Nurse-midwifery programs split on interviews. Seattle University, Buffalo, East Carolina, and Minnesota interview applicants; Vanderbilt says it doesn’t interview at all. Here is what each program’s own pages say about the 2027 cycle.
From midwifery programs’ own admissions pages2027 entryChecked October 28, 2026
Practice with a mock interviewOne-on-one on Zoom with Julie Cunningham, MA, CCC-SLP.
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Interview formats at named programs
| Program | Format | What their page says |
|---|---|---|
| East Carolina University (MSN) | Two midwifery faculty | Admission requires “A personal interview with two members of the midwifery faculty (will be scheduled upon receipt of a completed application package)” and one year of perinatal nursing experience. Source |
| Seattle University (DNP) | By invitation | For 2027-2028, interviews are in February. “If you are selected, we will contact you to set up an interview to further assess your ability to be successful in the program.” Source |
| University at Buffalo (DNP) | Required | “An interview is required for all graduate programs as part of the review process.” The Spring 2027 midwifery deadline is January 4, 2027. Source |
| University of Minnesota (DNP) | January and February | “Midwifery faculty review priority deadline applicant files in December and January; interviews for qualified applicants are conducted in January and February.” Source |
| Vanderbilt University (MSN) | No interview | For fall 2027: “The nurse-midwifery program does not conduct interviews as part of the application process. We use your submitted application packet in our holistic review process to make admissions decisions.” Source |
How competitive the interview stage is
Minnesota receives “approximately 40-60 applications for the 10-12 available Twin Cities cohort positions and 4-6 Mayo cohort positions.” “All applicants receive a letter informing them of whether or not they are offered an interview.” “Following the interview process, we make a preliminary decision about admission.” (University of Minnesota)
At a program that doesn’t interview, like Vanderbilt, your written application carries everything. At one that does, faculty midwives will ask about your birth work, your nursing experience, and why midwifery rather than obstetrics or women’s health NP.
Practice questions
Most programs don’t publish their questions. These are my practice prompts, not questions any program has published:
- Why midwifery, and why not a women’s health NP or obstetrics?
- Tell us about a birth or a patient that shaped your interest.
- How would you support a patient whose birth plan isn’t possible?
- What does shared decision-making mean to you?
- Tell us about a time you advocated for a patient.
- How will you handle the on-call schedule and the emotional weight of the work?
- Why our program?
How to prepare
- Check whether your program interviews. Vanderbilt doesn’t; ECU requires two faculty interviews.
- Bring specific patient stories from labor and delivery or other perinatal work. ECU requires a year of perinatal nursing experience.
- Know the midwifery model of care and be able to explain it in plain words.
- Watch your timeline. Minnesota interviews in January and February; Seattle University in February.
- Practice with a midwife or nurse educator who will push back on your answers.
Your interviewers may have your application in front of them, so reread your own nurse-midwifery personal statement before the interview. If you haven’t submitted yet, see our nurse-midwifery personal statement examples, or work with Lauren Hammond, PhD, our personal statement editor.
Applying to NP programs too? See our nurse practitioner interview guide. For other nursing programs, see our nursing school interview guide.
Julie Cunningham, a licensed speech-language pathologist, has practical steps for interview-day nerves in how to calm your nerves before an interview.
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 nurse-midwifery 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
Do nurse-midwifery programs interview?
Many do, including East Carolina, Seattle University, Buffalo, and Minnesota. Vanderbilt says its nurse-midwifery program does not conduct interviews.
Who interviews nurse-midwifery applicants?
At East Carolina, two members of the midwifery faculty. At Minnesota, midwifery faculty review files and conduct interviews.
When are nurse-midwifery interviews?
Often in winter. Minnesota interviews in January and February, and Seattle University in February.
How competitive are nurse-midwifery programs?
Minnesota receives about 40 to 60 applications for 10 to 12 Twin Cities positions and 4 to 6 Mayo positions each year.
Related guides: Nursing school, Nurse practitioner, and CRNA school. See all interview guides by program.
Every date and quotation on this page comes from the program’s own admissions page or FAQ, linked where it appears. Minnesota’s FAQ gives no cycle year; we used it only for its standing process. Last checked October 28, 2026.