The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview: Be Prepared, Perform Well, Get Accepted

by Ryan Gray

Preparing for the medical school interview is like preparing for the MCAT. You need to practice, practice, practice .

Good grades and a high MCAT score aren’t good enough anymore . Being prepared and doing well on your medical school interview can make the difference between calling yourself a medical student or being rejected. The Premed Guide to the Medical School Interview is a compilation of all of the experience that Dr. Gray has received from discussing the medical school admissions process with experts on The Premed Years podcast . Learn why crafting YOUR story is so important and then learn how. Learn why being different is better than being better . Learn what mistakes you should avoid and how to truly succeed at being the most prepared premed student . Broken up across eleven different categories, including MMI , this book includes over 600 potential medical school interview questions that you can start crafting answers to. Read through over 50 transcripts from mock interview answers as well as the feedback that Dr. Gray gave students who crushed their real medical school interviews. This book will prepare you like no other for your medical school interview. Don’t rely on your “personality.” Don’t rely on your grades and MCAT score. Prepare with this book and you’ll shine on your medical school interview day.

Genres: Medicine, Medical, Nonfiction

218 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2016

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Dr. Ryan Gray is a former United States Air Force Flight Surgeon who found a passion for helping premed students on their journey to medical school. Best known for his podcasts, which have been downloaded over 3,000,000 times, Dr. Gray has interviewed numerous Admissions Committee members and deans of admissions for medical schools. Through The Premed Years podcast and the Medical School Headquarters, Dr. Gray has helped thousands of students gain the confidence they require to successfully navigate the premed path. Dr. Gray lives outside of Boulder, CO with his wife Allison, who is a Neurologist, and their daughter Hannah.

Check out all of Dr. Gray's podcasts at Meded Media (http://www.mededmedia.com)

Reviews

[Susanna]

You best believe I’m including this in my goodreads 2024 reading challenge 😭

[Claire J · Rating 4 out of 5]

I skipped the American parts lol

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful but a little dated

[Patrick Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

The only useful parts of this book were the progression of the interviews/feedback. I wish there was a larger variety of questions that get as in depth or explanations

[Blake Bruneman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a solid starting point for pre-meds preparing for interviews. Dr. Ryan Gray offers a wide range of interview questions across all topics, along with practical tips such as listening twice as much as you speak or prioritizing the patient's needs and safety in every answer. The mock interview examples are particularly helpful in understanding how to approach common questions, although I wish there was more guidance on exactly what to emphasize or avoid in your answers (then again, the whole purpose of the interview is to stand out with your unique responses).

Overall, this guide is another quick and easy read for applicants (I highly recommend his Premed Playbook on the Medical School Personal Statement - 10/10!). However, just as practice problems are more effective than content review for the MCAT, mock interviews are more valuable than reading this book cover to cover. I suggest using it to supplement your interview prep with targeted examples or advice when needed.

[Donald · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listen to Dr. Gray's podcasts, and also was recommended this book by some current medical school students. It is a very quick and good read with so many practice questions, you won't know what to do with them. The feedback on student answers to common questions was pretty helpful. I recommend reading this the week of your first interview and then maybe skimming it on the plane ride.

[Edward Abarado · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book tells promising premedical students some of the obvious things you need to know during a medical school interview. Although they are apparent, I think they needed to be said by this author in particular. The weight of his expertise is penetrating and emphasizes the common sense. Otherwise, I do not find this book particularly helpful.

[Dan Xia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great resource for potential interview questions. Dr. Gray provides a lot of intuitional advice on delivering the best possible answers and finding what the Admissions Committees are looking for. The student examples were also wonderful to dissect. We will see if this book bears any fruit this upcoming interview season.

[Kat Robbins]

please send me good vibes. I'm SO sick of getting waitlisted. If I get waitlisted again I will just give up and work at my local target for the remainder of time on that $18 dollars an hour salary.

I mean, no I won't. but I'll still be pretty bummed nonetheless.

[Catherine Vo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for ideas but doesn’t go in depth into examples. Better off doing a mock interview prep. The book is a little outdated. However, it’s a good starting point for interview prep to alleviate anxiety.

[Emrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh man Dr Grey came straight for all my textbook interview answers. I have to do a lot of rethinking about how to go about my interviews. Tons of useful information. I’ll let you know if it works!

[Smiley Fawkes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative and straightforward.

[Alexis Vetack · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was great at explaining potential questions but I would have loved for it to go more in depth with mmi ethical questions and thank you letters too

[Erica Olfson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A super helpful book for my first interview next week!

[Bia Says · Rating 4 out of 5]

honestly rly good and alleviated my anxiety... guess we'll find out if practicing from it works soon LOL !!!

[Alex Perez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the last parts with the practice interviews, everything else was good info but kind of common sense.

[Emilia Preda]

rating tbd, check back in march :)

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super helpful to identify areas for improvement and analyze where I am!

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love you from the bottom of my heart

[Maggie Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was super helpful! It got me thinking about how I wanted to answer questions and how to best prepare. Definitely recommend!

[Pooja Suganthan · Rating 5 out of 5]

So helpful for interviews!!!