MMI question

[F.Underwood]

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If my MMI time is 8 mins, should I talk about the prompt for 8 mins non-stop after I enter the room? Or, should I give a 2-3 min response and then let the interviewer ask me a follow-up question? Is there one method that is preferred over the other?

Thanks

 

[cs24]

Just say what you have to say. If it takes the whole time, fine, but I will probably get bored interviewing you. Once you've said your piece, I'll ask follow up questions. The worst thing you can do is make a strong argument, then weaken it by rambling nervously trying to take up time.

Disclaimer- this may be school specific, but I doubt it.

 

[kaprincess247]

Interviewers will have a list of follow-up questions. So don't force yourself to ramble if you've made your point. The time goes very quickly when you're in the interview.

 

[kayayteeyeee]

What exactly is an MMI? And do schools specifically say on their website that they have these instead of the traditional interviews? MMI is new to me.

 

[differentiating]

What exactly is an MMI? And do schools specifically say on their website that they have these instead of the traditional interviews? MMI is new to me.

MMI is a Multiple Mini-Interview - an SDN article describing it is here, but you can find many more informational pages by searching "mmi interview." Essentially, instead of the traditional interview, you rotate between a number of stations and have a limited time at each one to discuss a topic/react to a scenario/etc.

There are some schools that are commonly known to use the MMI, and I imagine that most schools would have it somewhere on their website if they use it. There's a list here of schools that use it, but I can't be sure if it's up to date or entirely accurate.

 

[ChillDawg]

Sorry for the bump, but does it get awkward when you have nothing else to say in the station?
Is it okay to start small talk or should I just try to be comfortable in silence?
Does the interviewer keep asking followups to fill the time?

HALP!!!1

 

[XeqtR]

@ChillDawg

I did a mock MMI with some med students at my state school last week. They told me that you have 8 minutes to speak once you enter the room, and to assume that once you step in, they will ask no follow up questions. So if you stop speaking 4 minutes into it, they will look at you with a blank stare for the next 4 minutes. They said to prepare every response to be 8 minutes and stick with that unless the interviewer specifically steps in to ask you a different question, after which you should be prepared to answer that question for the entire remainder of the time. Keep in mind that this is only one school, and I'm sure different schools do it differently.

 

[ChillDawg]

@ChillDawg

I did a mock MMI with some med students at my state school last week. They told me that you have 8 minutes to speak once you enter the room, and to assume that once you step in, they will ask no follow up questions. So if you stop speaking 4 minutes into it, they will look at you with a blank stare for the next 4 minutes. They said to prepare every response to be 8 minutes and stick with that unless the interviewer specifically steps in to ask you a different question, after which you should be prepared to answer that question for the entire remainder of the time. Keep in mind that this is only one school, and I'm sure different schools do it differently.

Thanks!
Darn, that's gonna get awkward..
Is it frowned upon to finish to more than a minute to spare?

 

[XeqtR]

@ChillDawg

No problem! I'm sure if its in the final minute it would be fine, but I don't think you'd want to stop 5 minutes into it or anything like that. Again this is specifically at my state school (a UC in CA, I would like to preserve my anonymity so I don't want to say more!) but the med student specifically told me that it was just this schools policy. She told me that at other schools, if you ran out of things to say they'd try to guide you with a follow up question, but not this one. Hope this helped!