Be certain you want to become a physician or dentist, and be able to verbalize your reasons for choosing your career path.
The Student Doctor Network is an excellent source of information on the interview process. The site is maintained with the help of feedback from interviewees and contains advice, sample questions, and comments specific to various allopathic, osteopathic, and dental programs.
Student Doctor Network
The University of Washington has prepared lectures on medical school and residency interviews, and these can be found at:
Guide to Interviewing at Health Professions Schools
Health Professions School Interview Report
MSTP Interview Preparation and Reports
Be informed! Know you position on ethical and political issues in medicine. Biomedical Ethics (PHIL A302) is an excellent introduction to biomedical ethics. Read as much of the general medical literature as you can. For example, the editorial sections of the New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet, and the Journal of the American Medical Association can be helpful in developing an understanding of health care delivery and bioethical concerns. Useful sources of information include:
Bioethics Provides a number of links that contain information on bioethical issues in medicine, education, and research.
Bioethics.net: Center for Bioethics, University of Pennsylvania
American Society for Bioethics and Humanities
UW School of Medicine Department of Medical History and Ethics
Ethics Awareness Among Applicants to Medical School
Virtual Mentor American Medical Association Journal of Ethics
Health Care Delivery: Rural vs. Urban Communities
New England Journal of Medicine Health Care Delivery Collection
The Health Professions Advising website has been developed by
the WWAMI Biomedical Program in partnership with the
Office of Undergraduate Research & Scholarship.
