Vet school interviews vary more than most. Some schools run a circuit of MMI stations, some hold a 45-minute behavioral interview, some record your answers on video, and a few don't interview at all. Here is what named schools and the AAVMC say about their interviews, the sample questions the AAVMC publishes, and how to prepare.
From the AAVMC 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:Do all schools interview?Formats by schoolWhat they look forSample questionsVirtual interviewsHow to prepareFAQ
Do all vet schools interview?
No. Most do, but several well-known schools decide without one:
- Cornell: “We do not interview at Cornell” (Cornell).
- NC State: “NC State CVM does not currently conduct interviews as part of the application process” (NC State).
- Georgia: the college “does not conduct interviews,” but “The Admissions Committee will call and interview one or more of your references, asking a standardized set of questions” (UGA).
At those schools your written application carries the weight an interview would, so your vet school personal statement matters even more.
Interview formats by school
These come from each school's own admissions page. Formats change, so check the page for every school that invites you.
| School | Format | What their page says |
|---|---|---|
| UC Davis | MMI on Kira Talent | “a circuit of 10 stations” in “virtual MMI's conducted using Kira Talent.” “Interviews take place in early December.” Source |
| Texas A&M | Recorded MMI | “virtual, asynchronous, mini interviews.” “four minutes to answer each question, with up to two minutes of preparation time.” About one hour. Source |
| Virginia-Maryland | In-person MMI | “In-Person Multiple Mini-Interviews (MMIs).” “At the time of interview, all pre-interview ranking scores are set to zero.” Source |
| Minnesota | Behavioral interview | “approximately 45 minutes and include seven questions,” with two interviewers. Late January and early February. Source |
| Florida | Behavioral panel on Zoom | “a 45-minute long behavioral interview” with “a two- or three- member panel,” “conducted virtually via Zoom.” Source |
| Western University | One-on-one on Zoom | “25 minutes,” “Traditional, one-on-one General and behavioral-based questions.” Source |
| Texas Tech | Three in-person interviews | “three semi-structured interviews,” each “approximately 20-minutes in length,” in person in Amarillo. Source |
Virginia-Maryland's rule is worth noticing: once you are invited, your grades and experience stop counting toward the ranking, and “Admission offers are based on interview results” (Virginia-Maryland). For how MMI stations work in general, see our page on the MMI interview.
What interviewers are looking for
Schools say the interview tests who you are, not what you know about animals.
“the MMI does not test knowledge of veterinary medicine, but rather personal attributes such as communication skills”UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine
Virginia-Maryland's stations assess “communication skills, ethical and moral judgment,” and “management of team and self, problem-solving and critical-thinking abilities, creativity, resiliency, and cultural bias” (Virginia-Maryland). Florida scores its interview “on a number of factors such as teamwork, integrity, maturity, and problem-solving” (UF).
Sample vet school interview questions
The AAVMC, the association behind VMCAS, publishes these sample questions in its interview tips (AAVMC, 2024):
- Tell us about yourself (Prepare a 1-2 min elevator pitch)
- Why do you want to pursue a career in veterinary medicine?
- What qualities do you have that would make you a good veterinarian?
- Why are you interested in our program?
- Tell us about a current issue in veterinary medicine.
- Describe a time when you made a mistake; how did you handle it?
- Describe a time when you faced a conflict or had to make a difficult decision.
Treat lists of a specific school's “real” questions with suspicion. Minnesota says: “Beware of websites that claim to list the exact interview questions asked here” and “they are inaccurate” (Minnesota). Prepare for the kinds of questions above instead of memorizing answers to a leaked list.
Your interviewers may have your application in front of them, so reread your own vet school personal statement before the interview. If you haven't submitted yet, see our vet school personal statement examples, or work with Lauren Hammond, PhD, our personal statement editor.
Recorded and virtual interviews
Several schools now interview by video. UC Davis runs its MMI virtually on Kira Talent. Texas A&M's is asynchronous: you record answers to a camera with a timer running and no interviewer to react to. Texas A&M also warns that “Any form of assistance, including AI, smart glasses, other internet modalities, or another person, is prohibited” (Texas A&M). See our Kira Talent interview guide.
The AAVMC's virtual interview advice is practical: “Find a quiet place with privacy,” “Test audio and video setup,” “Log in and be seated 10-15 minutes before the interview starts,” and “Look into the webcam” (AAVMC). Looking into the lens instead of at your own face on the screen feels strange at first. Practice it.
Some schools also require Casper, a separate online situational judgment test. Oregon State says Fall 2027 applicants must take it “no later than August 25, 2026” (Oregon State). UC Davis says, “We currently do not use Casper assessments” (UC Davis). See our Casper test guide. A different test, the AAMC’s PREview exam, is required by Utah State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, according to the AAMC’s list (AAMC); see our PREview guide.
How to prepare
- Find your school's format. A recorded MMI, a 45-minute behavioral panel, and three 20-minute conversations each need different practice.
- Answer the AAVMC questions out loud. Start with the 1 to 2 minute “tell us about yourself” answer. Time it.
- Prepare five or six stories. An animal or client interaction, a mistake, a conflict, a hard decision, and why veterinary medicine. Behavioral questions draw on these.
- Read up on current issues. The AAVMC lists “Tell us about a current issue in veterinary medicine.” Pick two or three and know both sides.
- Practice on camera. If your school records answers, practice recording with a timer until four minutes feels normal.
- Get feedback from a person. You can't hear your own filler words or see when you stop looking at the camera. A mock interview shows you both.
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 vet school 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 all vet schools interview?
No. Cornell, NC State, and Georgia don't interview DVM applicants. Georgia calls one or more of your references instead.
What questions do vet schools ask?
The AAVMC's sample questions include “Why do you want to pursue a career in veterinary medicine?,” “Why are you interested in our program?,” and “Tell us about a current issue in veterinary medicine.”
How many stations are in a vet school MMI?
The AAVMC says “Typically, around 5-10 different stations, anywhere from 5-10 minutes allotted for each station.” UC Davis uses 10.
Is the vet school interview about veterinary knowledge?
Mostly no. UC Davis says its MMI “does not test knowledge of veterinary medicine” but personal attributes like communication and teamwork.
Are vet school interviews virtual?
Many are. UC Davis runs a virtual MMI, Texas A&M uses a recorded MMI, Florida and Western interview on Zoom, and Virginia-Maryland and Texas Tech interview in person.
Does my application still count after the interview?
It depends on the school. At Virginia-Maryland, “all pre-interview ranking scores are set to zero” at the time of interview, so offers are based on interview results.
Every format and quotation on this page comes from the AAVMC or the school's own admissions page, linked where it appears. Last checked October 28, 2026.