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How effective is MMI Interview Practice?
Multiple mini interviews (MMI) are an increasingly popular interview format used by medical and dental schools across the UK. In fact, the majority, barring Oxbridge, now employ the MMI to assess potential candidates for admission.
The MMI involves a series of stations, typically 8-10, each lasting anywhere from 5-15 minutes. These stations assess a range of competencies whilst giving the admissions team a holistic assessment of their candidates off paper. Typically, stations will assess motivation for the career, understanding of medical ethics, evidence of various soft-skills and more; some even test for manual dexterity! The breadth of the interview can be daunting to students. However, MMIs have certain advantages over traditional formats. Namely, the fact that each station is independently assessed by individual examiners gives students multiple chances to make good impressions and score highly. Though, this also echoes the intense preparation that is required to ace the MMI and clinch a seat at medical (or dental school).
We’d be remiss to discuss MMI preparation without alluding to the facts that state that at most universities, the majority of interviewed candidates do get a place on their programme, i.e.; most schools will reject applicants prior to the interview stage as opposed to after. This means that getting an interview invite is a massive step towards a career in healthcare, therefore making effective preparation all the more important.
How should you prepare for your MMI?
Congratulations! You’ve just been invited to interview at your dream university. Now what?
MMIs require consistent and effective preparation. The time pressures and breadth of conversational topics mean that you need to focus on both, content and communication skills, to ensure success. However, as with all things in Medicine, success begins with self-reflection.
Before delving into various preparation methods, reflect on your own learning style. There are a range, from visual to kinesthetic, that heavily impact one’s ability to improve their skill set. This is particularly important given the enormous amounts of preparatory information available online. Visual learners, for example, may find YouTube videos most useful whilst kinesthetic learners may find that 1-1 tutoring is the key to their preparation. Many preparatory materials cost money and may not be the best investment if they don’t meet your individual needs; reflection will help you better understand how to most efficiently prepare.
Next, find out as much you can about your dream university’s admissions process and interview style. This can be done by browsing their website, scouring online forums such as Reddit or The Student Room or by speaking to students currently enrolled there (more on this later). By finding out more about what the admissions team expect, you will be able to tailor your preparation to best fit their ideal candidature and interview style.
Finally, as previously mentioned, focus on both aspects of the MMI – communication and content. Communication skills are an integral part of care provision. Therefore, this will be indirectly tested in every station. Moreover, you want to come across friendly and approachable, yet confident. This can be a tricky line to toe so ensure you practice mock answers with friends and family to perfect your verbal and non-verbal communication skills. If your interview is going to be held virtually, make sure you practice via Zoom as there is a wealth of extra communication tactics required to ace virtual interviews.
Building mock answers
A common question from medical school hopefuls is whether or not to prepare answers for popularly asked questions. The answer is more than a simple yes or no.
It is important to have an idea of what you want to say and how you’ll do so; this is especially important for questions delving into your motivation to study Medicine/Dentistry or why you’ve chosen their institution in particular. These questions are asked at almost every interview and can make or break your performance. However, you do not want to come across rehearsed or cliched. Rehearsed answers are very easy to spot, particularly pitted against dozens of fellow interviewees who may be more natural.
Our top tip is to avoid writing scripts at all costs! Scripts will always come across extremely rehearsed but you also run the risk of flailing with the nervousness of remembering your lines. Instead, jot down a series of talking points that broadly discuss motivation, dedication and other commonly assessed attributes. This will give you a guide during the interview without giving you the exact words. This is also particularly useful when discussing soft-skills. It’s impossible to guess exactly what soft-skill they will assess you for, however, building a list of your achievements and what they’ve taught you will give you a rough guide regardless.
Mock interviews and circuits
Mock interviews are well known to be a useful and efficient preparatory tool for multiple reasons. Firstly, the exposure to interview conditions, particularly the time pressures and stress, will breed familiarity and consequently comfort and confidence on interview day. Moreover, exposure to mock questions that have been specifically designed by experts further tests your skills and confidence. Finally, circuits often give you the opportunity to liaise with and gain unbiased feedback from experts in the field and/or current medical students which will allow you to further develop your skills.
Whilst picking preparation material should be tailored to your individual style, we strongly believe that circuits are a worthy investment for every candidate. In particular, participating in mock interview circuits designed by experts, such as Medic Mind’s MMI circuits, will give you personalized evaluation to further adapt your preparation.
Kickstart your Interview Prep
Book a session with one of our expert interview tutors to boost your chances of getting into medical school! Call us on +44 (0) 203 305 9593 for a free consultation.
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recommendedShould you sign up for 1-1 interview tutoring?
Yet another commonly asked question and again, the answer is far from a simple yes or no. While we, at Medic Mind, strive to make tutoring accessible to students of any background, we recognize it is still a time and financial investment. However, where possible, it is a brilliant form of preparation as it gives candidates personalized coaching built off their individual strengths and weaknesses. Furthermore, 1-1 tutoring will give you a chance to network with current medical students who may be able to extend more insight into the university’s admissions/interview process.
1-1 tutoring, like mock interview circuits, will give you an opportunity to carefully study your strengths and weaknesses. However, tutoring is a more long-term and consistent approach that will ultimately allow you to perfect your content and communication style. Most importantly, practicing with a tutor will expose you to a more formal interview environment that loved ones may not be able to mimic thereby further building your confidence.
As aforementioned, tutoring may not be everyone’s cup of tea, particularly if you’re a very independent learner, or on the flip side, very group study oriented. However, it is a highly recommended preparatory style due to the nature of consistent personalized feedback lending higher rates of success in the MMI.
Ultimately, the MMI boils down to 2 core factors – confidence, approachability and passion. Showcasing these qualities is far more important that listing achievements or showing off awards. By simply building your confidence and communication skills and showing the admissions team that you’re dedicated to a rigorous career in healthcare, you will ace your MMI regardless of your preparatory style.
Good luck!
Frequently Asked Question
→What is an MMI Interview Practice?
An MMI Interview Practice is a mock interview session that simulates Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) scenarios. It helps candidates prepare for their upcoming medical school or residency interviews.
→Who should consider MMI Interview Practice?
Any candidate who is applying for medical school or residency programs that use MMI format should consider MMI Interview Practice. It can also be helpful for candidates who want to improve their interview skills in general.
→How effective is MMI Interview Practice?
MMI Interview Practice is highly effective in preparing candidates for their interviews. It helps them become familiar with the MMI format, learn how to answer questions under pressure, and refine their communication skills.
→Are MMI interviews hard?
MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) interviews can be challenging for some candidates as they are designed to test various skills such as communication, critical thinking, empathy, and ethical decision-making, among others. Additionally, MMI interviews often include multiple stations or scenarios, with each station presenting a unique question or scenario to the candidate.
However, with proper preparation, candidates can improve their performance in MMI interviews. MMI Interview Practice is one way to prepare for these interviews and become more familiar with the format, types of questions, and scenarios that may be encountered. It can also help candidates identify areas where they may need to improve their skills and develop strategies to address any weaknesses.
Overall, while MMI interviews can be challenging, with the right preparation and mindset, candidates can successfully navigate them and showcase their strengths to the interviewers.
→What are the benefits of MMI Interview Practice?
The benefits of MMI Interview Practice include improved confidence, enhanced communication skills, better understanding of MMI format, ability to handle stressful situations, and better performance in interviews.
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