INFLUENCE OF THE INTERVIEW ON THE EVALUATION OF APPLICANTS TO MEDICAL-SCHOOL

Purpose. To determine whether medical school admission interviewers ch ange their evaluations and impressions of applicants as a direct resul t of the interview. Method. In 1991-92, 419 applicants to the Universi ty of Virginia School of Medicine were interviewed by members of the a dmission committee in two separate half-hour sessions. After reviewing each applicant's folder, interviewers rated the applicant before the interview on six objective scales. After the interview, ratings were a gain made on the same six scales, on the same form, below the ratings made before the interview. Data were examined using paired t-tests, Pe arson correlations, and stepwise multiple-regression analysis. Results . Of the six scales, only the ratings of Commitment to Serve Others we re not significantly changed by the interview; the ratings of Familiar ity with Issues in Medicine changed the most (p < .01 by paired t-test ). The ratings of Overall Impression increased for accepted applicants and decreased for rejected applicants. Conclusion. The interview did influence interviewers' ratings made before the interview, and in the direction consistent with admission decisions, which supports the cont inued use of the interview. Although the magnitude of the changes was not large, the changes validate the conviction that the interview aids in the selection of individuals for medical school.