Interviews

Interview Formats & What to Expect

Interview invitations from health profession schools are highly selective. Formats vary and can include traditional one-on-ones, panel interviews, group settings, and Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs).

Most interviews occur between September and March, and can be conducted by faculty, professional students, administrators, practitioners, alumni, liberal arts faculty, standardized patients, or others. Some interviewers will see your full application, some only your essays, and others exclude your academic record.

What Interviews Assess

The core purpose of interviews is to evaluate your suitability beyond academics. Attributes assessed include:

  • Motivation for the profession
  • Compassion, empathy, and maturity
  • Oral communication skills
  • Service orientation and altruism
  • Professionalism and integrity
  • Leadership and teamwork
  • Cultural competence
  • Reliability, dependability, and work habits
  • Adaptability and resilience
  • Critical, logical, and verbal reasoning
  • Intellectual curiosity and persistence
  • Self-discipline

How to Prepare

  • Re-read all materials you submitted to the school; interviewers often draw questions from your application.
  • Research the school(s) thoroughly and prepare insightful, specific questions to ask.
  • Reflect on your experiences, strengths, personal traits, and be ready to share stories that illustrate them.
  • Keep informed on major issues affecting health care and gain a basic understanding of bioethics.
  • Practice answering questions on topics such as:
    • Yourself and your family background
    • Your education and academic journey
    • Your career choice and plans
    • Your firsthand exposure to healthcare (clinical and, if applicable, research)
    • Your knowledge of current issues in health professions education and practice
  • For MMIs, expect a mix of role plays, ethical dilemmas, interactions with standardized patients, teamwork activities, and practical tasks. 
    AAMC: What It's Like to Participate in an MMI; 2026 Multiple Mini Interview Guide (Med School Insiders).
  • Plan your interview attire—err on the conservative side for professionalism.

Helpful Resources

  1. For a comprehensive, up-to-date interview preparation guide—including formats, typical questions, admissions-officer tips, and a mock interview video—visit AAMC's Interview Resources for Medical School Applicants.
  2. For in-depth interview insights, formats, typical questions, and reading lists, visit the Med App Canvas site.
  3. Explore user-reported feedback about individual school interviews via Student Doctor Network. Remember, these are personal experiences and may not reflect all interviews at that school.
  4. Reach out to current students at your target schools for advice through UCAN, the UM University Career Alumni Network.
  5. Arrange a mock behavioral interview with a University Career Center coach – book online or call 734-764-7460.
  6. For MMI group practice, check upcoming sessions in Handshake Events.

Virtual Interviews

Many interviews are now virtual (either live or asynchronous) and use a variety of platforms. AAMC maintains current, actively updated guidance on virtual interview prep as part of its full interview resources hub:

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