What is a good answer for what is your weakness?

Example: “My greatest weakness is that I sometimes have a hard time letting go of a project . I'm the biggest critic of my work. I can always find something that needs to be improved or changed. To help myself improve in this area, I give myself deadlines for revisions.

What is the star technique in interviewing?

STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action and Result and it's a technique you can use to not only strengthen your answers but create a narrative and structure as well. We recommend the STAR interview method to candidates who want to tailor direct and concise answers to impress interviewers.

Why should I hire you?

A: When answering, focus on your relevant skills, experience, and achievements that make you the best fit for the role.You should hire me because I am a hard worker who wants to help your company succeed . I have the skills and experience needed for the job, and I am eager to learn and grow with your team .

What do you say when you apply?

Dear [Hiring Manager's Name], I am writing to express my strong interest in the [Job Title] position at [Company Name] that I came across on your job portal. With [X years] of experience in [Industry/Field], I believe that I possess the skills and qualifications necessary to make a valuable contribution to your team.

What is your biggest strength and weakness?

Your strengths and weaknesses should reflect the requirements of the role. Ensure that you highlight your skills that are listed in the job description, and explain how you will gain or improve critical skills that you lack. In general, your strengths should be skills that can be supported through experience.

What to say in a tell me about yourself interview question?

The best way to answer "Tell me about yourself" is with a brief highlight-summary of your experience, your education, the value you bring to an employer, and the reason you're looking forward to learning more about this next job and the opportunity to work with them.

Why are you interested in this position?

Why are you interested in the position answer? I am interested in this position because it aligns perfectly with my skills, experiences, and career aspirations . I am excited about the opportunity to contribute my expertise to [Company Name] and make a meaningful impact in [specific area or industry].

How to answer why are you applying for this program?

Include information about your skills and natural talents in your answer. Consider mentioning how your skills align with the subject matter. Focus on your unique strengths that could contribute to your success in the course. Discuss the skills you hope to further develop through the course.

How to answer what motivated you to apply for this position?

You can talk about why this company or role specifically appeals to you as long as you keep your answer big-picture. For example: I'm motivated by the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others . I like feeling like my work is making a positive impact, whether on a small scale or a large one.

How do I answer application questions?

Tips for answering job application questions Use the STAR technique (AKA “show don't tell”) to answer where possible . Provide concrete examples, not just statements. Write original answers – don't copy and paste from resumes or cover letters. Avoid plain “yes” or “no” answers.

Before You Apply (2024)

Citizenship

Currently, only U.S. citizens or permanent residents will be considered.

Education

All applicants are required to have a degree at the bachelor’s level or higher from an accredited U.S. or Canadian college or university prior to matriculation in the MD program. There is not a preferred major.

Student-Run "Virtual Office Hours"

Virtual Office Hours is a recruitment initiative aimed at addressing any hesitation potential students may have in their consideration ofCarle Illinois. Each session will have some information about Carle Illinois but will focus on current students answering questions from potential applicants. If interested, register for a specific session.

Technical Standards

All matriculating students must be able to meet the Carle Illinois Technical Standards.

Student Handbook

Matriculated students should review the Carle Illinois student handbook for requirements such as criminal background check, immunizations and drug testing.

Academic Requirements: MCAT and GPA

Applicants must have a Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) score prior to application consideration and the October 31 deadline. Please check the available dates for taking the MCAT.

Both MCAT and GPA will be used as components in our holistic evaluation. We require a minimum MCAT score of 498 out of a possible 528.MCAT scores cannot be more than 3 years old in January of the year of expected enrollment. The best eligible score will be used for the admission process. We do not have a minimum GPA requirement. Information about Carle Illinois matriculants, including median MCAT scores, can be found on the AAMC MSAR (Medical School Admissions Requirements) page. Carle Illinois does not consider scores on the individual sections of the MCAT.

Required Competency Areas

At Carle Illinois we evaluate competency, which is a much broader concept than pre-requisites. Applicants MUST DEMONSTRATE COMPETENCY IN AT LEAST 9 OF THE 11 AREAS on the competency checklist in order to receive a secondary application.

While competency most likely will be met through courses taken during undergraduate education, we recognize there are alternatives to undergraduate coursework that may prepare you for our curriculum. These may include, but are not limited to, research publications, professional experiences, or certificates. The checklist will provide the opportunity to upload documentation of alternative experiences proposed as demonstration of competence. The Competency section of Admissions FAQ may answer questions that you have concerning the competency checklist.

Competency Areas	Could be demonstrated by:
Chemistry	3 semesters or equivalent of general and/or organic chemistry with lab
Biochemistry	1 semester or equivalent
Biology	2 semesters or equivalent with lab
Advanced Biology	1 semester or equivalent of physiology, systems biology, or other advanced biology course
Physics	2 semesters or equivalent with lab
Humanities / Social Science	Humanities coursework as defined by the undergraduate major
Statistics	1 semester or equivalent
Calculus	2 semesters or equivalent; content of higher-level class should be comparable to UIUC MATH 231 (Calculus II)
Multivariate Calculus	Content of class should be comparable to UIUC MATH 241 (Calculus III); see FAQs for more information
Differential Equations	Content of class should be comparable to UIUC MATH 285 (Intro to Differential Equations); see FAQs for more information
Linear Algebra	Content of class should be comparable to UIUC MATH 415 (Applied Linear Algebra) or MATH 257 (Linear Algebra with Computational Applications); see FAQs for more information

Community college credit is accepted. Advanced Placement credit is accepted when succeeded by a higher-level course in the same subject at an undergraduate institution. To see how the University of Illinois interprets your prior coursework, please refer to Transferology or speak to the pre-health advisor from your college/university. Regretfully, due to a high volume of requests, we are unable to provide individual pre-application assessments.

Suggested Experience

Carle Illinois College of Medicine is committed to the use of holistic admissions to identify applicants who are best suited to our institutional mission and educational design. In addition to strong interpersonal skills, demonstrated altruism, leadership skills, experience in healthcare settings, and strong preparation in pre-med plus quantitative areas, applicants with experience coding, participating in research studies, working directly with patients as an EMT or medical assistant, or working in industry have found success in our curriculum and excelled outside of the classroom.

Letters of Recommendation

All letters of evaluation and recommendation must be submitted to AMCAS letter service. Any letters from third parties that are not solicited by the applicant or Carle Illinois College of Medicine, or letters sent directly to Carle Illinois College of Medicine will not be accepted or retained. All applicants are required to submit at least three but no more than four letters of evaluation and recommendation. Premedical committee reports or other composite letters of recommendation of any length or style will count as three letters, so such applicants may submit one additional letter of recommendation.

Applicants are advised to choose a group of letter writers who can collectively speak to their:

Skill in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics)
Work ethic and engagement
Leadership and teamwork
Potential to be a successful innovator.

Additional Assessments

Carle Illinois does NOT REQUIRE additional assessments at this time. For the 2024 admissions cycle we will be collecting the AAMC PREview™ Professional Readiness Exam for any applicants who took it for other reasons. We will hold these scores separately to be used for research purposes but they will NOT be used for evaluation for the 2024 cycle. Information about the AAMC PREview™ exam, including preparation materials, test registration, requests for accommodations, and important dates and deadlines is available here: http://www.aamc.org/PREview

Nondiscrimination Notice

The commitment of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (University) to the most fundamental principles of academic freedom, equality of opportunity, and human dignity requires that decisions involving students and employees be based on merit and be free from invidious discrimination in all its forms. The University does not engage in discrimination or harassment against any person because of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, disability, national origin, citizenship status, ancestry, age, order of protection status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, arrest record status, unfavorable discharge from the military, or status as a protected veteran and complies with all federal and state nondiscrimination, equal opportunity, and affirmative action laws, orders, and regulations.

The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies:

Director of the Office for Access & Equity

616 East Green Street, Suite 214
Champaign, IL 61820
accessandequity@illinois.edu
(217)333-0885

Please refer to theUniversity of Illinois System websitefor the most up-to-date statement on Sex Discrimination, Sexual Harassment and Other Sexual Misconduct.