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MMI vs. Panel Universities
MMI or Multiple Mini Interview is quite different to that of a Panel interview, for quite obvious reasons, but which is better?
What is an MMI?
MMI’s are a little bit like speed dating, as at each table, or station, there will be a new examiner with a new question for you. As every station is different the examiners you see will only ever ask you 1 question, therefore each station is like a brand new chance to impress. You will have a time limit at each station to answer each question before you hear a bell, just like at speed dating, and you will need to move on to the next examiner.
What is a Panel Interview?
A panel interview is a panel of 2 or 3 examiners which you will sit in front of individually and will answer questions that they have. It is a much more traditional style of interviewing for medical school, and many no longer adopt this style. Your interview may last 20-30minutes or longer and unlike the MMI you won’t need to move and have a chance of building up rapport with the examiners.
MMI vs. Panel:
We have put together a table to compare the differences between the two types of medical school interviews.
| Question | MMI | Panel |
| How many examiners will there be? | Usually around 8, who you will see individually at each station | Usually 2 or 3 examiners, you will see them all at once. |
| How long do I have to answer each question? | Usually between 5-7 minutes, depending on the university. Therefore being time conscious is essential. | As long as you like!Panel interviews don’t time individual questions. However, you have a set amount of time for the overall interview. Therefore, make sure you don’t spend too long on each question. |
| One benefit of this type of interview? | If you mess up on a station don’t worry, none of the other examiners know, and they won’t see your scores from other stations, so treat each station as a fresh interview! | You are with the same examiners for the whole interview, so you can build a relationship with the examiners in front of you. You can also reference your previous answers as the examiners will remember what you have said! |
| Will the examiners have read my personal statement? | No. Occasionally there will be a station about your personal statement (university dependent) however, the examiner at that station may not have been the one to set the question on your personal statement, and may not even have a copy of it. Having said this it is still important to know your personal statement backwards! | Yes. At least one member of the panel will have already read your personal statement, if not all. At some universities each examiner will have a copy of your personal statement. Some candidates have said they saw their statement highlighted and annotated with the questions each examiner wanted to ask. Therefore, be ready to answer questions on your personal statement! |
| What do I need to know for my interview? | The same things! Both an MMI and Panel interview are assessing the same things! |
Which is better?
This really is down to personal choice, some students prefer being with the same examiners and find that calming as they get to know each examiner. Others find the MMI set-up more calming as if they mess up they get a fresh start at each station. There is no right or wrong answer to this, and it iss down to which suits your personality best. Having said that, provided you know your stuff and are confident with your answers, you will do fantastically at either type of interview.
Frequently Asked Question
→What is MMI?
MMI stands for Multiple Mini Interviews, a type of interview format used by some universities during the admissions process. It consists of a series of short interviews, each lasting around 8 minutes, where applicants are asked a variety of questions designed to assess their communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and critical thinking.
→Which universities use MMI?
MMI is most commonly used by medical schools, but it is also used by some dental schools, veterinary schools, and other healthcare-related programs. Some non-healthcare related programs, such as business schools, may also use MMI as part of their admissions process.
→Which universities use panel interviews?
Panel interviews may be used by a variety of universities, including those that offer graduate programs, law schools, and business schools. It is also sometimes used by undergraduate programs, particularly those that have a competitive admissions process.
→Are MMI interviews more difficult than panel interviews?
MMI interviews can be more challenging for some candidates because of the short time frame and the need to quickly think on their feet. However, panel interviews can also be challenging because of the multiple interviewers and the need to address different areas of expertise.
→What are the benefits of MMI?
MMI is designed to assess a candidate’s soft skills, such as communication and critical thinking, which are important for success in healthcare-related fields. It also helps to reduce bias in the admissions process by having multiple interviewers and standardized questions.
→What are the benefits of panel interviews?
Panel interviews allow multiple perspectives on a candidate’s qualifications and can provide a more comprehensive evaluation than a single interviewer. It also allows for different areas of expertise to be represented on the panel, providing a more well-rounded evaluation.
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