The UT Tyler School of Medicine interview format

The University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine uses two interview types on one day. Its admissions page says "Interview day involves two distinct interview types: multiple mini-interviews and a group exercise," and that UT Tyler "conducts interviews in person whenever possible." The AAMC's MSAR report for the 2027 class says all interviews are face-to-face on campus, invitations go out in June 2026, and video interviews are not available.

Its FAQ (worded for the 2025-26 cycle) explains the two parts. The MMI is designed to measure competencies like oral communication, social and nonverbal skills, and teamwork. In the group activity, candidates "work together to complete a challenge" and are evaluated on communication, teamwork, problem solving and resiliency.

Item	What UT Tyler and the AAMC say
Format	Multiple mini-interviews plus a group exercise on one interview day
Setting	In person at UT Tyler SOM; MSAR: face-to-face, no video interview
Number and length of stations	Not published
Application route	TMDSAS only; primary deadline October 1, 2026
Casper	Required; complete by November 12, 2026
Supplemental deadline	November 13, 2026 (Casper and Duet scores are part of a complete application per the FAQ)

Who UT Tyler selects for interview

The FAQ says interview consideration includes a review of your primary application, secondary application, letters of recommendation, Casper and Duet scores, and prerequisite courses, and that the committee will review only the complete application. A minimum of three letters or one Health Professions Committee letter is required. The MCAT minimum is 492 using the confidence cut-off, and the school wants a minimum 3.0 in the last 30 hours of BCPM courses.

East Texas mission

The school describes its mission as improving the quality of life in East Texas. The secondary application asks you to select your connection to East Texas (direct ties, indirect ties, ties to a similar rural region, or no ties) and explain it in 500 words, and to say in 500 words why you are interested in UT Tyler after reviewing its mission and vision. Interviewers may build on these answers, though the school does not say so.

How to prepare for the UT Tyler interview

Prepare for both parts. A circuit of timed stations and a team challenge test different skills; practice each.
In the group exercise, aim to help the team finish. The school evaluates communication, teamwork, problem solving and resiliency, not who talks most.
Know your East Texas answer. Whether your ties are direct, indirect or rural, tell a concrete story.
Plan to travel. The format is in person, so confirm dates and logistics when you get your invitation.
Know the Casper connection. Casper is part of the screen, so the same situational judgment habits (empathy, ethics, collaboration) carry into the MMI.

UT Tyler practice questions (written by us, not the University of Texas at Tyler)

UT Tyler does not publish its stations. We wrote these around the competencies it names. Keep each answer to about two minutes.

Why do you want to practice in an underserved or rural community?
What do you know about the health care needs of East Texas?
A patient does not follow your treatment plan. How do you respond?
You notice a teammate struggling and your group is running out of time. What do you do?
Describe a time you had to resolve a conflict with someone you worked with.
A colleague asks you to cover for a minor mistake. What do you do?
Tell me about a time you had to adapt quickly when plans changed.
How would you explain a procedure to a patient with limited health literacy?
Describe a time you led without a title.
What does resilience mean to you, and when have you shown it?

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

A drill for an MMI circuit and a group challenge

Run six timed stations of 6 to 8 minutes with a partner reading prompts; record two.
Run a group challenge with three or four people, such as building a tower from household items in 15 minutes, and ask them to rate your communication and teamwork.
After each, note one thing you would do differently to help the group.
Record the East Texas answer; cut it to 90 seconds.
Practice a quick reset between stations: breathe, forget the last one.

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.

UT Tyler interview FAQ

Is the UT Tyler interview an MMI?

It includes MMI stations and also a group exercise on the same day.

Is it in person?

Yes. UT Tyler says in person whenever possible, and MSAR says face-to-face on campus with no video interview.

Does UT Tyler require Casper?

Yes. The admissions page lists the Casper test with a November 12, 2026 deadline.

How do I apply?

Through TMDSAS; the primary application is due October 1, 2026.

Do I need East Texas ties?

The secondary asks about your connection to East Texas, but the pages do not say it is a requirement.

Applying to other Texas schools too? See our guides to the Texas Tech Foster School of Medicine (El Paso), University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine and UT Southwestern Medical School interviews, or our medical school interview prep page.

Sources: UT Tyler School of Medicine admissions, admissions FAQ, AAMC MSAR interview procedures (2027).

Confetto isn't affiliated with the University of Texas at Tyler. 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.