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University of Michigan Medicine Interview Questions

Past Interview Questions & Tips

Michigan Medicine Interview Format

Michigan runs a virtual interview process called Get to Know Blue. This has both a ‘Monday Night Live’ which sees students welcomed and able to meet each other and staff, and then a half-day interview session which includes both short and long-form interviews. 

Key Dates

Interviews generally take place between September and February.

Historical Interview Information

In the past, the candidate would participate in two to three one-on-one traditional interviews that last about 30-45 minutes. One of them would be conducted by a faculty member. The other would be done by a medical student and/ or an alumni where it tends to be more conversational. The interviews were open-file, meaning that the interviewers have access to the AMCAS application, the secondary application, and the personal statement.

The university followed a hybrid approach of assessment; along with the traditional interviews it includes 6 shorter-version MMI stations. This approach aimed to assess the candidate’s abilities of:

  • Social skills
  • Competence
  • Teamwork
  • Reliability/ Dependability
  • Resilience/ Adaptability
  • Critical thinking
  • Research and clinical experience

Michigan Medicine Key Application & Interview Statistics

Overall Success Rate (Total Applicants : Total Spaces)
Percentage of Candidates Interviewed
Interviewee Success Rate

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University of Michigan Medicine Past MMI Stations & Interview Questions

​Motivation and Insight into Medicine

  • How do you think culture affects medical practice and patient interactions?
  • What is the difference between a nurse practitioner and a physician?
  • What kind of environment do you want to practice medicine in the future?
  • Do you think diversity is an important element in medical school?
  • What could be potential problems that you face at the onset of your medical education?
  • How will your X experience help you be a good doctor?
  • What specialty are you interested in and why?
  • In your opinion, what qualities should a doctor have? And which ones do you possess?
  • Why do you want to study in Michigan?
  • Why do you want to pursue medicine?
  • If you were the dean of a medical school, what one course would you want to have included in the curriculum?
  • Why do you want to be specifically a doctor, not a nurse?
  • Tell me how your undergrad major would help you to study medicine?
  • Tell me more about your X clinical experience.
  • What research experience do you have?
  • What is one of the biggest problems in healthcare today?
  • Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
  • What other fields would you be interested in if you weren’t going to become a doctor?
  • Do you think you will be having time for extra-curricular activity while you are in medical school?
  • In your opinion, what are possible conflicts might arise in medical school?
  • What would you like to do in Michigan?
  • What are some challenges in medicine that you saw in your shadowing or volunteer experiences?
  • What do you think about the difficulties women face in pursuing medicine?
  • What would you do to reform the healthcare sector?
  • Which side of practicing medicine are you most interested in: the scientific or the compassionate?
  • What would you want to do with your medical degree?
  • What was the doctor’s X shadowing experience like?
  • What are three drawbacks of practicing medicine?
  • Tell me about your experience as an EMT.
  • What do you think about Managed Care?
  • Do you think training on mannequins detracts from patient contact?
  • What are your thoughts about the current health plan?
  • How has How has the medical malpractice influenced the healthcare price?
  • In your opinion, what responsibilities do physicians have towards the public?
  • How would you choose to spend $100,000 in the medical field?
  • In your opinion, who provides the greatest benefit to society: the primary care physician, the public health worker, or the entertainer?
  • If you have a big budget to spend on AIDS education and research, how would you split it up between them and why?
  • In your clinical experience, what did you learn about medicine that you were not aware of earlier?
  • What are some problems you think you will go through as a physician on a personal and societal level?
  • How would you incorporate your faith with practicing medicine?
  • If you could pick a medical figure to meet, who would they be?
  • What do you think about a colleague who delivered exceptional medical care 29 days of the month, but gave poor medical care one day a month?
  • What are three good thing about HMOs?


Ethical Dilemmas

  • What is your opinion about University of Michigan’s most infamous alumnus, Dr. Kevorkian and your thoughts on the physician-assisted suicide?
  • What would you do if you had the choice of giving a liver to a 25-year old who could go a year without it, or 55-year old alcoholic who needed it immediately?
  • Would you legalize marijuana?
  • What is the difference between medical ethics and personal morals?
  • If you had a patient in jail who faced the choice of having a kidney transplant or being on dialysis for the rest of his life, what would you do?
  • What is your opinion on abortion?
  • What do you think about euthanasia?
  • What would you do if you could give a small town’s children all immunizations, or give three patients heart transplants or else they would die?
  • If you have two patients about to die, and you can only save one of them, how and based on what standards would you choose?


Scientific/Medical Topics

  • What is maple syrup disease?
  • What did Jonas Salk invent?
  • In your opinion, what are the pros and cons of EMRs and what do you think about integrating more technology to the healthcare?
  • Explain what apoptosis is, and does it happen in normal cells?
  • What do you know about euthanasia and in which states is it legal?
  • Pick a medical topic and argue both sides of it.
  • What do you know about HIPAA?
  • In which European country is physician-assisted suicide legally practiced?

 
Case/Article Reviews

  • What are your thoughts on the Terri Schiavo case?
  • Do you think distribution of wealth in the metro Detroit community is equitable?
  • Did you hear about that surgeon who branded the letters “UK” on a woman’s uterus- the University of Kentucky?
  • What are your opinions on the current Iran conflict?

 
Communication Stations​

  • How would you plan on telling the families of children with terminal illness that there is nothing that can be done?
  • How would you deal with noncooperative patients?
  • How would you explain your research to a 12-year old kid?
  • As a physician, how will you communicate with patients who you don’t personally like?
  • How would you emotionally handle and respond to a woman who blames you for the death of her husband who refused to listen to your medical advice?
  • How would you communicate with a patient who refuses to take their prescribed meds due to religious beliefs and what would you do?
  • How would you describe the American healthcare system to a foreigner?
  • How would you convince someone to invest in X instead of Y?
  • How will you communicate death of a patient?
  • How would you explain HMO to a non-US resident?

 
Prioritisation Tasks

  • What coping mechanisms do you use to relive stress?

 
Teamwork Tasks

  • What significant leadership roles you had and what did you learn from them?
  • How do you work in a team?

 
General / Personal Statements:

  • Do you think the relatively privileged status of Ann Arbor is a problem?
  • What book have you read that had an impact on the way you think?
  • What is the most human rights issue you feel strongly about?
  • Do you consider yourself a risk-taker?
  • What are you hobbies?
  • How was your undergrad experience?
  • What are your strong and weak points?
  • If you got to have a superpower, what would it be?
  • What did you do over the summer?
  • What is the biggest obstacle you encountered in your life and how did you face it?
  • Why did not you get a recommendation from your research lab?
  • Why do you think attending a big school would be beneficial?
  • How come you got X in this section of the MCAT?
  • What was hard about your X volunteering work?
  • How would your friends describe you in 3 words?
  • How you would you define a successful career?
  • What is the most significant thing you have done in college?
  • What would you like said at your eulogy?
  • In your opinion, what should society do about the homeless?

University of Michigan Medicine Interview Questions and Answers

Why do you want to study Medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School?

The University of Michigan Medical School’s innovative curriculum and commitment to comprehensive medical education are key reasons for my interest. Their curriculum, which seamlessly integrates basic sciences with clinical training, emphasizes a holistic approach to medicine. This is complemented by their commitment to fostering leadership skills and a deep understanding of healthcare systems, preparing students for the multifaceted nature of modern medicine. Additionally, the school’s strong emphasis on research and community service aligns with my aspirations to be involved in advancing medical science while being actively engaged in community health initiatives. The opportunity to learn in an environment that encourages exploration, innovation, and collaboration across various medical fields makes the University of Michigan an ideal choice for my medical education.

What do you know about the Medicine course structure at the University of Michigan Medical School?

The University of Michigan Medical School offers a dynamic curriculum that integrates foundational scientific knowledge with practical clinical skills throughout the program. The curriculum is structured to provide students with a deep understanding of the scientific basis of medicine, coupled with extensive clinical training. This integration ensures that students are well-prepared to apply their knowledge in real-world clinical settings. The school also places a strong emphasis on developing leadership skills and understanding healthcare systems, which is crucial for shaping well-rounded physicians who are capable of navigating the complexities of healthcare delivery. Additionally, the curriculum encourages students to engage in research and community service, further enhancing their medical education and preparing them for a wide range of careers in medicine.

How does the University of Michigan Medical School's curriculum prepare students for leadership roles in healthcare?

The University of Michigan Medical School’s curriculum is designed to cultivate leadership skills essential for future healthcare professionals. This is achieved through a combination of rigorous academic training, hands-on clinical experiences, and opportunities for involvement in healthcare systems and policy. Students are encouraged to take on leadership roles in various settings, including research projects, community service initiatives, and clinical teams. The curriculum also includes specific components focused on healthcare systems, policy, and management, ensuring that graduates have a comprehensive understanding of the broader context in which healthcare is delivered. This focus on leadership development equips students with the skills needed to lead and innovate in their future roles, whether in clinical practice, research, administration, or policy-making.

Discuss the significance of research and community service in the curriculum at the University of Michigan Medical School.

Research and community service are integral components of the curriculum at the University of Michigan Medical School. The school places a strong emphasis on engaging students in research activities, fostering a spirit of scientific inquiry and innovation. Students have opportunities to work on cutting-edge research projects, contributing to advances in medical science and patient care. Additionally, community service is a key aspect of the curriculum, encouraging students to apply their medical knowledge in real-world settings and to understand the health needs of diverse populations. These experiences not only enhance the students’ medical education but also instill a sense of social responsibility and commitment to serving the community. Such involvement prepares students to be compassionate physicians who are not only skilled in medicine but also deeply aware of their role in improving public health.

What opportunities does the University of Michigan Medical School provide for interdisciplinary learning and collaboration?

The University of Michigan Medical School offers numerous opportunities for interdisciplinary learning and collaboration, recognizing the importance of a multi-faceted approach in modern healthcare. The curriculum encourages students to work alongside peers from various healthcare disciplines, promoting a team-based approach to patient care. This interdisciplinary environment extends to research projects, where students can collaborate with experts in different fields, fostering innovation and a broader understanding of complex health issues. Additionally, the school’s connections with other departments and schools within the university allow for a rich exchange of ideas and perspectives, further enhancing the educational experience. These opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration prepare students to be effective healthcare providers, capable of working cohesively with diverse teams to deliver comprehensive patient care.

 

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