The MMI, or multiple mini interview, replaces one long interview with a circuit of short ones. You read a scenario or question, then discuss it with a different interviewer at each station. Medical, PA, pharmacy, vet, dental, and PT programs all use it. Here is how the format works, what schools say it measures, published sample prompts, and how to practice.
From the AAMC, McMaster, and schools' own admissions pages2026-27 cycleChecked October 28, 2026
Practice with a mock interviewOne-on-one on Zoom with Julie Cunningham, MA, CCC-SLP.
Jump to:What it isStation typesFormats by schoolWhat it measuresSample promptsHow to practiceFAQ
What the MMI is
“The Multiple Mini Interview (MMI), developed by McMaster University, is an interview format that consists of a series of 6-10 interview stations.”AAMC
McMaster says the MMI was “Pioneered at McMaster University” and “has been adopted at other schools across Canada, the United States, and internationally” (McMaster).
According to the AAMC, “Each mini interview includes a two-minute prep period before engaging in a conversation that lasts between five to eight minutes,” and “Typically, interviews are conducted over a period of nearly two hours.” Because each station has its own interviewer, one bad station doesn't decide your day. Cincinnati notes that “each student is evaluated by approximately 6-8 different individuals” (University of Cincinnati).
Types of stations
The AAMC lists these station types:
- “Traditional one-on-one interviews with various admissions officers or faculty.”
- “An ethical scenario station involving questions about social and policy implications.”
- “A station focused on scenarios involving interactions with an actor or a medical school's standardized patient.”
- “An essay writing station; this station may take longer than the others.”
- “A teamwork station where candidates must work together to complete a task.”
- “A ‘rest’ station to help students catch their breath and relax between stations.”
Schools describe the same mix. OHSU's PA program says “Stations may include role playing with an actor, completing a task or responding to a prompt” (OHSU). Rosalind Franklin's physical therapy program describes teamwork tasks such as stacking blocks in a pattern or drawing from another applicant's directions (Rosalind Franklin).
MMI formats at named programs
Station counts and timing differ by school. These come from each school's own page; check yours, since formats change.
| School | Format | What their page says |
|---|---|---|
| Hofstra/Northwell (MD) | Virtual, 8 stations | “7 scenario-based stations” and “1 open (traditional-style) interview station.” Scenarios: 2 minutes to read, 6 to discuss. About 90 minutes. Source |
| UMass Chan (MD) | In person, 7 stations | “They review a scenario for two minutes and then meet with a rater to discuss the scenario for six minutes.” Source |
| University of Cincinnati (MD) | 6 to 8 stations | “encounters that last 8-10 minutes and are centered on a scenario.” Source |
| OHSU (PA) | MMI on Kira, plus interview and group activity | “Each station lasts 10 minutes, with 2 minutes to review the scenario or question and 8 minutes to respond.” Source |
| Emory (PA) | MMI on Zoom | “We will select qualified candidates for online MMI format interviews via Zoom.” Source |
| University of Florida (PA) | 8 stations, in person or virtual | “an 8 station Multiple Mini Interview circuit with PA faculty members” and others. Source |
| UT Austin (PharmD) | Virtual, 6 stations | “Each station will last 7 minutes.” Source |
| UC Davis (DVM) | 10 stations on Kira | “This pattern is repeated through a circuit of 10 stations.” Source |
| Texas A&M (DVM) | Recorded MMI | “four minutes to answer each question, with up to two minutes of preparation time.” Source |
| Michigan (DDS) | Virtual MMI | “The School of Dentistry uses the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format as part of our virtual interview.” Source |
| Ohio State (DDS) | 4 stations | “moving around to four different interview stations,” with “faculty and third- and fourth-year dental students.” Source |
Program pages: medical school, PA, pharmacy, vet, dental, PT, and nursing interviews.
What the MMI measures
Schools agree on one point: the MMI is not a knowledge test.
“No prior medical knowledge is required for the MMI.”Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine
“The MMIs are not used to assess a candidate’s medical knowledge.”Emory PA Program
Cincinnati says its scenarios “do not test or assess scientific knowledge” and focus on “communication, ethics, critical thinking, teamwork and opinions on health care issues” (Cincinnati). Hofstra lists critical thinking, communication skills, ethical reasoning, and problem-solving ability, and adds: “There are no right or wrong answers” (Hofstra). The AAMC says the MMI is designed to measure “oral communication, social and nonverbal skills, and teamwork.”
Sample MMI prompts from schools
Most schools keep their stations confidential, but a few publish examples. Two are worth practicing with:
- UMass Chan describes the strict hospital visitor limits many institutions adopted after the SARS outbreak, the complaints from patients and families that followed, and asks you to discuss the arguments for and against those policies with the interviewer (UMass Chan).
- Cincinnati describes the debate over class size, with one side arguing smaller classes teach better and the other arguing size makes no difference, so larger classes save on instructors, and asks you to discuss the issues (Cincinnati).
Notice what neither asks: a right answer. Both ask you to lay out more than one side, weigh them, and reach a position you can defend while the interviewer pushes back.
How to practice
The AAMC's advice is the right starting point: “The best way to prepare is to practice expressing yourself articulately and logically in a timed environment” (AAMC).
- Use your school's timing. Two minutes to read and six to discuss at UMass Chan is different from 7-minute stations at UT Austin. Set a timer to match.
- Use a simple structure for ethical prompts. Name the issue, give the strongest case on each side, say what more you'd want to know, choose a course, and say why.
- Think out loud. Interviewers score your reasoning. The AAMC suggests that with a hard question you start by sharing your thought process.
- Practice actor stations with a person. Delivering bad news or calming an upset person can't be rehearsed alone.
- Reset between stations. Each rater sees you fresh. Practice moving from one prompt straight to the next without carrying the last one with you.
Many MMI days include a traditional station, and those interviewers may have your application. Reread your own essay first. If you haven't submitted yet, see our personal statement examples by program, or work with Lauren Hammond, PhD, our personal statement editor.
Practice with a real interviewer before the real one. My wife, Julie Cunningham, MA, CCC-SLP, is a licensed speech-language pathologist who runs mock interviews on Zoom for MMI applicants. She coaches every format: one-on-one, panel, MMI, and recorded video interviews such as Kira Talent. She works on how your answers come across: clear key words, pace, voice, filler words, organizing an answer so it has a point, staying steady when you're nervous, and how you look and sound on camera. It's $250 an hour.
Frequently asked questions
What is an MMI interview?
A multiple mini interview: a circuit of short, timed stations, each with its own scenario and interviewer. The AAMC says it was developed by McMaster University and uses 6 to 10 stations.
How long is each MMI station?
The AAMC describes a two-minute prep period and a conversation of five to eight minutes. Schools vary: UT Austin's pharmacy stations last 7 minutes, and OHSU's PA stations last 10.
Do I need medical knowledge for the MMI?
No. Virginia Tech Carilion says, “No prior medical knowledge is required for the MMI,” and Emory's PA program says its MMIs are not used to assess medical knowledge.
Is the MMI virtual?
At many schools. The AAMC says many medical schools now run MMIs virtually. UMass Chan holds its MMI on campus, and the University of Florida PA program offers either.
Which programs use the MMI?
Medical schools such as Hofstra, UMass Chan, and Cincinnati; PA programs such as OHSU, Emory, and Florida; pharmacy at UT Austin; vet schools at UC Davis and Texas A&M; and dental schools at Michigan and Ohio State, among others.
Is there a right answer to an MMI scenario?
Hofstra says “There are no right or wrong answers.” Interviewers score how you reason through the problem and how clearly you explain it.
Every format and quotation on this page comes from the AAMC, McMaster University, or the school's own admissions page, linked where it appears. Last checked October 28, 2026.