So you've been invited to a medical school interview and now you're wondering where to start. As the name suggests, an important component of MMI-type interviews is that all the questions will be sorted into mini "stations".
WHAT ARE THE MAIN TRAITS MEDICAL SCHOOLS HOPE TO SEE IN THESE STATIONS?
Leadership
Teamwork
Empathy
Communication Skills
Medical Insight
Critical Thinking
WORK EXPERIENCE
Showcase any skills or challenges that you observed in healthcare professionals during shadowing and/or in healthcare settings. This will help the interviewer become aware of how much you understand about what it takes to be a doctor.
Remember:
STARR
Situation
Task
Action
Result
Reflection
VOLUNTEERING
Talk about impactful ways in which you've opted to make a difference in people's lives. Although this is preferably medical-related most of the time, you can still speak about helping out as part of non-healthcare organisations to portray that you do have strong communication and teamwork skills. Don't forget, quality (of the experience) over quantity!
LEADERSHIP POSITIONS
Been in your school's student council or a chair at your local MUN? They'd love to hear about that! Make sure to highlight what you've done and any challenges you faced rather than the details of the event itself. Elaborate how you worked with your team (if any) and emphasise on the skills you demonstrated in the position.
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Usually, there can be a particular question that pops out of nowhere - being a doctor is challenging, how do you aim to cope with the stress and manage your time? Relax a little, tell them about your interests and how you've dealt with all the stress that comes with the hard work you've put into your studies so far. Do you play the Ode To Joy on the piano everytime you need a break from studying physics, too?
ROLEPLAY
This station can put you in a lot of different positions, allowing opportunities for you to showcase every skill we mentioned before. Some examples of scenarios include:
Your next patient is Rachel who has been trying to have a child for five years; her recent fertility tests have returned and suggest that she is infertile. Call her into the room and convey this information to her.
Adam has come to see you requesting painkillers for an illness he was diagnosed with weeks ago. Discuss with him whether painkillers are necessary.
Some tips for roleplays before you go:
Communication Skills: Small talk. Verbal cues. Reassurances. You know the drill.
ICE: Ideas, concerns, expectations. Make sure to get all the deets you need to respond appropriately and adequately.
Stay Calm: Remember, it's just their job to make your job hard! Stay composed and patient, use non-verbal cues to showcase empathy.
Practice: Mirror, mirror, on the wall, how can I help you in this situation? In time, you'll be the best of them all. Remember to pay attention to your body language and portray confidence!
ETHICAL SCENARIOS
MMIs go hand in hand with ethics and controversial questions. Ever heard of prioritisation tasks? Know the NHS inside out? You'll need to, before your MMI. These can be really tricky so don't be worried if you find yourself wanting to rethink your answer. Interviewers usually just want to know your thought process more than the right answer. For example, you might be asked:
A 13-year-old patient reveals to you that they are sexually active and asks for the oral contraceptive pill. What would you do?
Do you think the NHS should...?
These stations present you with numeric and graphical tasks that you would be required to work out and explain data, so know your dosage calculations and weight conversions.
Example: You are required to give a patient 7.0g of a new drug that comes as a 20% (w/v) solution in bags containing 5.25 l. What volume of the 5.25 l bag would you have remaining after preparing the required solution?
And that's your 101 on MMI stations.
If you ever feel like you want to know more about anything or have any questions, please feel free to fill out our form and we'll quickly respond to your query to the best of our abilities.
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