There are a variety of interview types you may encounter during your application process for a health professional program. The Multiple Mini Interview format is a relatively recent interview technique which focuses on assessing an applicant's soft skills during a combination of 6-10 minute scenario-based situations.
To learn more, watch this video explaining how Virginia Tech Carilion Medical School organizes their interview process.
See the list of Medical, Dental, Optometry, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, and Veterinary Schools Using the Multiple Mini Interview as of Spring 2017.
The MMI Is...
An opportunity to demonstrate inter/intrapersonal characteristics necessary for healthcare
- Maturity: Adaptability, Leadership, Autonomy
- Judgement: Common Sense, Decisiveness, Reasoning
- Perseverance: Persisting in the face of challenge
- Self Confidence: Self-assurance and trust in one's skills
- Empathy: Tact, consideration, sensitivity to the needs of others
- Oral Communication: Articulateness, Clarity of expression
- Originality and Imagination: Ability to see and understand new and different perspectives and approaches
- Ability to work with people/cultural competency: Rapport, tact, consideration, cooperation, attitude, biases
- A test of your knowledge of any particular healthcare procedure or policy. You will not be asked to diagnose, order tests, prescribe medicine or a course of action.
- A critique of your acting skill in role play scenarios
- A back and forth dialogue, a friendly conversation, an opportunity to "buddy up" or "butter up"
- An opportunity to highlight your __________ (unless it is relevant to the topic)
- A chance to explain (or explain away) an unpleasant or less than stellar aspect of your file
About yourself:
- Be prepared to answer any behavior-based questions and ethical dilemma questions in a longer, extensive format (than traditional interviews)
- Idiosyncrasies in your verbal and/or non-verbal behavior that have the potential to be exaggerated in a prolonged answer about a particular topic.
- Affordable Care Act
- Center for Disease Control
- MedlinePlus
- National Institutes of Health
- National Public Radio's Health section
- New York Times' Health section
- PubMed
- WebMD Health News
- ExploreHealthCareers.org Health Policy Topics
- Current Issues and Food for Thought Sections of this Blog
- Ability to analyze information, engage ethical dilemmas and think critically about each scenario
- If you actually answer the question(s) presented
- Communication skills -- clear, well-thought out answers backed by examples or personal experiences
- Non-verbal skills -- eye contact, tone of voice, empathy, use of hands/gestures, posture
- How well you (actually) listen -- to the actor in role plays; to the follow-up questions
- Demonstrate an understanding and ability to discuss bioethics and healthcare issues
- Columbia University Bioethics Program
- University of British Columbia
- University of Calgary
- Multiple Mini Interview, Sample MMI questions
- University of Michigan Career Center Scenarios
