The Frist College of Medicine interview format

The Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine at Belmont University (FCoM), in Nashville, holds a virtual interview day with two interviews. Belmont's application page says the day "will include both a 30 minute traditional open file interview and a structured interview designed to learn more about your personal attributes." The AAMC's MSAR interview procedures report for the 2027 entering class adds detail: each interview lasts 30 minutes, and the rest of the session is designed for you to learn about the college and ask questions.

Item	What FCoM and the AAMC say
Interview 1	A traditional open-file interview with a faculty member or admissions committee member, about 30 minutes
Interview 2	A structured interview by a member of the FCoM community, with standard questions; the interviewer is blind to all application materials (MSAR). It "may feel similar to an MMI experience."
Virtual or in person	All interviews virtual
Preparation	Videos, links and other materials sent about a week before
Season	September through late February
Decision	Within four weeks of the interview, on a rolling basis

FCoM doesn't publish how many structured questions there are or what they cover. Because one interviewer knows your file and the other doesn't, expect the two conversations to feel different. The open-file interviewer can build on your essays and experiences; the blind interviewer needs everything from scratch.

FCoM's timeline for 2026-27

From the application page and its important dates:

AMCAS: due November 16, 2026.
Supplemental application: due December 16, 2026, with a $75 fee (AMCAS fee waivers accepted). Belmont encourages returning it within 10 days. Screening before the supplemental typically uses minimums of a 3.0 GPA and a 500 MCAT.
Interviews: begin in September 2026. The first interview decisions go out October 15, 2026.
Enrollment: there is no monetary seat deposit. Plan to Enroll is required by April 30, 2027 and Commit to Enroll by June 7, 2027.

On the AAMC PREview exam, Belmont says it is "optional" but encourages applicants to sit for it within a year of applying, and it plans to use results to study professional readiness against curricular outcomes. We didn't find a Casper requirement.

What FCoM says it values

The supplemental essays are the clearest view of what Belmont wants to hear. The 2026-27 prompts ask you to choose the school's most energizing value, among "We love learning," "Lead by serving," "Live with integrity," "Heal together in humility" and "Welcome difference." They ask how your spiritual experiences, faith or personal beliefs have influenced your decision to pursue medicine, since the curriculum "centers around a whole-person approach to healing in a community of service learning, inspired by the love and grace of Christ." And they ask for a time you "embraced ambiguity" while helping create a culture of growth and collaboration, because "as a newer medical school, our students will help shape a new culture."

FCoM's FAQ is clear that applicants of any faith are welcome and that there is no in-state requirement. Still, interviewers may ask about the values and about why a faith-informed, service-centered, new school fits you, so prepare an honest answer about your own beliefs, whatever they are.

How to prepare for an open-file and a blind interview

Prepare a deep interview and a from-scratch interview. For the open-file conversation, know your essays and be ready for follow-ups. For the blind interview, build a one-minute version of your story with a few key facts.
Pick your value. Choose one of the five values and prepare a specific story for it, since you've already written about one in the supplemental.
Prepare a faith-and-medicine answer that is true. You don't need to share a particular faith, but you should be able to talk about what shapes your sense of service and respect for patients.
Prepare an ambiguity story. Belmont's own essay prompt on ambiguity suggests it cares how you handle unfinished systems and unclear roles.
Prepare questions. The interview day is set up for you to ask. Bring real ones about the curriculum, the community partners and what building a new school feels like.

FCoM practice questions (written by us, not Belmont)

Belmont doesn't publish its questions. We wrote these around its values and supplemental prompts. Keep each answer to about two minutes.

Which of the school's values is most energizing to you, and what story shows it?
Tell me about a time you led by serving others.
How have your beliefs or values shaped your path to medicine?
Tell me about a time you worked in a situation with no clear structure.
What would you contribute to the culture of a new medical school?
Describe a time you acted with integrity when no one was watching.
Tell me about a time you worked humbly with someone who knew more than you.
How would you care for a patient whose beliefs are very different from yours?
What is something about you that isn't on your application?
What questions do you have for us about FCoM?

For a wider set, see our MMI practice questions with answers guide, since the structured interview may feel like one.

A drill for a mixed interview

Ask a partner to do a 30-minute open-file interview with your supplemental essays in hand. Ask them to question you about two of the essays.
Have a second partner do a 30-minute structured interview with no access to your application. Ask them to use five standard questions in the same order for everyone.
Compare the two. In the first you should be consistent with your essays; in the second you should be self-contained.
Record your answers to the value, ambiguity and faith questions. Cut anything you wouldn't say to a patient.
Practice asking two real questions at the end of each interview.

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.

FCoM interview FAQ

Is the FCoM interview an MMI?

Not exactly. It has two interviews: a traditional open-file interview and a structured, blind interview that the MSAR report says may feel like an MMI.

Is the FCoM interview virtual?

Yes. Belmont says all interviews are conducted virtually.

Do I need to be Christian to apply?

No. FCoM's FAQ says students of any faith background are encouraged to apply.

Do I need a connection to Tennessee?

No. FCoM's FAQ says it is a private school with no in-state or out-of-state requirements.

Is the PREview exam required?

Belmont describes it as optional but encouraged for 2026-27.

Applying to other Tennessee schools too? See our guides to the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College and University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine interviews, or our medical school interview prep page.

Sources: Frist College of Medicine: Application Process, Prerequisites and Requirements, Application FAQs, AAMC MSAR interview procedures (2027).

Confetto isn't affiliated with Belmont University or the Frist College of Medicine. 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.