The golden rule for interviews is "Be Yourself." Interviewers have been through all of this before, and they're pretty good at spotting people who are putting on an act or reading from a mental script. What they're trying to find out from this interview is what kind of person you are and how you relate to others. Up until now, you've been only a few sheets of paper, a bunch of numbers, and (probably horrible) photograph. Now's the time to show them your stuff. But, remember no lying and no BS.

Be Prepared
Although there is no way to prepare yourself for every question you may be asked (and, as you'll see, some of the questions may be bizarre), you should be ready to answer questions about your motivation to become a physician, your academic background, your extracurricular and leisure activities, your job or research experience, and your views on medical problems and ethical issues. Check out our selection of sample questions and practice by preparing answers and then presenting them to a (candid and honest) friend. Another, perhaps more brutal, suggestion is to audio or videotape yourself. It may not be pleasant, but it's guaranteed to be enlightening. The point of this practice is not to memorize answers, but to practice handling the stress of the interview situation and answer questions with substance and examples.

Approach With Confidence
Like dogs, interviewers seem to smell fear. The tone of your interview is often set in the first few seconds, so approach with confidence. Firm handshake. Eye contact. Positive attitude. The best interview is a dialogue, with considerable "give and take." Avoid controversial or emotionally charged subjects like abortion. If your interviewer brings them up and asks for your views, state them and move on.

Take Your Time
Believe it or not, your interviewers don't expect you have a ready answer for questions (that would be impossible), but they do expect you to come up with a coherent, well-thought-out response. Take the time to do so. Don't be afraid to hesitate and formulate an answer before opening your mouth to speak. Good physicians don't rush to a conclusion without considering the facts; rather, they think through a problem before they decide how to act. If a question catches you off guard, take a second to think it through. If it seems ambiguous, ask for clarification. If you don't know, admit it and ask the interviewer to share the answer. By taking the time to make sure that your response is well conceived and well spoken, you will impress the interviewers as thoughtful and articulate - two characteristics essential in a good doctor.

Ask Questions
Yes, the interview is the time for medical schools to find out about you, but it is also an excellent opportunity for you to find out more about the school. Before you go to an interview, make sure you've studied the school's information packet and are ready to ask intelligent questions about the program. Do a search at your undergraduate or public library to see if the school has been in the news and, if so, for what. Unless you are a great actor, ask questions only about those things you are truly interested in; you don't want to look like you're sucking up. Also, don't ask questions that could be answered by reading the school's brochure.

Dress for Success
Like it or not, looks count. No matter what your usual mode of dress, you should dress conservatively and professionally for your interviews. For men, this means a suit, or a blazer and nice slacks (and, of course, a tie); for women, a suit, blazer and skirt or dress slacks, or a business-style dress is appropriate. Keep an eye on the details: polish your shoes, invest in a nice portfolio or case for your papers, and by all means, iron your clothes. If you are generally somewhat less than conservative in your dress, you may want to tone it down: men, replace the big hoop earring with a stud; women, take off the gold glitter polish and paint on clear. After all, you don't want to be asked, as one of the respondents to our survey was, "Why are you dressed the way you are? Why did you come here looking the way you do?" Be yourself, but also be savvy about the type of environment you've chosen for your career.

Conduct Yourself Professionally
Admissions committees can see from your application that you are smart, accomplished, and highly regarded by your professors. The interview is an opportunity for them to gauge things that are not so easily conveyed on paper. Medical schools are looking for students with maturity, empathy, and superior interpersonal skills. All of these things come through in the interview. In a group setting, where the committee talks with more than one candidate at a time, you will be observed not only when you answer a question, but also when your fellow applicants are speaking. Keep alert, and show interest. After all, you never know what you may learn that you can use in your next interview.