Medical School Interview Resources Plus Getting to Know the CASPer Test, AAMC PREVIEW and MMI

Interviews are a very important part of the application process. If you get an interview, it means that all of your hard work and writing has paid off and now they want to meet you to determine if you are a good 'fit' for their school.

Below are links to help you prepare for the types of questions you might be asked and also the format used during an interview: traditional, one on one, group interviews or MMIs.

Prior to your actual ‘virtual’ medical school interview, you may be asked to take a series of recorded tests such as the Casper test or the AAMC PREview. Although Casper has been around a while, the AAMC PREview (formerly known as the AAMC Situational Judgement Test) is rather new and we still have not seen the data on how the medicals schools are using it. But don’t worry too much. You are going to prepare for all of these in same way. Relax and be yourself!

handx-ray-1704855_1920.jpg

All medical school interviews in the 2021 cycle were conducted virtually. This format did pose challenges for both students and medical schools because meeting someone in person is far different than seeing them on a zoom interview. The one main benefit of the virtual interview format was cost. It was completely free to students. No airline tickets to buy. No hotel rooms to book. Students could also participate in all interviews where they were invited. This was a huge bonus and cannot be overlooked! In the spring of 2021, many schools did offer in-person second look weekends for admitted students so at least students had the opportunity to visit schools where they were accepted.

For the 2022 interview cycle, it was a mixed bag of mostly virtual interviews with a few schools giving students the option of in-person or a virtual interview and another handful offering only in person interviews with a few exceptions. Welcome to the uncertain world of a pandemic! The 2023 cycle will most likely keep the virtual interview format with a few schools opting for some in-person events. Check out this summary of interview procedures compiled by the AAMC for the 2023 cycle.

Understanding the ALTUS Suite: CASPer Test, DUET & SNAPSHOT

The Casper test (Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics) is a situational judgment test (SJT) designed to evaluate key personal characteristics such as professionalism, ethics, motivation, resilience, collaboration, empathy and communication. The test reminds me of the types of scenarios you will find in your MMIs. Answers are either writtne out or video recorded. Many schools require you to take the $12 test when you get a secondary application. It will take you about 100-120 min.

Many schools require you to take the $12 test when you get a secondary application. For the 2023 cycle, there will be 15 Casper scenarios (up from 12 last year) and it will take you 100-120 min to complete the test.

The Casper test contains 15 scenarios in total: 

Section 1 includes 9 scenarios where you TYPE your answers: 

  • 3 scenarios: READ a scenario then you have 5 min. to TYPE out the answer to 3 questions

  • 6 scenarios: LISTEN to the scenario then you have 5 min. to TYPE out the answer to 3 questions

Section 2 includes 6 scenarios where you VIDEO record your answers:

  • 2 scenarios: READ a scenario then you have 1 min. to VIDEO RECORD your answer to EACH of the 3 questions (so 3 min. in total)

  • 4 scenarios: LISTEN to a scenario then you have 1 min. to VIDEO RECORD your answer to EACH of the 3 questions (so 3 min. in total)

You will never know your ‘score’ on the test, but you will know your quartile. Schools receive scores not your written or video responses. Each of your entries are read and rated by different reviewers to weed out any bias. You cannot re-take the test in a given cycle. Once you pay the $12 fee to Casper, then you need to pay an additional $12 to release the score you each school. Over 60 schools now require Casper, but check out the Casper website for a complete list. The results of the test will be available to the schools in three weeks.

According to the Casper website: “Situational judgment tests (SJTs) are a type of psychological test which presents the test-taker with realistic, hypothetical scenarios and may ask the individual what they would do in the dilemma and why they would do it.”

“Situational judgment tests tend to determine behavioral tendencies, assessing how an individual will behave in a certain situation, and knowledge instruction, which evaluates the effectiveness of possible responses.”

Check out the Casper website site for sample questions and videos on what to expect. Technically you can’t really study for the test, but you can prepare by reviewing ethical case studies (see Santa Clara and UW links below), stay up on current events in medicine, practice writing concise answers making sure you cover all the questions/points asked and finally practice answering questions out loud then review for accuracy. The SAVVY Premed has two very good podcasts on the Casper test, dated May 15, 2020 and May 29, 2020. They provide great tips on how to prepare for the test, structure your entires, and practice your timing so check them out!

There are three parts to the Altus Suite of tests:

  1. The Casper Test is a situational judgment test that consists of 15 scenarios. Duration: 100-120 min. They present hypothetical situations and they see how you solve the problem.

  2. Duet is a value-alignment assessment and claims to assess if you “possess suitable personal and professional qualities that make them more likely to succeed in the profession.” You do not have to sit this part at the exact same time as the Casper. You can actually take it up to 10 days after the Casper. Duration: 10-15 min.

  3. Snapshot is a three question, one way interview tool that claims to assess your communication skills. You do not have to sit this part at the exact same time as the Casper. You can actually take it up to 10 days after the Casper. Duration: 10-15 min.

    Over 60 schools require the Casper test, but only a handful also want the Duet or Snapshot so check each school website for specifics. For example, the University of Colorado and the University of Illinois both require the Casper, Duet and Snapshot.

Helpful CASPer Links

Understanding the New AAMC PREVIEW Professional readiness Exam (Formerly Known as the AAMC Situational Judgment Test)

The AAMC PREview is a professional readiness exam used by 18 schools. To see a full list of schools, click here.

For the 2023 application cycle, the AAMC SJT changed it’s name to the AAMC PREview Professional Readiness exam. New name, same test. The flat fee will be $100. The test will be administered 10 times between June - September and will be proctored by a live, remote human proctor. There are 5 test date windows so make sure you plan ahead. There are 18 schools that either recommmend or require the test.

The goal is to assess and score the pre-professional competencies highlighted in the AAMC Core Competencies for Entering Medical Students. Including all administrative sections, the test will take 90-100 min. to complete with the actual test taking 75 min. The test is scored on a 1-9 scale with 9 being the highest. Scores are released about 4 weeks after the test date (see the website for specific release dates) so plan ahead. The test contains 30 scenarios with 186 responses. This is a closed format test with no written responses. Students select between 4 different responses: very effective, effective, ineffective, very ineffective.

For more information about the AAMC PREview, refer to the AAMC page on PREview.

For PREview sample questions, Preparation Guide, Practice Exam Booklet, and Full length exam click here.

Be ‘Present’ During Not Only the Interview, but During the Interview Preparation

Be Present: When demands and distractions intrude on your patient encounters, practice these tips for being fully present. Fam Pract Manag. 2016 Jan-Feb;23(1):8-9. Although this article was published in 2016, I am reminded of the lessons we can all learn about being ‘present’ in a conversation and not distracted. Like all things it takes practice to master this skill. “Being present is a habit you will have to cultivate until it becomes more routine. The good news is that practicing presence can be energizing. Being fully engaged and present with a patient is a much more rewarding way to practice medicine than the alternative. It can restore health and provide healing not only for the patient but for you as well.” I think this advice is transferrable and can apply to any situation, conversation or relationship.

During any interview, you need to be actively engaged in the moment, not distracted by what you didn’t say in the previous conversation or what you left out in the last MMI. This takes practice. Let the person you are currently talking to feel like they are the most important person in the world.

Even though it’s a virtual interview, dress professional, head to toe. You never know when you might need to stand up and walk across the room while answering a question or role playing a scenario. Always be prepared. Check out this article (Dated May 14, 2020) for tips, suggestions, format and preparation.

Kira Talent Test

Like Casper, Kira Talent is another online platform (designed by the Canadians) to assess your professional competencies. It’s popular with professional business schools and a few vet schools use this platform, but no med schools. It includes 2-6 questions (short video and writing). Just so you know, spelling and grammar count on the Kira and the length of each scenario/questions can vary since each school can tailor the length to fit their school specifications.

MMI Resources (Multiple Mini Interviews)

Multiple Mini Interviews are just what the title suggests. Instead of one or two longer interviews with just one or two individuals that could invite bias, applicants are placed in multiple (6-10) smaller stations on a timed circuit of about 6-10 minutes at each stop. Think…speed dating. The virtual MMIs seems to more on the 6 min. cycle whereas in the in person MMI were more on the 8-10 min. cycle. Stations can include tasks, interviews or scenarios that test for the most part your analytical and communication skills. Since the applicant interacts with many different people in multiple scenarios, schools can elicit various opinions and observations from the day. If a student feels they performed weak on one station they might excel at the next.  Below are some resources to better understand the format of MMIs and subsequently how to prepare for these interviews. To learn the basics of MMIs, read the AAMC description of MMIs. Medical school will still use the MMI format in the virtual interviews by moving you into breakout rooms on a circuit. Remember to smile and engage with each interviewer using more animated facial expressions…not too animated but realize it’s harder to see emotion and enthusiasm via zoom.

Helpful MMI Links

Medical Interview Questions & Resources

Vet School Interview