Multiple mini-interviews (MMIs)
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Multiple mini-interviews (MMIs) are the most common interview format for medicine and dentistry admissions.
“MMIs are like speed-dating events but for entrance to medical school. Student opinions about them are mixed, but personally I loved my MMIs. Each station has a specific focus so I came out feeling like I had been asked about a little bit of everything. I had questions on my personal statement as well as stations to assess my empathy or my approach to ethical issues, be it through a hypothetical scenario or through an activity involving matching situations to outcomes. I even had stations that involved me speaking to an angry or upset model patient. I found it a challenge but also an extremely fair and thorough assessment of me as an applicant. It was actually quite fun.”
— Anonymous, University of Warwick
“Unlike a formal interview, each station is a fresh start with a new topic. The time-specific nature of each station means you need to pack in as much as you can to prove you have the potential to be a brilliant medical student within the limits of the station. And if something does go wrong, you start afresh at the next station, which is quite refreshing. Preparing for this also prepares you for any other interview – you cover a broad range of subjects and think about how to give concise, effective answers to questions.”
— Anonymous, University of Dundee
MMIs can be a daunting prospect; however, there are some key benefits to this interview format:
- Multiple opportunities to form a great first impression
- You can focus on a single task, scenario, question or prompt at a time
- Moving between stations helps you reset and eases nerves
- Time flies
- More objective scoring
- More interviewers to impress
- Reduced interviewer bias (due to brevity of stations)
- Fairer comparison of candidates (as stations are standardised and replicable)
MMIs will vary between universities, but stations can generally be broken down into three main categories.
Stations can be housed in different areas of the same room or in different rooms.
Regardless of the station category, you’ll have time (usually 1–2 minutes) to review a brief before entering the station. This will tell you what to expect and help you plan your response before going in. There may also be a copy of the brief inside the station for you to refer to.
Within the three main categories, there are different types of stations. These are designed to test for desirable skills and attributes.
Review some examples of different station types in the table below.
Please note: this is not an exhaustive list, and different universities may have their own or nuanced station types for medical and dental school interviews.
MMIs test for the same skills and attributes as other interview formats and are designed to answer the fundamental question “Will this candidate make a good doctor in a few years’ time?”.
Each station will focus on drawing on specific traits.
Consider how you can display these essential traits during your interview.
MMIs can be conducted differently depending on the university, but there are some standard practices you can expect on the day.
There may be a copy of the instructions inside the station and a countdown timer to keep you on track.
Interviewers evaluate your performance at the end of each station, when you are moving on to your next station. Remember to move efficiently and quietly between stations.
MMIs can be overwhelming and stressful, but are also an opportunity to showcase your passion to multiple experts in medicine.
Review some simple Dos and Don’ts to enhance your MMI experience.
Remember these fundamental steps to enhance your MMI performance and interview experience.
Practice makes perfect. Before your MMI, collate a list of common questions, scenarios, and tasks. Record yourself giving timed responses and evaluate your own performance.
Simulating MMIs in the form of full mock interviews can help you navigate stations with confidence and composure on the day.
During your MMI, you may come across or have to utilise medical jargon.
Review our glossary of commonly used terms to familiarise yourself with key terminology in advance of your interview.
While these terms can apply to medicine and dentistry, there may be terms specific to medicine or dentistry that arise during your interview.
Revise your basic scientific and clinical knowledge and read up on hot topics to familiarise yourself with pertinent medical or dental terminology.