· 5 min read
Open File vs Closed File Interview: What It Means and Which Schools Use It
Open file vs closed file (blind) medical school interviews: what each means, 38 schools that publish theirs for 2026-27 and how to prepare for each one.
In an open-file interview, the interviewer has read your application before you meet. In a closed-file or blind interview, they haven't, and know little more than your name. Some schools are partly blind, so interviewers read your essays and activities but not your grades or MCAT, and some use one of each. Of 38 schools that publish it for 2026-27, 12 are open file, 11 closed file or blind, 9 partly blind and 6 use one of each.
What open file and closed file mean
The AAMC describes the classic one-on-one as an interviewer who “meets with you individually to further explore the information presented in your application”. That is an open-file interview. A closed file flips it: your answers are all the interviewer has, so they judge how you think and talk, not what you listed.
- Open file: The interviewer has read your application before you meet.
- Closed file or blind: The interviewer hasn't read your application.
- Partly blind: The interviewer reads your essays and activities, but not your grades or MCAT.
- One of each: One interview is open file, another is blind.
Which schools use which (2026-27)
26 of the 38 schools hide your file, in whole or in part, in at least one interview. Each school links to our guide and its official page. Facts checked October 16, 2026.
Open file (12 schools)
| ACOM | One interview with two faculty Source |
|---|---|
| ATSU-KCOM | Three interviews of 30 minutes Source |
| Creighton | Two interviews, virtual Source |
| ICOM | One interview with two faculty Source |
| Indiana University | One interview with two committee members Source |
| Marshall | One interview with two interviewers Source |
| MCW | Milwaukee: two interviews Source |
| Missouri | Two interviews with committee members Source |
| Mount Sinai | Two interviews of 30 minutes Source |
| UCLA | One faculty interview Source |
| University of Kansas | One of two interviews is open file Source |
| WVSOM | One interview, two interviewers Source |
Closed file or blind (11 schools)
| Drexel | Group interview with a student, closed file Source |
|---|---|
| FAU Schmidt | Live Zoom interview, closed file Source |
| GW | One blind faculty interview Source |
| Iowa Carver | One interview with two faculty Source |
| LMU-DCOM | One interview of up to 20 minutes Source |
| MSUCOM | One video interview of 30 minutes Source |
| Rochester | Two interviews, blind to your file Source |
| UAMS | Several blind interviews Source |
| UC Davis | Virtual MMI, closed file Source |
| UCSF | Two Zoom interviews, double blind Source |
| WSU Floyd | Two live interviews, closed file Source |
Partly blind (9 schools)
| Alice L. Walton (AWSOM) | Blinded to MCAT, academics and bio details Source |
|---|---|
| FIU | Two interviews, partly blind Source |
| Jacobs (Buffalo) | Two interviews, blinded to metrics Source |
| LSU Shreveport | Two interviews, partly blind Source |
| Ohio State | Two interviews, blinded to MCAT and grades Source |
| RVU-MCOM | Panel blinded to grades and MCAT Source |
| UF | Two interviews, MCAT and GPA withheld Source |
| University of Louisville | Two interviews, academically blinded Source |
| USF Morsani | One interview, partly open file Source |
One of each (6 schools)
| Belmont Frist | One open file, one structured blind Source |
|---|---|
| Jefferson Sidney Kimmel | Faculty open file, student closed file Source |
| Miami Miller | Two interviews of 50 minutes, one of each Source |
| OSU-COM | One faculty interview is blinded Source |
| Temple Katz | Faculty, blind and community interviews Source |
| WashU | Two faculty interviews, one closed file Source |
How to prepare for each
For an open-file interview
- Reread your whole application the night before: activities, essays and this school's secondary.
- Expect questions on any line, including gaps, a low grade or an activity you listed briefly.
- Add something new to each story. The interviewer has already read the short version.
- Know why each experience mattered and what you would do differently.
For a closed-file or blind interview
- Tell every story from the start: where you were, what you did and why it mattered.
- Open with a clear summary when asked to tell them about yourself.
- Never say "as you saw in my application". They didn't.
- Bring up the two or three experiences you most want them to know.
If you can't tell which you have, prepare for both. Know your application well, and practice tell me about yourself as if the interviewer has never seen it. More in our medical school interview questions guide.
Is the MMI open or closed file?
Usually closed. MMI raters mostly see the station prompt and you, which is why every scenario answer needs to stand on its own. UC Davis, for example, runs a closed-file MMI. See how the MMI is scored for what raters see at each school.
Sources: each school's own interview page (linked in the tables), the AAMC MSAR 2027 Interview Procedures report and the AAMC's Types of Interviews. Checked October 17, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is an open file interview?
An open-file interview is one where the interviewer has read your application, including your activities and essays, before you meet. Expect questions about anything in it.
What is a closed file or blind interview?
In a closed-file or blind interview, the interviewer hasn't read your application and knows little more than your name. Your answers have to stand on their own, so tell each story with enough setup to make sense to someone new.
What does partly blind or semi-blind mean?
The interviewer reads part of your file, usually your essays and activities, but not your grades or MCAT. UF, Ohio State and Louisville, for example, withhold your academic numbers from interviewers.
Is the MMI open file or closed file?
Usually closed. MMI raters mostly see the station prompt and you. UC Davis, for example, runs a closed-file MMI.
How do I know if my interview is open or closed file?
Check your invitation and the school's interview page, or the AAMC MSAR Interview Procedures report. If it doesn't say, prepare for both: know your application well, and tell each story as if the interviewer hasn't read it.