What is resilience? Describe a time where you were resilient. (Common medical school interview question)

( An effective answer to this question is one that is concise and well-structured).
I would consider resilience to be the ability to recover from a setback, which can be academic, personal or professional. For example, if one was to perform badly on an exam, a resilient attitude would be one that focused on self-evaluation and improvement, rather than discouragement.
For me, one of the greatest set backs was when I was kicked from the football A-team. This was a team I had been involved in for several years so I felt a huge wave of disappointment when I was told I wasn't good enough. I felt like I had two choices, either accept that I wasn't good enough or work hard to show them I was. Deciding to take the resilient approach, I spent the summer working - the year after, I was let back on the team!

MM
Answered by Michael M. Medical School Preparation tutor

20479 Views

See similar Medical School Preparation Mentoring tutors

Related Medical School Preparation Mentoring answers

All answers ▸

Which medical school should I apply for if I haven't done well in my UKCAT?


How much reading should I aim to do before attending a medical school interview?


How can you show that you have learnt from your work experience in your personal statement?


I see you did a degree in Biomedical Sciences. Why do you want to be a doctor and not a Biomedical Scientist?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning