Congratulations on receiving a Drexel BS MD Interview Invite! We are super excited for you, and our BS MD Admissions interview team is happy to help you out. In this blog post, we want to give you step-by-step tips on how you can prepare for your Drexel BS MD Interview. Our goal is to help you STAND OUT!
In this post, we will cover:
- What does the Drexel BS MD program look for in applicants?
- How to prepare for Drexel’s Multiple Mini Interview (MMI)
- Research unique opportunities at Drexel
- Read about healthcare issues that affect Drexel’s community – Philadelphia
- Common Drexel BS MD interview questions and how to prepare
- Schedule a mock interview with our Cracking BS MD Admissions team!
If you have any questions, feel free to contact Dr. Rishi Mediratta and Dr. Rachel Rizal below!
What does the Drexel BS MD Admissions Committee look for?
You’ve been working hard throughout high school and you’ve finally received the coveted BS MD interview to Drexel! So obviously, you had a strong academic track record including good grades and good standardized test scores. You also had patient care and clinical opportunities throughout your time as a high school premedical student.
Given that every Drexel BS MD interviewee is going to have strong academics + clinical experience … and likely research too, how will you stand out?
It is important to note unique traits that Drexel looks for in its applicants.
Highlight the following qualities in your Drexel BS MD Interview:
- Commitment to urban health – Drexel really cares about recruiting students who are committed to urban health.
- Ties to Philadelphia – In a similar fashion as the last point, Drexel is committed to serving the Philadelphia community. If you have any ties to Philadelphia or know any college students / medical school students at Drexel, definitely mention those connections!
- Well-roundedness – Drexel loves students who are passionate about other things aside from academics. If you have outside academic interests like dance or sports or the arts or journalism, you should highlight them in your interview.
- Team Player – The Drexel BS MD curriculum, including the medical school curriculum, is based on a lot of team learning. The Drexel medical school culture is very chill and collaborative. Therefore, it wants to recruit students who will be good team players and not cut-throat competitive.
How To Prepare For Drexel's MMI
The absolute best way to prepare for Drexel’s BS MD interview is through our Mastering the Multiple Mini Interview course created by Dr. Rachel Rizal herself! It’s the first MMI course in the United States and she uses her experiences from being an applicant who did MMIs herself and her insights from being a Stanford MMI interviewer.
Research Unique Opportunities at Drexel
We like to give Drexel BS MD applicants very specific opportunities to look up at Drexel. You need to mention these in your interview! For example, if there is a Drexel BS MD interview question about healthcare disparities, then you should discuss a community volunteer opportunity you want to do at Drexel that helps improve healthcare disparities!
Research Opportunities at and around Drexel
- 2 clinical opportunities: First and foremost, you are applying to a BS MD program. Therefore, you should look for clinical opportunities you want to pursue at Drexel! Drexel University College of Medicine has several affiliated hospitals. You can start looking for clinical opportunities here!
- 2 community opportunities: As we mentioned above, Drexel loves to serve its local Philadelphia community. Find public health or community service opportunities around Philadelphia! For example, we’ve heard of premeds volunteers who help at a local syringe exchange program in Philadelphia to help combat the opioid epidemic.
- Think about causes you care about and find community service work around Philadelphia that you want to engage with as a college student!
- 1-2 other non-academic extracurricular activities: As we stated above in the “What does Drexel look for in BS MD applicants” section, Drexel cares about recruiting well-rounded students who have interests outside of academics. Look up at least one extra-curricular activity you want to be a part of as a Drexel undergrad. You can take a look at Drexel’s activities and student organizations.
- 2 academic opportunities: Have an idea of 1 or 2 majors you’re interested in. If you’re interested in a minor or specific classes, write down those classes so that you might be able to weave those into your Drexel MMI answers.
- 1 research opportunity: From our experience helping students get accepted into Drexel’s BS MD program and Drexel’s MD Admissions, Drexel isn’t too keen on prioritizing research in “what it looks for.” However, we like to tell our students to have 1 idea of a research opportunity or question they want to pursue in college and medical school. Remember that research can also encompass community health research and public health research!
Mock Interviews: Refine Your Interview Skills With Us 1-On-1
Rachel Rizal, MD
Changing the trajectory of people’s lives
Undergraduate
Princeton
Medical School
Stanford
Awards & Scholarships
Fulbright Scholar
USA Today Academic First Team
Tylenol Scholarship
RISHI MEDIRATTA, MD, MSc, MA
Advising students to attend their dream schools
Undergraduate
Johns Hopkins
Medical School
Stanford
Awards & Scholarships
Marshall Scholar
Tylenol Scholarship
Global Health Scholar
Read About Current Event Issues That Affect Drexel's Community
Read about healthcare issues that affect the Philadelphia community
- Look up the Philadelphia City Health Department’s website and/or local newspapers to see the most recent pertinent healthcare issues
- Some popular healthcare issues that our BSMD Admissions team regularly hears about are the following:
- Healthcare disparities
- Food insecurity and food deserts
- Homelessness
- Opioid Epidemic
- Mental health issues
- Housing
- Violent crime
Common Drexel BS MD Interview Questions
While the Drexel BS MD Interview is a Multiple Mini Interview, it does not mean it won’t weave in traditional questions. In the past, there has often been 1 traditional interview station at Drexel. Typically, applicants who prepare with us through mock interviews do the Mastering the Multiple Mini Interview course + at least 1 mock interview for traditional questions only. That way, they can get as well prepared as possible for both types of interview questions!
It’s important to prepare STRONG answers for the following questions:
- Tell me about yourself.
- Why BS/MD vs attending a 4-year university?
- Why do you want to go to Drexel’s BS/MD program?
- What are your experiences in Philadelphia or other urban areas?
- Where do you see yourself in 15 or 20 years?
Scheduling a Mock Interview
Work with Dr. Rachel Rizal to practice for your upcoming Drexel BS MD interview!
How to schedule a mock Drexel MMI interview:
- Purchase the Mastering the Multiple Mini Interview course on this page and click “Enroll today.” Make the payment at the checkout.
- After purchasing the course, you will receive an automatic email that allows you to upload your application materials, including your Common Application plus Drexel supplemental essays. Additionally, you will be asked for more information like your name, contact information, interview date, time zone, and availability. Please fill out the form thoroughly.
- Dr. Rachel Rizal or Dr. Rishi Mediratta will reach out to you to schedule a mock MMI!
- Do the Mastering the Multiple Mini Interview course before your mock interview. You’ll receive feedback on how to improve and then we want you to keep practicing using our MMI practice questions!
- If you want more mock interviews, you can purchase additional mock Drexel interviews or mock MMIs for other 4-year colleges / BS MD programs. The additional mock interviews can be purchased here.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q. I have an interview soon, can I still purchase the course? Will I have time?
Yes! The course takes 4 hours to complete and we can schedule a mock interview right when you finish the course. Typically, the shortest lead time to schedule a mock Multiple Mini Interview with our team is 3 days before your interview. Please contact us if you want to schedule a mock interview ASAP.
Q. How far in advance should I schedule a mock interview?
We typically tell high school students to take the Mastering the Multiple Mini Interview course as early in the interview cycle as possible, because it helps them even for traditional interviews! The ideal time to schedule a mock MMI interview with our team is 1-2 weeks prior to the interview date. That way, you will still be able to practice using the feedback from the mock interview.
Q. I have other questions. How can I contact you?
If you have any additional questions, feel free to reach out to Dr. Rachel Rizal and Dr. Rishi Mediratta through the contact form below. Or, you can email us directly at he***@*******it.com.
Mock Interviews: Refine Your Interview Skills With Us 1-On-1
Rachel Rizal, MD
Changing the trajectory of people’s lives
Undergraduate
Princeton
Medical School
Stanford
Awards & Scholarships
Fulbright Scholar
USA Today Academic First Team
Tylenol Scholarship
RISHI MEDIRATTA, MD, MSc, MA
Advising students to attend their dream schools
Undergraduate
Johns Hopkins
Medical School
Stanford
Awards & Scholarships
Marshall Scholar
Tylenol Scholarship
Global Health Scholar