You’re most likely to face a traditional interview at a Caribbean university, instead of the MMI style interviews used more commonly in the UK.
These will consist of a panel of interviewers asking you questions about your background, your motivation to study Medicine, your future ambitions and anything else they need to know in order to find out whether you’d be a good fit for the course and Med School.
As well as the general interview prep, and reviewing some common interview questions, you should also be ready to discuss why you’re looking to study in the Caribbean. More specifically, you should expect to be asked why you applied for that specific university, or about why you want to live in that specific location.
Interviews At AUA
If you’ve been invited to interview with AUA, you could be asked about:
Personal history
Education
Medical/work experience
Why AUA
Going to Antigua
Family support/influences
Other schools of interest
Financial preparedness
Closing questions
You should expect to be invited to interview quite swiftly after your application has been sent. Once you’ve been interviewed, you’ll get a decision in approximately three weeks.
American University of Antigua College of Medicine
At SGU, the interview is your opportunity to demonstrate how your journey has prepared you for success as a medical student and for a lifelong commitment to excellence in the field of Medicine.
Successful applicants to SGU School of Medicine will have demonstrated these strengths and attributes:
Strong academic achievement or potential
Empathy and compassion
Motivation towards and demonstrated interest in the profession of Medicine
Ability to learn from mistakes or failures
Critical thinking with problem-solving ability
Strong communication skills and ability to work in a team
Interviewing at an international Medical School is similar in many ways to interviewing in your home country. You’ll sit down with an admissions director, talk through your qualifications, learn more about the school, and (ideally) you’ll hear back from them shortly with an offer of acceptance.
That said, there are some notable differences between attending Medical School in your home country versus attending an international or Caribbean Medical School, and interviewers will want to make sure that you’re aware and ready for the new Medical education experience ahead of you.
These tips from AUA can help guide you during your international Medical School interview:
Be prepared to talk about why you’re choosing an international Medical School instead of one in your home country. Are you looking for a more global medical school experience? Were you unable to attain a seat in your home country due to lack of availability? Whatever the reason is, make sure you can articulate it clearly, openly and honestly, and be ready to share why studying internationally would be the right fit for a student like you.
Show a genuine interest and enthusiasm for the country you’ll be studying in. You’ll be living and studying in a country that’s totally different from your own, and interviewers will appreciate that you’ve taken the time to learn about the culture and citizenry that you’ll be surrounded by during your medical education. Interviewers at Caribbean or international Medical Schools are looking for people who truly want to be there, so be sure to show that you’re excited at the idea of studying internationally. Interviewers can pick up on that!
Starting Medical School in a new country can be challenging, and your interviewer might ask how you plan to adapt to studying in a brand new location, such as Antigua, that could potentially be very far from home. To prepare for this, think of a time in your life you had to adapt to something outside your comfort zone, and be ready to share that story during your interview if it comes up.
Make sure you ask the right questions during your interview, if you haven’t already done so prior. How does the curriculum at your international Medical School compare to those in the UK, or the US? Can you become eligible to practise in your home country or do you have to undergo extra training to do so? This shows the interviewer that you’re asking the right questions, and the answers you receive will help you determine whether international Medical School is truly right for you.
It’s important to note that as an international applicant, you’re highly likely to have an online interview.
These tips from AUC will help you prepare for virtual interviews:
Try to avoid using your phone and use a laptop computer or tablet that’s connected to your WiFi. You’re less likely to have video or audio problems, a more reliable connection, and fewer interruptions from phone calls or notifications.
Set yourself up in a quiet, uncluttered environment and make sure the room is well lit so you don’t appear in shadow.
Test your setup before the interview. Make sure you can use the video conferencing platform, see how your background and lighting looks, and check your connection. Try having a video call with a friend to make sure everything can be seen and heard clearly.
Log in to the interview ahead of time. If you’re early, you’ll get time to fix any last-minute glitches or technical problems.
Treat a virtual interview as seriously as an in-person one. That means dress professionally, speak clearly, be polite, and give more than just “yes” or “no” answers.
Turn off your phone. You don’t want any interruptions during your interview.
These tips from SGU will help you enhance your interview prep:
Think about the core reasons you wish to become a physician. This should centre your responses throughout the interview.
Consider what you have done to explore, define and demonstrate your interest in the field, and be prepared to share this with the interviewer.
Identify how you have persevered through challenges (both personal and academic) and how you would do so in the future.
Write down your responses to frequently asked questions.
Practise answering questions aloud. Do you convey the kindness, compassion, and excellence you wish to see in a physician?
