By MedicForest · Reviewed
Understand the topic
Open questions may have several defensible answers. The interviewer can assess the quality of your reasoning, your ability to consider others and how you respond to a challenge. A personal opinion is more useful when you explain its basis and limits.
How to discuss it in Med interview
Define any ambiguous terms and state a working assumption. Give a clear answer with one or two reasons. Consider a meaningful objection, then explain whether it changes your position. For a creative question, choose an understandable idea and connect it to the actual task rather than guessing a secret preferred answer.
Put it into words
If asked to design a new public-health campaign, first identify a specific audience and barrier. Explain how your idea addresses that barrier, how you would involve the audience and what outcome you would measure.
Common pitfalls
Assuming there is only one acceptable opinion or adding so many qualifications that you never answer the question.