Prelude
I'm sure if you have googled "practice mmi" or anything to that effect, you would have come across a very good set of 10 practice questions, with a variety of categories. If you haven't already, practice with these first. This set of questions are prepared by people who created the whole MMI business, and few things other than doing a real MMI can give you a better pictures than this.
Having said that, it'll be quite easy to finish all of these questions and still feel under-prepared. That's why I'll post some questions that I've come up with (in no shape or form are these from my real MMI for obvious reasons), as something you could think about as you prepare.
Driving a friend
You have been in a new relationship for 5 months, and you just got into medical school. As the saying goes, many relationships are ended in med school because of the stress, and lack of time, and the excitement of meeting hundreds of new, young, intelligent soon-to-be doctors. You suspect that your partner is slightly worried about your attending medical school.
One evening, you have to attend a social event that your partner cannot go to. One of your colleagues from out of province asks you for a ride to the party, as he/she does not know how to get there. You feel slightly uncomfortable but at the same time obligated to help as a local and a friend.
How would you approach this situation?
Hi first of all I would like to say that I really appreciate what you are doing, providing help to the fellow premed who have their interview coming up quite shortly!
ReplyDeleteI read your question and I can say that I am puzzled. There seems to be two separate issues. The central theme being time management; duty of friendship and responsibility to be an attentive partner. I don't really see a major/direct conflict in this particular instance? Are you suppose to try to reconcile these two duties somehow?
I mean the questions stated that you "have" to go to the event (which given the social nature of it I don't get why that's the case but anyways..) your partner cannot. So that's that as defined by the question. Or are there leeways when it comes to answering these question to change the described circumstance somewhat so you can arrange things to be able to allow your partner to make it to the event?
If not then the question seems to me to become the conundrum with respect to this event (your preference not to help the friend (why?) vs his request for help). Plus the more long term issue of the strain on your relationship caused by the demanding nature of med school. Then I discuss how to solve these two?
Inputs?
TIA
Hi Steve,
ReplyDeleteSorry for the late reply. Went on a good ski trip with friends this weekend... but anyway, thanks for responding and the good words!
Some events can be social and obligatory at the same time... take for example a Christmas party organized and paid for by your physician mentor.
The key point of this question is not really whether you should go to the party or not. Instead, I would identify the dilemma as whether to put the interest of your personal relationships before the friendship with your future colleagues. So, I would weigh the conflicting alternatives (give colleague a ride or not) and provide a resolution (ample communication with partner and colleague).
Hope this helps!