I like to think of interview questions through the lens of a bell curve. In the middle of the distribution lie the most important prompts that, critically, can propel your candidacy forward if answered strategically. I like to call these “broad questions that deserve a paradoxically narrow answer.”
These big-picture, top prompts include: Why do you think we chose to interview you? and Is there anything you want me to tell the committee about you? Name your three greatest strengths and Why should we rank you highly? also fall into this category.
These prompts are extremely open-ended, and consequently, many applicants reflexively answer similarly: “I think you chose to interview me because I like internal medicine for its puzzles and evidence-based nature.” The problem is that anyone interviewing that day could answer in an identical way. The response does not distinguish the candidate.
Instead, offer replies that only you could provide. Showcase your accomplishments – clinical, research, volunteer, leadership, international, or teaching – to differentiate yourself from all other applicants and demonstrate you’re worthy of a residency spot.
Bottom line: The strategic way to respond to these interview questions is to leverage your accomplishments to set you apart, despite the prompts’ general nature.
