What aspects of our Surgical Oncology fellowship program interest you the most?
With so many options available, this question is asked by most Surgical Oncology fellowship programs to understand what specifically interests you about their program. Your interviewers need to be assured that their program is a match for you, and candidates who show passion and interest often get ranked near the top of their list.
"As I researched Surgical Oncology programs across the country, your quickly jumped to the top of my list for several reasons. First, I want experience in a multidisciplinary approach and love that I would get exposure and experience working with pathology, genetic counseling, and palliative care services during my two years here. I also would appreciate being involved in the initial evaluation of patients and being a part of their treatment plan because it is so important for the surgeon to have this involvement."
Think about two or three features of this program that interest you and how the program can help you achieve your personal goals. Before your interview, thoroughly research the program. More often than not, you can find great information on the program's website. This can include the mission/values of the program and institution, the curriculum, and where alumni go after their time with the program.
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
The caseload is surely one important thing that impresses me.
Another thing that I am interested in is your pancreatic and hepatic database. I managed ______, the central database, and I was the district referent of the national HCC database. I think that data management is the pillar of a good research activity.
Jaymie's Feedback
Excellent answer with specifics!
Anonymous Answer
I knew early on that your program was at the top of my list. After my 4 months of training at the University of Toronto I quickly recognized how devoted your program is to educating and creating leaders in the field. This is supported by my experiences working with previous fellows including my mentor ________. The program has a significant focus on promoting involvement in research and academia which I hope will play a large role in my practice. The opportunity to work alongside co-fellows is important to me after seeing the impact that this support system had on the fellows I've worked with. This is a world-renowned center which I've already learned so much from, excited for the opportunity to continue learning from all of you.
Jaymie's Feedback
You did a great job giving a genuine answer with supporting reasons about why their program interests you.
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