Harvard Medical School Interview Practice Questions

Tell me about yourself.

Why medicine?

Why Harvard Medical School?

What challenges do you anticipate in medical school?

What would you do if hospital billing delays emergency surgery for an uninsured patient?

What clinical experiences have you had?

How should Massachusetts medical professionals respond to the Health Safety Net fund shortfall while maintaining their commitment to treat uninsured patients in emergency situations?

How does Harvard's pass/fail grading system align with your learning philosophy?

Massachusetts hospitals report 57% having negative operating margins as of 2024, yet the state leads in medical innovation. Should public policy prioritize hospital financial stability over research funding?

What are you reading right now?

If you could have dinner with anyone, who and why?

Tell me about your research.

How would you handle productivity quotas that compromise quality of care?

What aspects of Boston's medical and academic community appeal to you for your medical education?

Do physicians have an ethical obligation to provide care to uninsured patients beyond emergency stabilization?

Why did you choose your undergraduate institution?

Should Massachusetts physicians support the proposed enhanced Premium Tax Credits extension, knowing it may increase their patient load but could strain an already financially stressed healthcare system?

What was one personally touching volunteer experience you had?

If you could choose one superpower what would it be?

How does Harvard Medical School's integrated curriculum structure align with your preferred learning approach?

What would you do if a patient refuses a blood transfusion due to religious beliefs?

What specialty are you interested in?

What are physicians' ethical obligations when hospital policies prioritize revenue over patient welfare?

Tell me about a time you failed.

Given Massachusetts hospitals are projected to lose $424 million annually from Medicaid cuts, should physicians adjust their practice models to reduce dependence on public insurance reimbursements?

What specific aspects of the Principal Clinical Experience at Harvard appeal to you?

Teach me something.

How do you work in groups?

How would you approach a situation where a patient's DNR order conflicts with family wishes?

What was your most challenging experience?

What are the ethical obligations of physicians when pharmaceutical companies offer payments for prescribing or promoting their medications?

How would you take advantage of Harvard's unique opportunities for research integration during medical school?

Should medical school be tuition-free in the US?

What do your parents do?

What is your favorite movie?

Tell me about a time you experienced a team conflict and how you resolved it.

What would you do if you notice a colleague treating patients differently based on gender?

What draws you to Harvard Medical School's emphasis on developing physician-scientists?

Is it ethically acceptable for physicians to operate concierge practices that charge annual membership fees, effectively creating two-tier care?

How would you keep yourself up-to-date on medicine education once you begin practicing?

Should the US transition to a single-payer healthcare system?

Tell me about a time you changed your mind after learning new information.

What is the difference between sympathy and empathy?

How does Harvard's mission to improve lives through excellence in biomedical education resonate with your career goals?

What would you do if you suspect child abuse but the explanation seems plausible?

What is one thing you want to highlight about your application?

What are physicians' ethical obligations when insurance companies deny coverage for treatments physicians deem medically necessary?

Tell me about a time you had a disagreement with a teammate, supervisor, or friend.

Should physician reimbursement shift from fee-for-service to value-based models?

What excites you most about training at Harvard's affiliated teaching hospitals?

What would you do if you won the lottery tomorrow?

What is your worst habit?

How would you allocate limited medication supplies among multiple patients who need treatment?

Tell me about a time you had to advocate for someone who wasn’t being heard.

Is healthcare a right or a privilege?

How would you contribute to the collaborative learning environment at Harvard Medical School?

Should the US implement stronger regulations on pharmaceutical pricing?

How would your friends describe you?

If your life were a movie, what would the theme?

Tell me about a time when you were impacted by miscommunication.

What would you do if you caught a classmate cheating?

What specific resources at Harvard Medical School would support your professional development goals?

What controversial healthcare topic are you passionate about?

What is your greatest accomplishment?

Should there be federal regulations limiting the growth of corporate ownership of physician practices?

Tell me about a time you exhibited leadership.

If you could instantly master one skill, what would it be?

What do you think makes our program unique?

What do you do if a colleague has a substance abuse problem?

How do you handle failure?

Should healthcare institutions implement mandatory unconscious bias training for all staff and students?

Describe a situation where you made a mistake that affected others. What did you do?

What is the biggest problem in healthcare today?

How do you relate to our mission?

If you were a fruit, which one would you be and why?

Where do you plan to practice?

What would you do if someone in a group project falsified data?

Tell me about a time when you had to explain a complex scientific concept to someone without a science background. How did you approach it?

Should patients have the right to request a healthcare provider of a specific gender, race, or cultural background?

What are Harvard Medical School's values?

How would you fix the healthcare system?

What are your values?

How many golf balls fit in an airplane?

Describe a situation where you had to navigate cultural differences in a team or work environment.

What would you do if a group member isn't doing their part?

Why do you want to go to school in Boston?

What do you think about stem cell research?

What negative feedback have you received?

Do you think pharmaceutical companies should be allowed to advertise drugs to consumers?

Describe a time when you identified an unfair policy or practice and took action to address it.

What would you do if a patient refused treatment?

What ethical issues do you think will impact you as a doctor?

Who should receive an organ transplant: a convicted felon or an uninsured mother?

Describe a time you had to respect someone's autonomy even when you disagreed with their choice

What are your thoughts on the role of private vs. public healthcare?

What does “success” look like to you?

What would you do if a patient's family requests you not tell the patient about their diagnosis?

Tell me about a time when you recognized a personal limitation or weakness that was affecting your performance. What did you do about it?

Do you think it's ever ethical to lie to a patient?

Do you consider yourself culturally competent?

Do you believe diversity is important in a healthcare setting? Why or why not?

Describe a moment when you connected with someone who was going through a difficult time.

What would you do if a coworker is taking credit for your work on a group project.

How willl you contribute to the diversity of our school?

As AI becomes better at diagnosis than human doctors, should we rely more on AI decision-making?

Describe a situation where you had to maintain professionalism under difficult or frustrating circumstances.

What role should technology and AI play in the future of healthcare?

How do you handle stress?

What would you do if a team member isn’t contributing on a group project?

What is an ethical dilemma you have faced?

Should people with unhealthy lifestyles (e.g., smokers, heavy drinkers) have reduced access to certain treatments?

What are your strengths?

Should healthcare professionals be required to receive certain vaccinations?

Walk me through a period when you were overwhelmed with responsibilities. How did you use to get through it?

What would you do if a colleague comes to work smelling of alcohol?

What are your weaknesses?

Can compassion be taught?

What was the most difficult decision you have ever had to make?

What would you do if a teenager confides they're being abused at home but begs you not to tell anyone?

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Should healthcare workers strike if working conditions are unsafe for them or their patients?

What community service activities have you done?

What would you do if your employer forced you to work over Thanksgiving weekend, interfering with your family plans?

What do you do for fun?

Should students from disadvantaged backgrounds receive preferential admission to health professions programs?

Describe a time working with someone you did not like.

What would you do if a colleague of yours made a mistake and doesn't want to tell the patient?

Tell me about a skill or knowledge area where you've shown significant improvement over time. What was your learning process?

You're at a party and a friend insists on driving herself home, even though she has been drinking. What do you do?

What do you think are important qualities for a doctor?

While volunteering at a community center, a family refuses to vaccinate their children due to religious beliefs. The father quietly tells you he disagrees but fears community backlash if he consents. What do you do?

What are three words people who know you would use to describe you?

You’re working in a research lab when you discover that your supervisor has failed to report a conflict of interest—he’s consulting for the company funding the study. You depend on him for a strong reference for grad school. What do you do?

Who is your role model?

A colleague you respect makes a dismissive comment toward a patient from a marginalized background. You know confronting them could damage your working relationship. What do you do?

What is your biggest regret?

A grateful patient leaves a $100 gift card and a thank-you note at the front desk addressed specifically to you. What do you do?

What makes you special?

You’re walking out of a coffee shop when you notice someone drop their wallet. You pick it up and realize there’s a large amount of cash inside, but no ID. You also notice the person quickly leaving in a taxi before you can call out. What do you do?

What is your biggest fear?

Your roommate confides in you that they have been struggling with depression and occasionally use prescription medication that was not prescribed to them. They ask you not to tell anyone. How do you respond?

Tell me about your lowest grade.

You’re catching a ride home from a friend who begins texting while driving. When you ask them to stop, they brush you off and say, “Relax, I do this all the time.” How do you respond?

What is one of your strengths in a leadership role?

A close friend in your study group admits they copied answers from another student on a recent exam but asks you not to tell anyone. How do you respond?

What is your learning style?

You see a friend post misleading health information on social media that’s getting lots of attention. How do you handle it?

How do you study?

You accidentally receive an email from your supervisor that contains private performance evaluations, including criticism of a close friend. Later that day, your friend mentions feeling anxious about whether management trusts them. What do you do?

How might the transition to medical school affect you.

A patient you've been working with for months asks you out on a date. How do you handle this?

How will you handle burnout and being overwhelmed?

What will you do if you do not get into medical school?