Interview Preparation

The final phase of the application process is around the corner and you’ve just received an interview invitation from the schools that you applied to. Now it’s time to start researching the school, getting familiar with their interview style, remembering all your experiences, and practicing for the big day.

Here are some interview formats that PA schools utilize:

One-on-One

This format is one applicant to one interviewer. In this case, the interviewer will likely have a set of questions they use to get to know the candidate. The interview is usually 30 minutes to an hour long. 

Most common questions:

1. Tell me about yourself?
2. Why PA? Why this school?
3. What sets you apart from the person sitting next to you?
4. What is the difference between NP/PA/MD/DO? Why did you choose one over the other?

Expectations: Know the history of the PA profession, what a PA is/does, your scope of practice, etc. Research the school you are interviewing for and know their mission statement, what extracurriculars they offer, and their learning format.

1. Why PA should be part of the “tell me about yourself”
2. Don’t forget to think of questions to ask the interviewer at the end
3. Do not let your reason be “to help people” others professions also help people, be more specific 

Panel

This interview style is multiple interviewers to one applicant. In this case, they are all evaluating one applicant and will each have questions for you to answer. 

Most common questions

1. Give an example of a time when you had to prioritize in a high pressure situation. 
2. How would you handle a situation where you disagreed with a physician’s treatment plan? 
3. Describe a time when you faced a significant challenge and how you overcame it. 

Expectations: During a panel interview, expect to be asked a variety of questions including personal, behavioral, problem solving, ethical, etc. 

1. Make eye contact, speak to the entire panel, and do not just focus on one interviewer. 
2. Whenever you are asked about interacting with another health care professional, avoid negatively speaking of the individual or the profession in general. As a PA you will be interacting with multiple health care professionals, and the interviewer wants to ensure that you will be able to work well in a team setting. 

Group Interview

This interview style includes multiple candidates with one or more interviewers. This will also evaluate how you are in a team setting while simultaneously grading your own responses.

Keep in mind that the interviewers will be evaluating you throughout the interview, which includes when you are answering questions and when you are not. Ensure that you continue to stay engaged as your peers speak and remain respectful. 

Multiple-mini-interview: MMI

This interview format is station based. There will be multiple stations addressing and assessing different scenarios. This includes ethical reasoning, critical thinking, and problem solving.

Most common questions

1. Scenario question - what would you do if you need to find new information? Who would you call?
2. Policy question - asks about your opinion on current issues in the PA field (examples: name change, autonomy, etc.)
3. Personal questions - similar to one-on-one interview 
4. Random questions - if you could be an animal, which animal would you be?
   1. Style: if you could be/go/have…

Expectations:

1. 6-10 interview stations with each focused on a different questions/scenarios
   1. Might have a station with a standardized patient encounter
   2. Essay writing station
   3. Teamwork station to complete a task
   4. “Rest stations”
2. Assesses:
   1. Verbal and nonverbal communication skills
   2. Interpersonal and critical thinking skills
3. Will have one-on-one interviews and ethical scenarios (social and policy)

1. Timed environment - practice timing your answers!
2. Additional resource: https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-medical-school/what-it-s-participate-multiple-mini-interviews-mmis