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US Medical School Interview Preparation

US medical schools use four distinct assessment formats — Multiple Mini Interviews, traditional 1-on-1 or panel interviews, CASPer computer-based scenarios, and the AAMC PREview Professional Readiness Exam. Many schools require two or more of these. This hub covers each format, which schools require it, and how to prepare effectively.

Book a mock interview Find your school's format
4
Formats covered
60+
School-by-school guides
Oct–Mar
Typical interview window
Pre-secondary
CASPer/PREview

The four US medical school assessment formats

Choose a format to read the full guide — including prep strategies, school lists, and common mistakes.

Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI)

UCLA, UC Davis, Cincinnati, NYIT, Stanford, UMass, Tufts + more

Station-based circuit of 6-12 mini-scenarios, each 6-10 min. Tests ethics, communication, role-play, teamwork, and critical thinking across independent raters.

Kira TalentAMP Interactive4Cs frameworkZoom MMI
Full guide

Traditional 1-on-1 / Panel

Yale, JHU (hybrid), Penn, WashU, Pritzker, Vanderbilt, BU, Tufts + more

30-45 min conversational interview with 1 interviewer or a 2-3 person panel. Tests motivation, values, communication, and fit. May be closed-file or open-file.

STAR frameworkOpen-fileClosed-fileBehavioral Qs
Full guide

CASPer (Altus Assessments)

Required by 30+ MD and most DO schools — see Acuity Insights school list

14 video/text scenarios, 5 min typed response per section. Assessed against cohort in quartiles. Scored separately from AMCAS and transmitted directly to schools.

Altus AssessmentsTyped SJTQuartile scoring14 sections
Full guide

AAMC PREview

Required by 30+ MD programs — see AAMC PREview participating schools list

30 multiple-choice SJT scenarios, 75 min. Scored 1-9. Tests professional readiness using AAMC Core Competencies framework. Transmitted via AMCAS.

AAMC-administeredMultiple choice1-9 scaleCore Competencies
Full guide

School-by-school interview guides

Detailed guides for 60+ US medical schools covering interview format, typical questions, secondary-to-invite timelines, and school-specific prep advice.

Individual school guides are available at /us/interviews/[school-slug] — links below will go live with the next release.

Harvard Medical SchoolJohns HopkinsStanfordUniversity of MichiganYale School of MedicinePenn (Perelman)Columbia P&SUCLA David GeffenWashU School of MedicineDuke School of MedicineVanderbiltPritzker (UChicago)

More schools coming soon. View the full list at /us/medical-schools.

Interview preparation timeline

  1. 1

    Before secondary submission (Aug–Sep)

    Register for CASPer and/or AAMC PREview if your target schools require them — these must be completed before or shortly after submitting secondaries. Check each school's requirements page.

  2. 2

    September–October

    Begin ethics and professionalism reading. Familiarise yourself with AAMC Core Competencies (relevant to both PREview and holistic review questions at all interview formats). Draft and practise your "Why medicine" and "Why this school" narratives.

  3. 3

    On receipt of interview invitation

    Confirm your school's format immediately — MMI, traditional, or hybrid. Book mock sessions specific to that format. Research the school's mission, curriculum, and community deeply for "Why us?" questions.

  4. 4

    1–2 weeks before interview

    Complete at least 2-3 timed mock sessions under realistic conditions. For virtual/Zoom interviews, test your setup and practise recording yourself. For in-person, plan logistics, accommodation, and what to bring.

  5. 5

    Interview day

    Arrive or log in early. In MMIs: read each prompt fully, pace yourself to finish with ~30 seconds to spare, stay present in each station. In traditional: let the interviewer steer; ask 2-3 genuine questions at the end.

Frequently asked questions

A significant and growing minority of US MD programs use MMI, including UCLA David Geffen, UC Davis, University of Cincinnati, NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine, Stanford, UMass Chan, and Tufts. Many DO programs also use MMI. The best source for up-to-date format information is each school's admissions website — formats can change cycle to cycle.

Both are situational judgment tests (SJTs) used to assess personal and professional qualities. CASPer (Altus Assessments) is a typed, open-ended format with 14 sections and quartile scoring; it is required by many MD and most DO programs and is a third-party assessment. AAMC PREview is a 30-question multiple-choice SJT scored on a 1-9 scale, administered by the AAMC itself, and scored using their Core Competencies framework. Some schools require one, some require both, and some require neither — always check each school's requirements page.

Most US medical school interview invitations are extended between September and January, with interviews running October through March. Schools interview on a rolling basis — earlier applicants tend to receive invitations earlier in the cycle. Secondary applications are typically due August-October, and interviews follow 2-6 weeks after a complete secondary is on file.

Varies significantly by school. Some schools send invitations with 2-3 weeks' notice; others give as little as a week. Keep your calendar clear from September through March if you have submitted applications. Many schools use an interview scheduling portal (Thalamus is common) where you self-select from available slots.

Yes. Virtual MMIs (e.g. via Kira Talent) are typically asynchronous — you read a prompt and record a video response with no live interaction. Traditional virtual interviews use Zoom or Teams and are more similar to in-person. For virtual formats: test your equipment, background, and internet connection; position your camera at eye level; speak to the camera rather than the screen; and practise recording yourself so you are comfortable seeing yourself on screen.

Only if directly asked. Interviewers are typically not looking for a recitation of your application stats — they want to understand you as a person, your motivation, and your suitability for medicine. In a closed-file interview the interviewer may not have your application at all. Focus on your narrative, values, and specific experiences rather than statistics.

Visit /us/interviews/payment to book a live 1-on-1 mock interview session with a current US medical student. Sessions are tailored to the specific format your target schools use — MMI circuits, traditional mock interviews, or a hybrid approach.

Practise with a current US medical student

Live 1-on-1 mock sessions tailored to the exact format used by your target schools — MMI circuits, traditional mock interviews, or a hybrid combination.

Book a mock interview Application strategy guide
Reviewed by Isaac Butler-King, medical student at the University of Glasgow. Last reviewed: June 3, 2026
US Medical School Interview Prep — MMI, Traditional, CASPer & AAMC PREview | NGMP