failed, YET AGAIN

[0bipin0]

Hello everyone,
I have been applying to peninsula since 2008/09 entry. I failed then, failed 09/10 and now i failed 10/11 entry too. On all occasion, I got an interview. I have practised it so many times that I now know all 6 questions that peninsula hold on for their interviews. However, I never seem to get through it. My academic criteria are fine, therefore the arrival of interview paper.

I am so tired of preparing that I have now decided to ask for help by people who have already got in to peninsula. I just wanted to know, WHAT DID YOU DO TO YOU ANSWERS IN INTERVIEW? I mean, it cannot be that different can it?

HELP

[khaa9666]

maybe you're underlying peninsula obsession was detected as an undercurrent by the interviewers!!!! Sounds like you need to relax, be more confident and perhaps lose the obsession with peninsula, it is afterall, down south, always a major drawback.

either way good luck and all the best pal.

[smile88egc]

I talked about being dumped by my boyfriend and my parents divorcing. Obviously I didn't plan these answers, they just came out because I answered truthfully.
They don't want to hear the answers you've been rehearsing for 3 years, just be yourself! And maybe go out and get some new experiences to talk about next year!
Thumbs up for your dedication though, being in the South west, the english riviera is a major plus

[IVC_ultimate]

May I ask what 6 questions they ask please?

[0bipin0]

@IVC_ultimate:
ermmm, NO, you may not ask me the 6 questions

and

@smile88egc:
i did become honest. i do admit ont he first year, i tried saying all the answers i rehearsed and all that jazz.. but the years that followed i pretty much told em what i really think to the questions... coz i wanted to try it every way possible. it jus didnt seem to work :S

[foxyamy]

I don't mean this in an offensive way, but maybe you're just not what Peninsula are looking for. If I were you I wouldn't waste a place on this application with them, I would look at applying elsewhere instead.

[Dr Noodle]

The honesty card certainly seems to work. I talked about losing interest in medicine for a while and suddenly finding it again.

Why are you so keen on Peninsula? More importantly, are you getting this across in the interview. I spoke being interested in PBL above traditional style courses etc...is that the kind of reason why you want to go?

However, like the person above, I don't want to sound harsh but being rejected three times may be a sign that you should try elsewhere.

[The Fantastic Dr. Fox]

I'd recommend the honesty card. Unless you are a brilliant liar, people will see straight through you if you give them a load of stuff you dont really believe, just because you think its what they want to hear.

I personally found that just doing lots of practice interviews was good. Not even necessarily with med school questions. Im not renowned for giving long answers to questions so I found that to putting together an interview type answer on the spot was very very helpful.

Just be confident. And smile.

[vj69]

All i can say is make sure you write the right thing on the question paper before the interview and then as far as the interview goes:

Best advice i have is that apart from the Ethics question you should talk about a difference experience to answer it with. So you should have one different example for each question they ask. In my head i already knew what work exp or extra curic i was using for teamwork or a serious situation etc etc

[Lucie W]

I agree here, I think that rehearsed answers will never be as good as those made up on the spur of the moment. I didn't do any preparation for the interview, simply talked about the 'difficult situation in my life' with a tear in my eye, the 'proudest moment of my life' with a tear in my eye and a big grin on my face, the ethics question with passion and belief, and my interview went fantastically.

Show them that you have emotion, passion and determination and you'll do well