When you suffer a setback, how does that emotionally affect you and your work?

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Everyone handles the stress and disappointment of setbacks differently. When you work in the medical field, those setbacks can be amplified. Even more so when attending med school because your grades can significantly determine your career trajectory. Discuss with the KCU-COM admissions team how you typically cope with setbacks.

"Experiencing a setback is always disappointing and can be very disheartening, especially when involving a project that I have put a lot of time and effort into. I understand that setbacks happen to everyone - despite their level of expertise or years of experience. If I experience a major setback, I will take a few moments to debrief internally, get some fresh air if possible, or discuss what I could have done differently with a mentor. Then, I move on. Rather than dwell on my mistakes, I choose to learn from them."

Anonymous Answer

"So when I failed one of my pharm exams, that struck me greatly. But after that shock, I made a plan to ensure it wouldn't happen again and improved greatly on my next exam."

Rachelle's Feedback

The fact that you made a plan to ensure this did not happen again, is exactly what the interviewer would want to hear. It's good that you bounced back so quickly!

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"I'm extremely goal-oriented and don't let obstacles slow me down. When I was a freshman, my family was no longer a part of my life; I was forced to provide for myself. I worked 2 jobs my entire undergraduate career, continued my full-time class load, joined the university bacteriology research team, and became president of the Assyrian club. I used these challenges as an opportunity to become a stronger, more resilient me, ready to overcome life's next obstacle."

Rachelle's Feedback

Persistence and grit are critical factors! Good for you! Do you have an example to provide regarding a time when you overcame a problematic setback?

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"Setbacks are hard to deal with because I am aware that more can be done. When I encounter a setback I try to be kind to myself and first identify what can be done differently and attempting different approaches to fix it."

Rachelle's Feedback

Good start, but I suggest developing this response a bit more. How do you practice self-care when dealing with a setback or failure? Since setbacks are part of the medical profession, how will you best prepare yourself to face additional setbacks going forward?

Anonymous Answer

"It doesn't affect me to the degree that it will affect my work. I usually try to use a setback to motivate me."

Rachelle's Feedback

Unfortunately, setbacks sometimes occur along the path to success. You can build on this answer by talking about how a setback makes you feel. Does it discourage or frustrate you? How do you process that emotion and then move forward so that you can continue to work with confidence?

How to Answer: When you suffer a setback, how does that emotionally affect you and your work?

Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Kansas City University Medical School interview.

2. When you suffer a setback, how does that emotionally affect you and your work?

How to Answer

Written by Rachelle Enns on July 1st, 2022

Answer Example

Written by Rachelle Enns on July 1st, 2022

Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"So when I failed one of my pharm exams, that struck me greatly. But after that shock, I made a plan to ensure it wouldn't happen again and improved greatly on my next exam."

Rachelle's Feedback

The fact that you made a plan to ensure this did not happen again, is exactly what the interviewer would want to hear. It's good that you bounced back so quickly!

Show More Answers

Anonymous Answer

Rachelle's Feedback

Persistence and grit are critical factors! Good for you! Do you have an example to provide regarding a time when you overcame a problematic setback?

Anonymous Answer

Rachelle's Feedback

Anonymous Answer

"It doesn't affect me to the degree that it will affect my work. I usually try to use a setback to motivate me."

Rachelle's Feedback

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