After the Interviews | Cambridge Clinical

What to do after medical/dental school interviews

Congratulations! You have finished your interviews, but the task at hand is not yet over.

Even though it feels as if a great burden has been lifted from your shoulders, there is still much to do.

There is no point in constantly reflecting on the negative aspects of the interview. Everyone has some. It’s important to move on and to move ahead.

Here are some things that you can do while waiting to hear the outcome of your interviews:

1. Have a breather!
Interviews are not only time-consuming, but they can be really mentally challenging. You’ve probably invested weeks of your time preparing for them in the hope that you will do your very best. However good or bad you think your interviews may have gone, it’s not a bad idea to have a few days of complete rest from work. Perhaps catch up with alternative things: maybe your favourite sport or your hobbies or other interests that you’ve put on hold. And it’s a great time to reconnect with all the friends you haven’t seen recently. Being able to get a good night’s sleep without stressing also helps you to recharge your batteries so that you can perform to the best of your ability in the further challenges that lie ahead.

Key Points

Rest after the stressful interview period.
Spend time on hobbies, sports, friends, and family.
Get enough sleep and recharge before the next challenges.

2. Positivity
Interview time for most people is very stressful, and the ups and downs of the process can generate negative feelings. This is not abnormal. However, try to find mechanisms to remain positive. Try not to get too stressed and remember you have your whole life ahead of you. Much of what we do is in our control, but so much is not, and it’s good for your mental health not to fret over things you cannot change. It is for us to perform the best that we can and be true to ourselves.
Above all, don’t dwell on how well you think you may have done in the interviews. Instead, stay focused on the tasks ahead.

Key Points

Don't overthink or dwell on interview performance.
Accept that some outcomes are beyond your control.
Focus on future tasks and maintain a positive mindset.

3. Remember your A-levels, or whichever exams you are sitting
Remember that final exams are not far away, following interviews, and mocks may be just around the corner. Now is a really good time to consolidate and go over areas that may need some more work. The last few months are critical, and there’s no time for procrastination. Getting an offer doesn’t mean you’re in – you’ve still got to get the grades, and this is now the ideal time to ramp up revision.

Doing well in your mocks will inevitably boost your morale for the real exams. The other great benefit of putting in the work after interviews is that much of it will stick and then you won’t have to cram everything in just before the real thing. It’s a great opportunity, as much of the time that you’ve dedicated towards doing well in the interviews is finally liberated, so use this period wisely. Ultimately, without the grades all the effort you’ve put in so far will count for nothing!

Key Points

Resume studying for A-levels or other final exams.
Revise weaker topics and prepare for mocks.
Remember that meeting grade requirements is essential, even with an offer.

4. Keep on top of interview technique
If you are lucky enough to have more than one interview, it’s not unusual for them to be quite spaced out. It’s important, therefore, to continue preparation, working on interview technique and learning from any interviews you have already had.

Key Points

If more interviews are scheduled, keep refining your interview technique.
Learn from previous interviews and continue preparing.

5. Have a backup plan
You have done incredibly well to get this far! Remember, though, that getting into medical or dental school is extremely competitive. Exceptional candidates usually (though not always) get in, and many borderline candidates do not. No process is perfect, however, and sometimes very good candidates – which may be you! – are not offered places. So, even if everyone thinks you’re great, it is still a very good idea to have some backup options. Closely related courses are things like biochemistry, neuroscience, biomedical sciences and natural sciences, and it’s not uncommon for people who have failed to get into medical or dental school first time round to do a closely related degree, then apply for one of the several shortened graduate medical courses on offer in several universities.

Key Points

Medicine and dentistry are highly competitive.
Consider related degree courses such as biochemistry, neuroscience, biomedical sciences, or natural sciences.
Graduate-entry medicine remains an option after completing a related degree if an initial application is unsuccessful.