MMI Fear

[SadAsian]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hi there. Hopefully I can circumvent the sarcastic "just go with your gut" or the obvious "they just want to see how you think" answers... but I'm pretty nervous about an upcoming MMI.

I've been looking over MMI questions, and I get a little flustered thinking about having to craft up an eloquent answer in ~2 minutes. I've looked at someone's guide on here (they had a mnemonic to help, it was nice) but I think what I'm truly scared about is: I don't know what's ethically right v legally appropriate v culturally sensitive, etc.

If I had adequate information about certain topics (stuff like autonomy of minors), I'd be able to make a more confident answer.. but obviously, we don't get that privilege in an interview.

How did you all prepare? Did you just look over questions? Wing it? Discuss with friends? Any helpful input would be appreciated!

 

[md-2020]

I actually found that less structured approach > rigorous MMI prep. ~8/10 interviewees will be visibly nervous; if you can come across as being super relaxed, regardless of what comes out of your mouth--as long as it's reasonable...let's not go to extremes now--will be perceived well. MMI is mostly about stress management. Calm demeanor is the majority of the fight, spewing out even a few logical thoughts makes up the rest.

Chill!

Also, that is a meme worthy prof pic.

 

[SadAsian]

I actually found that less structured approach > rigorous MMI prep. ~8/10 interviewees will be visibly nervous; if you can come across as being super relaxed, regardless of what comes out of your mouth--as long as it's reasonable...let's not go to extremes now--will be perceived well. MMI is mostly about stress management. Calm demeanor is the majority of the fight, spewing out even a few logical thoughts makes up the rest.

Chill!

Also, that is a meme worthy prof pic.

Hahaha thanks. It almost 100% personifies my feelings going through this process 😀
But okay. I'll try my best to relax until then. I am scheduled to take the CASPER on the 10th, so maybe that will help me get over my nerves 🙄

 

[Lannister]

I understand why you're nervous, but there's really no need to be! MMIs are actually kind of fun. Don't worry about crafting an elegant answer in two minutes, because that is not really the point of an MMI. In fact, please do not spend the entire time reciting some elegant speech, I have given students a rating of 1/5 for doing that, because that is not what we want. Just have a general idea of how you're going to answer the question, and then when you get in the room, talk through your thought process. Each station should be a conversation with the rater, so don't worry about running out of things to say because the raters usually have follow up questions for you.

As for ethical situations, as long as you are a decent and moral human being, you will be fine. You are not expected to know any legal or medical stuff. And your answer is much less important than your ability to justify why you chose that answer.

 

[freak7]

1) Read this
2) Relax, seriously. Just be comfortable
3) When reading the prompt take note of where your brain goes. That way, when you enter the room you can say "well initially I thought X because of reasons A, B, and C however eventually I changed my mind to Y when I considered how reasons D and E outweigh A, B, and C because blah blah blah."
4) YOUR FIRST DUTY AS A PHYSICIAN IS TO THE PATIENT. Not the family, not the friends, the patient.

 

[holdthemayo]

I ran some practice questions a few days before to get comfortable with answering that style of question out loud. Staying calm and confident (but not cocky) is half of the battle. As hard as it seems, try to relax. I ended up having fun and preferring the MMI to a traditional interview. You got an interview, they already think you look like a good fit on paper.

 

[SadAsian]

I understand why you're nervous, but there's really no need to be! MMIs are actually kind of fun. Don't worry about crafting an elegant answer in two minutes, because that is not really the point of an MMI. In fact, please do not spend the entire time reciting some elegant speech, I have given students a rating of 1/5 for doing that, because that is not what we want. Just have a general idea of how you're going to answer the question, and then when you get in the room, talk through your thought process. Each station should be a conversation with the rater, so don't worry about running out of things to say because the raters usually have follow up questions for you.

As for ethical situations, as long as you are a decent and moral human being, you will be fine. You are not expected to know any legal or medical stuff. And your answer is much less important than your ability to justify why you chose that answer.

1) Read this
2) Relax, seriously. Just be comfortable
3) When reading the prompt take note of where your brain goes. That way, when you enter the room you can say "well initially I thought X because of reasons A, B, and C however eventually I changed my mind to Y when I considered how reasons D and E outweigh A, B, and C because blah blah blah."
4) YOUR FIRST DUTY AS A PHYSICIAN IS TO THE PATIENT. Not the family, not the friends, the patient.

You guys are phenomenal. Seriously helping calm my nerves... Thank you so much! (Sometimes, I really do love this website)

 

[Gurby]

I had one MMI that I prepared a good deal for, and that school was the only post-II rejection I got among a sea of WL's and silence. 👎 👎