What about interviews? Are they required? Are they important?

Interviews are a part of the medical school application process, but schools differ in how they conduct interviews. For example, at some state medical schools, all applicants from that state are interviewed. At other schools, select students are invited to interviews only after an initial and intensive review of the application has been completed. Reviewing the application procedures at the medical schools that interest you will inform you about their specific policies regarding interviews.

Medical schools also differ in where the interviews take place and who conducts them. For example, most medical school interviews are conducted on campus, but some schools schedule off-campus interviews with local physicians practicing close to you. Interviews may be conducted by individuals or by committee. Again, gathering information about the individual schools that interest you will help with preparation.

For More Information:

• Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR™)
  Published by the AAMC, this book is the most authoritative guide for applying to medical school. This accurate, thorough, and reliable resource is the only complete guide to U.S. and Canadian medical schools fully authorized by the schools themselves.  In it you will find information on application procedures and deadlines, selection factors (including MCAT® scores and grade-point averages), medical school class profiles, education costs and financial aid packages, and much more.