WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
If your combined medicine programme interviews applicants, prepare to explain your experiences and reasoning honestly. An invitation is a selection stage, not a reserved place or a promise of admission.
Confirm the format first
Check the invitation for timing, platform, documents and assessment format. Do not assume a weekend campus interview or the same process at every school. Brown’s current PLME guidance, for example, says it does not use interviews in the current application cycle and encourages a video introduction.
A video submission needs its own instructions and time limit. Preparation should fit the actual assessment rather than an old article’s description.
Build examples from what you actually did
Choose experiences that show learning, teamwork and a realistic understanding of service. For each, note the situation, your limited role, what happened and what you would change. Protect other people’s privacy and do not exaggerate clinical responsibility.
For instance, a volunteer could explain how they noticed confusing directions, checked with a supervisor and helped visitors find the correct desk. The reflection matters more than presenting routine volunteering as medical treatment.
Practise reasoning without memorising a performance
Ask a friend to follow up with “Why?” and “What did you learn?” after your answer. Record one practice response and check whether you answered the question directly. Admit uncertainty when appropriate; inventing expertise is less credible than explaining how you would seek guidance.
For a hypothetical disagreement in a team, discuss listening, checking facts and appropriate escalation. Avoid pretending there is one polished sentence that guarantees admission.
Prepare questions and logistics
Read the curriculum and ask a question that genuinely affects your decision, such as how advising works when a student struggles with progression requirements. Test your connection for a remote interview and follow any rules on notes or assistance.
After practice, keep three concise experience outlines and two programme questions. You should sound like yourself, not a memorised admissions script.
Sources and further reading
Sources checked 2026-10-13. Examples and planning suggestions are Effikos editorial guidance.
Something needs a closer look? Send us a correction.
