Which Dental Schools Use MMI? Verified 2026-27 List | DentPrep
A verified list of US dental schools that use the MMI (Multiple Mini Interview) — confirmed schools, schools to verify, and the ones wrongly assumed to use MMI. Updated for 2026–2027.
A verified list of US dental schools that use the MMI — confirmed schools, schools to verify, and the ones wrongly assumed to use MMI. Updated for 2026–2027. return ( If you've searched for which dental schools use the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI), you've probably run into a frustrating problem: most of the lists are wrong. They're copied from UK dental admissions (where the MMI really is the norm), padded with schools that dropped the format years ago, or they repeat "everyone uses MMI now" — which is simply not true for US dental schools. Here is the honest, verified answer. In US dental admissions, the MMI is the exception, not the rule. The large majority of US dental schools still use a traditional one-on-one or panel interview. A verified handful use a true MMI circuit, and a few more use MMI-style components inside a larger interview day. This page separates the confirmed from the merely rumored — and flags the schools that are
widely, and wrongly, assumed to use MMI. How we verified this list. Each school below was checked against its own admissions page and recent, specific applicant reports — not generic third-party lists. Where the evidence is mixed, we say so. Interview formats change from cycle to cycle, so always confirm the current format directly with each school before your interview. Many MMI schools also require a nondisclosure agreement, so applicants can't share exact station content. US Dental Schools That Use the MMI (Confirmed) These programs use a genuine MMI circuit — multiple timed, independent stations — as confirmed by the school's own materials or a strong, consistent record of applicant reports: University of Michigan — one of the longest-running dental MMIs in the US. Applicants rotate through multiple timed stations (reported 4–10), each independently scored by a different evaluator. University of Washington — an in-person MMI adopted
for recent cycles, run as a two-day event: a Friday tour and reception, then a Saturday MMI circuit with behavioral and ethical stations, plus a manual-dexterity assessment. USC (Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry) — MMI stations combined with a problem-based-learning (PBL) group exercise, a collaborative case discussion that reflects USC's PBL curriculum. University of Minnesota — a behavioral-scenario MMI, with stations covering conflict resolution, teamwork, prioritization, and ethical dilemmas. A.T. Still University – Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ASDOH) — a multi-part interview day: a panel interview, a manual-dexterity test, a group exercise, and three MMI stations with standardized patients. Expect a strong community-based-care focus. Michigan: read the full station-by-station guide. We have a dedicated, in-depth guide to Michigan's MMI — the station types, what each one measures, and how to prepare. See the
University of Michigan Dental School Interview guide . Schools That May Use MMI-Style Components (Verify Directly) For these programs, applicant reports are genuinely mixed — some describe MMI-style or hybrid elements, others describe a traditional interview. We won't assert them as MMI because the evidence isn't consistent. If one of these is on your list, confirm the current format with the school directly: A.T. Still University – Missouri (MOSDOH) — the sister school to ASDOH, with a similar community-based model; it likely uses comparable MMI components, but confirm for your cycle. University of Maryland — some applicants report MMI-style stations; others describe a traditional or panel interview. Not confirmed as a full MMI. Roseman University — reports range from MMI-style stations to traditional sessions, and some mention a Kira video component. Verify the current format. Western University of Health Sciences — sometimes listed
as MMI or hybrid, but the current format isn't clearly confirmed. Stony Brook University — older reports mention MMI-style evaluation, but recent applicants describe traditional one-on-one interviews plus a short writing activity. Commonly Assumed to Use MMI — But They Don't This is where most online lists go wrong. The following schools are frequently listed as MMI programs, but based on their own process and recent applicant reports, they use a traditional or conversational interview — not an MMI. If you were preparing for a station circuit at one of these, you can redirect your energy: Midwestern University – Arizona (Glendale) — despite being an Arizona program often assumed to use MMI, it uses a traditional, one-on-one conversational interview. Midwestern University – Illinois (Downers Grove) — multiple short one-on-one interviews across the day, not an MMI station circuit. University of Detroit Mercy — a common rumor, but
applicant reports show a roughly 44-minute, one-on-one, open-file conversation, not an MMI. University of Colorado — two one-on-one interviews with an admissions committee, not an MMI. UNLV (University of Nevada, Las Vegas) — primarily one-on-one, in-person interviews. We fact-check our own school guides. We researched each of these directly. Our full guides for Midwestern Arizona , Midwestern Illinois , and University of Detroit Mercy each confirm a traditional, non-MMI format. If a generic list tells you otherwise, trust the school's own process. What Is a Dental MMI, Exactly? The Multiple Mini Interview is a circuit of short, independent stations — typically six to ten, each lasting roughly five to eight minutes, often with a brief reading period before you enter. At each station you face a new prompt and, usually, a new evaluator who scores you independently and never compares notes with the others during the process. Instead of one
or two long conversations, your evaluation is spread across many small, structured encounters. Dental schools use it to test the range of competencies clinical practice actually demands: ethical reasoning, empathy under pressure, communication, collaborative problem-solving, and professional judgment — assessed more systematically, and with less first-impression bias, than a traditional interview allows. US dental MMIs are built around ADA professional ethics and US clinical scenarios, which is why UK-focused MMI prep translates poorly. How to Prepare for a Dental MMI Because the MMI tests process over polish, the goal isn't to memorize answers — it's to internalize a repeatable way of thinking through each station: Use a consistent framework. For each scenario: identify who's affected, weigh the competing considerations, choose a course of action, and acknowledge the trade-offs. Structure keeps you composed when the timer starts. Lead
with empathy, then reason. Strong answers recognize every perspective before deciding — they don't rush to a verdict. Practice out loud, on a timer. Five to eight minutes is short. Rehearse until pacing feels natural and you can land a complete answer without racing. Ground your ethics in US/ADA standards, not UK/GDC or NHS references that don't apply here. Prepare for the extras. Several MMI schools bundle in a manual-dexterity test, a group or PBL exercise, or a standardized-patient station — practice those formats too. Go deeper on MMI prep. For a full, US-specific walkthrough of the station types and how to answer each, read our US Dental School MMI Preparation Guide . For a school-by-school breakdown across all interview formats, see Which Dental Schools Use MMI vs. Traditional Interviews . Practice Dental MMI Stations with AI. Rehearse timed ethical, behavioral, and scenario stations built on US/ADA standards — with instant AI
feedback on your reasoning and delivery.. Start Practicing Free →. The Bottom Line In US dental admissions, a confirmed handful of schools use the MMI — most notably the University of Washington, University of Michigan, USC Ostrow, University of Minnesota, and ATSU's Arizona program (ASDOH) — while a few others use MMI-style components you should verify directly. The majority of US dental schools still interview traditionally. Prepare for the format your specific schools actually use, confirm it before your interview, and don't let a stale internet list send you into station prep for a school that will simply sit down and talk with you. ); }; export default DentalSchoolsThatUseMMI;