What is a multiple mini interview and how does it differ from a traditional panel interview?

Multiple mini interviews are a type of medical school interview becoming increasingly more common in UK medical schools. It involves going through several different stations, which are up to 10-15 minutes each in length. This is similar to the 'OSCE' type clinical examinations you will sit during medical school. Each mini interview aims to test a different skill and may include logical reasoning, ethical reasoning, reasons for applying to medical school, numerical reasoning and critical appraisal. Each station will score you and then an average score is given for each candidate. Usually, candidates above a certain score will be given an offer. There are advantages and disadvantages to multiple mini interviews. The main advantage is that it gives you multiple opportunities to showcase yourself to different people, who may perceive you differently, and therefore you will be more reliably tested as to whether you deserve an offer or not. Disadvantages include the length, they last up to an hour and a half in total and this may not suit people who want to 'get it over and done with' which is the case with panel interviews which are over in 10-15 minutes. Additionally, it can be difficult to reliably get across your whole personality in just a few minutes in one mini interview, which may be easier in a panel interview. Panel interviews, on the other hand, usually last 10-15 minutes and involve several people sitting in front of you and asking you all the standard medical school questions, such as your drive to study medicine, your work experience etc.