for an interview, it is necessary for both parties not to have known each other beforehand. hence they SHOULD be complete strangers because then it would minimize any bias.i have heard from my aussie classmates that the interviewers tell them NOT to announce that their parents are doctors.a future doctor should be vocal and eloquent enough to share with a panel of interviewers his/her desire to study medicine, why, other considerations, talk a little more about his/her own background, etc……at monash, they ask you to de-technicalise a scientific term or phrase. for example, saturated fats. or carbon cycle. or krebs cycle. this is to determine if you are able to, with your current scientific knowledge, make terms simple and easy to understand for a layperson. now this is not subjective. this is objective because a doctor has to be able to do that to communicate effectively with patients. [med applicants take note!]they also have a “comprehension” passage for you to read. they will then ask several questions to check your comprehension of concepts and issues stated within. its rather fun! i got a passage on breast screening promotion, and the first question (which kind of stunned me) was why do u think women don’t go for breast screening regularly. and a later question (rather memorable) was if you were a health minister, what would you do to promote breast screening.now, a person with “conviction” to study medicine would have read up on several important health issues. or at least know a little bit. you can’t just say, i feel like studying medicine. or .. i want to help people. then that’s it. yes, its subjective, but i feel that’s the best the med fac can think of for now. besides, i know that NUS med fac scrutinizes the “want to help people” question. they will go on to ask, “why not be a social worker?” you will reply, and they will say “why not be a nurse? they help people too in a clinical environment?” while an interview can be prepared, (standard replies to common questions), i guess it is those who have prepared for it (And in the preparation process, given more thought to considering a career in medicine), that deserves the medical place more than others