At the UBC Faculty of Medicine an important part of the admissions process is the interview. We work to ensure that the applicants we choose are well-rounded individuals who meet the expanded, distributed program requirements. Selected candidates will receive their interview invitation through the Online Application System (OAS).
A sub-set of applicants will be interviewed, based on results of file reviews of academic and non-academic evaluations. The interview process follows the Multiple Mini-Interview (MMI) model which exposes an applicant to approximately 10 interviewers and requires that they deal with a carefully pre-selected scenario/situation within a determined time frame. The interviewers typically consist of a combination of academics, clinicians, community representatives and UBC 3rd or 4th year medical students, representing diverse geographic areas of British Columbia.
Multiple Mini-Interview (MMI) Format
Interviews for UBC MD Undergraduate Program admissions follow the Multiple Mini-Interview (MMI) format, where each applicant will rotate through 10 different interview stations. All interviews will take place on UBC Point Grey Campus in Vancouver.
Panel Interviews
Applicants who choose to apply through the Indigenous, Black, Northern and Rural, and / or MD/PhD admissions pathways may be invited to attend a separate panel interview specific to the pathway chosen. The panel interviews take place around the time of the MMI, and will be used in conjunction with all aspects of an application to determine an applicant’s suitability for the admission pathway.
Indigenous Panel Interview
Along with the MMI, Indigenous applicants who choose to apply through the Indigenous Admissions Pathway may be offered an interview with the Indigenous Interview Panel. This interview takes place on the same weekend as the MMI, at the UBC First Nations Longhouse (if in-person). All panel interviewers are Indigenous and the panel is usually made up of on an Elder and 2-3 other members.
Northern and Rural Panel Interview
Applicants who fill out the Northern and Rural Training Section of the application and who successfully qualify for an MMI interview may be invited to participate in a virtual Northern and Rural panel interview.
Black Pathway Panel Interview
Applicants supported through the Black Student Admissions Pathway who receive an MMI invitation may be invited to participate in a virtual panel interview for the pathway as well. These interviews will take place in late January/early February. Care will be taken to ensure panel interviews do not coincide with multiple mini interviews.
MD / PhD Panel Interview
Applicants who meet the requirements for admission to the MD Program and the PhD Program will be further assessed by the MD/PhD committee and shortlisted for interview by the MD/PhD Admissions Committee. The interview panel would consist of two faculty members, a current MD/PhD student, MD/PhD Director or Associate Director or both.
Interview Preparation
We prefer not to give advice about how to best prepare for the interview. Many applicants, who do very well, practice or prepare on their own by reading different materials, searching for MMI information on the internet, and/or practicing with their friends.
It is important to know that it is unnecessary to pay a lot of money to preparatory organizations who claim to have “real” interview questions and scoring information. Be very wary of these claims.
The interviews are designed to see how you think on your feet, how you communicate what you believe when pondering ethical, moral, and other dilemmas which are not necessarily related to medicine, and to explore who you are as a person. The best way for you to demonstrate this during the interview is to be yourself and answer honestly and thoughtfully. You do not need a specific formula, vocabulary, or medical knowledge to perform well in the interview.
While many questions will be set broadly in a medical environment, not all questions will be, and you do not need to make the connection back to medicine unless the interviewer asks you to. As you are applying for medical school, we will expect you to have a basic understanding of the Canadian health care system, some awareness of contemporary issues, and knowledge about the career you are about to embark on. Show us who you are, what you are interested in, have fun, and try to relax.