The ultimate guide for MMI preparation!

Initiated as a part of a research project, MMI (multiple mini interviews) is now a part of many professional programs such as dentistry, nursing, and veterinary medicine throughout the United States, Canada, the UK, Australia, Hong Kong, and Europe. The main motive behind MMI is to select competent future medical professionals. So, if you are looking to apply to top medical universities in the UK or other mentioned countries, you need to know all the details about MMI.

So, to help you get all the information about MMI types of interviews, we have compiled this post. So, read this post till the end to know everything about MMI.

What is MMI?

Multiple Mini Interviews is a series of assessments in the form of mini interviews known as stations. The interviewee has to rotate between 6–10 stations, answering 4–8 minute interviews. The interview may be in the form of questions and answers or role play. You will get 2 minutes to read the instructions, grasp the idea, and arrange your thoughts for the discussion.

What are the different types of MMI stations?

MMI stations may differ from institution to institution, but here are some of the common stations you may come across in an MMI:

• Role-play stations: Here you are required to interact in a specific situation with an actor posing as a patient or a friend.
• Prioritization stations: Here you are asked to prioritize different things, keeping in mind a specific situation.
• Professional judgment stations: these stations are designed to assess the ability to make professional judgments in pressured situations, communication skills, empathy, and the ability to handle patients safely.
• Giving Instructions Stations: These stations will ask you to explain some tasks, such as giving directions using a map or any other activity that involves quick response and intellect.
• Calculation and data interpretation stations: At these stations, you will be involved in data collection and the analysis or interpretation of some key information.
• PBL stations: here you can expect a mini problem-based learning lesson along with other interviewees.

Who are the evaluators of MMI?

Most of the evaluators in MMI are professors and practicing professionals. However, students or any other individual from a different background can also be an evaluator in MMI. They will either ask questions, give certain tasks or simply observe the interviewee’s behavior from their interaction with others present at their station.

How are scores evaluated in MMI?

In MMI, there are no right or wrong answers, but the intensity of the answer ranges from weak to strong on a Likert scale of 1-10, with 1 being unsuitable and 10 being an outstanding answer. An interviewee is most likely to be judged on their problem-solving, and communication skills to express their thought process in a social setting rather than their professional knowledge.

How to prepare for MMI?

Since MMI is used to evaluate an interviewee on the basis of competence to become a future medical professional, one needs to be fully prepared for the MMI. So, here are a few tips to prepare for the interview:

• Be thorough with your learning as a doctor to date and demonstrate your qualities as a professional while giving your responses.
• Use your experience and apply it to instances you come across while working. It will add weight to your answer.
• Practice is the key. So, look out for some common questions for MMI preparation and practice an 8–10 minute presentation to help you manage time during the final interview.
• Keep yourself updated with the current happenings in your field and prepare for questions on hot topics.
• Last but not the least, you can get professional help from an interview preparation service to gain confidence for the final interview. They offer mock interviews and feedback to improve your scores in MMI.

How much time does it take to prepare for MMI?

The time taken for MMI preparation depends on your dedication and hard work. But, there is no harm in taking guidance to be fully prepared for the interview. Mostly, it takes 8 to 10 weeks to prepare for the interview and get a decent score in the interview. Some of the evaluation is done on your behavior, which may or may not take much time. Therefore, it varies from person to person.

Thus, MMI preparation requires overall personal development and professionalism in your field of work. To be fully prepared for the interview, MMI preparation service providers offer complete preparation with mock interviews, feedback, and scoring to boost your confidence and prepare you for the final interview.