The Committee
Interview
WHAT: The Health Professions Advising Committee prepares composite letters of
evaluation for applicants to medical, dental, and optometry school. Most of these
schools strongly prefer that, when available, a committee letter is prepared on
behalf of the student. In order for our committee to draft a letter in support of your
application, we require an interview.
WHO: Who is a part of the committee? The committee consists of a Health
Professions Advisor and 1-2 other members of the University community.
WHY: Why interview with the committee? The Committee Interview serves two
purposes. First, it gives the committee an opportunity to spend some time with the
candidate before crafting the committee letter of evaluation, and secondly, allows
the applicant to gain valuable interview experience. Our committee interviews are
very similar to the interviews at professional schools; we ask many of the same
questions that you are likely to get at your school interviews. Once the committee
has finished with the interview portion, there will be time for you to ask questions
of the committee; we will also provide feedback. The committee strongly
encourages each applicant to treat the committee interview in the same way you
would treat an interview at the professional schools, and to prepare appropriately.
WHEN: When should you schedule the interview? To be considered for an
interview, each applicant must have completed the pre-application and have all
letters of recommendation on file with the pre-health advising office. Once an
applicant’s file is complete with these items, the applicant will be contacted to
arrange an interview date and time.
WHERE: Where is the interview conducted? Typically the interview will take place
in the conference room on the second floor of Clark Hall. However, when you are
contacted for your interview, the location of your interview will be provided in the
email.
WEAR: What should I wear? We encourage applicants to wear professional dress.
For the men, this means a full suit, a tie (not a loud tie), and a neutral colored, button
down dress shirt. Ladies, a suit is preferable- either skirt or pant suit, closed-toe
shoes, and no loud jewelry. Be sure your clothing is clean, pressed, and in good
repair. Being well groomed is essential. Our hope is that you practice your actual
interview attire at the committee interview. Remember, you want your personality,
drive, commitment to the profession, knowledge, etc. to make you stand out, not
your attire or your appearance.
http://career.ua.edu/downloads/handouts/Dressing%20For%20Success.pdf
HOW: How should I prepare? The interview itself should be a conversation with
dialogue flowing in both directions. Revisit your application; if an activity or honor
was important enough to put into your personal statement or to list on your
application, it should come up in the interview. Read up on current healthcare
legislation. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to read the entire bill, but having
a general knowledge of the current state of healthcare and how it could affect your
career will be beneficial to you on interview day.