The University Of Sydney Medicine Interview Questions
General Interview Information
Interview Format
The University of Sydney uses the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format to assess applicants’ personal and professional attributes. The MMI is completed either in person for domestic students or via Skype for international students. It consists of five, seven-minute-long stations with a two minute turn-around time between each. Each station offers a different authentic scenario that tests specific characteristics listed below. The entire interview lasts approximately 45 minutes.
Skype Interviews:
At the commencement of the interview, the first interviewer will appear on the screen. This is your chance to say hello! Once the bell rings, you will be sent the first scenario via instant message on Skype. Read the first sentence of the scenario aloud to the interviewer.
The University of Sydney uses the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format to assess applicants’ personal and professional attributes. The MMI is completed either in person for domestic students or via Skype for international students. It consists of five, seven-minute-long stations with a two minute turn-around time between each. Each station offers a different authentic scenario that tests specific characteristics listed below. The entire interview lasts approximately 45 minutes.
- Communication skills;
- Sense of caring, empathy and sensitivity;
- Ability to make effective decisions;
- Ability to contribute as a member of a team;
- Appreciation of the place of medicine in the wider context of healing;
- Your sense of vocation, motivation and commitment within the context of medicine
Skype Interviews:
At the commencement of the interview, the first interviewer will appear on the screen. This is your chance to say hello! Once the bell rings, you will be sent the first scenario via instant message on Skype. Read the first sentence of the scenario aloud to the interviewer.
Key Dates
Interviews generally take place in July and August, although exact dates may vary.
Interviews generally take place in July and August, although exact dates may vary.
Recent Interview Questions
General/Personal Statement Station
This station explores evidence of your sense of caring, empathy and sensitivity as well as your depth and breadth of interests (achievements in specific fields). It also examines your relevant work experience, values and outside interests. Questions at this station may include:
- Do you have weaknesses? What are they? How are you working on them?
- Can you tell us about a time that you helped someone, and how you knew that you helped them?
- Give examples of times when you demonstrated qualities that you feel are important to be a successful physician.
Communication Stations
Communication skills may be tested at a number of different stations as well as having a dedicated station. Review BlackStone Tutor’s ‘The 7 Stages of MMI Communication Station’ to learn how to manage communication stations effectively. Examples of Communication Stations can be found in the Online MMI Question Bank.
Science/Medicine-Based Questions
- Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of practising medicine.
Think about alternative medicine. Is it valuable? Is it comparable to Western medicine? - Explain one of the following terms in lay language. E.g. ozone, DNA, metabolism, etc.
- What do the terms traditional and alternative medicine mean to you?
This station examines your motivation for studying medicine and an understanding of the nature of medicine. Questions at this station may include:
- What makes a good or bad doctor?
- Where do you see yourself five, ten, twenty years from now?
- On what levels do doctors help people?
- What are some of the current problems in modern medicine?
- What do you think are some of the difficulties of being a doctor?
Ethical Scenarios
Ethical scenarios may vary in their circumstances and background information; however centre to all ethical dilemmas is the need to offer multiple sides to each argument.
- Your friend from med school undertakes part-time employment in order to support himself. He has been unable to make it to some compulsory seminars because of these commitments and has asked you to mark his name present on the roll. What do you do and why?
- Additional ethical dilemmas, MMI techniques and model answers can be found in the Online MMI Question Bank.
Additional Interview Questions & Model Answers
Click Here (Available to MMI Interview Course Attendees & MMI Question Bank Subscribers)