Virtual Meetings

What is a Moderator?

• The moderator is selected to lead the conversation for virtual student panels. Your role is to help lead introductions, monitor the chat box, and keep the online session running smoothly.

  • • Make sure every student volunteer briefly introduces themselves (name, where they are from, year in med school) and have them write this in the chat box as well. If everyone is comfortable sharing their email this is a good time to add that information in the chat as well.

    • Monitor the chat box to ensure all questions get answered. Some responses you can type yourself, if you feel the group might want to know the answer you can ask the question verbally to the panel. Other student volunteers are welcome to answer the questions in the chat as well (to add different perspectives).

    • Feel free to answer questions yourself but also call on other students to answer.

    • Each prospective student group will be different, so the amount of encouragement and influence will vary.

• The session is fairly short so encourage the students to keep the the conversions moving.

  • • For some groups, you may have encourage them to move to another question because the discussion for one has been so good that they do not want to move to other questions that they may have.

    • For other groups, you may have to encourage more to ask questions.

    • Every student does NOT need to answer each question!

• This meeting is for the prospective students. If they are all asking questions, you can let the conversation go where they want it to go.

• You may need to "call on" fellow peers. Virtual meetings are difficult. We can easily talk over each other and become hesitant to respond.

  • • It is your job to help facilitate the conversation. For example, if someone types a question in the chat, you may need to say, "Oh, we have a question from *prospective student* asking about *topic*, would you mind answering this one first *insert classmate's name here*. Give each student time to answer if he or she desires, but maintain the flow as much as possible.

• Remember to emphasize different options and opinions, not just your own. Our school gives students the ability to choose and we should do our best to portray this accurately and honestly while not putting down others' opinions.

• Example Questions that may be asked of the Panel

• Come with a list of good talking points that interested you when you were interviewing in case that the group is too fatigued from the long day to come up with their own questions.

  • Ex. Do you go to class? If so, why or why not?

  • Ex. Do you feel like the faculty are easily accessible?

  • Ex: What is your favorite thing about the school?

  • Ex. Do you feel like you are able to maintain a healthy work/life balance at this school?

  • Ex: What are things you like to do in your free time?

  • Ex: What is the community like here?

  • Ex. Do you feel like this school looks out for its students? Can you give an example of when a faculty member has helped you or made you feel important?

  • Ex. How do you manage debt? --> MAKE SURE TO MENTION CASEY IF THIS IS BROUGHT UP

• Thank you for being on the panel. We hope that this is one way that you are able to portray your passion and love for the school to those trying to decide what school they should attend.

• Your role is to offer your experiences and opinions about different topics.

• Be enthusiastic and encouraging, but honest.

  • • Medical school is hard. To make students feel like it is easy would be false, but remind them the programs and opportunities that our school has in place to make it fun and resources to help you succeed.

• Depending on the fatigue level of the students (especially if this panel is on an interview day), there may be many questions from the prospective students or given directly by the moderator.

• You may speak freely or may be called on the moderator depending on how talkative the current student panel is. We would love to hear differing perspectives so that prospective students know what their options are.

• Speak as often as you would like, but remember, every student does NOT need to answer each question!

• Virtual meetings can take some practice but try to not talk over one another when answering questions.

• Feel free to check the chat box during questions. The applicants may have specific follow up questions that are easily answered in a sentence or two. The moderator will monitor the chat and make sure all questions are answered, so you this is not solely your responsibility - it could be helpful to add a perspective if you want to respond to a question as well.

• You may offer your phone number and email to students if you desire, but YOU ARE CERTAINLY NOT REQUIRED TO DO SO. If you wish to do so, the chat box is a good place to put your contact information