Medical School Mock Interview
Excel in your medical school interview with 50 essential questions covering ethics, clinical scenarios, and motivation.
Question 8 of 50
We believe in the continual development of our medical students, both professionally and personally. What is your self-development plan?
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Community Answers
Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
Having a self-development plan is incredibly important for any medical student. The interviewers want to know what your plan is and how attending their medical school will be beneficial to that plan. If they are going to invest in you, they need to know that you have a plan for investing in yourself.
Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
"I agree that self-development is crucial for continual growth and achievement. I am committed to investing in myself, and I do this by learning to speak Spanish and taking a creative writing course one night a week outside of my undergraduate program."
Ryan Brunner has over ten years of experience recruiting, interviewing, and hiring candidates in the healthcare, public service, and private manufacturing/distribution industries.
When approaching an answer to a question on your self-development, you'll want to focus on things that will fall outside of the scope of the curriculum of the medical school you will attend. Some ideas for self-development to consider discussing are listening to an inspiring podcaster, attending personal development workshops, spending time volunteering in a capacity related to your career goals, or learning another language.
"Professional growth stems from academic excellence and I plan to remain engaged in each course throughout medical school. Additionally, I would like to participate in a few research projects, which extend medical knowledge beyond the classroom, forming bonds with mentors and professionals in the academic arena. Finally, I plan to partake in at least one service project per year, as I feel it is important to serve and learn more about the patient population we treat."
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Jaymie
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Anonymous Answer
I always learn new things from those who are older or more experienced than me. So I like to watch motivational videos on YouTube with channels such as Med school insiders, etc., that'll give me an idea of what to expect and how to prepare.
Rachelle's Feedback
Motivational videos from med school insiders is a great approach to continual development. Good answer! If you have any others, feel free to add in some variety.
Anonymous Answer
I'd say my self-development plan would be dependent on whether I get into medical school or not and where that path takes me. Should I get in, I want to pursue medicine and stay up to date on the latest innovations through reading and studies. If I am declined, I plan on gaining more experience, then apply again. Personally, however, I am currently working on reducing my body fat percentage from 11-12% to 8-9% and slowly transitioning into a more vegetarian diet to keep myself healthy. For mental growth, I enjoy reading and creative outlets like DnD.
Rachelle's Feedback
It sounds like you are an incredibly well-rounded individual. Your answer is well thought out, and any interviewer should be happy to hear that you have such a positive range of interests.
Anonymous Answer
I think it is important to continue to become a great leader. Nothing can be done alone, and I enjoy listening to podcasts that help me learn better ways to lead. I want to make sure I carve out time each week to pay attention to developing my leadership skills further, whether that be through mentorship, listening to podcasts, or reading books.
Rachelle's Feedback
Very good! You are keen on self-development and offer up many ways that you can pursue this growth. Now, to turn this answer into one that is more actionable - how will you find a mentor? Which podcasts and books do you currently dive into? Which do you plan to explore?
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