Medical School Admissions Interviews

Over the past few weeks, the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine in the Galilee at Bar-Ilan University in Safed hosted admissions interviews for its six-year and four-year medical programs. For applicants, the interviews represent one of the most significant milestones on the journey toward fulfilling their dream of becoming physicians. For the Faculty, they mark an important stage in selecting the next generation of medical students.

Admission to medical school is based on more than academic achievement alone. In addition to matriculation and psychometric scores, undergraduate academic records, and knowledge-based examinations, the Faculty seeks to get to know the individual behind the application. The admissions process includes a personal interview, a biographical questionnaire, and the Shaul assessment. Applicants to the six-year program also take a preliminary computerized examination, and candidates with the highest scores are invited to continue in the selection process. Together, these stages are designed to evaluate personal qualities which are essential for the medical profession, including maturity, resilience, interpersonal communication skills, and commitment.

The interviews were held over three weeks on the Faculty’s Safed campus. Each day was marked by a combination of anticipation, determination, and hope. Throughout the halls, candidates who had spent months preparing for this opportunity could be seen making their way to interview rooms, eager to demonstrate not only their knowledge and abilities, but also their character, motivation, and suitability for the profession.

Behind the process stands a dedicated team of faculty members, physicians, researchers, and administrative staff, who contribute their time, expertise, and judgment to ensure a professional, fair, and thorough evaluation process. Although much of this work takes place behind the scenes, it plays a vital role in identifying the students who will study at the Faculty, train in healthcare institutions throughout the region, and ultimately contribute to Israel’s healthcare system—and to the Galilee in particular.

The admissions interviews serve as a reminder that the journey to becoming a physician begins long before the first day of medical school. It starts with human connection, attentive listening, and the shared responsibility of selecting those best suited to the calling of medicine.