UC Davis MMI Guide: How to Prepare for Your UC Davis School of Medicine Interview

Understanding the UC Davis MMI Format: Logistics and Expectations

The Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) is a distinct departure from the traditional panel interview. While a panel interview focuses on a long, deep dive into your history, the MMI is a series of short, independent assessments. At UC Davis, this format serves as a robust tool for admissions to evaluate candidates across a diverse set of competencies in a relatively short period. If you want guided practice before your interview, our MMI interview course walks you through every major station type.

Please double check the interview invite and the medical school\’s official website for the latest information about the medical school interview.

What UC Davis Officially Says About the Interview

Start with what is published. The school’s How to Apply page states that the School of Medicine “uses a Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format to assess experiences and attributes relevant to a career in medicine.” It adds four details: the MMI is a closed-file (blinded) interview, interviews are typically held from mid-August through early April, interviews are conducted virtually, and they are typically held on Mondays and Fridays. Interviews are by invitation only.

The AAMC’s MSAR Interview Procedures report for the 2027 admissions cycle lists UC Davis’s interview format as “Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI),” with interview invitations sent starting in July. It describes an interview day that consists of an orientation, the multiple mini interview, and a session with medical students, and it confirms that all interviews for the cycle will be on a virtual platform. Regional interviews are not offered.

What UC Davis does not publish is just as important. The number of stations, the length of each station, the length of the reading period, the order of the day, and the specific video platform are not listed on the school’s admissions pages or in the MSAR entry. Your invitation will confirm those details, and it is the only source you should plan around.

At a Glance: The UC Davis Interview Cycle

According to the official Admissions Timeline and How to Apply page:

• May: The primary application through the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) opens May 1; the earliest submission date is May 26.
• July onward: Secondary invitations go out on a rolling basis starting in July and continue through December 31. The secondary is due 30 days after you receive it.
• September 30: Last date for MCAT scores and for the AAMC PREview exam, which is one of the school’s pre-medical requirements.
• October 1: AMCAS deadline (11:59 p.m. EST / 8:59 p.m. PST).
• Late August to early April: Virtual interviews, typically on Mondays and Fridays.
• October 15 to July 15: Rolling acceptances. Decisions typically come within 30 to 45 days after your interview.
• May 1 to July 15: Waitlist decisions.
• April: A Spring Visit (second look) for accepted students.

The Anatomy of a UC Davis Multiple Mini Interview

The MMI at UC Davis is structured as a series of stations, each designed to elicit a specific type of response. You will rotate through several stations, and each station is independent, meaning a poor performance in one station does not inherently doom your overall candidacy. Because UC Davis runs a closed-file (blinded) MMI, your raters have not seen your application, allowing them to focus entirely on your immediate performance and your ability to reason through the prompt provided. This is your chance to shine in real time, focusing on your communication skills, empathy, and logic rather than simply reciting achievements already listed in your AMCAS submission.

In a 2025 UC Davis Health feature, a longtime School of Medicine vice dean explained the school’s view: the MMI “is more reliable than traditional interviews” and is designed to assess “traits like resilience, adaptability, teamwork and conflict resolution.” The same feature describes the MMI as functioning like “a series of situational judgment tests, often using standardized actors to simulate real-world challenges.” In other words, expect scenarios, not trivia.

Virtual Interviews: Preparing for a Remote UC Davis MMI Interview

UC Davis states that its interviews are conducted virtually, and the MSAR entry confirms a virtual platform for the 2027 cycle. While you will not be walking the hallways of the Sacramento campus on interview day, you must maintain a professional presence. Ensure your technology is reliable, your background is neutral, and your lighting is adequate. Even in a remote setting, remember that your raters are observing your non-verbal cues. Look at the camera when you speak, practice active listening, and present yourself with the same level of polish you would bring to an in-person meeting with the admissions office.

If you want to see the campus before or after your interview, the school offers several options on its campus tours page: a five-minute video tour, virtual information sessions on Zoom with admissions staff and a medical student panel, and a self-guided audio walking tour for anyone visiting Sacramento. None of these is part of the interview.

Station Breakdown: Timing, Duration, and the “Reading Period”

Time management is a critical skill for MMI success. UC Davis does not publish its station timing or the full interview format, so treat any specific number you read online with caution. As a general reference, the AAMC describes a typical MMI as 6 to 10 stations, each with a two-minute prep period followed by a conversation of five to eight minutes, over a period of nearly two hours. Your invitation will confirm the exact timing for the UC Davis MMI. For comparison, see our guides to the Stanford MMI and the UCR MMI.

Whatever the clock says, use your reading time strategically. Do not just skim the text; deconstruct it. Identify the core ethical dilemma, the characters involved, and the specific question being asked. Once the station begins, address the prompt immediately rather than providing a lengthy preamble. Be concise, and save the final minute for a thoughtful summary or a concluding reflection.

Decoding the UC Davis Mission: Aligning Your Values with the School

UC Davis is not just looking for top-tier test scores; they are looking for future physicians committed to their patients and communities. The school describes itself as “a distinctive place with a deep commitment to improving the health of our communities,” and its pathway programs aim to strengthen California’s physician workforce in rural and medically under-resourced areas. Your ability to integrate this mission into your MMI responses can help distinguish you from other candidates.

What UC Davis Evaluates: Competencies, Experiences, and Attributes

The How to Apply page lists exactly what the Admissions Committee looks for in its holistic review. Core competencies include patient care, medical knowledge, communication and interpersonal skills, professionalism, systems-based practice, and lifelong learning. Listed attributes include resilience, motivation for a medical career, intellectual curiosity, communication skills (including listening and empathy), critical thinking and problem solving, professional responsibility and accountability, values and ethical beliefs, altruism and compassion, appreciation for diverse perspectives, the ability to work in inter-professional teams, and honesty and integrity.

Read that list as a map of the interview: a station about a frustrated patient tests empathy and communication, while a teammate who cuts corners tests honesty and accountability. The school also requires the AAMC PREview exam, a situational judgment test of pre-professional competencies, and uses it instead of CASPer. The PREview and the MMI measure overlapping qualities, so the habits you build for one help with the other.

The Pillars of UC Davis Health: Community Health and Patient-Centered Care

When approaching any ethical or behavioral question, filter your thoughts through the patient in front of you and the community they come from. If asked about a scenario involving resource allocation or a difficult patient interaction, your response should show that you understand the practical obstacles patients face. How do the social determinants of health affect the patient’s choices? How can you, as a future physician, help that patient get the care they need? By consistently grounding your answers in these themes, without forcing them, you signal that you share the values that guide the UC Davis School of Medicine community. The school’s research programs reflect the same priority: the Associate Dean of Admissions highlights the Center for Reducing Health Disparities alongside the MIND Institute and the NIH-funded Clinical and Translational Science Center.

PRIME Programs and Rural Health: Understanding California’s Patient Population

UC Davis serves a vast, diverse region, including rural and underserved urban communities. Its Community Health Scholars pathways are a cornerstone of this outreach. Rural PRIME, established in 2007, is part of the University of California’s PRIME (Programs in Medical Education) initiative and includes 20 or more weeks of core clerkships in rural communities. The school also offers Tribal Health PRIME, REACH (focused on the Central Valley), TEACH-MS (urban under-resourced communities), and PRIME Central Coast, a partnership with UC Santa Cruz for students committed to primary care in underserved Central Coast communities.

Even if you are not applying to a specific pathway, demonstrating an awareness of the unique challenges faced by patients in rural California, such as limited access to specialized care or transportation issues, will strengthen your answers. UC Davis notes that although nearly 20% of Californians live in rural areas, only about 9% of physicians practice there. Rural health is a real workforce problem, not an abstract talking point. Your responses should reflect a commitment to meeting patients where they are, acknowledging that quality care is not one-size-fits-all. For timed drills and feedback on these station types, consider a structured MMI prep course.

Clerkships, Continuity, and Community Partnerships

The traditional four-year MD program follows the I-EXPLORE curriculum, and its clerkship year is built around six required six-week clerkships (family and community medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, psychiatry, and surgery), plus intersession weeks and a selective. The longitudinal integrated clerkship is found in UC Davis’s three-year accelerated pathways (ACE-PC, ACE-Psych, and their rural versions, which recruit students from rural Northern California), where students spend the third year in a longitudinal integrated clerkship that builds continuity with patients and preceptors across several specialties at once. The school notes that a longitudinal integrated clerkship prepares students as effectively as traditional rotations while strengthening patient-centered care. If continuity of care excites you, say so, but know which pathway offers the longitudinal integrated clerkship.

Your experience with community partnerships and longitudinal engagement is a strong indicator that you understand the value of continuity in health care. UC Davis describes its community partnerships as “mission-driven collaborations to improve everyone’s health” across the Sacramento region, and its medical students train at UC Davis Medical Center, a teaching hospital that includes inland California’s only Level 1 trauma center.

Why Student-Run Clinics and Outreach Experiences Matter

The UC Davis School of Medicine has a long tradition of service. Its student-run clinics have provided free care for more than 50 years to uninsured, low-income, and under-resourced communities throughout Sacramento. The school lists eight affiliated student-run clinics, among them Clinica Tepati, the Paul Hom Asian Clinic, the Imani Clinic, the Shifa Clinic, and the Willow Clinic for people experiencing homelessness, plus several partner clinics. The admissions overview also mentions several international rotations and tailored research opportunities. Applicants preparing for several interviews may also want to read about the UCSD MMI and the Kaiser MMI.

Discussing your previous outreach experiences or clinical settings, even if not at UC Davis, shows that you are ready to contribute to this culture of service from day one. Because the MMI is closed-file, though, your raters will not know about those experiences unless a station invites you to share them. When a prompt opens that door, connect your past service to the kind of physician you want to become.

How to Prepare for the UC Davis MMI

Preparation is the final piece of the puzzle. Do not practice to memorize scripts; practice to become comfortable with the format and your own core values.

How to Use Practice Scenarios and Mock Interviews

Use mock scenarios to test your timing and your ability to pivot. There are numerous online resources, but be discerning. Focus on scenarios that test ethical reasoning rather than just medical knowledge. Record yourself responding to prompts on the same device you’ll use on interview day, and analyze your performance. Do you sound rushed? Are you using filler words? Is your message clear and consistent with your goals? The AAMC recommends practicing aloud in a timed environment and finding someone who can give you honest feedback.

Quick Prep Tips for the Week Before Your UC Davis MMI Interview

• Reread the How to Apply page and the attributes UC Davis lists.
• Do two to three timed mock stations a day, mixing ethical, behavioral, and policy interview questions.
• Test your camera, microphone, lighting, and internet connection, and have a backup device ready.
• Prepare five or six short stories (teamwork, failure, conflict, leadership, service, a time you changed your mind) you can adapt to many prompts.
• Prepare one or two genuine questions for the session with medical students.
• Check your email, including spam folders, for messages from the admissions office, and save questions about cost or financial aid for the right session.

Analyzing Interview Reports and Student Feedback Summaries

While every applicant’s experience is unique, reading interview reports and student reports from past applicants can provide a general sense of the tone and complexity of the questions asked. Treat them with care: they are unofficial and may describe older in-person formats. Look for patterns in what successful candidates say about their UC Davis MMI interview, usually empathy, logical reasoning, and a clear commitment to service. Use them to refine your approach, not to predict exact questions.

After the Interview: Decisions and Updates

After your interview, your application goes to the Admissions Committee, which reviews your entire file, including experiences, attributes, and metrics. According to the school’s applicant handbook, decisions are made within 30 to 45 days after the interview, all decisions are final, and UC Davis has a no-feedback policy, so do not expect an individual interview feedback summary. The school also does not accept application updates after submission, with exceptions considered case by case for major changes such as a change in citizenship status or a nationally recognized award. Acceptances are released from October 15 to July 15, and waitlist decisions from May 1 to July 15.

• Prepare questions for the session with medical students.
• Practice flexible station timing, since UC Davis does not publish it.

Ahead of your UC Davis virtual interview day, a structured MMI course can help you practice without knowing the exact timing.

Mastering the Core Station Types: UC Davis MMI Questions

Not all MMI stations are the same. UC Davis does not publish its prompts, and stations change from year to year, but understanding the common station types allows you to structure your thoughts effectively. Whether you are dealing with a complex ethical dilemma or a team-based task, the goal is to show your raters your analytical process. The interview questions below are categories, not leaked prompts.

Scenario-Based Stations: Navigating Ethical Dilemmas

Ethical stations are the hallmark of the MMI, and scenario-based interviews are what the school means when it describes the MMI as a series of situational judgment tests. You will be given a scenario, perhaps a conflict between patient autonomy and provider recommendations or a question of resource allocation, and asked how you would proceed. The “correct” answer is rarely binary. The committee is looking for your ability to see multiple perspectives. Start by acknowledging the various stakeholders, identify the core ethical principles (beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy, justice), and offer a balanced, reasoned approach.

Behavioral Stations: Reflecting on Your Experience and Actions

Behavioral questions ask you to look back at your history. “Tell me about a time you failed,” or “Describe a situation where you had to lead a team.” These are not just anecdotes; they are evidence of your development. Avoid bragging. Instead, focus on what you learned. If you discuss a failure, describe how you mitigated the impact, what you gleaned from the experience, and how that lesson has since informed your professional behavior. Because your rater has not read your file, give enough context in one or two sentences for the story to make sense.

Role-Play and Collaboration Stations: Testing Teamwork in a Clinical Context

UC Davis says its MMI often uses standardized actors to simulate real-world challenges, so be ready for a station where you speak with an actor playing a patient, family member, or colleague. In some MMI formats, you may also be asked to complete a task with another person. This is a test of your communication, patience, and ability to facilitate consensus. The evaluator is not necessarily looking for the correct result of the task, but for the quality of your interaction. Do you listen? Do you encourage the other person? Do you stay calm under pressure? In a medical team, the “how” of communication is just as important as the medical knowledge behind the action. How these stations run on the virtual platform isn’t published; your invitation will confirm it. Many applicants rehearse these frameworks in an online MMI course before interview day.

Health Policy and Health Disparities: Reasoning Through Complex Questions in Medicine

You may encounter stations that ask for your perspective on a broad public health policy or a specific health disparity. Do not be afraid to address the complexity of these issues. Acknowledge that there are rarely simple solutions. Weigh the effects on patients, clinicians and communities, consider the trade-offs of each option, and express a willingness to learn more about what influences health outcomes, without taking a partisan position.

Sample UC Davis MMI Questions to Practice

These practice prompts reflect the station types above and the attributes UC Davis lists. They are not confirmed UC Davis stations.

1. A patient who speaks limited English declines a recommended procedure after a rushed explanation. The clinic’s interpreter is busy. What do you do?
2. Your teammate on a group project has been submitting work copied from an online source. The deadline is tomorrow. How do you handle it?
3. A rural county has one clinic and must choose between funding a mobile health van or extending the clinic’s hours. Which would you recommend, and why?
4. Tell me about a time you received criticism you disagreed with. How did you respond?
5. An actor playing a patient’s adult child is angry that their parent waited four hours in the emergency department. Respond to them.
6. Some argue that medical schools should weigh an applicant’s “distance traveled” heavily in admissions. What are the strengths and risks of that approach?

Practice each one aloud with a timer, then ask yourself which of UC Davis’s listed attributes your answer showed.

The “Why UC Davis?” Narrative: Integrating Institutional Context

The MMI is a holistic assessment. While the stations evaluate specific traits, your overall narrative should remain consistent. Because the UC Davis MMI is closed-file and scenario-based, there may be no station that asks “Why UC Davis?” directly. Still, knowing the school well helps you speak naturally about your goals whenever a prompt invites it, and it helps you during the session with medical students and in your secondary application essays.

Connecting Your AMCAS Application to the UC Davis Mission

Your AMCAS application is the starting point, but it stays out of the interview room. When you reflect on your past experiences, bridge them to the mission of UC Davis. If you have research experience, frame it not just as data collection, but as a commitment to improving medical practice. If you have volunteer experience, highlight your empathy and your desire to serve the vulnerable. Your goal is to show that your journey thus far has been leading you toward the kind of physician UC Davis wants to train. The school’s holistic review even considers “distance traveled”: a UC Davis Health feature describes the Davis Scale, which helps assess the obstacles an applicant has overcome to reach this point.

Highlighting Research Opportunities and Clinical Interests

UC Davis calls itself “one of the nation’s leading public universities and a top research institution.” If you have specific clinical interests, it is fine to mention programs at UC Davis that align with your work, such as the MIND Institute, the Comprehensive Cancer Center, or the Center for Reducing Health Disparities, or pathways like ARC-MD and the MD/PhD program for physician-scientists. This isn’t about naming names to flatter; it’s about illustrating that you see a clear path for your professional development within their specific academic environment.

Discussing World-Renowned Faculty and Academic Resources

The access you will have to faculty mentors and academic resources is a major selling point. UC Davis describes its ARC-MD students as receiving research and career mentorship from world-renowned faculty, and the school emphasizes academic coaching and student support services. If you discuss this, connect your excitement back to your own goals: “I hope to study X, and the work being done at UC Davis in [department or center] is at the forefront of that field.” Only cite programs you have actually read about on the school’s website. You can compare this approach with the OHSU MMI and the University of Arizona Phoenix MMI.

Strategic Frameworks for MMI Success

Having a framework does not mean sounding robotic. It means having a reliable mental structure to organize your thoughts, which in turn reduces anxiety and increases the coherence of your responses.

The “Perspective-Taking” Framework for Ethical Scenarios

When faced with an ethical dilemma, use the “Perspective-Taking” approach:

1. Identify the Stakeholders: Who is affected?
2. Evaluate the Values: What core principles are in tension? (e.g., patient privacy vs. public safety).
3. Explore Options: What are the potential courses of action?
4. Recommend and Justify: Choose a path and explain why it is the most ethical, given the constraints of the situation.

Using the STAR Method for Behavioral Questions

For any question asking about your past, use the STAR method:

• S (Situation): Set the stage briefly.
• T (Task): What was the goal or the challenge?
• A (Action): What specific steps did you take? (Focus on your initiative).
• R (Result): What was the outcome, and more importantly, what did you learn?

The IF/THEN Logical Structure for Scenario-Based Stations

Use the IF/THEN structure to demonstrate nuanced thinking: “If the situation is [X], then I would prioritize [Action A], but if the information is [Y], I would pivot to [Action B].” This shows that you understand that medicine is rarely black and white and that you are capable of adjusting your plan based on emerging data.

Handling Follow-Up Questions and Curveballs

Raters often probe your first answer with a follow-up: “What if the patient still refuses?” or “What if your supervisor disagrees?” Treat follow-ups as an invitation, not an attack. If you are unsure, the AAMC suggests starting by sharing your thought process with the interviewer, which gives you time to collect your thoughts. Interviewers are often more interested in how you think about a prompt than in your final answer.

Building the MMI Mindset: Managing Stress and Performance

The MMI is high-pressure by design. Managing your mindset is just as important as managing your content.

Psychological Preparation: The Power Pose and Mental Resets

Between stations, take a moment to breathe. Use a “mental reset”: take a deep breath, physically relax your shoulders, and clear your mind of the previous station. Whether the last station went perfectly or poorly, it is over. Some applicants like to try a power pose, standing tall with shoulders back for a minute before logging in, as a simple ritual to lower their stress level. Either way, a confident posture on camera matters. Enter each virtual station with the mindset that this is a new conversation and a fresh chance to show who you are.

Handling the Rapid Transition Between Stations

Transitions are rapid. Practice the “Transition Mindset.” Do not obsess over what you just said. Use the transition period to re-center. If you find yourself lingering on a mistake, acknowledge the emotion, then consciously choose to let it go. You need all your cognitive resources for the next station.

Overcoming “Station Fatigue” During the Interview Duration

An MMI can be physically and mentally draining, especially on a virtual day that also includes an orientation and a session with medical students. Hydrate before the session begins, keep water and a snack nearby, and make sure your space is comfortable. If you start to feel fatigue or a rising stress level, focus on active listening to the prompt. Bringing yourself back into the present moment is the best way to combat the drag of a long day.

UC Davis Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UC Davis MMI process for medical school admissions?

For School of Medicine interviews, UC Davis uses a Multiple Mini Interview for MD applicants. Interviews are by invitation after the secondary application, are closed-file (blinded), and are conducted virtually, typically on Mondays and Fridays from mid-August through early April. According to the AAMC, the interview day consists of an orientation, the MMI, and a session with medical students.

When are UC Davis MMI interviews conducted during the application cycle?

Interview invitations start going out in July on a rolling basis, and interviews run from mid- to late August through early April.

How should I prepare for the UC Davis MMI?

We recommend a preparation plan that combines a clear approach, feedback, and repeated spoken practice. Make every answer understandable to an interviewer who has not read your application.

Practice aloud with a timer, use simple frameworks (Perspective-Taking for ethics, STAR for behavioral questions), record yourself, get feedback, and prepare your technology for a virtual day.

1) Learn the approach in our MMI course. Start with Mastering the Multiple Mini Interview, created by Stanford-trained doctors and former Stanford School of Medicine interviewers Dr. Rachel Rizal and Dr. Rishi Mediratta. Use the lessons to organize your reasoning and make your answers more specific. Explore the MMI course

2) Build your thinking-on-your-feet skills with CASPer Edge. Use CASPer Edge for ethics and behavioral-question practice. Answer before reviewing feedback, identify one weakness, and try again. We recommend speaking your responses aloud for MMI preparation, then adding live follow-up practice. Start practicing with CASPer Edge

3) Put your preparation into action with 252 MMI Practice Questions. Use our question bank to work through fresh prompts and timed practice. Keep track of what needs improvement instead of memorizing answers. Start with the course, strengthen your responses with CASPer Edge, and put those skills to work in a mock circuit. Use the 252 practice questions

Does UC Davis publish its MMI scoring formula?

The admissions pages reviewed do not disclose a complete station rubric, numerical cutoff, or interview weighting formula. The selection policy describes a broader committee decision process. We would not promise that a particular practice score predicts admission. Use feedback to improve your reasoning and communication rather than chase an invented cutoff.

How can I discuss rural healthcare in the UC Davis interview with limited rural experience?

Be honest about what you have and have not observed. Work from the barrier in the prompt, which might involve travel distance, continuity, workforce availability, or access to services. Ask what resources already exist before proposing a new program. Explain how you would involve local clinicians and community members. Do not present telehealth as a universal solution without considering connectivity, equipment, and follow-up. This is preparation guidance, not a claim that a rural-health question is guaranteed.

How can I incorporate personal stories into my UC Davis MMI answers?

Answer the scenario first, then use a brief experience to strengthen one relevant point. For example, explain how you learned to clarify a teammate’s responsibilities before assuming they were disengaged. State your role, what you did, and what changed; then connect that lesson back to the prompt. We recommend practicing a 20-30-second version of each example. That is a rehearsal target, not a school rule. Do not force a story into a station that calls for direct interaction.

How should I adapt my answers for a closed-file UC Davis interview?

Make each answer understandable on its own. Introduce an experience with a brief description of your role and responsibilities, then focus on what you did and learned. Avoid referring to your most meaningful activity or another essay as if the interviewer has read it. At the same time, do not spend the station reciting your résumé. Whether a specific station is closed-file must be confirmed by the school; these techniques are also useful whenever the interviewer seems unfamiliar with your background.

How should I structure an ethical answer in the UC Davis interview?

Start with the decision you need to make and the main competing responsibilities. Then explain what information you would clarify, whose perspective matters, and what you would do first. We recommend using a conditional plan: if the concern is a misunderstanding, clarify it privately; if someone faces immediate harm, obtain appropriate help promptly. Finish with a justified recommendation. Do not spend the entire answer listing competing viewpoints without choosing a course of action. Your reasoning should lead somewhere.

How can I prepare for the UC Davis interview in one week?

Start with a timed diagnostic and identify your two biggest weaknesses. Spend the next several days alternating unfamiliar scenarios with targeted practice on those weaknesses. Prepare short examples of teamwork, conflict, service, failure, and feedback. Complete a mock circuit, review the feedback, and redo the weakest responses with different prompts. Reserve the final day for a light rehearsal and logistics. We recommend short, focused practice blocks; reading hundreds of questions without answering aloud will not reveal delivery problems.

What should I do after a difficult UC Davis MMI station?

Use the transition to reset. Take a breath, release the previous prompt, and focus on your new role and task. Do not apologize to the next interviewer for something they did not observe. If you made a mistake within the current station, correct it briefly and continue. We cannot promise that one weak station has no effect on an admissions decision. What you can control is preventing frustration from changing the clarity, warmth, and attention you bring to later stations.

Sources

UC Davis How to Apply

UC Davis Student Selection Policy

Conclusion

The path to medical school is a marathon, and the UC Davis MMI is one of the final, crucial strides. By internalizing the mission of the school, a commitment to community engagement, patient care, and service to California’s diverse communities, you transition from an applicant who is “taking a test” to a candidate who is “starting a conversation.”

Remember that the admissions committee is not looking for a perfect performer; they are looking for a future colleague who shares their vision for the future of medicine. Every station is a window into your character, your logic, and your capacity for empathy. If you can communicate your values clearly, handle ethical dilemmas with thoughtful, multi-perspective reasoning, and demonstrate a genuine eagerness to grow within the UC Davis School of Medicine community, you will have positioned yourself for success.

As you move forward, focus on being authentic. Your AMCAS application provided the data, but your interview will provide the depth. Trust in your preparation, maintain your focus during the transitions, and approach the interview with the confidence that comes from knowing who you are and why you want to serve the diverse populations of California. UC Davis is looking for future physicians who can bridge the gaps in our current health care system. Approach your interview as the start of that leadership journey. Good luck. When you are ready to practice under real conditions, our MMI prep course can help you rehearse every station type with feedback.