Interviews are an opportunity for medical schools to meet and get to know you in person, by evaluating how professional, poised, and sympathetic you are. Be respectful, professional, and importantly, yourself. Most applicants report that their interview experience is far more fun and relaxed than they expected.

If a medical school has invited you they have already weighed that you meet the academic qualifications. Now they want to get a sense of who you are. Interviews help them assess your motivation for a medical profession, and each school has a sense of who would be a good "fit" for their mission, and their community, as well as for the profession. They will want to get a sense of what you have learned from your experiences and assess your ability to communicate and your maturity. That said, they also recognize that you will be nervous and accept that as part of meeting you. They'll be curious how you fare, nerves and all.

During the interview, you have the opportunity to assess your own sense of "fit" for that school. Applicants have reported that they have taken notes right after an interview day when their impressions are still strong so they can look back on them if they are in the position of choosing between schools. One successful alumni shared that she took short videos in which she talked about her impressions after each interview day.

Currently, medical use one of the two main styles of interview (see below).

The Traditional Interview might differ a bit from school to school, but typically there will be one or two separate interviews, one person at a time, during the interview day. At a few schools an applicant might individually or, in a small group, meet with a panel of interviewers.

The Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) places applicants in scenarios that can demonstrate a candidate's social and communication skills, how they handle unknown situations, how they respond to ethical questions, and give Med Schools a more holistic "view" of a candidate in action.

It is important to consider preparing for both styles of interviews. Even those with strong interpersonal skills will find it helpful to prepare and practice beforehand. Preparation for the traditional interviews can help you with the MMIs in getting you more comfortable thinking on your feet, but they are quite different and you should prepare accordingly. We highly encourage you to contact HPP to arrange an interview preparation session or a mock interview.