There are different methods for interviewing and assessing medical school applicants, including Casper & AAMC PREview Assessments, the traditional interview, and the MMI (multiple mini interview).
Casper & AAMC PREview Assessments for (some) Medical School Applications
What are these assessments?
Medical schools may require one, two, or none of the situational judgement tests (SJT) which have been developed to assess an applicant's non-cognitive skills. They have a good handle on the cognitive abilities of applicants by virtue of the MCAT & GPA, but the situational judgement tests assist admissions committees with assessing each applicant's interpersonal competencies, professionalism, ethics & empathy.
Two of the most commonly used SJTs are the CASPer test & AAMC's PREview exam. Approximately 50% of US medical schools require the Casper test, a situational judgment test that is used as a pre-interview screening tool at some schools; a much lower percentage require PREview. In reviewing the information on the MSAR (AAMC's Medical School Admission Requirements) require either one of the tests, you should take them. They should ideally be taken in April or May of your application year, as it takes 3-4 weeks for the tests to be evaluated and sent to the medical schools (the results will not be sent to you). Learn more about the difference between these two assessments.
How do I prepare?
Taking some time to familiarize yourself with each of these assessments will increase your chances of earning a "higher score" on each of them. Prior to taking the assessment(s), it is important to familiarize yourself with the format of the test, including the time allotted to think about how to respond and the time to relate your response. Going through sample prompts ahead of time, in a timed fashion, should likewise prove helpful on test day.
Learn more about CASPer, including a list of CASPer sample interview questions and test prep resources. You may also find additional information on the PREview Asssessment on the AAMC website.
Traditional Interview
Learn more about traditional interview prep from the WashU Center for Career Engagement, or access WashU's Big Interview User Guide. Find additional practice materials by googling "medical school interviews."
Multiple Mini Interview (MMI):
Learn more about who is using the MMI along with a list of MMI resources, or tap into resources from institutions like the University of Michigan or Columbia University Bioethics Department.
