursue."
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