Preparing for the UND School of Medicine interview

Residency preference at UND

UND SMHS says on its residency eligibility page that preference goes to North Dakota residents and those with strong ties, that it admits a small number of applicants from Minnesota, Montana and Wyoming, and that "in the past 3 cycles, no applicants outside of these preferences have matriculated." Strongest preference is given to applicants with a permanent North Dakota address who graduated from a North Dakota high school. Minnesota residents without ties to North Dakota or the Red River Valley "will not be considered for interview at this time."

UND timeline for 2026-27

From the same page: the AMCAS deadline is October 15, 2026, the secondary and all materials are due November 1, interview invitations are sent on a rolling basis from September through December, and interviews finish in January 2027. Applicants who meet certain selection criteria get acceptances on a rolling basis during interview season; all others are notified soon after interviews end in January. The MSAR report says invitations begin in October for North Dakota applicants and in November through December for everyone else. The minimum MCAT is 495 and accepted students average 506 to 508.

What UND says it values

UND describes its mission as serving rural and underserved communities and offers a RuralMed program with financial support in exchange for practicing in rural North Dakota. The page lists no interview rubric, so the best clue is the mission: rural health, service and a link to the state.

How to prepare for the UND SMHS interview

• Practice with three people at once. A scientist, a clinician and a student each ask questions; answer the person who asked, then include the others.
• Prepare a "why North Dakota or the region" answer. Your ties are what the school is screening on; know them and what you plan to do with them.
• Learn rural health basics. Distance to care, workforce shortages and telehealth are fair topics for a rural mission.
• Account for time zone and check-in. Be signed in 10 minutes early and ready to show photo ID on camera.
• Have a science story. One interviewer is a basic scientist, so be ready to explain research or a science concept simply.

UND SMHS practice questions (written by us, not the University of North Dakota)

UND does not publish its interview questions. We wrote these around its mission and format. Keep each answer to about two minutes.

1. Why do you want to be a physician?
2. Why UND, and what ties do you have to North Dakota or the region?
3. What do you think are the biggest challenges for health care in rural communities?
4. Tell me about a time you worked with someone very different from you.
5. Describe your most meaningful experience with a patient or community member.
6. Tell me about a research or science experience and explain it to me as if I were not a scientist.
7. How do you handle a disagreement with a teammate?
8. Describe a time you made a mistake and what you did about it.
9. How would you build trust with a patient who lives far from care?
10. What would you want your future patients in a small town to say about you?

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

A drill for a three-person virtual panel

1. Have three people interview you on a video call for 45 minutes: one plays the scientist, one the clinician, one the student.
2. Practice turning briefly to the other two interviewers when you finish an answer.
3. Record your "ties to the region" answer and cut anything that is not specific.
4. Explain one research or science project in two minutes without jargon.
5. Practice the check-in: have your photo ID ready and your camera framed.

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.

UND SMHS interview FAQ

Is the UND interview an MMI?

No. It is a single interview of 45 to 60 minutes with a three-person team.

Is it virtual?

Yes. UND says interviews are held virtually, and the MSAR report says over Zoom.

Who are the interviewers?

A basic scientist, a clinician and a medical student from the Medical Student Admissions Committee.

Do I have to be from North Dakota?

Preference is given to North Dakota residents and those with strong ties. UND says no one outside its preferences matriculated in the last three cycles.

When do I hear a decision?

Some are offered acceptance on a rolling basis during interviews; others are notified soon after interviews end in January 2027.

Applying to other Upper Midwest schools too? See our guides to the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, University of Nebraska College of Medicine and University of Minnesota Medical School interviews, or our medical school interview prep page.

Sources: UND how to apply, residency eligibility, why choose UND, AAMC MSAR interview procedures (2027).

Confetto isn't affiliated with the University of North Dakota. 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.