Medical School Interviews

Medical school interviews come in a variety of shapes and sizes The most common forms of interviews are the standard one-on-one (panel) interview and the MMI (multiple-mini interviews). Most medical schools use a combination of both interview styles.

Interviews are an important part of the process of gaining admission to medical school and occur after the application deadline. An invitation to a medical school interview shows that you have met the preliminary requirements, and they are interested in meeting you to get to know you better as an applicant.

Fundamentally, the interview is an exchange of information between you and the interviewer(s). It is an opportunity for them to assess your interest in and suitability for medicine To make this assessment, the interview committee will work to learn more about your skill set, values, moral compass, personality, and interests/hobbies Interviewers may be interested in your maturity, compassion, integrity, creativity, intelligence, confidence, perseverance, communication skills, and ability to relate to others Above all, admission committees are assessing to see whether you are a good fit for their medical school.

6.1 Preparing for the Interview

Make sure to practice, practice, practice before your interview! You must be well prepared and well versed in the skills and experiences you have to offer. A good way to start is by reviewing your autobiographical sketch, volunteer experiences, employment, application, personal statement and CV. It is crucial that you also have concrete examples of anecdotes in mind to support your claims. Some interviewers will want you to address failures, mistakes, and lessons you have learned, while others will focus on your successes and proudest achievements. Ensure that your responses are sufficiently detailed, as committee members are not privy to the details of your experiences.

Seeking help from mentors, students who have had previous interview experience, or even interview prep companies can be a very valuable adjunct during your interview preparation to build fundamental interview skills and practice before the big day.

6.2 Interview Formats

Standard Panel Interview

For medical school interviews, it is common for there to be a panel of interviewers. Often, panels are composed of faculty members, medical students, and/or community members who are involved with the medical program. Each interviewer will be assessing you differently and from a different perspective. Keep this in mind during your interview!

Skype Interviews (Medical Schools Abroad)

In this type of interview, interviewers use video technology to conduct interviews at a distance. This is most common for interviews to international medical schools, including Australia, Poland, and the UK. All of the same strategies would be employed as if the interview was in-person. Depending on the sophistication of the technology, you may experience short transmission delays. Make eye contact with the camera, which to the interviewer, appears as direct “eye contact.”

MMI (Multiple Mini Interview)

If you are using the same or similar essay more than once, do not blindly copy and paste it. If you are applying to the University of Toronto Medical School, do not write, “More than anything, I wish to attend the University of Ottawa Medical School ” Make sure to proofread your work many times while editing, and it may also be worthwhile asking someone you trust to read over your essay for these kinds of mistakes! Careless mistakes like these are easily avoidable

MMI Format

A set of 6 to 10 interviews are conducted over a period of approximately two hours Each candidate rotates through a series of stations At some stations, there will be another candidate or an actor Each room has an interviewer and/or an observer The scenario stem is typically posted on the exterior of the exam room door.

At each station, candidates have two minutes to read the question or scenario. Sometimes the length of the question can add stress to the situation, making it challenging to absorb all related components.

MMI Format (Continued...)

An audio indicator will sound when the interviewee can move into the interview room The question is also available in the interview room for reference After the candidate is done answering the question or performing the station, the interviewer may ask follow-up questions.

Possible interview stations:

Scenariosinvolvinginteractionswithanactorora medicalschool’sstandardizedpatient

Anessaywritingstation;thisstationmaytake longerthantheothers Astandardinterviewstation

Ateamworkstationwherecandidatesmust worktogethertocompleteatask

Anethicalscenarioinvolvingquestionsabout socialandpolicyimplications

A“rest”stationtohelpstudentscatchtheir breathandrelax

SeebelowforMMIformatvariabilityamong differentmedicalschools:

Numberofstations:variesbetween6-12

StationDuration:typically6-9minutes NoteTaking:sometimespermissible TimetoReadQuestion:typically2minutes

EndofStationNotification:occasionally,there isa1-minutewarningtowrapuptheanswer

EvaluationofMMIs

Applicants are ranked at each station by the interviewer. Interviewers do not discuss their rankings with each other; thus, they consider each station independent from one another. The evaluation criterion also varies each year. The interviewer is provided with a list of criteria that the school is looking for in a candidate Depending on the school, you may be given marks for a general impression You will also be rewarded for being articulate and well-organized Interviewers want to see how you process information, not just the end result

Association of American Medical Colleges. What it’s Like to Participate in Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs) [Internet]. Washington, DC, USA: Association of American Medical Colleges; 2022. Available from: https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-medical-school/what-it-sparticipate-multiple-mini-interviews-mmis

(A) Questions about Your Education

Whydidyouchooseyourundergraduatemajor?

Howhaveyoutriedtoachievebreadthinyourundergraduatecurriculum? Howdoyouenvisionusingyourmedicaleducation?

(B) Traditional Personal Questions

Whatwasthebiggestmistakeyouevermade?

Asapre-med,whatskillshaveyoulearnedtohelpmanageyourtimeand relievestress?

Whatis“success”inyouropinion?After20yearsasaphysician,whatkind of“success”wouldyouhopetohaveachieved?Pleaseexplain

Tellmesomethingyouwantedtoachievebutdidnot,orsomethingyou havefailedat.

Howdoyoucopewithfailure?

Whoisthepersonintheworldtowhomyouareclosest? Giveonewordthatafriendwouldusetodescribeyou Haveyoutaughtyourselftodoanything,andifso,what?

Whoisyourhero?

Ifyoucouldinvitethreerolemodelstodinner,whowouldtheybeandwhy, andwhatwouldyouservethem?

(C) Questions Specific to Medicine

Whatexcitesyouaboutmedicineingeneral?

Whatvolunteerworkcontributedtoyourcommitmenttobecomingadoctor? Howdoesyourhobbyrelatetobeingadoctor?

Ifyoumadeamistakeasaphysician,howwouldyouhandleit?

Whataresomeofthegreatestproblemsmedicineisfacingtodayfroma professionalstandpoint?

Ifyouhadtochoosebetweenacademicandclinicalmedicineasaprofession, whichonewouldyouchooseandwhy?

StollM,DavisA,BraswellL.Best168medicalschools:theinterview.NewYork:ThePrincetonReview,Inc.;2008.p.83-93.