As the cohort admitted in the year of the COVID-19 pandemic, my medical school admissions assessments were held entirely online. (I was clad in full formal wear… and my home slippers.) My experience was thus different from normal years’. I can’t reveal much anyway, since we all signed a confidentiality agreement. Nevertheless, this post may give you some useful tips for your own NUS or NTU Medicine interview. A master list of resources can be found at the end.
NUS Medicine Interview Experience
For just our year, the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine did away with their usual Focused Skills Assessment (FSA) and Situational Judgement Test (SJT), replacing it with 2 rounds of online interviews, held one after the other. This comprised a Scenario Station followed by a Portfolio Station. NUS Medicine has since reinstated its usual FSA and SJT.
NTU Medicine Interview Experience
I would say that the NTU Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine kept as close as possible to the essence of their Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI). Despite everything being online, it was very well-executed, with well-crafted scenarios. The only difference was that NTU Medicine cut it down to 5 MMI stations instead of the usual 8.
NUS and NTU Medicine Interviews: My Personal Thoughts
Besides my dislike for online interviews, one distinct feeling I had was that the NTU Medicine interviews challenged me much more. I felt that anyone could have answered the NUS Medicine interview questions, and I walked away wondering how they could possibly differentiate the candidates.
Of course, NUS Medicine’s interview format was drastically changed for my year, and perhaps with their FSA and SJT, it will be a much more challenging and stimulating experience. (And this was only my personal experience, not all candidates may have felt the same.) By keeping to the essence of the MMI, in contrast, NTU Medicine gave an inkling of the kind of skills and standard they strive to uphold.
The Not-So-Nice Interviewer
The interviewers were all nice—just what you’d expect. That is, except at my last MMI station for NTU Medicine. The interviewer was very shrewd and appeared to me to be deliberately unsmiling. Throughout our discussion of the scenario, she questioned my stand, attempting to unseat me. At one point, she asked a question, and I felt a flame ignite within me. Not anger, but resolve. I still hold firm to what I believe. And nothing she says is going to change that. When I spoke again, I heard the tone of my own voice change—hardening just a little—reflecting the conviction in my words.
If you are challenged, it’s a good thing. You should be rejoicing internally. It’s time to assert your stand. Remember: It’s a test. The interviewers are there to aggravate you, to dislodge you, to intimidate you.
When you are challenged is when you can rise up to the challenge.
Essential Tips for NUS and NTU Medicine Interviews
Both NUS and NTU Medicine have adopted a more scenario-based interview format with multiple stations, in lieu of the more traditional panel-style interview. This is in the form of the FSA for NUS Medicine, and the MMI for NTU Medicine.
Therefore, you can prepare for both simultaneously, and in the same manner. Here are some practical tips for the NUS and NTU Medicine interviews:
- Read up on medical ethics and healthcare in Singapore.
- Do not spend too much time reading up on medical terms or topics. You are not required to have medical knowledge before entering medical school.
- Reread your personal statement and know it well.
- Have in mind key attributes and key experiences you wish to highlight about yourself—this applies to almost all interviews, including scholarship interviews.
- Prepare some answers in point form to “keystone” questions. (This Medical School Interview Preparation Guide explains more.)
- Practise responding to sample MMI questions and record yourself.
- Relax and enjoy the process—you will do best when you’re in the “flow”.