A study by the University of Minnesota indicates that personality is a predictor a student’s success in med school. The study showed that students that have some of the key personality factors to success in med school are conscientiousness, extraversion and agreeableness.
While conscientiousness may have always been a factor that everyone knew contributed to academic success, the level at which extraversion affects academic performance positively came as a surprise since many equated the trait with poor grades.
The study, which is an eye opener, will surely have implication on the admissions process of medical schools with interviewers now noting the extraversion and agreeableness of a person as a positive attribute.
What this means for interviewees is that during interviews it is very important to appear as extraverted as possible. Time to brush up on those interpersonal skills!