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How Long Is a Medical School Interview? Times by Format
Most med school interviews run 30 to 60 minutes, and an MMI is 6 to 10 short stations. Times from ten schools' own pages, plus how long the whole day takes.
One medical school interview usually lasts 30 to 60 minutes, and a panel interview about the same. An MMI is a circuit of short stations, usually 6 to 10 of about five to eight minutes each, which adds up to roughly 45 to 90 minutes. The whole interview day runs from about 2 hours online to a full day on campus.
Length by format
The AAMC says live in-person interviews “typically last between 30 and 60 minutes”, and that on video “they often last between 30 and 60 minutes each”. Many schools hold two or three interviews on the same day, so add them up.
One-on-one: 30 to 60 minutes
The AAMC's range for live interviews, in person or on video. Some schools run shorter ones, such as WashU's two 25 minute interviews.
Panel: About 30 to 45 minutes
Several interviewers, one applicant. Rowan-Virtua SOM lists about 30 to 45 minutes, usually with a board panel.
MMI: 45 to 90 minutes in all
6 to 10 short stations is the AAMC's typical range, about five minutes each plus reading time. Arizona Phoenix uses 5 stations, UCSD and Zucker 8.
Whole interview day: About 2 hours to a full day
South Carolina's virtual day runs about 2 hours. Arizona Phoenix runs 7:30 a.m. to about 2:30 p.m.
A panel is not longer, just busier. In the AAMC's words, “Panel interviews consist of multiple interviewers interviewing a single applicant at one time.” Our panel interview guide covers how to handle several interviewers at once.
What ten schools say
Each school's own interview page, read October 20, 2026, from single interviews to the MMI. Under each name: degree and format.
| School | One interview | Whole day |
|---|---|---|
| WashUMD, Zoom. Source | Two of 25 minutes, one open file and one closed file | Both on the same day, plus optional sessions that week |
| EVMSMD, Zoom. Source | About 30 minutes | Plus a Wednesday Zoom session with admissions and students |
| Rowan-Virtua SOMDO, virtual panel. Source | About 30 to 45 minutes, usually a board panel | Not published. A required orientation comes first |
| IndianaMD, online. Source | About 45 minutes | A Wednesday, with information and financial aid sessions |
| South Carolina (Columbia)MD, Zoom. Source | 45 minutes with two committee members | About 2 hours, 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Eastern |
| KCOM (A.T. Still)DO, on campus. Source | Three of 30 minutes each | About 5 hours, morning or afternoon group |
| Western COMPDO, online or campus. Source | 30 minutes, plus two 5 minute patient encounters | About 4 hours online, about 6 on campus |
| Arizona PhoenixMD, MMI. Source | 5 stations: 2 minutes to read, 7 to talk | 7:30 a.m. to about 2:30 p.m. |
| UCSDMD, virtual MMI. Source | 8 stations: 2 minutes to read, 8 to talk | Plus about 90 minutes of downtime |
| Zucker (Hofstra)MD, virtual MMI. Source | 8 stations in about 90 minutes | Plus a welcome, a skills session and lunch with students |
How long is an MMI?
The AAMC says an MMI “typically consists of 6 to 10 interview stations with different interviewers who each focus on a different question or scenario”. “Interviewees are given approximately five minutes at each station to answer the question or solve the problem before rotating to the next station, although the amount of time may differ by school.”
Add reading time and the circuit grows. Arizona Phoenix's 5 stations of 2 minutes to read and 7 to talk come to 45 minutes. UCSD's 8 stations of 2 and 8 come to 80. Zucker's stations add up to 72 minutes, yet the school lists “Total duration: Approximately 90 minutes”, because moving between stations takes time too. Our guide to MMI scoring explains what each station is graded on, and virtual MMI tips cover the online version.
How long is the whole day?
Longer than the interview itself. Welcome talks, financial aid, students and a tour fill the rest. Western COMP says “Our online interviews last approximately 4 hours”, and about 6 on campus. UCSD runs its MMI in two groups, so “you will have approximately 90 minutes of "down time" either before or after your interviews”. Our interview day guide walks through a sample day block by block.
Practice to the clock
Run one full-length mock
Answer out loud for 30 to 45 minutes straight, follow-ups included, so your focus holds to the last question and not just the first.
Keep first answers near two minutes
In Confetto mock interviews the median first answer was 267 words, about 2 minutes. That leaves room in a 30 minute interview for follow-ups and your own questions.
Time MMI stations to your school
Read for 2 minutes, then talk for the time your school lists, from 6 minutes at Zucker to 8 at UCSD. Stop when the timer stops.
Practice the reset between stations
In an MMI the next prompt starts right away. Finish, take one breath and start the new station fresh.
Plan the rest of the day
A full day means hours on camera or on your feet. Eat, test your setup and expect downtime, like UCSD's two-group schedule.
Start with the questions every school asks, out loud and timed, with follow-ups.
Sources: AAMC, Types of Interviews, and the interview pages of WashU, EVMS, Rowan-Virtua SOM, Indiana, South Carolina, KCOM, Western COMP, Arizona Phoenix, UCSD and Zucker. All checked October 20, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a medical school interview?
Usually 30 to 60 minutes for one interview, the range the AAMC gives for live interviews in person and on video. Some schools run shorter ones, such as WashU's two 25 minute interviews, and many schools hold two or three interviews on the same day.
How long is an MMI?
The AAMC says an MMI typically has 6 to 10 stations of about five minutes each, though timing differs by school. With reading time, Arizona Phoenix's 5 stations add up to about 45 minutes, and Zucker's 8 stations take about 90 minutes in all. MMI vs traditional interview, side by side.
How long is a medical school panel interview?
Usually about as long as a one-on-one. Rowan-Virtua SOM lists about 30 to 45 minutes for its board panel of Admissions Committee members. How to prepare for a panel interview.
How long is a medical school interview day?
From about 2 hours to a full day. South Carolina's virtual day runs 12:30 to about 2:30 p.m. Eastern, Western COMP's online day about 4 hours and its campus day about 6, and Arizona Phoenix runs 7:30 a.m. to about 2:30 p.m. What happens on medical school interview day.
How long should my answers be in a 30 minute interview?
Mostly one to two minutes, longer for a story the interviewer asks you to expand on. In Confetto mock interviews the median first answer was 267 words, about 2 minutes. How long interview answers should be.