How to answer “Where do you see yourself in 10 years?” in a medical school interview

A good answer to "where do you see yourself in 10 years" describes the kind of physician you hope to be, the work you'd like to be doing and the community you'd like to serve. It also shows that you're open to change. In a medical school interview, realistic goals tied to your past experience come across better than a fixed career plan.

What the interviewer is assessing

• Self-reflection and growth
• Health systems and advocacy

The interviewer wants to see that you understand the path ahead. In ten years you'd likely have finished medical school and residency, and you might be starting independent practice or further training. They're also looking for direction and sincerity. Goals that grow out of what you've already done sound credible. Goals that appear from nowhere sound rehearsed. Finally, the interviewer is checking for flexibility, because training exposes students to fields they hadn't considered.

How to structure your answer

1. Start with a short picture of your working life in ten years, such as the setting, the people you serve and the kind of work.
2. Name one or two fields that interest you now, and explain which experiences sparked that interest.
3. Mention any roles beyond patient care that you hope to take on, such as teaching, mentoring or research.
4. Say plainly that you expect your interests to evolve during training.
5. Close with what you hope will stay the same, such as the values behind your choice.

Keep the answer to about 90 seconds. When "where do you see yourself in 10 years" comes up in a medical school interview, some practical detail helps. Don't let it become a timeline of every exam and application.

Common mistakes

• Naming a single specialty with total certainty suggests you haven't left room to learn.
• Describing a lifestyle, a salary or a title as the goal raises questions about your motivation.
• Saying you have no idea suggests you haven't thought about the career at all.
• Listing goals with no link to your experiences makes them sound borrowed.
• Describing yourself as the head of a department or an organization in ten years can sound unrealistic for someone just out of training.

Follow-up questions to prepare for

• How many years of training does that path involve after medical school?
• What would you need to do in your first two years here to get there?
• Who do you know who does that work now, and what have they told you about it?
• What does your life outside of work look like in that picture?
• What would make you change course?