The Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) is an interview format used by an increasing number of medical schools. Instead of one long conversation with a single interviewer, you rotate through 6 to 10 short stations (typically 8 minutes each). At each station, you encounter a different scenario: an ethical dilemma, a role-play exercise, a teamwork challenge, a policy discussion, or a personal reflection question.
The MMI was developed at McMaster University in Canada and has been adopted by medical schools worldwide because it is more reliable at predicting professional behavior than traditional interviews. A bad interaction at one station does not ruin your score because each station is scored independently.
Common station types
You are given a prompt describing a situation with an ethical dimension (a friend asks you to lie, a patient wants a treatment you believe is harmful, a colleague is impaired at work). You have 2 minutes to read the prompt and prepare, then 6 to 8 minutes to discuss your reasoning with the evaluator. The evaluator may ask follow-up questions to probe your thinking.
You interact with an actor portraying a patient, colleague, or friend in a challenging situation. You might need to deliver bad news, mediate a conflict, or support someone in distress. The evaluator observes and scores your communication, empathy, and problem-solving. These stations test your interpersonal skills in real time.
At some schools, one or more stations involve collaborating with another applicant on a task (building something, solving a puzzle, discussing a topic). The evaluator watches how you communicate, listen, and contribute. Dominating the conversation is as problematic as saying nothing.
You are asked to take a position on a healthcare or social issue (should organ donation be opt-out, should physician-assisted death be legal, should medical school be free). The evaluator is not looking for a specific answer. They are evaluating your ability to construct a logical argument, acknowledge counterpoints, and communicate respectfully.
These stations ask about your experiences, motivations, or values. They may overlap with traditional interview questions (“Tell me about a time you failed,” “What would you change about the healthcare system?”) but in a shorter format that requires concise, focused responses.
How to prepare
1
Practice under time pressure
The 2-minute preparation period is short. Practice reading prompts and organizing your thoughts quickly. A simple framework: (1) identify the core issue, (2) consider 2 to 3 perspectives, (3) state your approach and reasoning.
2
Do mock MMI stations
Many pre-health advising offices host MMI practice sessions. If yours does not, create your own: find sample prompts online (many schools publish examples), have a friend play the evaluator, and use a timer. The more stations you practice, the more comfortable you become with the format.
3
Practice role-plays specifically
Role-play stations feel different from discussion stations. Practice delivering difficult information with empathy, asking open-ended questions, and responding to emotional reactions. If the actor starts crying, you should pause, acknowledge their emotion, and offer support before continuing.
4
Stay flexible between stations
Each station is independent. A rough station does not affect your score at the next one. Take a breath between stations and reset mentally. Do not carry frustration forward.
Common MMI mistakes
Warning
The most common MMI mistake is being one-sided. If you state a position without acknowledging the opposing view, you will score lower regardless of which position you chose. The second most common mistake is being too general. Vague statements like “communication is important” score lower than specific, concrete responses.