You're Being Judged Before You Speak
The way you walk into the room. Your body language. Your facial expressions. The tone of your voice. All of these are critical components of your medical school interview.
But to complicate things further, they become even more important when you consider the difference between online and in-person interviews. Being able to adapt how you present yourself depending on the interview format isn’t just helpful - it’s an essential skill.
And that’s exactly what we’re covering in this week’s newsletter, to help you secure your medicine offer.
In-person Interviews
In person, it’s much easier to show genuine emotion and build a natural connection with your interviewer.
However, there’s also far more to be mindful of when it comes to your body language and overall presentation because your interviewer is literally watching everything. From the moment you walk into the station to the moment you leave, they’re forming an impression of you.
That’s why showcasing positive body language is so important. But what does that actually mean?
Before entering each station, take a brief mental and physical reset. Take a deep breath. Stand tall with your back straight, shoulders relaxed, and a natural smile on your face. This small reset can completely change how you walk in. Confident, calm, and composed.
Another challenge unique to in-person interviews is managing stress. Being in an unfamiliar environment can make nerves feel much more intense. That’s why it’s essential to have strategies in place on the day.
Deep breathing is one of the most effective ways to regulate stress and ground yourself. Alongside this, remind yourself of one key fact: you’ve been invited to interview for a reason. Your application and academic profile were strong enough to get you here. The interviewer already sees potential - they’re not looking for reasons to reject you, but reasons to offer you a place. Let that mindset guide you through the station.
Online Interviews
Online interviews come with a different set of challenges.
Being in a familiar environment often makes it easier to manage nerves. However, building a genuine connection with your interviewer becomes much harder. Your emotions, facial expressions, and vocal tone don’t always translate as clearly through a screen.
Because of this, you may need to be slightly more expressive than usual. This doesn’t mean acting unnaturally. It simply means being intentional with your expressions, gestures, and vocal emphasis so your message lands clearly.
Your camera setup is also crucial. Make sure your camera quality is good and positioned correctly so your interviewer can see you clearly. Ideally, your upper body and hand gestures should be visible, as this helps convey enthusiasm and engagement.
One of the most powerful, yet most awkward, tips for online interviews is eye contact. To your interviewer, eye contact means looking directly into the camera, not at their face on the screen. It may feel strange, but from their perspective, it creates a sense of direct connection and confidence.
Lighting is another factor that should never be underestimated. Poor lighting can make it difficult for your interviewer to read your expressions, while overly bright lighting can cause glare. If possible, sit facing natural light. Make sure any artificial lighting is positioned in front of you rather than behind, so you don’t cast shadows over your face.
Finally, always do a test run before the interview. Check your camera, microphone, internet connection, and setup so everything runs smoothly on the day.
The truth is, within the first few seconds of seeing you, your interviewer begins forming an impression. That’s why strong body language, eye contact, and clear expression matter from the very start. By adapting your strategy for both in-person and online interviews, you put yourself in control - prepared, confident, and ready for any situation.
To help you learn the insane volume of interview content you need to know, check out my YouTube channel using the link below, as I have videos on all the key ethics, principles and hot topics you need to know!
Pairing these videos with the Ultimate Medicine Interview Document will help ensure effective and efficient interview revision! Everything I’m sharing within this document is exactly what I used to secure 4/4 post-interview offers, with interview scores as high as 130/135, and to be in the first wave of offer holders at both King’s College London and the University of Birmingham.
If you want to master every interview topic and walk in knowing you can handle whatever comes up, you need my Ultimate Medicine Interview Document. It’s a 50+ page, all-in-one guide covering everything from ethics and core principles to NHS hot topics and research skills. The notes are written in an active recall format, so you’re not passively reading - you’re training your brain to think like an interview-ready medical applicant. With 30+ NHS hot topics and 100+ practice MMI and interview questions, this becomes your complete, strategic toolkit for interview prep.
The Ultimate Medicine Interview Guide - All in One Knowledge Pack
Ace your medical school interviews with this all-in-one preparation resource, created to give you the knowledge you need... Read more |
If you’re serious about standing out, impressing your interviewers, and securing that medicine offer, email me at loveleenj241@gmail.com to book an interview teaching session. Email me NOW - spaces are limited, and the students who act early are always the ones who walk in prepared.
Building the right study habits
If you’re trying to build habits that actually improve your grades, not just work harder, having the right support matters. If you’re studying GCSE or A-level Biology or Chemistry and feel like your current grades don’t reflect your potential, tutoring can be a way to change how you study, not just how much you study. My approach focuses on building strong academic habits through smarter learning, clear structure, and targeted support. I’ve worked with students who’ve gone from grade 4s to 8s, and others who’ve achieved A*s - not through shortcuts, but by fixing the systems holding them back. I keep classes intentionally small so students get proper attention and consistency. If this sounds like something that would support you, you’re welcome to email me at loveleenj241@gmail.com to find out more.
As someone who received 4/4 offers and was in the first batch of offer holders at both King’s College London and the University of Birmingham, I’ve poured everything I know into creating the best possible interview resources, so you can achieve your dream of studying medicine. If you want to get your medicine offers, check out my interview resources on my website!
Additionally, you can check out my website for resources such as the A* AQA A-level psychology notes and my notes templated designed in an active recall format.
📸Here are the links to each of my social media pages, so make sure you follow! In all, I detail the advice and tips you need to help make your application to medicine so much easier! If you ever need any help, feel free to reach out to me at loveleenj241@gmail.com
