· 5 min read
What Happens on Medical School Interview Day
A sample medical school interview day schedule from seven schools' pages: welcome, interviews or MMI, student lunch, tour, virtual vs in person, what to bring.
A medical school interview day usually runs from about 2 hours (virtual) to most of a day (on campus). Admissions welcomes you, gives talks on the school and financial aid, and then come your interviews or MMI. Time with current students, often over lunch, and a tour fill the rest. The interviews are the part schools describe scoring.
A sample interview day schedule
Built from seven schools' own interview day pages, read October 19, 2026. Your invitation has your school's exact times, and the order varies. South Carolina frames the day as two-way: “This is a day to determine whether you and the Floyd School of Medicine are a good match.”
| Part of the day | What schools describe |
|---|---|
| Welcome | Admissions opens the day. Western COMP starts with a welcome from the Dean, and South Carolina with introductions from its admissions office. |
| Admissions and financial aid talks | Iowa opens with an orientation that includes financial aid. Brown and Western COMP also give a financial aid session. |
| Interviews or MMI | The core of the day. From one 25 minute interview with two faculty at Iowa to five MMI stations at Arizona Phoenix and three half-hour interviews at KCOM. |
| Time with students | A student Q&A, panel or lunch. Iowa's student ambassadors host lunch, Phoenix has students at lunch, and South Carolina runs a 40 minute student Q&A. |
| Tour | On campus, students often lead it (Iowa, KCOM). Virtual days use a virtual tour (Brown) or a self-guided one (WashU). |
| Curriculum or a sample class | Iowa runs a case-based learning exercise with fourth-year students. KCOM and Western COMP's on-campus day include an osteopathic manipulation demonstration. |
| Wrap-up | A closing session with admissions, as at South Carolina, then you are done for the day. |
| Second look (later) | Some schools invite admitted applicants back. WashU plans optional visit days in spring 2027 for those offered admission. |
What seven schools' interview day pages say
Five MD and two DO schools, each linked to our guide for it. Under each name: degree and format or length.
| School | Its interview day page says |
|---|---|
| South Carolina (Columbia)MD, virtual, about 2 hours | Zoom, 12:30 to about 2:30 p.m. Eastern. Admissions introductions and a 40 minute Q&A with student ambassadors, then one 45 minute interview with two committee members and a wrap-up. Source |
| BrownMD, virtual | A group session on admissions, financial aid and the school with a virtual tour, a session with current students, then two half-hour meetings with voting committee members. Source |
| WashUMD, virtual | Two live 25 minute Zoom interviews the same day, one with your full file and one closed file. That week, a talk with admissions leaders, a student discussion and a self-guided virtual tour. Source |
| Iowa (Carver)MD, virtual or in person | An orientation with financial aid, a 25 minute interview with two faculty, a student-hosted lunch and tour, and a case-based learning exercise led by fourth-year students. Source |
| Arizona PhoenixMD, MMI, 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. | Curriculum talks, a tour of the simulation center, students in the morning and at lunch, and five MMI stations: 2 minutes to read, then a 7 minute conversation. Source |
| Western COMPDO, online about 4 hours, campus about 6 | Dean's welcome, presentations including financial aid, and a 30 minute interview. The MMI is two 5 minute standardized patient encounters, on another day that week if you interview online. Source |
| KCOM (A.T. Still)DO, morning or afternoon group | Three half-hour interviews: a basic science faculty member, a clinician and admissions. Lunch, a manipulation demo and a campus tour with students, plus a curriculum talk. Source |
Virtual vs in-person days
South Carolina, Brown and WashU describe virtual days only. WashU says “No in-person interviews are being scheduled for the 2026-27 cycle.” A virtual day can be shorter. Western COMP's online day lasts about 4 hours and its campus day about 6, and it chooses “with absolutely no preference by the Admissions Committee”. Iowa says “The only difference between a virtual and in person interview day is we do not serve lunch”, and that “Interview format will not be disclosed to our committee and will not factor into admissions decisions.”
At Western COMP, a Zoom day moves you from a main session to a breakout room for the interview. Our virtual MMI tips cover the setup. Some schools that interview online invite admitted applicants to campus later. WashU says “The Office of Admissions will be organizing optional visit days in spring 2027 for applicants who are offered admission.”
What is evaluated and what is not
The interviews are what the committee scores. Arizona Phoenix says “For each prompt the applicant will be scored on a scale of 1 to 5 in four general areas”, five stations in all. You do not need medical knowledge. Phoenix says “No prior medical knowledge is required for any of the stations.” Western COMP says of its MMI, “Your knowledge of medicine will not be evaluated.”
Some interviewers know little about you. At Iowa, “The interviewers do not have access to your academic record, MCAT score(s), or any part of your AMCAS application.” WashU pairs one open file interview with one closed file interview. The day is also the school selling itself. One aim South Carolina lists for the day: “To recruit competitive applicants to the Floyd School of Medicine.”
On the parts around the interviews, schools say less. WashU says of its optional student and info sessions, “Attendance at these sessions is optional and does not impact final admissions decisions.” None of the seven pages says the student lunch is scored, and none says it is not, so be yourself there and ask what you really want to know.
What to bring and do
Photo ID
Western COMP asks for a valid ID at check-in. Its policy requires a government-issued ID for every admissions interview.
Questions for your interviewers
Western COMP says interviewers give you time to ask questions at the end. South Carolina also leaves time for them. Have two or three ready that you cannot answer from the website.
A pen and notepad
Western COMP suggests one for both online and on-campus days. Jot names and details you want to mention in a thank-you note.
Comfortable shoes and the right coat
Iowa suggests comfortable shoes for the tour, and boots and warm coats for winter interviews.
A tested setup for a virtual day
Western COMP asks you to check your camera, microphone and internet speed, place the camera at eye level, and use a private, quiet, well-lit room.
A plan to arrive early
For campus days, Western COMP suggests printing directions and arriving early for parking and check-in, and plans for 6 to 7 hours on campus.
Bring good questions. Our list of questions to ask at a medical school interview helps, and our guide on what to wear covers campus and Zoom. Western COMP keeps its list simple: “Please bring a valid ID for check-in.” “Have a few questions ready for the interviewers.” Iowa adds “We also suggest wearing comfortable shoes for the tour.”
If your day is tomorrow, use the night-before plan. If it is weeks away, start with how to prepare for medical school interviews and practice your answers out loud in the format your school uses.
Sources: the interview day and admissions pages of South Carolina Floyd School of Medicine, Brown, WashU, Iowa Carver, Arizona Phoenix, Western COMP and KCOM. All checked October 19, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What happens on a medical school interview day?
Most days follow the same shape: a welcome from admissions, talks on the school and financial aid, your interviews or MMI, time with current students, and a tour. Iowa, for example, adds a case-based learning exercise led by fourth-year students.
How long is a medical school interview day?
From about 2 hours to a full day. South Carolina's virtual day runs 12:30 to about 2:30 p.m. Eastern, Western COMP's online day about 4 hours and its campus day about 6, and Arizona Phoenix runs 7:30 a.m. to about 2:30 p.m.
Is the student lunch part of the evaluation?
None of the seven pages here says lunch is scored, or that it is not. WashU does say its optional student sessions do not affect decisions. Be yourself, and treat every conversation as part of the day.
Is a virtual interview day different from an in-person one?
Mostly in logistics. Iowa says the only difference is that lunch is not served on virtual days, and that the format is not shared with its committee. Western COMP says it has no preference between its online and campus options. Tips for virtual MMI and Zoom interviews.
What should I bring to a medical school interview day?
A photo ID, a few questions for your interviewers, a pen and notepad, and comfortable shoes for the tour. For a virtual day, test your camera, microphone and connection beforehand. What to wear to a medical school interview.