Interview (MMI)

What is a multi-mini interview? 

A multi-mini interview can be best described as speed interviews much the same as speed dating. The timing and the amount of stations is specific to each program but the basis is there are 8 to 10 stations where each candidate spends about 8 -10 minutes at each station. Each station has an interviewer inside a room and a question attached on front of the door.  Each candidate is placed among each station. When it begins each interviewee has 2 min to read the question in front of the door, another buzzer is sound and that is when the interviewee enters the room. This continues as a circuit until the candidate has completed all the stations.

The question or scenario can be anything which displays your ability to reason. Dependent on the program there can be acting and communication stations as well. 


How to prepare

Here is a great link - Premed101 Medical School Interviews
People are different in this aspect. This is what I did to prepare.

I looked at the premed forum and was told to prepare the same way for medical school MMIs. These are the books I used as well as some tips.

1. Doing it Right - Philip C.
 - This was a very interesting read. It allowed me to get in the right frame of mind of the key issues that pertain to medical proffessionals. The best is the case studies that he describes and the process of thinking one should take to ensure you are working ethically and in the best interest of the patient. It is a long book and coming from a background with no direct health care experience I sometimes got lost in his ramblings.

2. MSC Medical (DVD & Questions Book)
- The Book is awesome! It had a short recepie on how to approach the MMI. It gave an outline on what you should do when you are in the room and what the interviewer is looking for. It is also packed with practice questions along with a guide of answers.
- The DVD was okay. It was nice to see how the interview looks.

3. Research Research Research
- Research everything you can find about PAs. You should know what they do, what their purpose is and most importantly why you want to be a PA. Also research the program you are interested in. If you know more about the program you can determine if it is a good fit for you as well as being prepared with questions for them.

I almost joined an MMI practice group but knowing myself and the way I study/prepare I knew that I would be just as nervous practicing with a group than the interview itself. I know that if I practiced with others I would compare my answers and begin to doubt myself. My main concern was to remain confident in my communication skills and to make sure to convey my passion in medicine. 


What to wear

Yes this is a formal interview! So wear what you would wear for a medical interview. Thats right - suits! There are different options for women especially the combination between, nice blouse, skirt, pants, blazer. There is a great thread on the premed site. 


My Interview

The University of Manitoba interview is a whole day event which includes breakfast with the faculty, a 20 min panel interview and the MMI which was followed by a 30 min essay. Looking back I realized how over prepared I was, but I am glad I was. The take away that I got from the experience is to BE YOURSELF! I did learn something funny about myself that day. I realized that when I'm nervous I tend to make lots of jokes :) - I guess that worked in my favor. This is how my day went... 

(written a day after the interview)
For me the whole process was exhausting. We had breakfast with current students and was broken into 3 groups. Our group had the panel interviews first while there were presentations about the University and program. We had lunch then the MMIs. This was a long process but the time went by fast. I did begin to blank out at the last few stations :S. This was followed by the essay which was hard because I felt my mind had melted away from the day, then we had the tour of the campus.