How to Prepare for the MMI (Multiple Mini Interview): 9 Expert Strategies for Premedical Students

If you’re applying to medical school in the United States and Canada, you've no doubt heard of the MMI, the multiple mini interview. This is a newer interview format, and judging from discussion forums and our conversations with premedical students, it inspires a great deal of anxiety. Which is entirely understandable.

The MMI Format

The typical format of the MMI is that you rotate through a series of different “stations.“ At each station, you meet with a different interviewer who evaluates your performance. Each station is centered around a different prompt, and your goal is to respond to that prompt. Although formats differ from school to school, one typical format is that you have 2 minutes to read the prompt and prepare, and then about 5 to 8 minutes with the interviewer. During your time with the interviewer, you'll either be responding to a question, completing a task, or role playing in a scenario.

Expert Strategies for Preparation

If you read the websites of multiple medical schools, some will tell you that there is no way to prepare for an MMI. In other words, “just relax, be yourself, and do your best.“ We disagree. Can you prepare for the MMI? Of course. Although you won’t know the prompts in advance, and therefore won’t be able to memorize your response, you can definitely prepare. These expert strategies will help you ace your MMI. In this post, we review 9 of our expert strategies to help you prepare for the MMI.

Strategy #1: Learn the different types of prompts

It’s really important to become familiar with the types of prompts that you might encounter on the MMI, so that you won’t be surprised, shocked, or paralyzed. Some of these prompts are actually designed to test your poise under pressure, and recognizing that ahead of time can make a big difference. For example, you might be asked to role play a scenario with an angry customer. Mentally preparing for these kinds of uncomfortable, challenging, and sometimes even confrontational scenarios is very important. You don’t want to be paralyzed on the actual day.

Learn the three major types of prompts: the task, the scenario, and the question. In general, you will encounter these main categories:

• The Task Station: At the task station, you're basically asked to complete a task. Many times this task involves a collaborative challenge, such as the origami challenge where two applicants work together to try to create a paper crane. Task stations are used to help evaluate your communication skills, teamwork abilities, and problem-solving skills.
• The Scenario Station: At this type of station, you'll begin interacting with either the interviewer directly or with an actor. Common scenarios include situations involving an angry customer or a distraught patient. This type of station tests your interpersonal skills, your problem-solving skills, and your sense of empathy.
• The Question Station: This station might ask you to respond to ethical issues or current events, as well as behavioral interview questions. It is used to help provide insight into your values and professionalism. Interviewers are really interested in hearing your thought processes, more so than your particular stand on an issue.

Key Station Characteristics

• Task Station: Focuses on communication, problem-solving, and teamwork. Activities involve collaborative tasks or challenges.
• Scenario Station: Focuses on interpersonal skills, problem-solving, and empathy. Activities involve role playing with actors or interviewers.
• Question Station: Focuses on values, professionalism, and communication. Topics include ethical issues, current events, and behavioral questions.

I want to emphasize one point before you start thinking about the question stations: the MMI is not a test of your scientific or clinical knowledge, so you don’t need to start cramming and memorizing information related to specific questions. Having said that, you should become familiar with ethical issues in medicine and current events, though you don't need to be an expert.