UofSyd Interview

[mcleodm]

I'm wondering if anyone knows what kind of questions or knows of any questions they ask for this interview? My interview is coming up on the 21 and it would be very helpful.

[Khush311]

Usyd is using a new interview process the mini interview. Most likely it would be based on the the ANU method since they use the mini interview too (but thats all just speculation).
Congrats on the Interview and if you wouldnt mind filling the rest of us in on how it went it would be great :D

[The Crunge]

Hello all,

I went through the new interview process at Sydney just over a week ago. I wrote down all the questions I was asked as soon as I could so I remembered what they were, and in-case I wanted to tell a friend.

The questions are not important, as I could tell you what they were, yet I am sure next year a completely new set of questions and scenarios will be used.

The major aspect I liked about the new MMI format was that preparation for the interview is almost impossible. Set answers are not going to help a candidate. A scenario is given to the candidate, and then a series of questions related to that scenario are asked. I was not concerned about other people having an advantage due to interview preparation courses. The playing field was level; especially considering this was the first year the MMI at Sydney was used.

As far as I could tell, the aim of the MMI was to discover how a candidate thinks. This includes evidence of compassion, intelligence, knowledge of the healthcare system, general knowledge, communication skills, and depth of thought.

Candidates were split into groups of 8, and taken to a hallway with 8 doors leading off it. Each candidate stood in front of a door. A bell was rung, the candidate went through the door, and was met by a single interviewer who asked the candidate to sit at a table. On the table was a scenario with a question at the end. After the candidate answered the question, the interviewer then asked a series of follow-up questions.

7 minutes after walking through the door, another bell was rung. Once this bell rung, the candidate must stop what they were saying, and leave through the door. They then waited for 2 minutes in the hall, until another bell rung, then they would walk through the next door.

Because it is nearly impossible to predict what scenarios will be given, it is almost impossible to prepare for the interview. In my opinion, candidates who have led a well-balanced life, who have a genuine interest in people, society and the healthcare system (this means gaining knowledge in these three areas for fun, not just to get into medicine), and who have well developed communication skills (good english, body language, eye-contact, sense of humour) will have no problems completing the interviews.

An in-depth knowledge of medicine, science, first-aid etc. does not appear to be neccessary, nor even desirable. It appears evidence of divergent thinking was what the interviewers were looking for. So if you're the kind of person who thinks 'outside the box', following your instincts might serve you well.

Of course, my above opinion could be completley misguided, and what I thought the interviewers were looking for did not match what they actually wanted. But unless the faculty is looking for a cohort of book-reading automata, the above observations should serve future candidates well.

[Khush311]

thanks for your input and gooooooooodddd luck and fingers crossed :)

[cbest]

Has anyone heard back from USyd yet? Do you know when they start sending out offers? Trying to be patient but pretty anxious!

[The Crunge]

Offers of place for Local Applicants are made early November. I understand International Applicants had their interviews 2 weeks before, so perhaps their offers are made early. I suggest you view the timeline available on the medical faculties website, under Future Students.

[supa76]

I had my interview in Vancouver as well..

They said it would be early to mid November before we heard anything. gahhhh

[UofTGradStudent]

Hey Guys,

I started a thread for those Canadians (as well as US and internationals) who got in at USydMP for 2007 intake here:

http://www.valuemd.com/australian-medical-schools/122929-canadians-heading-sydney-medical-school-2007-a.html

and (for SDN)

Canadians Heading for the USydMP Intake of 2007! - Student Doctor Network Forums (http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=329423)

Make sure to make yourself know so we can ID each other. Congrats to all who receieved acceptances.

A word of help:

I got this info from OzTREKK, 'The Canadian Guide to Studying in Australia'. Google them if you like. And by the way, they're holding a pre-departure seminar. I'm going to be there. The specs are:

SCHEDULE OF THE OzTREKK PRE-DEPARTURE SESSION

Date: Sunday, October 22, 2006
Time: 1pm - 5pm (starts 1pm sharp)
Venue: EAST COMMON ROOM, 1st floor
Hart House, University of Toronto

[Khush311]

just a heads up from over here... sydney local students have started to get their offers and boy are they pouring in. So only a matter of time.
GL guys!!!