Otago vs Auckland — Choosing Your Medical School

Hidden so they don't bias your answer. Score yourself first, then reveal them to compare.

• Interviewers ask this question to probe genuine research and commitment, not to catch you out. The safe thing to do is research both schools authentically before your interview, understand both entry pathways, and be able to articulate why this school's programme matches your learning style and goals. Generic answers ('I prefer Dunedin's campus atmosphere') are weak. Specific answers ('Otago's early rural placement in third year matches my interest in rural medicine') are strong.
• Key differences: Otago admits school leavers through HSFY (a first-year competition across Health Sciences) and has clinical schools in Dunedin, Christchurch, and Wellington. Auckland's main domestic route is First Year entry via the BHSc or BSc (Biomedical Science) first year, with a smaller graduate-entry category; selection combines academic performance, an admissions test and Multiple Mini Interviews, and clinical training spans Auckland sites plus the Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Pūkawakawa (Northland) programmes. Auckland has a higher proportion of graduate entrants; Otago sees more school leavers. Both produce excellent graduates.
• The final follow-up question is a values probe: it asks whether your motivation to become a doctor is stronger than your preference for a particular institution. The honest answer for most applicants is yes — and saying so directly, while still articulating a genuine preference, shows mature self-awareness. Avoid being sycophantic or performing a preference you do not feel.