"Whether in an outpatient setting or in critical operating room procedure, effectively treating patients to give the best outcome comes down to a physician's problem solving abilities and I'm confident that my use of solid judgment will help me to be a confident physician. My medical school utilized a problem-based learning strategy that put groups of students working with a faculty member. In this environment, we were given real world clinical situations and we had to use our basic science knowledge and critical thinking skills to walk through solving the situations. This experience helped me to develop great critical thinking skills and has prepared me well heading into residency."

As you prepare for your residency interview, think of a few real life examples that showcase your logic and reasoning abilities. Share a brief overview of the problem you faced, discuss the pros and cons of each decision you could have made, and tell the interviewers why the solution you chose was the best. Be sure to include details of the positive impact you generated by using strong judgment. The goal of your response is to assure the interviewers that you approach issues with care and logic so they will be confident in your ability to use this same logic if matched into their training program.