My guiding principle for answering "Why Our University"
Hello, future doctors.
The "Why Our University?" question may be the most technical one you'll prepare for.
You need to balance enthusiasm and your institution's selling points. You must also be careful not to sound a dime a dozen. Or — even worse — rehearsed.
In this article, I will walk you through my framework. It may serve as the scaffolding for your response.
The guiding principle
Here is my hot take:
"They don't actually want to know why you've applied to their medical school. What they're looking for is a unique fact, or statistic, about themselves."
"Why Our University?" is really about them. You need a factoid, and this works for three reasons. First, I'll give you an example, then we'll unpack the three reasons.
Example
"Larissa is, after all, the place where Hippocrates — the great doctor — was laid to rest. I want to follow in his footsteps. I want to provide value to society. I want to be a good human being. Not only do I get to learn medicine in the cradle of civilisation, the place where it was all invented, I also get to follow in the footsteps of my hero. Of my inspiration."
— Me, University of Thessaly interview, 2025
Reason 1
This shows you have done your research. You come across as an applicant with initiative.
Reason 2
Like everyone else, universities want to hear good things about themselves.
It's particularly powerful because universities compete against each other. And so, it feels great to hear why you chose them over others.
Reason 3
When you smile at people, people smile back at you. Same here. When you say how special a university is, your enthusiasm becomes contagious. It leaks over onto how great you are, and onto your uniqueness.
"By selling them on their greatness, you have just sold them on you."
See my YouTube video for an elaboration on this particular reason.
Concluding thoughts
A flattering, researched response is an easy competitive advantage.
This is the second article in a medical school interview prep series. Upcoming articles will include a similar breakdown of "Why Medicine?" and it's natural follow up questions. The previous article covered my favourite reply to the often-neglected "Any Questions?". This is a reply I have never revealed to the public before.
Got an interview coming up? Get my free interview guide. I'll respond to every one of you with a notion link.
Michael
First-year AUSoM medical student,
Future Swiss doctor
