How to Answer: Give us an example of a time you went above and beyond in your work.
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Medical School job interview.
3. Give us an example of a time you went above and beyond in your work.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Whether it's in a research project or your clinical rotations during medical school, going above and beyond what is asked of you can sometimes help distinguish you from your peers. In proposing this question, your interviewers would like to know about your willingness to go over and above in your school work.
Written by Ryan Brown on December 11th, 2022
How to Answer
Display to the interviewers that you are willing and ready to do more than just the bare minimum during your time in medical school. Since they are asking for a specific example, try to relate the time you went above and beyond the call of duty to your academics up to this point.
Written by Ryan Brunner on August 29th, 2022
1st Answer Example
"I feel very fortunate that my parents instilled a fantastic work ethic in me from a young age, and I've carried that work ethic forward with me into my undergraduate program. During a big project last year in my undergraduate program, I worked with a team of two other people, and I stepped up to coordinate all of our meetings and delegate the tasks we were each going to take on. Without prompting, I led the charge in putting all of our materials together in earning an A on it. Heading into medical school, I assure you that you will be getting a student who is always willing to put in the extra time and effort to get the most out of my experience here."
Written by Ryan Brown on December 11th, 2022
2nd Answer Example
"In high school I was tasked with spearheading a canned food drive for a local community parish. Our goal was to collect over 300 canned food items and distribute them prior to Thanksgiving. I was very devoted to this project and walked throughout my neighborhood to collect donations. By the end of the collecting period, the school had collected over 1200 food items! I also helped lift and transport these items to the local parish, as well as distribute the food to community members in need. It was extremely rewarding to partake in such a meaningful activity from start to finish."
Written by Dr. Rodman on December 11th, 2022