La période des entrevues en médecine approche à grands pas. C’est pourquoi j’ai décidé de mettre à disposition de Google, ici, le document qui a servi à ma propre préparation (qui fut très rigoureuse). Si vous pouvez répondre à toutes ces questions, vous êtes sûrement fin prêt !
En effet, contrairement à ce que colportent certains ragots, je pense qu’une entrevue, ça se prépare. N’écoutez pas ceux qui vous disent qu’il suffit d’être naturel… Ils veulent sûrement votre place ;)
Désolée pour les lecteurs habituels, que cela n’intéresse nullement…
Questions au sujet de l’autobiographie :
- Qu’as tu appris de telle ou telle expérience
- Parle-nous d’une personne qui a eu un grand impact dans ta vie?
- Quelle est la personne que tu admires le plus?
- Quel a été l’événement le plus stressant dans ta vie? Comment as-tu réussi à gérer la situation?
- Quelle est la décision la plus difficile que tu es eu à prendre?
- Quel est ton plus grand regret dans ta vie ?
- Quel est ton plus grand échec à ce jour ?
- Tes trois plus grandes réussites ?
Questions sur la personnalité et les motivations :
- Parle-nous de toi, quel genre de personne es-tu ?
- Quelles sont tes forces et tes faiblesses ? Si tu pouvais changer un aspect de ta personne qu’est-ce que ça serait?
- Pourquoi veux-tu devenir médecin ?
- Qu’est-ce que tu veux faire dans la vie ?
- Quand as-tu pris la décision que la médecine serait une bonne carrière pour toi ?
- Est-ce que quelqu’un t’a influencé dans ton choix de carrière ?
- As-tu des proches qui sont médecins? Est-ce que tu comptes suivre leur traces ?
- Parle-moi de ton enfance
- Quel genre d’enfant étais-tu ?
- Si tu mourais soudainement, qu’est-ce que ta vie aurait signifié jusqu’à ce jour ?
- Comment est-ce que tu gères ton stress ?
- Comment te considères-tu émotionnellement préparé pour les difficultés auxquelles tu devras faire face en médecine ?
- Qu’est-ce que tu fais pour t’amuser dans tes temps libres ?
- Parle-moi de tes hobbies, passe-temps
- Comptes-tu continuer tes hobbies durant tes études de médecine ?
- Qu’elle est le meilleur livre/film (ou le dernier) que tu as lu ? Qu’est-ce que tu as aimé ?
- Quel est ton auteur préféré ? Pourquoi ?
- Avec quel genre de personne est-ce que tu t’entends le mieux ?
- As-tu des amis ? Parle moi un peu de tes amis.
- Comment est-ce que tes amis décriraient ta personalité ?
- Qu’est-ce que tu aimerais que tes amis disent de toi lorsque tu va mourir ?
- Donne-moi un exemple de comment tu as géré un conflit interpersonnel ?
- Démontre-moi que tu t’entends bien avec les autres.
- Donne moi un exemple où tu as démontré du leadership.
- Aimerais-tu avoir un enfant ?
- As-tu un(e) petit(e) ami(e) ?
- Si tu pouvais faire exhausser trois de tes souhaits, quels seraient-ils ?
- Que ferais-tu lors d’une journée parfaite ?
Questions concernant la médecine :
- As-tu des expériences avec la maladie ou avec la mort ?
- Quelles qualités font un bon médecin ?
- Quelles sont les qualités qui feraient de toi un bon médecin ?
- Où est-ce que tu aimerais pratiquer la médecine ?
- Quel type (spécialité) de médecine t’intéresse ?
- Où te vois tu dans 15 ans ?
- Quel est le rôle du médecin de l’an 2000 ?
- Quels sont les défis auxquels la médecine devra faire face dans les 10 prochaines années?
- Est-ce que tu penses que la médecine devient trop impersonnelle avec l’avènement de la technologie ?
- Est-ce que tu penses que les médecins sont trop payés ?
- Quelles sont les qualités qui feraient de toi un bon médecin ?
- Où est-ce que tu aimerais pratiquer la médecine?
Questions de fin d’entrevue :
- Qu’est-ce que tu comptes faire si tu n’es pas accepté ?
- Est-ce que tu as des questions supplémentaires ?
Questions à compléter juste avant l’entrevue à l’UdeM :
- Quelles sont les expériences dont vous êtes fiers
- Vos passe-temps
- Vos prix et bourses
- Vos contacts avec la maladie (familiaux, personnels etc…)
- Moment le plus heureux de votre vie et moment le plus malheureux
- Comment vous voyez-vous dans 10 ans?
- Pire défaut et principale qualité
- En 2 mots, pourquoi devrions-nous vous choisir?
Quelques sujets d’entrevue de groupe :
- Qui doit décider si l’on doit pratiquer des interventions massives sur les nouveaux-nés risquant d’être lourdement handicapés ?
- Internet favorise-t-il la communication ?
- Pour ou contre l’informatique au primaire ?
- Il manque de médecins au Québec. Devrions-nous faire venir 100 médecins étrangers ?
- Que pensez-vous du clonage ?
- Est-ce que les fonds publics devraient subventionner le sport professionnel?
Quelques questions d’entrevue individuelle :
- Quelle est la réalisation dont vous êtes le plus fier ? et pourquoi ?
- Parlez-moi d’une autre réalisation personnelle.
- Parlez-moi de votre contexte familial. De vos parents.
- Comment sont vos parents avec vous ?
- Quels sont les gens qui vous sont chers ?
- Avez-vous des amis ? Que faites-vous avec vos amis ? Qu’est-ce qu’ils diraient de vous si on leur demandait ?
- Vous faites une erreur médicale : que faites-vous ?
- Mise en situation : Une infirmière vous demande si on doit effectuer les manoeuvres de réanimation sur un malade de 85 ans qui va faire une crise cardiaque. Que faite-vous ? Qui prend la décision finale ?
- Mise en situation : Tu as prescrit un ECG à un patient et l’infirmière en chef vient te voir pour te dire que ça n’a pas d’allure de lui avoir prescrit ça, que ça coûte très cher au système de santé ce genre de procédure et que dans le cas du patient ça ne va rien lui apporter… Qu’est-ce que tu fais ?
- Mise en situation : Ta grand-mère est très malade et puisque tu es médecin et qu’elle veut en finir elle te demande de lui prescrire une dose létale de morphine, que fais-tu ?
- Pourquoi il manque de médecins en région ?
- Si vous étiez le ministre de la santé, nommez deux choses que vous feriez pour améliorer le système de la santé ?
- Que pensez-vous du système de santé au Québec ?
- Vous êtes médecin depuis assez longtemps : qu’est-ce qui vous fait le plus peur ?
- La profession de médecin est stressante : comment allez-vous gérer ce stress ?
- Quand on est médecin, on côtoie la mort : comment allez-vous composer avec cela ?
- Comment allez-vous combiner vie professionnelle et vie familiale ?
- En quelle sorte de médecin vous voyez-vous ?
- Quel est votre pire défaut? Qu’est-ce que répondrait votre copain/copine à cette question?
- Dites-nous pourquoi on devrait vous choisir.
D’autres conseils :
Ninety percent of unsuccessful interviews are a result of one of two common mistakes made by interviewees. One is being under prepared to answer a specific question; the other is being over prepared. Underpreparation results from the misconception that because it is not possible to predict with accuracy the specific questions that will be asked, it is impossible and/or inefficient to practice answers. The telltale signs of this mistake are meandering, disorganized replies to open-ended questions, contradictions, and redundancies. The second pitfall, that of overpreparedness, results when good intention is combined with poor strategy. People who make this mistake are easily stumped by unusual questions and may give stilted and overrehearsed answers to more common questions. They might appear to be stiff and nervous, and can even come across as bad listeners, since their answers (though well organized and pointed) do not consistently address the question that was asked. Also, their ability to adapt easily to different interviewers and interview styles is inhibited, making it difficult for them to establish rapport.
**Open-Ended Questions :** - Who are you? - Why medical school? - How would a friend describe you? - Why do you want to be a doctor? - How are you unique? - List three things you want me to know about you. - What are your strengths and weaknesses? - Why should we accept you? - Tell me about yourself. Open-ended questions are the easiest. There is absolutely no excuse for not taking full advantage of these. First, they are obvious; they are exactly what you should have asked yourself when you first decided to go to medical school. Also, they offer you the chance to openly sell yourself. This is where you should communicate the top three points you would like to make. Preparing specific, focused answers for each of the above questions will also go a long way toward helping you to answer all of the sample questions that follow, no matter what category they are from.
**Questions about Your Motivation/Sincerity :** - What other careers have you explored? - Do you feel that you have a realistic view of medical school? - Do you understand what the life of a doctor entails? - What will you do if you don't get into medical school? - Why do you want to attend this school? - Why do you want to work with sick people? - Is this school your top choice? - Where else have you applied? - Would you consider a foreign medical school? - Where do you see yourself in 10/20/30 years? - What do you want to specialize in? - How do you plan to pay for medical school? - What do you hope to get out of medicine? - Do you have any concerns about this school? - Do you have any ideas about your residency? - Have you considered the advantages/disadvantages of living in this area? These questions probe exactly how much you want to practice medicine. The committee wants to understand the thought you have put into your decision. If you have indicated elsewhere in your application that you come from a family of physicians, then they want reassurance that you're not under family pressure. They also need to know that you understand the difficult journey of studying and practicing medicine, and that your knowledge of a doctor's life is not limited to what you have seen on television. Lastly, they want to know that you are sincere in wanting their specific program. If another school is your top choice, be honest. But also be prepared with the reasons that you applied to their school-and it should be more compelling than saying they were your "backup." One tip here is to review the reasons for your motivation that you gave in your essay. The interviewer will probably have read it recently and if your answers don't correspond, it will make the interviewer doubt one or the other-and you. When answering any one of these questions, start and end with a reiteration of your desire to 1) become a doctor, and 2) attend their school. Emphasize too that you know what your decision entails. Your points should explain why your unique experience makes medical school the right choice. For example: Are you more interested in the science/research side of medicine, or in helping people? If it's the first, you should have a strong research and science background. If it's the latter, back it up with volunteer experience or other kinds of community involvement. Most will stress both sides, which is fine, as long as you can provide solid evidence.
**Questions about Your Qualifications and Experience :** - What work experience have you had? - What health-care experience have you had? - Tell me about your research experience. - How have you prepared yourself for a career in medicine? - What clinical/hospital experience have you had? - What work experience do you wish you had? - How have you contributed to your community? - Tell me about a time you have helped someone. - What volunteer experience have you had? - What's your toughest subject? This is pretty straightforward, and easy to prepare for. Just be ready to talk about any experience that you have mentioned in your application. If you feel that you are weak in clinical experience or research, then: 1) say so with regret and explain if there is a good reason, and 2) talk about indirect experience instead (such as the time you set your sister's wrist on a hiking trip or the hours spent tutoring English to adult immigrants). Emphasize your motivation through your experience.
**Questions about Your Knowledge of the Medical Field :** - What do you see as the biggest challenge facing the field of medicine today? - Are you aware of the upcoming surplus of doctors? How do you feel about it? - How do you feel about the debate over the hours residents are forced to work? - How would you advise patients who are interested in visiting an acupuncturist or chiropractor? - What do you think about medical advice being available on the Web? Express your opinions on: - genetic engineering - the future of technology in medicine - government health-care issues - the high cost of health care - doctors' salaries - hospice care - alternative medicine - the role of spirituality in healing This category is often the most daunting for applicants. You might feel that you are being given an oral exam, and on one level you are. The admissions committee wants to see that you are familiar with current events. This is another way to test your sincerity and dedication, and it shows an intellectual curiosity and ability. It is important that the interviewer knows you want to help people, but medicine is as much science as healing and both facets need to be explored.
**Questions about Your Personality and Background :** - Tell me about a significant event in your life and how it shaped you. - Do you have a favorite book/class/professor? - Who do you not get along with and why? - Which of your qualities would you want to pass down to your children? - What about yourself would you change if you could? - What three material objects are most important to you? - What people have influenced you and how? - Do you have any heroes? - How do you handle stress? - Give me an example of a time you contributed to a group effort. - Tell me about a cross-cultural experience you have had. - What do you do in your free time? - What are your hobbies? - What is your number one accomplishment? In some ways these will be easy questions for you. You have had practice with them; they have probably been asked in just about every interview experience you have ever had. These questions about yourself are on more of a superficial level (the more personal questions are discussed below). But talking about yourself-even in response to the lighter questions-can be nerve-wracking when you are being judged on your responses. As always, the answer is to prepare, be yourself, and relax.
**Questions about Your Ethics/Character** : - Would you work in an AIDS clinic? - Would you prescribe birth control pills to a minor without parental consent? - Have you ever cheated or helped a friend cheat? - How will you deal with know-it-all patients? Give your opinions on: - genetic engineering - abortion - euthanasia - providing clean needles to addicts - supplying condoms to schools - animal research These questions are a subset of questions about the medical field as well as questions about your personality, and subsequently among the toughest to answer. If you are ready for them, though, you will be able to breeze through where others stumble. There are two things that should be of comfort to you: 1) There is a fairly limited number of these "hot" issues so you can be completely ready for most of them, and 2) interviewers won't judge you based on your opinion, even if they disagree, but rather on the thoughtfulness with which you have answered. For this category in particular, preparation is everything.
**Personal/Illegal Questions :** - Has anyone close to you been seriously ill or died? - Have you ever been ill or injured? - What is your relationship with your family like? - What is more important to you than anything else? - Are you married/do you have children? - Do you plan to have children in the future? - How will you juggle a medical career with a family? - How important is family to you? - How do you plan to pay for medical school? This category is different from the rest. The common thread through these questions is the reluctance of interviewees to answer them, either because they are personal, inappropriate, irrelevant, or illegal. Your first reaction to one of these questions might be embarrassment, discomfort, or annoyance. You might be compelled to refuse an answer, or point out the inappropriateness of the question based on your gender/race, and so on. Our advice is to accept the situation gracefully and answer the question briefly and as straightforwardly as possible. Take into account that the interviewer might be inexperienced, or even testing your ability to tactfully deal with an uncomfortable situation.
Sources : L’excellent, mais très américain EssayEdge, le site perso d’un étudiant de l’UdeM, et les souvenirs de mon entrevue et de celles de mes amis…