Reviewed by:
Former Admissions Committee Member, Hofstra-Northwell School of Medicine
Reviewed: 4/25/24
Are you preparing for your med school and wondering how MMI for medical school interviews works? Read on to learn more about multiple medical school interviews and what you need to do to ace yours.
The MMI for medical school is known as one of the most difficult interview formats. We've got insight to guide you through your journey. This post will cover everything regarding the MMI, its purpose, format, use in the admissions process, and frequently asked questions.
Medical school interviews come in many different forms. You can go through more traditional interviews, where you're asked about your academic, volunteer-based, and professional background. Going through an MMI interview for medical school is a completely different beast – one we want you to be prepared for.
Don't sweat the small stuff. Study the subjects that this post covers, and you'll be sure to ace your MMI interviews. Alright, let's get into the MMI format guide.
The Multiple Mini Interview assesses competencies like oral and nonverbal communication, social skills, empathy, ethical reasoning, and the ability to work in teams. These are important indicators of how an applicant will interact with patients and colleagues as a physician.
The different stations in an MMI medical school interview assess your skills in some of the following areas:
The MMI interview will also measure your teamwork and oral communication skills. Even the questions you ask your teammates and interviewers will be assessed.
The MMI test for medical school is challenging because of the fear surrounding it. The questions are less predictable and more complex than in traditional or panel-type interviews. This is why applicants are fearful and sometimes even freeze up during these mini-interviews.
The format for the Multiple Mini Interview is distinctive because you have a chance to display your values and skills to several admission committee members. Think of it as having the opportunity to create various lasting first impressions. If you feel like you didn't perform as well in one session, you will have more opportunities to do better in the next round.
It is important to note that MMIs are constantly changing. It is a great idea to contact your school's faculty. A majority of medical schools are doing their MMI interviews remotely. Therefore, the format of your MMI test is likely to vary, and the experience could be modified.
Before we go through the MMI interview format and how to prepare for it, let's go over why this format has increased in popularity:
Admissions committees are using the MMI to assess if you have the skills necessary to be a future practicing professional. For example, they want to feel assured that you have strong communication skills, are an ethical individual, and can react well under pressure.
MMI interviews are conducted in a circuit format over approximately 2 hours. Applicants rotate through a series of short interview stations, each focusing on a different scenario or prompt.
The MMI format is a series of 6 – 12 interview stations each with a focus on a different scenario in the medical field. The cycle then repeats, and you’re off to your next station, repeating the rotation until the interview process is complete.
To begin with, you'll wait outside of the examination room and read the prompt posted on the outside of the door or wall. There will be a description of the task to be completed, questions to be answered, or scenarios to address.
The prompt is posted on the outside of the room but is usually also posted on the inside so you can refer to it in case you get lost. However, please keep in mind that every school has a different procedure here.
Some schools will not provide you with a copy of the prompt inside the room, so you’ll have to memorize the prompt. If you’re unsure, check with your school’s admissions office before your interview. If you can’t verify this information, be sure you’re prepared for either scenario.
A bell will ring, which signals that the interviewer is ready to go. Med schools will sometimes provide applicants with a clipboard, paper, and pencil so they can take notes throughout the process. However, be sure to bring your own supplies just in case.
The interviewers will not partake in discussions about the MMI test process or how the individual is performing during the interview. Keep your ears open at all times because new information can be introduced at any time.
It is important to manage your stress levels before entering these interviews. You want to come off as confident and collected, and you’ll need to communicate your answers clearly. You also must prepare for follow-up questions. These questions can be asked after your initial prompt.
Some students freeze up when these sorts of questions are asked. A follow-up question is very similar to the initial prompt. You still must follow the same steps as before, so take your time. If you don’t have an answer to the question right away, don’t panic. Stay calm, cool, and collected until you’re ready to speak.
Remember that MMI formatting may vary, and it is important to contact the faculty or admissions office if you’re unclear about anything.
Many schools are now offering virtual interviews, according to the AAMC. If you are unable to attend an in-person interview, you may be able to undergo the MMI remotely. Make sure to double-check whether your desired school offers virtual interviews.
So, how is the MMI scored? You are graded on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being the best possible score you can achieve. Applicants are given an aggregate interview score once the interviews are finished. These scores are based on how well the individual performed at each unique station.
The MMI uses a variety of short assessments that are timed to obtain an aggregate score of an individual's soft skills. Soft skills are a combination of personality traits that are related to a person's relationship with a particular social environment. These kinds of skills include:
There are a variety of different subjects that will be brought up during your interview. The MMI is designed to assess non-verbal communication skills alongside assessing a student’s readiness to enter the field of medical practice as a professional.
It isn't too scary if you think about it; you’ll know about the topic before you have to discuss it. This is unlike any other format where you'd be asked on the spot, so the MMI provides you with an advantage.
Multiple different types of questions can show up on the MMI. The question types and topics include:
In the next sections, we’ll go over how to answer MMI questions. We will go over a few MMI example questions and answers, possible scenarios, and types of questions that may arise.
Preparing for the MMI interview requires developing a diverse skill set and practicing scenarios that evaluate your abilities beyond academics. Therefore, the best way to prepare for the MMI is by expressing scenarios you've been through in your life - to yourself.
You must analyze the information and develop a synthesis statement when answering questions. Students who start by answering questions with a restatement of the question do not demonstrate that they understood the question thoroughly.
If you’re asked, “Why do you want to be a doctor?” and you reply with, “Hmm, well… I don’t know”, that will not come off too great. You will want to know your exact reasoning for wanting to be a doctor. Ensure you have thoroughly thought your answer through before heading into the MMI.
Make sure you’re also demonstrating empathy in most, if not all, of your answers (if applicable). It is important to put yourself in the shoes of everyone involved in the scenario.
For example, if you’re working with a partner, you can check in and ask, “What are your views on this situation? Share with me how you see it”. One major perspective people often miss during MMIs is the public's perception. Always make sure you have their best interest in mind.
In addition, you should practice with practice tests and questions before heading into your MMI. Going over questions is the best kind of MMI prep. Getting expert prep for MMIs can improve your confidence, answers, understanding of the MMI structure, and your MMI anxieties.
MMI Practice Questions:
Use our Medical MMI Interview Practice Questions Simulator for access to more free MMI practice questions and responses!
On average, medical students tend to start preparing for their MMI two months before their interview. This allows ample time to research the MMI format, practice different question types, and develop strengths like communication, ethical reasoning, and creative problem-solving.
Realistically, you have been preparing for the MMI your entire life based on your accumulated life experiences. The more diverse and well-rounded your life is, the easier it may be for you. This doesn’t dismiss the fact that there is a lot to practice when it comes to the MMI. Timing also has a crucial role to play, and you must be mentally prepared before entering your MMI.
Building up your confidence and practicing beforehand is essential to your success. Even the most outgoing people overthink and can come across without confidence. Talk to your peers about how their MMIs went and gain valuable tips and insights from those who have already been through the process.
We recommend finding solutions to manage your stress before your MMI. Staying calm during the process is important. Your evaluator wants to see that your tone and body language is relaxed and professional. Routinely check in with yourself to ensure that small amounts of stress aren’t building up.
The MMI interview covers a wide range of question types designed to evaluate different skills and attributes important for success in medical fields. Common MMI question categories include:
There will also be different types of questions in the medical school MMI, so let’s look at example MMI questions that will come up for each section.
Let’s talk about how to answer different types of MMI scenarios and questions in the teamwork or collaboration stations.
MMI teamwork questions are some of the most common MMI questions and are designed to assess how you would behave in a team environment. This is done to show admission committee members how you would get along with members of a clinical team.
Once you’re a physician, you’ll rarely be working alone. Therefore, you must understand that admission committees are always on the lookout for team players.
Common MMI teamwork questions, depending on the school, ask the examinee to be responsible for completing a task. For example, you could be required to assemble Legos — perhaps alone or with a partner.
You could also be put in a scenario where you have the instructions to build said Lego structure, but your partner does not. Therefore, you're responsible for using your words to explain how to build the structure. The roles can also be reversed.
No matter what role you're in during the teamwork portion of the MMI questions, be sure to follow these tips:
Despite what you might think, the project you’re working on with your teammates doesn't need to be completed. Admissions committees are interested in viewing your teamwork and communication skills first-hand. They aren't checking to see how fast you complete the assigned project.
Most candidates make the mistake of thinking they need to rush to complete all the tasks. This is not the case. It’s more important to demonstrate your ability to communicate clearly and effectively than to complete the task.
Admissions committees want to see how you go about daily life and what your personality is like outside of the field, which you should consider during your MMI interview preparation.
In an example of an MMI acting scenario, you may be asked to stage and act out a problem that is going on between you and your best friend. There will be an actor who is assigned another role. The purpose of the scenario is to resolve the issue at hand.
The best way to prepare yourself for this situation is to use your two minutes to think about when you've had to make tough decisions in your life.
These acting questions tend to be some of the hardest MMI questions because the scenario puts you in difficult positions. For example, you could be faced with dealing with a situation such as this MMI acting scenario example:
This acting question is putting you in a situation to test your empathy with future patients. It's important to treat the woman with as much empathy as possible while teaching her about her condition. Comfort her and act as if she were a close family member.
Assessors essentially want to see your core values as an individual. These types of hard MMI questions and scenarios will give a good picture of how you have behaved in past situations. The bonus to these types of questions is that they should be easier since there is a high likelihood that you've faced a similar experience in real life.
You must be sure that you are respecting others' values while holding high moral standards yourself. Make sure your ethics are up to date before heading into an MMI. This brings us to the last type of question set that will be presented.
You will probably be familiar with some of these personal-type questions from previous job interviews. However, these questions are still different because they will be presented to you in MMI contexts.
You will be given two minutes to prepare your answer outside of the room and up to 8 minutes (depending on the school) to answer the question. Admissions will be looking to see if you possess personal qualities such as altruism, compassion, integrity, and empathy.
Here are some examples of personal MMI questions:
In your two-minute brainstorming phase, you should reflect on your skills and experiences and draw from personal experience to form your MMI interview answer structure.
For tough questions such as "What is your greatest weakness and why?" make sure you're answering as honestly and openly as possible. Always admit that you have a weakness (everyone does) and be as vulnerable as possible.
However, don't offer a weakness that might be a key part of your future role. Don't say, "I'm always late" or "I don't perform well under pressure.” Be sure to go through how you are also taking the necessary steps to correct the weakness.
Other MMI example questions you may be asked are policy-based and “other” (quirky questions). An example of a policy-based question could be: “The current COVID-19 vaccinations are not recommended for pregnant women. Discuss whether you disagree or agree with the government's decision”.
To answer this type of question, you’d have to be up to date with your current knowledge of the vaccine. You would also need to keep the public in mind while answering.
It is important to look at this situation from all angles and answer reasonably. For example, if the mother was about to pass from COVID-19 and the vaccine was readily available to save her life - that is one scenario. If the mother just wanted to get vaccinated without showing any symptoms of COVID-19, your answer could change.
The final type of question we will be going over is “Other” (quirky question) types. These questions can spring up unexpectedly and leave you confused. An example quirky question could be: “What was the most recent movie you’ve seen or book you’ve read?”.
When answering these questions, think strategically about how you can link your answers to medicine. These types of questions are designed to throw you off a little. Remain calm and answer intelligently. You will probably have a chance to show your humor off with these types of questions.
The MMI is used in the admissions process to evaluate your communication skills, social and nonverbal skills, teamwork, and ethical decision-making to determine how a medical professional will interact with their colleagues and patients.
Admissions committees use the MMI as an admission tool to aid the process because it is generally seen as more reliable than other interview formats. Evidence shows that the MMI is a less biased and more feasible way to gain valuable information on candidates. It highlights how they would act in real-life situations and contexts.
The individual taking the MMI has the chance to impress multiple admission committee members. There is also less room for subjectivity because of the number of mini-interviews you must go through.
The MMI format is used in the admissions process to your advantage. You have many people working together to formulate ideas and opinions on who you are as a candidate. This may sound daunting, but it's more beneficial for you than traditional types of interviews.
The MMI interview format was initially a research project aimed at understanding how to select medical students who would grow into ethical and competent doctors. When preparing for the MMI, you must understand it as a situational judgment test (SJT).
Here are our answers to some frequently asked questions about MMIs for medical school.
The MMI interview process typically takes around 2 hours to complete. Each station or mini-interview lasts between 6-10 minutes
The MMI interview format tests applicants' abilities to think critically, communicate effectively, and handle stress - all under timed conditions across a variety of challenging scenarios. This combination of factors makes the MMI a demanding evaluation of both academic and non-academic competencies required for success in medical fields.
Go for the ‘smart-casual’ look. Avoid anything too flashy, revealing, or overly casual. While you want to look put-together, you also need to be able to move comfortably during any role-playing scenarios.
A good target length is one to two for an initial response, then be prepared to expand for another 1-2 minutes if prompted by the interviewer. Avoid rambling or getting too bogged down in excessive details.
After your MMI interview, you should send a thank-you letter to your interviewer(s). Sending an MMI thank-you letter will express gratitude and speak to your character as a candidate. It will also create an opportunity to further express your interest in the medical school program.
Thank-you letters are a standard part of the medical school interviewing process. You should send your MMI thank-you letter within 24 hours of your interview, and be sure to include your name and the time of your interview to remind the interviewer(s) who you are.
The MMI process can come off as complex and frightening, so preparation is key. As long as you study and practice mock-up scenarios regularly, you will do a great job.
It is important to go over the different types of scenarios and questions presented in this post. Practicing, staging, and going over answers to questions with a friend or spouse could greatly benefit you during preparation.
Make sure to also manage your stress levels before entering an MMI for medical school, as this is the top reason why students make mistakes. Again, think of the process as something that is working with you rather than against you. Scholars have created this process to ensure validity and transparency. We hope this post helps you out on your MMI journey! Best of luck.
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