Medicine Application Interviews

Medical Application Interviews

Most medical schools use MMIs (multiple mini interviews), but there are several that still use more traditional panel interviews. 

The Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) is a modern approach to assessing candidates; instead of the traditional one-on-one interview format, MMIs consist of several short, structured interview stations, each focusing on different aspects of a candidate's abilities, such as communication skills, ethical reasoning, critical thinking, and situational judgement. At each station, applicants are presented with a scenario or task and are given a brief period to respond or discuss their approach with an interviewer or actor. MMIs aim to provide a more comprehensive evaluation of a candidate's suitability for a career in medicine by assessing various skills and attributes essential for success in the field.

Medical schools like the MMI format because it enables them to see how applicants respond to practical scenarios and they can test many skills and qualities in different situations in quick succession. A student who can showcase their communication skills and ability to make pressured decisions is invaluable. 

Best Medical Interview Performance

The best performances in MMI are from students who are very prepared, knowledgeable and experienced; three elements that we pride ourselves on helping instill in the students we work with. The knowledge bank needed to ace an MMI is enormous, but our expert medicine consultants know what kinds of stations are most likely to appear each year and which topics recur. We know how to extrapolate key values and skills from our students’ work experience and how to help students showcase these at interview. 

Expert preparation and Mock interviews

At the appropriate time, we will carry out mock interviews and discuss key questions, moral and ethical issues and current developments in medicine in order to fully prepare our students for the rigorous nature of the interview process. At William Clarence we have access to real mark schemes for recent MMI’s conducted by medical schools and are uniquely positioned to help our students prepare for their interviews.

For panel interviews, preparation is paramount and there are many questions and topics that a student will need to consider. However, it is important that answers are not memorised as these can seem over-rehearsed. Interview practice is key!