If you’re applying to medical school, chances are you’ve come across the term MMI—but what is it, and how does it tie into extracurricular activities? The Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) stands for a structured, station-based interview process designed to assess various skills like communication, problem-solving, and ethical reasoning. It’s now the dominant interview format in medical school admissions. A key part of performing well in an MMI is learning how to incorporate your past extracurricular activities into your responses. This guide will help you understand when extracurriculars matter, how to discuss them effectively, and practical tips for preparation.

Before we start, note that this guide is just an overview of how to get started with mentioning extracurriculars in your MMI. For in-depth, guided instruction on all aspects of the medical interviews, including mock interview, check out our Interview Mastery Program.

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When Will Extracurriculars Be Important in the Medical Admissions Process?

The extracurricular activites you do become particularly significant during the interview stage. While your grades and test scores get you an interview offer, the MMI is where you demonstrate the qualities that make you a good doctor.

During MMI stations, you’ll be asked many scenario-based questions. This is where extracurriculars become valuable tools, allowing you to draw on your past to support your ideas. However, it’s not the activity itself that matters—what’s critical is how you connect the lessons you’ve learned to the questions being asked.

Does My Extracurricular Need to Be Oriented Toward the Medical Profession?

Contrary to popular belief, extracurriculars aren’t important because they show interviewers you have experiences relevant to medical school. Medical schools don’t care about the activity itself—what they care about is your ability to extract meaningful insights from your experiences and apply those lessons to the questions posed during the interview.

This is where many applicants falter. The extracurricular activity or anecdote is not your answer. Instead, it’s a tool to support your answer. The true value lies in the link between the activity and the question being asked.

For example, when asked about teamwork, your extracurricular experience should illustrate your understanding of collaboration and its relevance to the scenario. It’s the connection, not the activity, that matters most. If you make the fatal mistake of making your extracurricular the centrepiece of your response, you risk missing the question’s point altogether.

So, if you’ve ever wondered, “What extracurriculars should I do to improve my chances of getting into medical school?” the answer is simple: anything that provides you with meaningful experiences.

How to Discuss Extracurriculars Correctly in an Interview

Extracurriculars are double-edged swords. When used correctly, they can enhance your answers. When used poorly, they can waste time and detract from your performance. Here are a few things to watch out for:

1. Avoid name-dropping

Simply mentioning that you’ve participated in a particular extracurricular activity won’t earn you any points. For example, saying, “I was part of the debate team,” adds no value unless you link it to the question and explain what you learnt or how the experience is relevant to the topic at hand.

2. Stay focused

It’s easy to fall into the trap of recounting an entire story when only a small portion is relevant. Remember, time management is a key part of the MMI. Stick to the aspects of your anecdote that directly support your answer and avoid irrelevant details.

3. Keep it simple

Your story should make sense even without much context. If your anecdote requires a lengthy explanation to understand its relevance, it might not be the best choice, as your interviewer might lose track of the context and miss the entire message of your anecdote. Prioritise clarity and conciseness.

How to Prepare Anecdotes for Your MMI

To ensure you’re using anecdotes effectively during your MMI, preparation is key. However, this doesn’t mean memorising stories to repeat verbatim. Instead, preparation is about reflecting on your past experiences and identifying the key lessons you’ve learned from them. Start by recalling significant situations where you demonstrated skills such as teamwork, leadership, communication, adaptability, or problem-solving. Think about any experiences where you helped people or witnessed an injustice. Write down these experiences to create a mental catalogue of events you can draw from during the interview.

Next, consider what each experience taught you. Reflect on the skills or broader insights you gained and think about how they could apply to a range of MMI scenarios. For example, an experience where you resolved a conflict within a group could highlight your problem-solving skills and ability to communicate under pressure.

Finally, practise linking these anecdotes to potential questions. Instead of memorising monologues, work on connecting your past experiences to various types of questions you might encounter. This will allow you to use your anecdotes flexibly, ensuring your responses are tailored to the specific scenarios presented in the interview. By preparing in this way, you’ll be ready to incorporate your experiences seamlessly into your answers, highlighting your ability to apply what you’ve learned in a meaningful and relevant way.

Do I need to memorise my reasons for pursuing medicine?

Generally, not memorising anecdotes verbatim is the best advice, as you’ll most likely want to adapt your anecdote to the scenario on the fly. There is one exception though: your anecdote or explanation as to why you want to do medicine. You should have at least the key points of this memorised, as there’s a good chance you’ll be asked for your motivations for medicine during the interview. You really don’t want to be caught off guard when asked this, as interviewers are on the lookout for those who don’t have a solid reason to apply for medical school.

Examples of strong interview responses

Now, let’s look at a couple of example interview stations and responses to see how these tips can be put into action.

Interview response with an organic anecdote

First, we’ll look at an example of including an anecdote when it’s not specifically asked for. Note how we support our response with this anecdote without making it the focal point of our answer.

Scenario

Each year, the road toll continues to rise, resulting in tragic deaths and affecting many families across Australia. According to road toll statistics, drivers in their first year of driving are most likely to be involved in road trauma. National policies have been suggested to reduce the annual number of car accidents in Australia and enhance road safety.

Question

What are some ways we can improve education about road safety?

Sample response

“To improve road safety education, we need to focus on practical, relatable approaches. Standard driving lessons should include modules on defensive driving and handling high-risk situations, like poor weather or late-night driving. New technologies such as virtual reality simulations, could help new drivers practise managing emergencies in a safe environment.

“An experience that shaped my understanding of this was when I was helping my younger sibling learn to drive. While on a practice drive, we saw a car run a red light, narrowly avoiding a crash. This led to a discussion about risky behaviours, reaction times, and how decisions on the road can have serious consequences. It was a valuable moment that made them more aware of their responsibilities as a driver.,

“This shows that effective education needs to go beyond technical skills—it should foster critical thinking and a sense of shared responsibility. Incorporating these elements into driver education programs could make young drivers more mindful and reduce road trauma over time.”

Important aspects of this response

• The response is concise and to the point.
• The anecdote is short and directly relevant, illustrating the broader idea without dominating the answer.
• We actually answer the question and present a couple of ways to improve road safety education.

Interview response when asked for an anecdote

Now, let’s look at a scenario where we’re specifically asked for an anecdote. Here, the anecdote is the focal point of our answer, but we make sure to add context to the anecdote that links it back to the scenario and highlights the important bits.

Scenario

You and a group of friends are discussing workplace dynamics and productivity. The topic revolves around whether collaboration in groups or working independently yields better results. One friend highlights the importance of teamwork in fields like healthcare, while another argues that working independently can often be more efficient.

Question

Give an example of a time when you’ve had to work in a team-based environment.

Sample response

“An example of when I had to work in a team is during debating competitions, representing my school. My team would regularly come together to plan the next debate, as every week we’d participate in one. During our planning sessions, we reviewed the topic, shared ideas, and collaboratively distilled the best arguments.

“The debates were the culmination of our teamwork, and we had to adapt quickly to counter the arguments presented by the opposing team. Through this experience, I learned the importance of effective communication, shared responsibility, and strong leadership—all of which were critical to our success.

“In healthcare, I imagine these principles are even more crucial. When coordinating care for a patient, the ability to collaborate effectively can significantly impact outcomes. This experience has shown me the value of teamwork, and I look forward to applying these skills in a medical setting.”

Important aspects of this response

• The response begins by answering the question directly with a specific example.
• It provides just enough context to make the anecdote clear.
• It transitions smoothly into insights gained from the experience and links them back to healthcare (the scenario).

Final thoughts

The MMI isn’t just about your experiences – it’s about how you think and apply those experiences to the questions asked. Extracurriculars are valuable tools for showcasing your thought process, but they should never overshadow your answer.

By carefully preparing anecdotes, focusing on the lessons learned, and practising how to link them to various questions, you can ensure your responses are insightful, concise, and memorable. Good luck with your MMI preparation!