<p>I know a very popular question among interviews is: why do you want to become a doctor?
What are some responses you successfully used?</p>
<p>I have some responses, but I'm not sure if they're reasonable...
1- I have the condition in the field I want to specialize in, thus I want to learn more about it and help others with the same condition.
2- I really really like helping people :)
3- To make my parents proud and fulfill their dreams</p>
<p>IMO the first two sound reasonable and the last one is meh (in an interview).</p>
<p>I don’t think that’s a good approach. For one thing, you’re going to have to learn about a ton of diseases if you go to med school; it’s an absurd overkill and (if anything) a distraction from learning about the one condition you have.</p>
<p>Two is absurdly generic. Lots of careers (arguably every career) helps people.</p>
<p>And three is an automatic rejection. I know a flagship/3.9/36 who was getting interviews everywhere and admissions nowhere, and it finally came out that this was what he was telling people. He made a course correction in mid-January and ended up at his state’s least selective program. One admission in fifteen interviews – at the least selective program of those fifteen.</p>
<p>Yea, figured as much
Then how would you approach the question then?</p>
<p>Well – what’s the truth? If those three answers are the truth, then the interview isn’t the main concern.</p>
<p>The second one is fine. Medical doctors should want to help people. You are saving lives after all.</p>
<p>The first reason, you should be more specific. It could be a good reason if you word it the right way. Like, it’s cool if someone you know has cancer and you want to specialize in cancer.</p>
<p>The third, okay, you should keep to yourself because it’s not very professional.</p>
<p>Well, last year I volunteered in a rehab center for a little over a month and I really enjoyed interacting with the people and doctors. But the department I worked in is completely different than the areas I’m interested in medicine. So I guess that’s sorta why I want to enter medicine, but I didn’t really see this as a good enough reason because it was only temporary.</p>
<p>I think you could incorporate that experience into your answer. Perhaps say that the work you did got you interested in medicine initially, then explain how your mind focused on the field you’re interested in now from there.</p>
<p>If you don’t have a real, legitimate reason for wanting to be a doctor, why are you applying to med school?</p>
<p>There are lots of professions help people. You should acknowledge that and possibly relay what makes a doctor unique from other professions, instead of just saying that you want to help people.</p>
<p>I don’t necessarily think the first one is that great either. I wouldn’t even bother mentioning the last one. Of all things, you lifelong career choice should be something that you want to do for yourself, not to just for the sake of making parents proud.</p>
<p>But really, if you need a message board full of pre-meds, medical students, others, etc. to tell you the best way to the tell the interviewers why you want to be a doctor, then you should really think about the question a little harder.</p>
<p>When you are asked, “Why do you want to be a doctor?” you are really being asked, “Why is no other profession the right one for you?” and “Why should we train you as a physician instead of one of the 10 other applicants here today?”</p>
<p>Of the answers you’ve provided, only #1 is a halfway decent answer to those questions, and it’s just that - only halfway decent. Being familiar with suffering is good motivation for wanting to alleviate the suffering of others, but it still doesn’t explain why you must be a doctor. You could be work as a nurse or a PA. You could work for a non-profit to raise money and awareness. You could become a PhD and do research.</p>
<p>Well, I prefer this profession over any other because I love working in an environment that is very fast paced and one where I’m constantly under pressure, its just the only way that I know I’m actually doing something with myself.
But what were your reasons for going into medicine if mine are only half-decent?</p>
<p>Well, again – these are not particular to medicine. Fast paced and constantly under pressure could be finance, private equity, firefighting, the military. It describes a lot of jobs.</p>
<p>I think a good addition in answering this question is to talk about what your unique skills and talents are and how those fit in becoming a physician. Motivation is just one aspect to discuss.</p>
<p>BDM, your replies are harsh, but very helpful at the same time. I admit I don’t really have a good reason because I think have a culmination of minor reasons why I find medicine intriguing, but hopefully with more experience I will know a definite reason for sure. I’ve got some time before the day arrives, but thanks for the responses everyone! :)</p>