Was asked about communicable diseases in Pakistan
Advice by Baqir Jafry, Class of 2022
There are some key points that you need to remember for the interview:
Extracurriculars count a lot. Aku wants to grab well-rounded individuals. It'll be great if you have one extracurricular in which you absolutely stand out( for eg you have a national representation in that). However, having a bunch of small extracurriculars (eg being part of school debate team , participation in school sport activities, internships , volunteerships etc) is also good.
YOU lead your own interview. So think carefully before you speak.
Your experience is what truly makes your interview unique. So for common questions eg why aku, why medicine etc, try to use YOUR own experience to elucidate your answer.
The values, you adhere to, are very important. The interviewer might even ask questions relevant to those values. Foreg, have you ever practised independence, what would you do if your friend tries to cheat in exam etc. In such questions, always stick to your values and show that you won't put them at stake in ANY circumstance.
Don't ever try to speak about controversies. If the interviewer asks a controversial question(eg a religious question) start your answer by saying " in my opinion" and be as precise as possible. Don't go into an elaborative discussion regarding that.
MY INTERVIEW EXPERIENCE
1ST INTERVIEW:
For common questions like , why aku, I was already prepared. Prior to my interview, I had searched regarding some facilities like Pbls, HASS, research work etc that makes aku unique among all medical institutions in pakistan. So I elaborated on them. For "why doctor" question, I used my experience in NICH internship and AKUH volunteership to answer.
The interviewer asked how independent I am and whether I have lived away from home at any point in my life. I had an experience in NSTC Olympiad so I gave a brief description regarding that.
I was asked whether I applied to universities other than aku. Also, if I don't get into Aku , then what would I do. I stumbled a bit in the second question likin khair itna masla nahi hua.
Overall, the experience was ok. I compensated for this by doing well in my second interview. The questions were more or less, same. The difference was just that the second interviewer was a bit lenient.
SOME TIPS
Have a good body language.
Be respectful in all circumstances.
Don't give up in your interview just because your test score isn't that good
Be honest.
Try to be calm and confident. Even if the interviewer challenges your views, dont panic.
Take interview as a discussion where you are simply sharing your own life story.
Advice by Hassan Raja, Class of 2022
After you have passed the entry test, you’ll
receive a pack from AKU, which will contain documents which will need to be
sent to AKU, along with a letter detailing your entry test score and a formal
invitation to the interview. The
documents that need to be sent are related to your extra-curriculars,
internships, hobbies and academic achievements. They are able to give the
admissions committee an insight to the kind of person you are.
When I received the pack, I was so intimidated by all the requirements that it
crossed my mind that I should never have applied. While I was pleased with my
entry test score, the thought of filling out the other forms was daunting to
say the least, especially for someone who’s not the most involved person!
Nevertheless I filled out the forms and sent them, along with the required
attested documents and verification details. Keep in mind that the admissions
committee will verify everything that you’ve written down. So you can’t just
blatantly lie about everything, because that will surely get you disqualified.
Now onto the interview. I’m sure you’ve probably read countless people giving
their take on the interview, so I’ll try my best to keep it succinct.
You’ll be subject to two interviews, held on the same day by 2 different
interviewers. All the interviews are one to one and all the interviewers are in
some way related to AKU. They may be faculty at AKU, working in AKUH, or even
an AKU graduate. Something to keep in
mind is that the interview itself is NOT as intimidating as you expect. It’s
just a general conversation, and you can often steer it in the direction you
want. But remember DO NOT LIE. That’s extremely important. If you do fabricate
something, somehow, someway, the interviewer will catch onto it and grill you
further, and THAT my friend is not a pleasant experience.
Before the actual interview, I had a few practice interviews. One was held by
the Biology teachers in my school, another was conducted by my parents (since
they both teach in Shifa, and conduct interviews at undergraduate and
postgraduate levels, they had a fairly good idea what would be asked). I also
arranged an interview with an AKU graduate and talked over the interview with
another doctor who had taken part as an interviewer the previous year. This
helped me prepare myself and understand what’s expected. The thing with me is
that while I have everything in my mind and often come up with great answers to
theoretical questions, when I come to saying them out loud, I get tongue-tied
and never end up saying what I want. So these ‘mock’ interviews helped me
practice my communication skills and improve my confidence. While not a
requirement (many people don’t even need to practice), for anyone who’s nervous
it’s helpful to practice the answers to a few standard questions or arrange a
mock interview with someone.
My interview was scheduled at 9:00 am on a Saturday in August, so I reached the
venue (Pearl Continental Rawalpindi) at 8:30. As always, it’s good to be early.
The interviews are held in a formal setting, so formal attire is expected.
Though, while speaking to an interviewer, he said none of the interviewers
really mind what you wear and some people just turn up wearing jeans or shorts!
But again it’s best to just go with the trend and not be an exception.
Now this is the place I’ll be honest... let’s just say my interviews weren’t
the best😶. I mean they were okay, but they could have gone better in a
lot of places. The thing that I was worried about the most was the fact that,
unlike the norm my interviews were very short. The first one was 15 minutes and
the second one barely lasted 10 minutes. Considering most people had interview
times ranging from 30 minutes to 1 hour, I bet you can tell what I was
thinking.
My first interview was conducted by a consultant nephrologist at AKUH. After
some small talk and basic details (name, family, grades, entry test score
etc.), he asked me about my extra-curriculars. I mentioned Peer Teaching, but
gauging his facial expression, I could tell he wasn’t really impressed, I then
mentioned my internships, but he cut me half-way and said that they didn’t
really count as extra-curriculars. I moved on to saying I cycle, play tennis
sometimes and also do a bit of origami, however once again he (correctly)
pointed out that these things were leaning towards hobbies rather than
extra-curriculars (which I agreed with). I think at that point I kind of gave
up and said that I didn’t have that many then. The interviewer smiled and moved
on.
Somewhere down the line I had mentioned
that I’m quite sheltered, in the sense that I’m very grateful to have
everything provided for by my parents, he caught onto that and this is how it
went.
Interviewer: So have you ever lived in a hostel?
Me: No
Interviewer: Have you ever been to Karachi?
Me: No (I could sense where this was going)
Interviewer (stone faced): Then how do you expect you’ll be able to survive in
a hostel, alone, 1000 miles away from your family, in a foreign city?
Me: Yes, I anticipated that question. Umm, well I’ve thought about it and
honestly right now I recognise that it is a difficulty, but that’s something
I’m willing to overcome. When I was in Year 8, I moved 5000 miles, from my
perceived notion of home (referring to my move from the UK to Pakistan).
Despite the massive cultural shift, I’ve adapted well and adjusted to the
challenges and very different lifestyle here. I even learnt a new language from
scratch (Urdu is a second language for me) and within 2 ½ years managed to get
an A* in the subject at O Levels. Being adaptable is something I pride myself
over. When I was 12, the challenge was moving to Pakistan, 6 years down the
line, the challenge is different, but once more I’m willing to adapt
again.
Interviewer: Yes, that’s all very well and good, but at times hostel life is
very difficult. What will you do if you’re sick, alone in your room? You’re
parents certainly won’t be there to dote over you and make you soup!
Me:اب ایسی بھی بات نہیں ہے۔ (It
isn’t really like that). Both my parents are working parents and even when I am
sick, I’m usually home alone, so I can mange on my own. Yes, I realize that
hostel life is a big step from living at home with family. But if not now, then
when? I’d much rather address my weaknesses now, head on, than shying away from
them and later being troubled by them in my twenties unable to take care of
myself. I know if I’m accepted, the first few months will be rough, but
Insha’Allah after five years I’ll emerge the person I want to be.
Interviewer: I understand, but do you really know what you’re signing yourself
up for?
Me: Sir, while at this moment in time I cannot give you any guarantee. What I
can say is that I’ll try my utmost best to adjust to hostel life. That’s as
much as I can do right now.
Thankfully, after this he moved on. He then probed me about my knowledge of
AKU, the programmes and degrees it offers, it’s campuses worldwide etc. For
this it’s important to read the Programme Information booklet and make a mental
note of important facts (date of inception etc.). Also skimming through the
website also helps to get some general information.
After this the interviewer asked me about my connection to my twin sister and
various scenarios if one of us or both of us were accepted. I can’t really
remember the rest but I do remember it came to a rather abrupt end.
My second interview was very rushed. The interviewer, an elderly professor at
AKU, seemed like he had a checklist and he was simply running through it. All
the questions were rapid fire, he wouldn’t let me finish my answers and he very
rarely made eye contact, rather he kept scribbling or ticking on his sheet of paper.
I hardly remember anything here apart from this and that he asked very basic,
standard questions that my first interviewer had already asked. However two or
three other people who were interviewed by the same person had the same
experience, so I guess that was just his style. An important thing to remember
is that the second interviewer will most likely ask who your first interviewer
was, hence it’s important you ask your first interviewer(if they have not
already told you) their name and what they do.
At the end of each interview, the interviewers asked me whether I had any
question. I asked them how working/teaching/studying at Aga Khan has impacted
their careers and what difference has Aga Khan made to them professionally. I
wanted to ask this, because I wanted to judge how studying at Aga Khan would
impact me and what sort of doctor I would become. After they answered, I shook
their hands and left.
Below I’ve highlighted some general questions, which no matter your
circumstances, the interviewers are bound to ask.
Standard Questions
Why AKU?
Its best not to mention some clichéd
answer, such as AKU is the best medical college in Pakistan. Yes, everyone
knows that, but is that why YOU really want to go to AKU, status aside? I talked
about the potential opportunities the university may provide me (unparalleled
research facilities, a springboard for my postgraduate career, the fact that
until recently it was the only JCIA approved hospital and medical college in
Pakistan etc.), the chance for me to be a better more well-rounded, independent
person by living alone. I also mentioned the teaching methodologies in AKU
(PBLs etc.) that will suit my method of learning rather than rote memorisation.
Do you plan to do USMLE/PLAB? If so
why should AKU invest in you if you’ll leave the country?
Although I wasn’t asked this question,
I know a few people who were. If I was asked this question, my response would
be along the lines that while I do plan to do USMLE/PLAB, because I want to do
my post-graduate training abroad, by no means does that mean I’m a wasted
investment. AKU has educated many great doctors, who are now practising abroad.
In fact recently the 20th reunion party of AKUites was held in Orlando,
Florida. I saw a video on Dr Faiz Bohra (an AKU alumnus) who is a leading
surgeon in New York, specializing in the use of robotics in surgery. Today he
is one of the leaders in his field, because of the opportunities that had been
provided to him, while training abroad. Would you say that AKU wasted its money
on him? No, most certainly not. Where I end up practising, should be of no
concern, because I’m dedicated to the profession. Also I’d mention (even though
it’d sound clichéd) that I do have the intention of returning once I’ve gained
my training. Whether that’s permanently or for a few months a year is something
I’ll decide later.
Why do you want to become a
doctor?
I’ll highlight this at the end.
Have you ever cheated?
I was quite emphatic about this. In fact
a bit over the top. But this stems from the fact that I really don’t like the
‘cheating’ culture that is prevalent in educational institutions here in
Pakistan. Call me a prick, if you want, but I don’t cheat off anyone nor do I
directly help someone during the paper.
If worst comes to worst the person behind me might sneak a glance of my
paper without me knowing. I told the
interviewer this and he said that by doing this I was indirectly promoting the
very act. At that point I said that I can’t change people perceptions and a
whole culture single-handedly, the important thing is that I myself don’t cheat
and I can’t help if other people do . I will not be disturbed by a random
person in the middle of the paper, by trying to uncomfortably and unsuccessfully
hide my paper. If they’re cheating, it’s their loss not mine.
What if you don’t get into AKU?
This was a question, I was asked in my actual and my practice interviews. Both
my Biology teachers had told me that I should say something like that if I
don’t get accepted, I’ll apply again next year and even the year after, and
right now I’m completely committed to AKU in the sense that I’ve applied to
NOWHERE ELSE. Both of them were pretty insistent on the fact that you have to
convince the interviewer that you REALLY want to go to AKU. I know someone who
joined AKU in 1st year after dropping out of 3rd year, from another medical
college, while that kind of dedication is admirable but for me it’s something
I’d never do. I thought that the answer that my teachers told me was over the
top and frankly quite ridiculous. Instead I told the interviewer the truth. I
told him that while AKU was my first choice, and I would be disappointed if I
was rejected I would most certainly not wait a whole year to apply again. In
fact I probably wouldn’t apply again. I’d move on and probably pursue medicine
from Army Medical College, Shifa or Rawalpindi Medical College. I also
mentioned the answer that my teachers ‘expected’ of me and the interviewer laughed
and said that he too found that answer absurd.
Have you thought about
what you want to specialise in?
This question is open ended. Just tell the truth and it doesn’t matter if you
haven’t thought about it because it is very premature to think about
specialization even before gaining admission to a medical college.
Problems facing the healthcare
sector in Pakistan
Ø Under funding (low healthcare budget
and no priority on govt agenda)
Ø Lack of facilities especially in govt.
hospitals
Ø Lack of qualified, trained staff due
to brain drain
Ø Lack of awareness
Ø Lack of sanitation, clean water.
Ø Security situation hampering
vaccination drives
Ø Too many MBBS doctors
Ø No healthcare structure (for eg.
Primary, secondary, tertiary healthcare)
Ø Expensive, unaffordable treatments in
private hospitals
Ø Regulations/Guidelines not properly
enforced.
General Tips
Arrive early
Dress smart
Practice a bit, if nervous
Don’t worry about how long your
interviews are.
Treat the interview as a general
conversation
Don’t stress, and relax. Even if
you are nervous, maintain a calm, confident, composed attitude (easier said than done!)
And above all, as mentioned
before, DON’T LIE.
-----------------------------------------------
Why Medicine?
I think for any doctor/doctor-to-be the answer
to this question does not rely on a single factor, rather it depends on a
series of factors, all of which culminate in choosing this profession.
Despite both my parents being doctors I was
neither pressured by them nor did I feel I was ever forced to choose this
field. I took Biology, Physics, Chemistry and Maths during my A Levels, and I
absolutely loved Maths. With Maths nothing was too difficult, everything just
seemed natural. But with Biology I always struggled. I had to put the extra
effort in and I found those damn CIE past papers hell (the mark schemes were
always out to kill you😤). However
despite the difficulties I faced I was always interested in Biology. I don’t
know why but something about the human body has always fascinated me. I
remember when we did the homeostasis chapter, I read somewhere that there are 1
MILLION nephrons in each kidney. I mean let that sink in... 1 million nephrons
(a number so large that our mind can barely comprehend its magnitude) crammed
into a tiny space, all performing the same function, seemingly effortlessly,
continuously 24/7. We, as humans, are still not able to replicate this, even
the most advanced dialysis machines are mammoth sized compared to a kidney and
are, at best, a temporary measure, they are most definitely NOT a replacement
for the kidney. And this is just one instance. Throughout my course I was
constantly amazed the human's body intricacies, its complexities and its hidden
mysteries. And there are so many things left to uncover, and so many things
that we yet just don't know enough about, take cancer as an example. Everything
about this field piques my childlike curiosity, in a way that engineering,
accounting, finance or any other profession just simply don't.
I've also done a fair bit of peer teaching,
and I can't really describe the feeling I used to get when I successfully
conveyed a concept to someone. It was this warm, fuzzy, satisfying feeling. And
that left me with a drive to help others. That drive and that kick is what I
hope I can get with a career in medicine. I mean what can be better than a
career whose roots are entwined with the very concept of service to humanity?
Going off on a religious tangent, we're all sinners to some extent, so as
selfish as this sounds, if I can gain some sort of redemption by dedicating my
life in a service to others, then it'll be worth it.
I moved to Pakistan, from the UK, around 6
years ago. Honestly the first few years, I hated it here. Everything was so
different and foreign to me. But over the years I've grown to quietly admire
this great nation. This country has enabled me to reconnect with my culture,
language (though admittedly my Urdu is shamefully terrible😁), people but most of all it has given me an identity. I wouldn't be
the person I am now today, if I had stayed back yesterday. And yes, while I
have had massive downs and challenges to face, they've made me someone I'm
proud to be. In my small way I'd like to give back, to make a difference to the
place that gave me so much.
Unlike other fields, medicine is not stagnant,
rather quite the opposite. It is dynamic and constantly evolving. Techniques
that were prevalent a mere 20 years ago are redundant today, and diseases that
were incurable are now simple to treat. Research, plays a huge role in the
advancement of medicine. And I want to play a part in that. I’ve always enjoyed
working in a lab, so being a scientist is something I’ve considered, however,
for me, it has one big drawback...and that is a lack of human interaction. The
human interaction factor is something that makes medicine unique in the
scientific field, and directly links doctors to their patients. But, nowadays,
doctors who are at the forefront of the specialties not only practice but also
carry out research on international levels. In doing so they are able to
directly see the effect of their efforts. Hence for me, I feel that medicine is
the best of both worlds.
Medicine is hard, and by hard I mean extremely
difficult. Worldwide, medicine is consistently one of the most competitive
fields out there. Doctors are expected to have unbelievable amounts of
knowledge on their fingertips, are expected to make life-changing decisions
often in a short time span and are expected to thrive in stressful,
pressurising environments. As standards and the scrutiny on doctors rises it is
only going to become more difficult. I have seen firsthand how doctors are
expected to be know-it-all robots that simply cannot make an error. While, in
my opinion, this kind of attitude is blatantly wrong, it is a reality of the
world we live in. Knowing these challenges and the hard grafting I have ahead
of me, I'm becoming a doctor, not for the money, not because I have been forced
to, not for the respect in society, but for the lives and stories I can impact
and make a difference to.
Miscellaneous Advice From AKU Students/Seniors
The following Tips are random, please use only the tips that are relevant to you:
Show up early and physically prepared, i.e have a good breakfast, take a shower, smell good, and all that stuff.
formal shirt + dress pants + tie
For the "tell me about yourself” question, have a long answer prepared because they will literally want to know everything. Start from your family, then parents and grandparents, their professions, then past education, favorite subjects, extra curriculars where you had a leadership position, hobbies, sports, how you spend your free time.
Also mention how you use your free time to destress by watching movies, reading books, learning new skills like music editing and practicing photoshop.
If you say you read fiction, they'll ask the authors and what the book is about. They may ask you the addresses of your home, school, parents’ workplace. You can’t lie about anything. If they ask whether you can drive and you say yes, they might ask you for directions to any of these places. For everything there must be solid backing so they know you aren't lying.
Take your photoshop/design work with you. Emphasise on how you like to design, as well as edit pictures.
You should know who is the Minister of National Health Services, who is the Finance Minister, etc.
Know about Social problems include illiteracy, corruption, lack of women's rights, child labour, as well as Economic problems include inflation, unemployment, poverty etc.
Health structure of Pakistan?
What's the health budget of Pakistan?
What about AKU appeals to you? What if you don't get admitted?
1) What are 3 of your strengths and weaknesses? I used to be a pushover and would sacrifice a lot of my time and energy to please others, but i have learnt to cut down on that, because i realised i cannot always please everyone. I had a habit of being hard on myself for any fall backs or failures but i understand now that i must work my hardest and to the best of my ability, everything else will fall into place. I tend to overprepare for things, which results in my being slow to progress at first but i eventually catch up and due to my overpreparedness i feel i do better at things. In terms of strengths, I believe myself to be an effective leader because i have been in a leadership role on many occasions, and love to work in a team, motivating my peers, cooperating and coordinating with them, discussing different insights to tackle a particular task or project from different angles, and delegating tasks according to the strengths of each of the individuals in my team. I have a strong work ethic and love to work, im very passionate for it, especially because good quality progress gives me great satisfaction. I work well under stress, because ive learnt to perceive it in a positive light, because there are 2 types of stress: eustress and distress, and i can identify and replace distress through various activities.
2) Have you ever cheated? (You must say no, always, period)
3) What are your hobbies? (Be prepared to talk about this a lot – you want to lead the interview YOUR way and shape the conversation the way you want it – they will cross question you too to make sure everything you’re saying is legit)
After this intro they’ll move on to the uni talk. The three main things you need to cover are: 1) Why medicine? 2) Why AKU specifically? 3) Why should they take you?
While answering these questions, it is very important to link everything that has happened in your life to medicine. Like everything. You’re supposed to sell yourself a bit during this part and talk about how you’ve volunteered or interned, learned stuff, developed empathy, cared for the less fortunate, etc. If you’ve taken part in a science competition for example, tell them how the teamwork during those competitions will help you in your medical practice when you’ll have to team up with other doctors and nurses. This is what I mean by linking things to medicine.
According to your answers, they will comment or make a remark and then test your reaction to it. This is where your composure and confidence is tested: the ability to withhold your ground and stay true to yourself throughout the interview.
Would you rather be a leader or a follower? Your answer should be leader and you should talk about how you value leadership, especially in a country like Pakistan where people need someone to look up to. You should appear willing to take that responsibility (and confidently too). I don’t mean politics, I mean doctors as leaders. Who actually teach people and spread awareness and promote public health rather than just having their own private money making practice.
Do keep a few questions in mind to ask the interviewer.
READ UP ON AKU. https://www.aku.edu/about/at-a-glance/Pages/our-vision.aspx
Go through the website and learn all the details there about its educational programs, in which parts of the world it’s established, etc. Know what AKDN is and what it is doing in the world right now. You should know about AKU’s MBBS curriculum and societies too, eg: HASS, FALAH, has good faculty, has good research opportunities, state of the art equipment and labs, hostel facilities, sports center facilities. Also mention the new CIME building.
Know statistics about the pakistani health sector and health in general.
Show you are genuinely interested in helping people by bringing up community services and talk about AKU's Community Health sciences program (Do some research on it).
Show that you are a broad thinking open minded tolerant individual.
AKU is associated with NGOs in Pakistan, but does it have networks formed with international NGOs like the MSF or WHO?
What sports opportunities are offered here?
I heard about AKU developing a Social and Human sciences division here, is that true? When is it expected to be completed?
Can you tell me about your education and career path? What was your journey like until you made it as the medical professional you are today?
Can you tell me about the sports facilities/HASS/Falah
Wear a watch, carry a pen. But Never Ever look at the time.
Know what other program's they're offering.
> 9 What are social problems of Pakistan
> 10 What are health issues in Pakistan
> 11 Languages you speak at home and with friends
> 12 Which newspaper do you read? English or Urdu
> 13 What do you know about aku?
> 33 What programmes does AKU offer besides MBBS
AKU prospectus info
> 1. Aku seal- the circle represents the internationality of aku. Centre is star or sun—universal symbol for enlightenment and symbolic of divine light (nur). Sun has 49 rays to commemorate 49th imam Sir aga khan. Quranic ayat 3:103.
> 2. Many believe world going through Knowledge Society phase—where the source of influence would be through info, intelligence, insight rather than power or natural resources. Priority setting will be most imp-today ppl lost in gainig too much info—lost wisdom and knowledge that lies within—said by sir aga khan
> (this is very rep of what aku wants not only above 59% in test or alevels but an individual well rounded in academic and extra curriculars alike. Wants to produce not cogs in the machine.)
> 3. Key to progress duznt lie in any single source of teaching but in the openness to new expressions and fresh insights. (sir aga khan)
> 4. Development of truly global citizens that are able to cope and excel with diversity.
> 5. Aku campuses in Nairobi , khi, darusalam, arusha.
> 6. Stimulating experience and personal growth.—firoz rasul (prez)
> 7. First private uni pak—27 yrs old
> 8. Faculty of arts and sciences—for liberal arts edu
> 9. Committed to enhance position of women strengthened nursing+ teaching institutions
> 10. Strong position in AKDN by committing to social development via developing higher edu + research relevant to probs in pak+ muslims+ developing nations
> 11. Aku comprises of faculty of health sciences as med college n nursing school in akuh, AKU-IED edu develop institute in khi and Islamic civilizations institute in London.
> 12. 2002 est AKU-examination board
> 13. Uni launched training n teaching sites in Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya , Syria , Egypt, uk----also aims to develop AKU HEALTH N FAS IN Uganda kanya and Tanzania
> 14. Chancellor= aga kahn---chairman trustees= saidullah khan dehelvi
> 15. Harvard,mcgill,mcmaster contributed to faculty and curriculum,,,waterloo UBC partnerships enable higher training and research opportunities not available in Pakistan.
> 16. Only 3rd teaching hospital in world to get JCIA accreditation, and now also ISO certified
> 17. Patients behbud society donates zakat to akuh
> 18. Student activities include sports, art, culture and publications
> 19. Potential for leadership
> 20. MBBS curriculum renewed oct 2002—has evidence based medi edu, problem based learning and opp to work in clinical teams both in karaachi and on a national/ community in urban/ rural areas
> 21. AKU-MC conforms to the req of pak med and dental council—registering body in Pakistan
I had read anything about medical advancements, so I would suggest reading a few medical magazines online, it's always good to tell them that oh I found this new thing online and it was so very interesting.
why you don't want to go abroad? I said well I had the opportunity but I realised that for me the best decision would be to study medicine here
Go on the aku site, read their mission statement. Read whatever the hell you can and pick what all looks impressive. Aku is one of the best medical schools worldwide, it is in the city you live in, it has adopted the pbl and module system which is brilliant, and you feel that the environment aku supports is one you could very easily fit into and an environment which promotes learning. Let me tell you about the pbl and module system. Basically, in the old days medicine was taught subject wise, like anatomy then histology then pathology and so on. The module system is basically an integrated teaching approach, you have modules like blood, inflammation, gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular system. So what happens is that you learn all the anatomy physio histo patho etc about blood, then about inflammation then about git then about cvs and so on. So after every module you have a rounded full understanding about the system you have studied. Which makes it very easy to learn. Pbl stands for problem based learning. At aku the class of 100 is divided into 10 or so groups with 10 or so people. Twice a week you have pbl sessions. In these sessions we get cases related to the module you are studying, from the cases you make learning objectives because in the first two years of med school your objective is to learn what is going on and what goes wrong to make a certain symptom or disease happen. The case represents a patient who came to the doctor and so so and so has happened to him or her. You then make a learning objective (LO) about abnormal and normal functions of whatever is the related case. We have pbls twice a week, on mondays and thursdays. It works like this, monday you get a case, thursday you discuss the case, thursday you get a new case, monday you discuss that case and get a new case and so on. So what's happening is that you're constantly studying, and that is only going to help you with your exam later because if you studied well in your pbl then come exam time when you're studying again it's going to be like revision. You don't have to mention all of this I'm just telling you what I like about it and what I think you should understand about it, days of pbl change every year so that's not important for you obvs. Also, say that you have friends at aku and they praise the system of learning a lot and well you'd just love to be in such a place.
read up on the health system of Pakistan, primary secondary tertiary and quarternary care (pak doesn't really have quarternary care much) just read up on it just in case.
-If you are working in an organization and you don’t agree with their rules, what would you do? (V tricky question – I said that I would possibly speak with the management to get clarity on the issue reason being that rules are made keeping the general well-being of the staff in mind so they cannot possibly be wrong)
She also asked me if there was something that I disliked about AKU? And she did NOT want to hear that it’s amazing and perfect so be prepared for such questions.
I simply told her that its very expensive and not easily affordable by even middle class at times but that was understandable since it’s a private hospital. I made it sound positive by saying that I liked the fact that they set up a special financial aid bank for less privileged people in recent years and are trying to improve upon the issue.
Talk about the research opportunities at aku, organisations such as Falah and its branches and about the university's international reputation.
Link leadership to doctors being leaders, and emphasise the importance of medical profession being a team based field.
connections to foreign NGOs like MSF and WHO
Older Posts On This Blog Related To The AKU Interview
http://theakuchallenge.blogspot.com/2013/11/aku-interview-guidelines.html
http://theakuchallenge.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-interview-situation.html
Update 9/25/2018: Tips for AKU Interviews by Manzar Abbas, Class of 2022 (Video)
https://youtu.be/LHvjdKc7KnE
Update 9/26/2018: Advice by Omaima Bhatti, Class of 2022
So heres some advice for the aku interview. Its okay to be nervous.
I would suggest you do mock interviews. Its really going to help. You can ask a sibling, or a friend, or a teacher.
So theres 2 interviews. There are a set of questions that all of them ask. Some would follow the questionnaire and it’ll seem like an Q and A session (both of mine were like this)
However some interviewers wont exactly ask all those questions. Theyll build up on your responses, they might try to intimidate you and ask questions that might set you off track. Keep your cool and stay confident.
Just remember its a conversation. And its about you. So you steer the conversation wherever you want it to go. Some general tips
-Just be yourself
-Make them see who you are.
Give them personal anecdotes ( i did that. I talked a lot about my family but it just came to me naturally. So be natural) Figure out what makes you stand out as a person. It could be something very small too. ( i actually said something, a certain thing about my personality that others might find a stupid thing to say in an interview, but thats the only thing my interviewer actually smiled at also coz i was smiling and laughing myself)
-you should know why youre choosing medicine. Dont make up a story. Dig deep into yourself and figure it out. (Took me a while to do it but i eventually did end up with an answer that was very true to me)
-I talked a lot about how im looking forward to meeting new people from all around the country and abroad. They love hearing about diversity in aku. But it was a heartfelt answer too.
-know your strengths and weaknesses really well and also talk about how you would overcome your weaknesses
-stress management!!! Both of my interviewers asked me about it and i had already thought of what i had to say. Be aware of what helps you get through stress.
-If you cant think of an answer for some question, let them know. For example, my interviewer asked me to tell him about an event in my life that really disappointed me and how i overcame it. I hesitated and i was thinking and nothing was coming to my mind and i said i really dont know. So the interviewer went into a description of an event from his own life and then he asked me if theres something like this you want to tel me and i apologised because i really couldnt think of anything and he said its okay and he moved on. And i think he liked the fact that i was being honest and didnt force an answer
-They might ask questions like have you ever cheated (my suggestion ( and also my seniors’) would be to say no because aku has a strict policy against cheating) they might try to trick you and give you scenarios and try to make you admit that its important to lie and cheat sometimes (happened with me) I said i would rather opt for honesty than have something weigh on my conscious.
-theres so much more. The general interview tips but its been covered in the other posts.
-you can ask for water
-dont interrupt the interviewer
Also, its good to carry a portfolio with photocopies of important documents/ certificates and resume. You would be bringing up your hobbies or extracurriculars and its good to have proof of it. Like you can take some of your artwork, or poems, or if you play music you can show them a video. For example, i took a research article that i had worked a bit on. I did show it and was asked to explain stuff about it.
And when i was talking about my stress management i told my interviewer that i use adult colouring apps and said ‘would you like to see its on my phone’ and he allowed it. And was impressed altho it was something pretty simple.
Just let them know youre not all about parhai
Present yourself well it matters a lot.
Let your passion show. Confidence, honesty, warm smiles, courtesy, remember these things.
IA everything will turn out fine.
Update 9/26/2018: Advice by Muhammad Talal, Class of 2021
I just want to add one thing. Ask them to read up a little about community medicine (aku's impact in community, basic health units etc). Also about public health. eg my interviewer asked me what would I do as a public health administrator (and I had no idea) (he then prompted me on things like access to clean water, food etc). This is important if the interviewer is from the CHS (Community Health Sciences) department, because faculty of that department lay a special emphasis on these topics that is often missed in the general discussion about medicine by others.
