The SIU School of Medicine interview format

Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, in Springfield, interviews every MD candidate twice, one-on-one. Its interview day page says "you will have interviews with two faculty members." One interviewer is a current or former member of the Admissions Committee and "will have access to your complete admissions application." The other is a faculty member not on the committee, who "will have only basic biographical information and your supplemental application essays." The AAMC's MSAR interview procedures report for the 2027 entering class lists the same two one-on-one interviews for MD applicants (three for MD/JD), plus a welcome session with the Director of Admissions, a financial aid session and a tour with a current medical student.

Item	What SIU and the AAMC say
Format	Two one-on-one interviews with faculty (MD); three for MD/JD
Interviewer 1	A current or former Admissions Committee member with your complete application
Interviewer 2	A faculty member outside the committee with basic biographical information and your supplemental essays
Rest of the day	Admissions presentation, student-led tour, financial aid session
Season	Typically mid-August to the beginning of March; about 300 interviews a year
Decision	About four weeks after the interview

One conflict to note. SIU's interview page says the school will conduct interviews "via WebEx," with virtual sessions for the welcome, financial aid and library. The MSAR report says video interviews are available "when needed" but are "currently in-person." Go by your invitation, and plan for either.

Who SIU admits

The MD admissions page is explicit that applicants must be Illinois residents, except for MD/JD applicants, and U.S. citizens or permanent residents. It sets a minimum MCAT of 498 (no older than two years) and a minimum 2.80 cumulative and science GPA. Its stated mission is "helping the people of central and southern Illinois meet their health care needs." Selection for interview weighs academics, extracurricular involvement, employment and volunteer experience, and area of residence, "with preference given to central and southern Illinois residents and those from rural, inner-city, or disadvantaged backgrounds."

The timeline: AMCAS runs June 1 to November 15, supplemental applications are received through February 1 at 4:30 pm Central, and interviews run August through March. We didn't find Casper or PREview requirements on SIU's MD admissions pages.

What SIU says it is looking for

The interview page says the day is a chance "to gauge your identification with this institution's mission and goals." Before acceptance, the Admissions Committee looks beyond scholastic ability for:

Evidence of responsibility, maturity, integrity and compassion
Proper motivation
Identification with the goals of the school
Exploration of medicine as a career
Service orientation
Good interpersonal skills

Read that list as the rubric for both interviews. Each bullet is something you can answer with a story.

How to prepare for two faculty interviews with different files

Prepare for a deep and a shallow file. One interviewer has your whole application; the other has biography and supplemental essays only. For the second, your essays should be the core of your story, and you should be able to restate it briefly.
Know your supplemental essays word for word. Both interviewers have them, so expect to be asked about them.
Prepare an "identification with the mission" answer. Know what central and southern Illinois needs, such as access to care in rural and underserved communities, and connect it to something you have done.
Be ready to explain why exploration of medicine matters. SIU lists it. Name the experiences that tested your interest and what you learned.
Follow SIU's logistics tips. Never be late, dress professionally, prepare questions for interviewers, students and staff, and bring something to occupy any idle time.

SIU practice questions (written by us, not SIU)

SIU doesn't publish its questions. We wrote these around the criteria it lists. Keep each answer to about two minutes.

Why do you want to be a physician, and what have you done to explore medicine?
What do you know about the health care needs of central and southern Illinois?
Why SIU School of Medicine?
Tell me about a time you showed responsibility when it was hard.
Describe a situation that tested your integrity.
Tell me about an experience where you served others and what it taught you.
How would you build trust with a patient from a rural or underserved community?
Tell me about a time you had to work with someone whose style was very different from yours.
What is something in your supplemental essay you would explain differently now?
How do you handle a disagreement with a supervisor?

For a wider set, see our practice questions with answers guide.

A drill for two one-on-ones

Give a partner your full application and have them do a 30-minute interview that follows up on your activities.
Give a second partner only your name, a short biography and your supplemental essays. Have them interview you for 30 minutes.
Compare the two. In the second interview, did you restate the key facts clearly? In the first, did you go deeper without repeating?
Record the "identification with the mission" answer. Cut generalities and add one concrete example.
Practice a calm closing question: "What would you like to know about SIU's students or community?"

If you don't have a practice partner, Confetto's AI mock interviews ask follow-up questions based on what you actually said and give rubric-based feedback afterward. The question bank has over 500 questions, and you can start with a 7-day free trial.

SIU interview FAQ

Is the SIU interview an MMI?

No. SIU describes two one-on-one interviews with faculty members.

Is the SIU interview in person or virtual?

SIU's interview page describes WebEx sessions, while the MSAR report says "currently in-person." Check your invitation.

Do I need to be an Illinois resident?

SIU's MD admissions page says yes, except for applicants to the MD/JD program, which accepts out-of-state applicants.

Will both interviewers see my application?

No. One has your complete file; the other has basic biographical information and your supplemental essays.

How soon will I hear after interviewing?

SIU says to expect a decision about four weeks after the interview.

Applying to other Illinois schools too? See our guides to the University of Illinois College of Medicine, Rush Medical College and Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine interviews, or our medical school interview prep page.

Sources: SIU School of Medicine: Interview day, MD admissions, AAMC MSAR interview procedures (2027).

Confetto isn't affiliated with Southern Illinois University. Everything here about the school comes from its public admissions pages and the AAMC MSAR report, checked in October 2026. Formats can change between cycles, so go by your invitation email.