You are a medical student. The morning after a graduation-week party at a campground, your best friend Jenna asks you to come over. She tells you she left the party early and drove home after drinking. Enter the room and talk to Jenna.

Where answers to this question lose points

Our scorer marks every answer on three parts. For each of the 66 applicants who finished this question on Confetto, we took their first scored answer and counted the part that scored lowest.

• Structure: a clear order and a clear point28 of 66

Confetto data as of November 8, 2026. A part is shown only when 20 or more applicants share it. Answers where two parts tied are not counted toward either. We never show anyone's answers or details.

What this question tests

• Ethics
• Communication
• Professionalism

How to structure your answer

1. Stay in the scene (15 seconds). Alex introduces themself, asks to sit, and speaks directly to Jenna as her best friend throughout, rather than addressing the assessor. Saying they care and that there is no rush makes room for a difficult conversation.
2. Ask about them (45 seconds). Alex starts with one open question about what happened between leaving the campground and calling this morning. They invite Jenna to take her time and finish her account before they work out what to do.
3. Name the feeling (40 seconds). Alex names Jenna’s worry about driving after drinking, recognizes how scary disclosure might feel, and thanks her for trusting them. They separate Jenna from her decision without minimizing it, offer support, and explicitly allow a few seconds of quiet.
4. Say it plainly (45 seconds). Alex plainly says drinking and driving could have killed Jenna or someone else, then checks for injury, a possible collision, ongoing impairment, and plans to drive. They explain when emergency help is needed, offer support arranging transportation, and acknowledge that medical student status cannot establish sobriety or medical safety.
5. Agree a next step (30 seconds). Alex asks what Jenna wants to tackle first, prioritizing immediate safety before exploring why she drove. They suggest a sober driver or overnight stay for future parties, respect her choice of workable arrangements, and seek a concrete plan that does not rely on judgment after drinking.
6. Common pitfalls. Stepping out of the scene to explain intentions to the assessor would undermine the conversation with Jenna. Giving a lecture before hearing her account, or reassuring her that arriving home means she was safe or is now sober, would weaken the answer.

Example answer from Confetto

Example answer from Confetto. Not a real applicant's answer.

Hey Jenna, it’s Alex. Can I sit with you? I’m glad you asked me to come over. You’re my best friend, and I care about you. We don’t have to rush this conversation.

Can you tell me what happened last night, from when you decided to leave the campground to what made you call me this morning? Take your time. I want to hear the whole thing before we work out what to do.

You seem really worried talking about driving home after drinking. I can understand why saying that out loud to someone close to you might feel scary. Thank you for trusting me with it. I’m not going to reduce you to one decision, but I do take what you’ve told me seriously. We can sit quietly for a moment. You don’t need to fill the silence.

I need to be honest with you: driving after drinking could have killed you or someone else. I’m relieved you’re here, but getting home doesn’t mean the drive was safe. Before anything else, are you hurt, and do you remember any collision, bump, or moment when someone might have been injured? If there’s a possibility someone needs help, we need to contact emergency services now. Are you still feeling impaired, and were you planning to drive today? I can stay while we sort out a safe ride. I’m your friend, and being a medical student doesn’t make me qualified to judge whether you’re sober or medically okay.

What feels like the most important thing to tackle together right now? If nobody needs urgent help, we can start with getting you through today safely, then talk about what led you to drive. Was it feeling stranded, worrying about leaving your car, or something else? For the next party, we could arrange a sober driver beforehand or plan to stay overnight. You choose what’s workable, but I want us to make a concrete plan that doesn’t depend on making a good decision after drinking. I care about you, and I want to help you take responsibility without facing it alone.

Use it for its structure. Interviewers can tell a memorized script, so tell your own story.

Keep going

• You are a 3rd year medical student doing hospital rotations. A fellow medical student who is doing rounds with you often shows up to these sessions tired, messy, hungover, or even drunk. One day you found him in the lunchroom unaccompanied, so you decided to talk to him. Please enter the lunchroom.
• You witness a fellow resident making derogatory remarks about patients from a particular socioeconomic background. How do you address this unprofessional behavior?
• You are a physician at a community event when an acquaintance asks for your professional opinion on a rash on their arm. How do you respond while maintaining professional boundaries?
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