How to Answer the “Why Medicine” Interview Question

I do think it's wrong for anyone to place a value judgment on someone else's reasons for pursuing a career in anything. Who cares if someone's reason isn't "perfect" so long as they can do the damn job?

This reminds me of when I was in the military and you had those annoying fuckwits who would criticize you for joining the military cause you were born poor and wanted to be able to go to school. Literally getting pissy at you for your motivation not being the "noble" reason of "serving your country!" Ridiculous thing to get bitchy at someone over considering they're still serving their country just fine even if their motivation comes primarily from education goals.

Why love?

Buck$: 👨🏻‍⚕️= 💵

When I was in residency, I had the opportunity to sign up for SOM admission interviews as a faculty interviewer. I have to say after listening to 50+ answers per interview season, I have started to appreciate this question more and more. It’s not a perfect question but it does allow interviewers to assess the applicant’s argumentative skills, interpersonal skills, and in my case, whether or not they have a genuine interest in working with and serving patients. If you think that every applicant has unlimited time and resources to polish their answers to this, you’d be surprised at how many red flags I have had “the privilege” to listen to. More than a handful every year! The fact that this is an old-schooled and repetitive question allows applicants to discuss anything they deem fit, which makes it easier for me to follow up with additional questions. The better answers are usually well supported by some sort of life or personal experiences, followed by a strong statement about personal/ professional growth which lead to medicine.

The entire process appears hyper-formulaic, as one would in a Theater Arts professional free form time delimited 'sketch' assigned to advanced pre- and professional students. It appears free form, but both the Coach and the students know they'll be graded on conforming to tight structural rules; and producing a professional grade piece of work within a tight timeliness.
Great for sharpening "Acting Skill". But not to be confused with any one of the real people participating, or their true inner selves and lives.
All of this seems to flow from the acting maxim that you're finally a pro when you can believably feign sincerity when being insincere, and make your listener believe you, and appreciate you for your sincerity.
The host here is not the target. He likely puts out an Excellent Product...just like that Theater Group.
The Fault is in the entire structure of the system, pressuring the Willing and Able to be Superior Students....and even Better Actors.
How long after you get your spurs before you Burn Out?

Why I want to go into medicine, it’s my passion. I remember the first time I ever held a brain in my hand. It was one of the most interesting thing I’ve ever experienced, I recall going to the hospital quite a few times when I was younger and seeing a physician in scrubs walking in the street and I felt so jittery and a flow of happiness, because I knew that’s what I wanted to do. I want to wear the scrubs and do the work. It will be a long journey with many bumps in the road but I know I can get through it.

I've worked as a pharmacy technician for 5 years and during my time starting my first pharmacist told me i was too young and smart to just be a technician.

I never believed in myself and didnt do so well in high school. I thought I was just not smart enough to strive for a career like that, but he pushed me to go back to school. In my early twenties I went back and with his guidance and I maintained strong grades but I realized I didn't want to do pharmacy school. My mentor was just giving me a purpose but my personal dream has always been to be a doctor.

I don't have any big experiences besides scribing in clinics and hospitals but I don't have a specific goal or specialty I want to go to, yet. Is this a bad thing? Should I continue to shadow or work until I find the exact thing I want to do within medicine? Sometimes I feel like my "Why Medicine?" is lacking but I know its MY dream.

I dunno why I'm even here hayss not even sure if I will finish college

How to answer the "why medicine" question, from a perspective of a doctor that went into medicine for the wrong reasons. Only propagates the manipulative nature of prospective medical students looking to say the "right thing" to get in.

@Medschoolinsiders an interesting video would be to explore why you became a doctor either on this or the kevin jubbal Channel. I've been a subscriber for long and I've more or less heard the points you covered here in previous videos. During that, i struggled to understand few of the points which I think would be well explained had there been an example. Thus the requirement for a video exploring your motivations to enter medicine.

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I would greatly appreciate a running series of videos like this on more commonly asked questions in medical school interviews

I’ve done one interview and have 2 more so far and this question will definitely come up!

I became interested in medicine because of the pandemic. I am (was) a music major (piano) and just got my Bachelors. However, because of the pandemic, artists were deemed unessential, and this made realize how uncertain the life of an artist is. I felt like switching to healthcare for stability was a natural choice (yes I do care about a steady income).

Also, one of my friends became a family doctor and he sparked my curiosity for medicine further. He knew a music major who ended up in med as well, and said "hey you could do med too". I said, "nah there's no way". ALL HE SAID was "why not?". He's right, why not? I've researched all the cons (burnout, debt, THE MCAT) yet I still feel like I want to become a doctor.

Honestly? Just easy money. But you have to play the game 🥲

nice one

I’ve been a paramedic for 17 years. I’m finally ready for the next step in my career! I love medicine and I want to pursue it at a higher level and begin working on research in emergency medicine and trauma.

i was literally thinking this last night and boom this video is made, thank you

please do a so you want to be a nurse

I am going through my secondaries, and this question has come up a few times. This is a personal one because I simply enjoy the new knowledge, the puzzle and the fact that I can apply this knowledge to lend a hand. This is a question that has to come from the heart, in my humble opinion

if i enjoy the intellectual challenge of becoming a dr, that says nothing of how i view ppl. i can be a rude person that doesnt want to help ppl but since i have the intrinsic motivation to do something that is intellecutally challengining, i can be accepted into med school rather than someone who genuinly wants to help and care for ppl. this why med school acceptance process is extremely flawed and is only made to benefit those that are making money out of this.

In my opinion, I kind of find it wrong and very judgemental to decide the reasons for why others become Doctors. It's like enforcing someone to say something you wanna hear. Not to mention, the concept of standing out and finding a unique reason is another way for students to lie about themselves and that's not mentally a good thing.

How about,”i lost my mind and have absolutely no clue what it will do to me.” “I literally do not understand how it will destroy me mentally, physically and emotionally.” “I don’t realize that I will never be able to pay off my student loans, I will be exposed to the worst parts of humanity, and I don’t understand that it will end my life early.” After 20 years of practice, that is what I learned! Good luck

"Chicks, money, power, and chicks"

hes getting better at seamless self-promotion, used to be so clunky lmao

this was really great, but I do have a question would it be unwise to bring religion to the interview or is it okay bring up religion?

Conveniently in time for interview szn

I love these tips! My advisor said something similar so I’m happy to know I have the right guidance

Take a shot every time he says “Nuance”

Thank you!

Very nice!

very good video i’ve been following u for 4 years

yaa jabal

That's quite informative 👍

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