Med School Interview

This is an excerpt of an interview I took from someone's blog- can't remember it now, but this is approximately the kind of thing they would ask you in med school.

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Me: Good afternoon. My name is CKP.
Panel: Good afternoon. Take a seat.
M: Thank you.
P: Kok Pun? (read it in Bahasa Melayu Baku)
M: Kok Pun. (read it in the same rhyme as fun, sun, run...)
P: Ah. So, why did you take the STPM and not A-Levels or other courses?
M: Because of costs. Besides, STPM is internationally recognised.
P: Ah. I read from your PS and you said that your ambition was not to be a doctor. What was your original ambition?
M: A physicist. I like Physics.
P: And how would that help you in your choice to do Medicine?
M: Physics gives me a foundation in analytical skills, providing strategies etc.
P: And would you continue to pursue your interests in Physics?
M: Not as a career. I'd treat Physics as a hobby. Besides, the sciences are all inter-connected. The role of Physics in the medical field is important, e.g. nanotechnology might affect the medical field in the future.
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P: In your opinion, what is the most important trait a doctor should have?
M: A doctor should have good ethics and strong principles.
P: Sometimes, a doctor is required to change the decisions they have made beforehand. Would you change the decisions you have made or would you stick to your principles?
M: *talks a lot of crap*
P: How would you tell the family members of the patient about your indecisiveness?
M: I would tell them that was the best decision I could make at that moment in time but at this moment, this decision is the best.
P: Okay, now you have a 90-year-old man as a patient. What do you think is the most important thing as a doctor when dealing with him?
M: I will talk slowly... and maybe loudly *realises the stupid answer*
P: Are you implying that all 90-year-old men are like that?
M: No. But I have not seen many 90-year-old men. Only 90-year-old women.
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P: Where do you intend to be after you graduate?
M: I could stay in Singapore and contribute.
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P: What other universities have you applied? Did you apply for local universities?
M: Yes, UM and UKM.
P: Are you sure of getting a place there?
M: Maybe.
P: Why are you so sure?
M: *talks crap*
P: Why NUS, and not UM?
M: *talks about you-know-what-sensitive-issue* Besides, NUS wants the best.
P: But since you want to serve the community so much, you should be in UM. I think that Malaysia is in great need of doctors since their patient:doctor ratio leaves much to be desired.
M: The problem here is * talks crap that didn't answer the question*
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P: Tell me what do you know about the NUS Medicine programme, after you graduate, what will you be etc.
M: 5 year programme, 6 years bond excluding housemanship (I actually told them "6 hours bond" before correcting myself..LOL!), houseman, medical officer...
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P: Do you plan to specialise? Which discipline?
M: Maybe dermatology.
P: Why?
M: Because it's more laidback compared to surgeons who have the highest divorce rate.
P: But I thought you want to serve the community? Why you want a laidback life?
M: *trapped and talked crap to bail myself*
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P: In your life, what is the greatest difficulty you have faced?
M: Financial difficulty. *talked more crap*
P: Then, are you working now?
M: Yeah, part-time.
P: What about during your school years?
M: Well, my parents told me to concentrate on studying.
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P: What is the latest medical issue/disease currently afflicting this region?
M: Avian influenza?
P: Well, you don't see that in Singapore now, do you? I don't think it's in Malaysia now as well.
M: Umm. In Malaysia, tuberculosis cases are on the rise due to the entry of Indonesian immigrants.
P: Ah, that would be a better answer. Infectious disease. Now, would you goto a country infected by disease? And what preparations would you do? And let's say you're a trainee cardiologist and you're about to complete the programme. But all of a sudden, you were called to volunteer in another country. Would you go to the country?
M: *took some time to pretend to think* I will go to the country.
P: That's what they say in interviews.
M: Haha. For preparations, I will consult the pathologists and wear protective gear. About the trainee cardiologist issue, I would still proceed to the country.
P: Why?
M: Well, I get to learn about more cultures and diseases. Maybe I can contribute by writing articles in a journal or something.
P: Aren't you afraid of the diseases? For example, during the SARS crisis, many people in the medical line died.
M: Well, I'll take it as a challenge. I don't mind dying (LOL!) as I've actually contributed something. I don't think my parents would mind me dying for the profession. I think I would compare it to an army out on a war.
P: Well, let's not goto such extreme such as dying.
M: Haha.
****
P: Okay, that's all. Thank you.
M: Thank you.

After the first interview, I went out of the room and wished the candidates waiting for their turn Good Luck. Then, it was time for the 2nd interview conducted about 300 metres away from the room of the 1st Interview. I would say the first interview was okay for me. But in the eyes of the panel, I would have been "just another average candidate that didn't manage to wow us". Sigh.
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If I remember correctly the guy didn't get in... poor chap