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Medical school interviews are a vital part of the admissions process that allows your personality and professionalism to shine.
A little bit of interview prep goes a long way, and you’re in the right place. In this article, we aim to give you the tools and confidence you need to shine on interview day. We’ll cover interview formats, common interview questions, interview day strategies, follow-up protocols, and more.
MedSchoolCoach Physician Advisors have served on medical school admissions committees and helped hundreds of med school hopefuls just like you. Below, we offer interview prep pro tips from our collective experience.
Our Physician Advisors have helped over 15,000 students stand out in interviews. Learn how 1-on-1 interview prep from MedSchoolCoach can help you secure the acceptances you deserve.
If You Receive a Medical School Interview
Interview invitations are sent only after both your primary and secondary applications are complete. Schools begin sending invitations as early as July and continue through January, with most invitations sent between September and December.
Getting an interview invitation means:
- You’ve met the requirements for admission to that medical school.
- The AdComs want to determine whether you’re a good fit for their program.
- Your application caught the eye of their admissions committee.
Most medical schools operate on a rolling admissions basis, meaning they review early applications before later ones are submitted. You may get an interview invite in July if you submitted right when AMCAS opened up in mid-May!
The percentage of med school interviewees who get accepted varies from program to program. Some schools accept up to 50% of the applicants invited for an interview, while other schools accept between 25% and 30% of interviewed candidates.
Getting a med school interview is a good sign, but it’s not a guarantee of acceptance. A competitive candidate may receive 2-4 acceptance offers from 10-15 interviews. Of course, results vary.
What Admissions Committees Evaluate
Admissions committees use medical school interviews to determine your abilities as a potential student and future physician.
Here are the primary skills they’re assessing during your med school interview:
- Strong communication
- Thinking under pressure
- Confidence (not arrogance)
- Compassion
- Professionalism
- Resilience
- Holistic hobbies and passions
- Personality beyond just GPA and good MCAT scores
Applying as a non-traditional candidate? How to Succeed as a Non-Traditional Med School Applicant
Types of Medical School Interviews
There are four basic types of medical school interviews:
- Panel or “traditional” interviews
- Mini multiple interviews (MMIs)
- Group interviews
- One-on-one interviews
In-person interviews have regained some popularity in recent years, but virtual interviews are still very common since the pandemic. In some cases, a virtual interview is followed by an in-person visit (called a “second look” or revisit day).
Traditional (Panel)
During a traditional interview, you’ll speak with a panel of 1-3 people on the school’s admissions committee, often including faculty members and occasionally a current student. This type of interview typically takes 30-60 minutes.
Similar to a job interview, the committee members present will ask you questions to understand your personality, your drive for practicing medicine, and what potential weaknesses they should know about you.
More and more schools are moving away from the traditional interview format, opting for MMIs instead.
Multiple Mini Interview (MMI)
In multiple mini interviews (MMIs), you’ll visit 6-10 structured stations over the course of two hours, where 1-2 admissions interviewers stay at each station.
MMIs use a combination of acting and non-acting interview questions.
- You’ll answer some questions just as in any traditional interview. (For example, “What is your greatest weakness?”)
- You’ll role-play your responses in other scenarios. (For example, “You just learned that your patient must be given a terminal diagnosis. Enter the room and speak with her.”)
MMI interviews and traditional panels are sometimes used alongside one another, but most medical programs use one or the other.
Group Interviews
In a group interview, you’ll be assigned to a small group of other premeds being interviewed to complete tasks, solve problems, or answer questions together.
This format may be combined with MMIs or traditional interviews to assess how you demonstrate your interpersonal competencies, collaborative abilities, and teamwork under pressure.
One-On-One Interviews
This is exactly what you might expect from the name. A one-on-one interview puts you in conversation with a single admissions officer, faculty member, or physician connected to the program to discuss your application.
In general, these are almost always used as one part of a larger interview process. Some schools might have you do multiple one-on-one interviews with different evaluators. Others might have you also participate in other formats, like MMIs or group interviews.
Common Interview Questions
Here are a few of the most frequently asked medical school interview questions:
- Tell me about yourself.
- Why do you want to be a doctor?
- What is your best quality/strength?
- What is your greatest weakness that may impact your future medical career?
- Why do you want to go to this school?
- Why did you choose your undergraduate major?
- How have your work experiences, volunteer opportunities, and extracurriculars prepared you for a medical education and career?
- What are the most important qualities of a good doctor?
- What would you do if you couldn’t be a doctor?
- How will you contribute to the diversity of this school of medicine and healthcare at large?
- Describe an ethical dilemma you faced and how you handled the situation.
- In your opinion, what’s the biggest problem facing our healthcare system?
- What do you do for fun?
Because of the format, MMI questions are dramatically different from traditional panel interview FAQs. Check out our list of sample MMI questions here.
Questions You Should Ask Your Interviewers
It reflects poorly on you if they ask, “Do you have any questions?” and you shrug your shoulders, saying, “No.”
Don’t worry — we’ve got you covered. (Don’t ask all of these; just pick a few.) Below are some great questions to ask your interviewers:
- What makes this school unique?
- How has the school evolved in recent years?
- Can you tell me about any research opportunities available for students?
- What mental health resources do you offer for students?
- Do you offer study resources for USMLE or COMLEX?
- Are there a lot of financial aid or scholarship opportunities here?
- What are the best clubs on campus?
- Does this school work within the local community?
- What is something about this school that people don’t really know about?
- In your eyes, what would a successful student look like after one year at this school?
If you know who your interviewers will be before the interview, do some online research on them beforehand to get an idea of their background and interests. If it feels appropriate, you can ask them questions about their research, specialty, or involvement on campus.
Handling Inappropriate Questions
Although interviewers may ask tough questions to gauge your communication skills under pressure, they do not have the right to ask inappropriate questions. The AAMC encourages interviewees to report inappropriate situations to an admissions officer.
According to the AAMC, it is inappropriate to ask about your age, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, political affiliation, marital status, income, home value, and credit score.
Inappropriate questions may include:
- What’s your opinion on abortion?
- Where’s your accent from?
- Do you observe any religious holidays that may interfere with your studies?
- Did you vote for [political leader]?
- Do you have any children, or do you plan to have children while in medical school?
- How do you plan to pay for medical school?
- Do you have any disabilities we should know about?
- Have you ever been arrested for drug use?
- Can you show me your social media?
You can answer a question by stating you are uncomfortable answering or by clarifying what they are asking that is relevant to your candidacy.
How to Prepare Before Your Interview Day
During your interview, your goal is to win AdComs over with your personality, communication skills, passion, and character.
Below are some top tips on acing your medical school interview, based on the experiences of MedSchoolCoach Physician Advisors, many of whom have served on AdComs and helped applicants like you master their interview skills.
Learn About the Program and School
If you research background information on program-specific details, it will help you ask the interviewers informed questions, improve your interview performance, and project your sincere interest.
Most information about a school can easily be found on its website. You should strive to know about the school’s:
- Curriculum
- Teaching methods
- Student body
- Facilities
- Hospitals for clinical rotations
- Mission
- Reputation
- Resident placements
- Student initiatives
- Recent developments
Understand the Interview Format
If you’re not sure of the interview format, check out the current MSAR report by the AAMC. It contains information about upcoming interview structures by medical program. (Here’s the 2026 report.)
If you’re given the names of the admissions officers you’ll be talking with, take the time to do a quick Google search and learn a bit about who they are.
If you know anyone who has interviewed at the school, reach out to express your interest and to seek their insight into the application process and interview experience.
Here’s what you want to understand about the format:
- Is this an in-person or virtual interview?
- How many interviewers will be present?
- Have the interviewers already seen your application, or are they blind to your application when they meet you?
- Will the interview format be a traditional interview or multiple mini interviews (MMI)? Or will it follow a different format, such as a group or one-on-one interview?
- Who will be interviewing you? What is their background like? (If this information is provided.)
Review Your Application
Unless it’s a blind interview, your evaluator will review the documents you presented in your medical school application and ask questions based on the information you provided. Since memory can get hazy, you need to review your application.
Go through your AMCAS (or other applications, like the TMDSAS or AACOMAS), especially the sections on the following:
- Clinical experience
- Shadowing
- Research
- Other work and extracurricular activities
- Your personal statement
- Your secondary application essays
Your interviewers are most likely to ask questions about the above topics. Factors like your GPA, MCAT, and Casper are unlikely to be the focus of your interview day. Unless, of course, you have a low GPA or MCAT score that you may need to justify in your interview.
Stay Informed About Current Events in the Medical Field
As a prospective medical student, you should be up-to-date with the current research and discoveries that pertain to the field of medicine. Reading medical journals and blogs or even talking to researchers and resident doctors you meet while working or volunteering are all great sources for current medical events.
In the world of modern medicine, you can learn a lot in a short time.
Review publications such as The New York Times to understand health policy and current events.
Sharing this information during your interview is a good way to impress your interviewer. They will take note of your ability to form informed opinions based on the information you provide, while also demonstrating your passion for the medical world.
Practice, Practice, Practice!
Don’t go into the interview without preparing answers to common questions and practicing your responses.
Here are some expert tips on preparing and practicing your responses:
- Prepare just a few bullet points to avoid sounding overrehearsed or robotic. You don’t need to write out a response, word for word, for each question.
- Include both general and personal examples. For each practice question, come up with one example related to current research or events in the field of medicine and a second, more personal example related to your individual experience or accomplishments.
- Understand that the program has your secondary when phrasing your answers. They know your competencies. The best interviewees briefly cover the details of their CV and academic record, but spend most of their answer time explaining why medicine is their passion.
- Get ready for the big questions. Your interviewer may ask you to share your views on medical ethics issues like euthanasia, abortion, or stem cell research. Know that interviewers will judge your ability to make an educated, coherent, and informed opinion — rather than judging your stance itself.
- Do mock interviews. To combat the nervous energy, practice your answers with multiple mock interviews beforehand. The truth is, during the actual interview day, the stakes are high, and you will be much more nervous.
- Don’t underestimate the power of your delivery and nonverbal communication. How you share your examples will be as important as the actual words you say. Ask a trusted advisor or mentor for honest feedback on how your communication comes across through your speech and body language.
Presenting Your Best Self on Interview Day
Professionalism and positivity are an absolute must for prospective medical students. Put your best foot forward on interview day!
When meeting with students as a member of an admissions committee, I was most compelled by those who carried themselves with a high degree of professionalism and presented themselves as someone I’d personally enjoy working with.
Below are the best recommendations on presenting your best self on the day of your medical school interview.
Dress Professionally
Wearing a suit or business attire conveys a level of professionalism and respect for the interview process. It also shows that you are taking the opportunity seriously.
It is generally best to wear a suit jacket or blazer with dress pants or a skirt — dark or neutral colors only. Underneath the top layer, wear a collared shirt or blouse, and make sure the shirt is clean and wrinkle-free. Wearing a tie is a good idea for men.
This is not the time to make a statement with your clothing or appearance. Avoid clothing that may be perceived as immodest, overly casual, or polarizing in any way.
Be comfortable in your clothing choices. A certain level of formality is necessary, but also make sure you’re comfortable in your outfit so that you can focus on the interview itself rather than worrying about your appearance.
Dress in layers because the temperature in the interview room may vary.
Pay attention to your grooming and accessories, too. Make sure your hair is clean and styled, with minimal makeup and jewelry. If you wear facial hair, trim it neatly.
Let Your Personality Shine
Don’t let the interview setting detract from your personality. For example, if you are a funny person, feel free to insert some humor (in good taste) as you address the interview questions.
Smile, relax, make eye contact, and enjoy your moment.
After all, you’ve made it to the interview — your application already demonstrated that you possess the skills to succeed in that particular program. Much of the interview is actually about finding a good personality fit. Do not underestimate the power of your personality.
Be Professional With Everyone
If a school incorporates a current medical student interviewer, count yourself lucky! Sometimes this sort of interview is in a formal one-on-one setting. In other cases, it’s more casual, over lunch or a campus tour.
Anyone could put in a bad word, so be kind, courteous, and professional with everyone you encounter.
Be on your best interview behavior with everyone, especially medical student interviewers. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and take notes in real time.
Here are some insights I recommend you gather during your time with current medical students:
- What do they have to say about the professors and physicians who teach them?
- Are the instructors reliably available by email and sensitive to student concerns?
- Are there plenty of volunteer and research opportunities?
- How do the students feel about the program’s grading system?
- Is there a community atmosphere? Even if it’s a competitive environment, do students support one another?
- Try to picture yourself with the current students. Would you fit in?
For Virtual Interviews: Prepare Your Environment
If you’re appearing in virtual live or asynchronous interviews, prepare your space in advance to ensure you’re in a professional-looking environment without distractions.
Here are a few things we recommend to medical school interviewees:
- Make sure that your family, roommates, or anyone else around knows that you are not to be interrupted during a specific timeframe. Ask other people you live with to keep noise levels low.
- If you have a pet, especially one who likes to bark or jump on your desk, consider asking someone else to watch your pet during your interview day.
- This is not the time to video chat while sitting on your bed. Find a secure, private table or desk where you can do your interview.
- Find the right background. In general, we don’t recommend using a virtual background for interviews as they can be unreliable. (You don’t want your pile of dirty clothes popping in and out of view behind you.) Instead, try to find a clean and tidy space that looks professional on camera. Photos, art, and bookshelves are acceptable, but avoid distracting things in the frame like other people, controversial statements, and inappropriate imagery.
- If you don’t have an appropriate place to interview at home, see if your local library has a quiet room you can reserve for free.
- Test your camera view ahead of time. Ensure your full face is in the frame, you’re well-lit by window light or a ring light, and the background is free of anything you wouldn’t want your interviewer to see. Testing ahead of time also ensures you don’t need to do a last-minute update that makes you late for the interview.
Yes, it’s funny to know that some professionals wear sweatpants and button-up dress shirts to be “video-chat ready,” but this is not the time to half-prepare. If you wouldn’t wear your gym shorts to an IRL interview, don’t wear them during your virtual interview either.
After the Interview
After the interview, you need to send follow-up thank-you’s and watch out for acceptance offers.
The faculty members who serve on the interview committee have volunteered their time. It is essential to send a thank-you note to each interviewer you meet. They will be among your strongest advocates for communicating directly with admissions officers.
A thank-you letter for a med school interview should contain a few key elements, including:
- Expression of gratitude for the opportunity to interview and for the interviewer’s time.
- A professional and sincere tone.
- Specific aspects of the interview that you enjoyed or found particularly valuable.
- Any additional highlights, including recent experiences or qualifications that were not discussed at the interview.
Read Next: How to Write a Letter of Intent for Medical School
Here is an example medical school interview thank you email:
Dear Dr. Smith and Dr. Jones,
I wanted to express my sincere gratitude for the opportunity to interview at ABC Medical School. It was a pleasure to meet both of you and learn more about the program. I particularly enjoyed the discussion we had about the clinical experiences available to students at ABC Medical School. It is clear to me that the program places a strong emphasis on hands-on learning, which is exactly the type of medical education I am looking for. I also wanted to take this opportunity to clarify a point I made during the interview about my involvement in research. I mentioned that I have participated in several research projects, but I neglected to mention that I have also presented my work at two national conferences. I hope this additional information will be helpful in your decision-making process. Again, thank you for the opportunity to interview and for your time. I am extremely interested in attending ABC Medical School and hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely, [Your Name]
Try the Thank You Note Generator from MedSchoolCoach for a foolproof way to communicate with your medical school interviewer.
FAQs
You should answer this question honestly, but you can emphasize some things more than others to maximize your interview performance.
Talk about how you specifically want to take care of people, how you are passionate about problem-solving and critical thinking, and how you’re drawn to medicine because of the honor it takes to be a doctor.
Do not use vague platitudes such as, “I want to help people.” Don’t brag or get overly emotional. Don’t make it all about the money or familial acceptance.
Read more details in this comprehensive article.
Most medical schools accept 25%-50% of their interviewed candidates. Depending on AdCom policy, that number can get lower or higher, but 25%-50% is a fairly reliable average.
The majority of medical school applicants (including those who don’t get accepted into med school) receive 0-3 interview invitations.
Among those who get accepted, the number of invites received is closer to 3-8. Competitive applicants may get 8-15 interview invites.
Boost Your Chances of Acceptance
We’ve helped hundreds of students just like you ace their med school interviews. If you’re looking for help getting into your dream school, consider MedSchoolCoach to greatly boost your chances of success.
96% of clients who do three or more mock interviews with MedSchoolCoach get accepted to medical school. Sign up for 1-on-1 practice sessions with a Physician Advisor and unlock a 96% acceptance rate.
Sahil Mehta MD
Dr. Mehta is the founder of MedSchoolCoach and has guided thousands of successful medical school applicants. He is also a practicing physician in Boston where he specializes in vascular and interventional radiology.
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