Preparing for the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health interview

Wisconsin's timeline

From Wisconsin's application process page:

• AMCAS opens in early May, and the last date to submit is October 1.
• The last date to submit the secondary application is November 1. You get a secondary if you meet the minimum MCAT (500) and GPA (3.0) requirements (with a limited post-baccalaureate exception) and are a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or have refugee, asylee or DACA status.
• After interviews there are three outcomes: accepted, alternate list (with a ranked position communicated in early May) or denied.
• The "Commit to Enroll" option opens April 30 in AMCAS.

The page notes that the admissions committee considers all MCAT scores you've earned. We didn't find Casper or PREview requirements on the MD admissions pages we checked.

What Wisconsin's committee looks for

Wisconsin's selection criteria page lists the factors. They are mission alignment, personal characteristics and competencies, Wisconsin residency, motivation to study and practice medicine, and academics. A few details shape how you should talk:

• Mission alignment. The committee "seeks applicants whose aspirations are consistent with the school's mission and who articulate how training at UW will further their goals."
• The AAMC competencies. UW looks for evidence of the AAMC's Premed Competencies, often shown through "non-medical experiences or jobs that contributed to personal development and that helped foster a strong work ethic."
• Wisconsin residency. As a public school guided by "the Wisconsin Idea," a majority of each class is Wisconsin residents, and non-resident admission is more competitive. The Wisconsin Academy for Rural Medicine (WARM) is limited to residents of Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois or Iowa.
• Motivation. The school asks for experiential knowledge of medicine: patient-facing work, shadowing, volunteering with underserved populations, scribing.

The school's mission is "advancing health and health equity through remarkable service to patients and communities, outstanding education, and innovative research." Its values are integrity and accountability, compassion, social impact and belonging, and excellence. Those are the words your answers should sound consistent with.

The ForWard Curriculum and what it means for your answers

Wisconsin's ForWard Curriculum replaces the usual two years of basic science followed by two years of clinical work with a three-phase model. Phase 1 covers the first three semesters in thematic blocks with early clinical experiences. Phase 2 is one year of clinical rotations in four 12-week thematic blocks. Phase 3 is the final 16 months for career exploration, acting internships and selectives.

The school points to a few features worth knowing before you answer "Why Wisconsin?":

• Small-group learning in Phase 1 called Patient-Centered Education (PaCE) Cases.
• Longitudinal coaching from teaching faculty to build professional skills.
• Team-based, interprofessional education.
• Public health and systems-based practice in clinical and community settings, which fits a school that calls itself "the nation's first integrated school of medicine and public health" on its MD admissions page.
• Earlier entry into clinical clerkships, and encouragement to consider research part of their training.

A specific answer connects one of these to something you've done: "I did my best learning in a small case-based group and want a school built around that" is stronger than "I like the curriculum."

Wisconsin practice questions (written by us, not Wisconsin)

Wisconsin doesn't publish its questions. We wrote these to reflect the criteria and values above. Practice them out loud, about two minutes each.

1. Why Wisconsin, and what is it about the School of Medicine and Public Health in particular?
2. Tell me about a time you worked on a health problem at the community level, not just one patient at a time.
3. What does "health equity" mean to you? Give an example from your own experience.
4. Describe a time you were part of a team where someone wasn't pulling their weight. What did you do?
5. What have you done that shows a strong work ethic, even outside medicine?
6. Tell me about a patient interaction that changed your idea of what a doctor does.
7. How would you serve a rural or underserved community as a physician? What would you need to learn?
8. Tell me about a mistake you made and what changed afterward.
9. Describe a time you were coached or mentored. How did you respond to hard feedback?
10. Tell me about a time you had to learn something outside your comfort zone, quickly.

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

A drill for a mixed interview

Wisconsin combines 30-minute one-on-ones with a small-group session. Practice both skills.

1. For the one-on-one, pick four questions and answer each in about two minutes on video. Two should be about teamwork or community, since the school stresses both.
2. Ask a partner to follow up with "Why did you make that choice?" and "What would you do differently?" on each.
3. For the group discussion, practice with two or three people. Give them a short hypothetical, such as how a clinic should allocate limited appointment slots. Take turns. The skill is building on others' points and including quiet voices, not winning.
4. Watch the recording and count the times you talked over someone or said "I" where "we" was honest.
5. Repeat two days later with new questions.

If you don't have a practice group, 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.

Wisconsin interview FAQ

Is the Wisconsin interview an MMI?

No. The AAMC MSAR entry describes 30-minute one-on-one interviews with faculty and alumni, plus a small-group discussion.

Is the Wisconsin interview virtual?

Yes. The MSAR entry for the 2027 entering class says interviews are virtual, via Zoom.

How many interviews will I have?

Wisconsin doesn't publish a number, and components differ for Regular MD, Rural MD and MSTP applicants. Your agenda arrives with the invitation.

Is Wisconsin harder for out-of-state applicants?

Wisconsin says a majority of each class is Wisconsin residents and that non-resident admission is more competitive.

When are decisions released?

After interviews the outcomes are accepted, alternate list or denied. Wisconsin says alternate list positions are communicated in early May.

Applying to other Midwest schools too? See our guides to the Medical College of Wisconsin, University of Minnesota and Iowa Carver interviews, or our medical school interview prep page.

Sources: UW SMPH MD application process, Premedical requirements and selection criteria, ForWard Curriculum, Mission, vision and values, AAMC MSAR interview procedures (2027).

Confetto isn't affiliated with the University of Wisconsin. 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.