BS MD interviews often include behavioral questions that ask an applicant to tell a story about a specific experience they had – a challenge, a time they worked on a team, or other situations. Utilizing the STAR method in BS MD interviews is essential for candidates to effectively communicate their academic and non-academic competencies. In BS MD interviews, which assess qualities beyond academic achievements, the STAR method offers a structured approach to highlight leadership, communication, and problem-solving abilities. By presenting clear Situations, Tasks, Actions, and Results of their experiences, candidates can demonstrate their suitability for the unique demands of the BS/MD program, particularly in scenarios involving empathy, teamwork, and ethical decision-making.
To address these behavioral questions, it is important to employ the STAR Method.
In this post, we will cover:
- What is the STAR Method?
- When to use the STAR Method in College and BS MD Interviews
- Putting the STAR Method into Practice!
- Sample Answers Using the STAR Method
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What is the STAR Method?
The STAR method is a structured approach used for answering behavioral interview questions. It involves outlining the Situation, Task, Action, and Result of a specific experience to provide a clear and comprehensive response that showcases skills and accomplishments.
What does the STAR method stand for?
Situation
What is the situation, or circumstance? Which activity were you engaging in? Describe or set the scene and give a “So what?” for why this particular situation was important.
Task
What was your responsibility and/or role?
Action
What key steps did you take in the situation?
Result
What was the result or outcome? What impact did you make? What lessons did you learn?
When to use the STAR Method in College and BS MD Interviews
It’s best to use the STAR method in behavioral questions. Behavioral questions assess how you responded in a particular situation. In college interviews, schools often want to see how you are as a leader and as a teammate, since healthcare is a team sport. They will ask you questions about how you interact with others to understand these aspects better.
Some behavioral questions include:
- Tell me about a time that you worked on a team?
- Tell me about a time that you led a team?
- Tell me about a mistake you made. What did you learn from it?
- Tell me about a disagreement with a co-worker or teammate?
- Tell me about a challenge you faced?
- Tell me about a time when you faced a challenge on a team?
For more examples of behavioral questions, download our BS MD Admissions interview guide, written by Dr. Rachel Rizal and Dr. Rishi Mediratta!
Putting the STAR Method Into Practice!
Now, let’s put the STAR method into practice. It’s best to brainstorm responses and examples to the most common behavioral questions up above!
SITUATION:
- I’ll talk about a challenge I faced in leading “Arkansas PPE.”
- Arkansas PPE is a nonprofit I co-led during the pandemic that distributed 30,000 units of PPE to different organizations in need.
- We had a program I managed where Arkansas PPE volunteers called construction and other companies for PPE donations.
- So What (why is this challenge so important?)
- This worked great in the beginning of the pandemic but after some months, the sources of PPE dried up, and this impacted volunteers’ morale.
TASK:
- As volunteer manager, I had an idea to leverage existing DIY (Do-It-Yourself) makers in the community. Think groups 3D printing masks.
ACTION:
- There were four key actions I took:
- (1) After confirming my co-leads thought this was a good idea to test, I tested it out
- Using a news article on LinkedIn, contacted a DIY group at University of Arkansas that was already making masks for the purposes of donating them. I was able to form a partnership with them to get a few thousand recurring donations of masks.
- (2) Set up people / process:
- I recruited a co-lead for this initiative to get volunteers to replicate this process.
- I created a guide for volunteers
- (3) Set up meeting to solicit opinions of other co-leads
- I got buy in from rest of leadership board. We made collaborative decisions together and thought that a pilot would be the best approach.
- (4) Ran pilot with small cohort of volunteers which was successful
RESULT:
- As a result of these efforts, we were able to shift most volunteers to this and other initiatives I helped establish over course of next few months.
- Got thousands of masks from the initiative
- Lessons Learned:
- I learned how to adapt and innovate as circumstances change to address challenges.
- I learned to work collaboratively with others to create impact.
- I hope to bring both these skills to my work on teams as a medical student.
Analysis: What did this response do well?
- This response was very structured and followed the STAR method
- This response included a “So What?” giving us context as to why this challenge was so difficult.
- This response included some quantifiable metrics (e.g. # of masks distributed)
- This response included lessons learned and directly tied that to how someone will be as a medical student/resident.
Sample Interview Responses Using The STAR Method
Our Cracking BSMD Admissions interview team wanted to give you more examples of high school students using the STAR method in their BS/MD interviews and college interviews!
Study the examples below and let us know if you have any questions.
Once you’ve brainstormed responses and you’re ready to practice, sign up for a mock interview with our BS/MD Admissions team today!
Debate Team Example – STAR Method for College Interviews
Interview Question: “Can you share an experience where you demonstrated leadership skills and its impact?”
Response using the STAR method:
Situation: During my junior year of high school, I was selected as the captain of our school’s debate team. We were preparing for a regional competition, and tensions were high as we aimed for a successful performance.
Task: As the debate captain, my task was to lead the team through intensive preparation sessions, ensure everyone was well-versed on the assigned topics, and foster a collaborative environment for effective teamwork.
Action: One significant challenge arose when a key team member fell ill just a week before the competition. This team member was responsible for researching and presenting a crucial aspect of our case. In response, I quickly organized a team meeting to discuss the situation, assessed each member’s strengths, and delegated tasks accordingly. I took on the responsibility of researching and presenting the missing component, while also encouraging others to contribute their ideas to enhance the overall quality of our case. Additionally, I provided support and guidance to the team member who was taking on new responsibilities.
Result: Despite the unexpected setback, our debate team not only performed well at the regional competition but also received praise for the depth and coherence of our arguments. I learned that effective leadership involves adaptability and the ability to inspire and guide others under challenging circumstances. The experience also strengthened the bond within our team, fostering a supportive environment that continued to benefit our future endeavors.
Analysis: What did this applicant do well?
- Highlighted an activity he or she was interested in
- Highlighted leadership by saying he was a Debate Captain
- Showed personal growth, as evident in the “results” section
- Showed initiative by saying things like “I took the responsibility of…”
Personal Health Example – STAR Method for BS MD Interviews
Interview Question: “Can you share a situation where you faced a significant personal challenge and how you overcame it?”
Response using the STAR method:
Situation: During my sophomore year in high school, I faced a significant personal challenge when I was diagnosed with a learning disability that affected my ability to process written information quickly. This had a substantial impact on my academic performance and left me feeling overwhelmed.
Task: My task was to find strategies to cope with my learning disability, advocate for the support I needed, and continue to excel academically despite the challenges.
Action: After analyzing my situation and realizing how overwhelmed I felt, I wanted to find strategies to cope with my learning disability. Additionally, I advocated for the support by talking to my counselor about my learning disability, and I found other skills that helped me tailor my learning towards my learning style. I needed, and continue to excel academically despite the challenges, graduating in the top 10% of my class.
Result: As a result of these actions, I not only adapted to my learning disability but also saw a significant improvement in my academic performance. I became more confident in advocating for my needs, and the support from teachers and classmates fostered a positive and inclusive learning environment. Ultimately, this experience taught me resilience, self-advocacy, and the importance of seeking help when faced with challenges.