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Medical School interviews moved online for 2021 entry – and the majority will be conducting them online again this year. In fact, only Bristol and Norwich have explicitly confirmed they’ll interview in-person this year. It’s still a bit too early to know what every Med School is planning, so make sure you check your invitation for the final verdict.
See a school-by-school breakdown of the latest information in our Interview guide.
As it stands, Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Blackboard Collaborate are the three common software programmes that will be used to conduct Medical School interviews for 2021 entry.
Universities that have confirmed they will be using Zoom:
Zoom is a cloud-based software that allows both video and audio, allowing live chat sessions to be recorded and viewed later. To join a Zoom instant meeting, you will need an invite. This will be in the form of a unique 9, 10 or 11-digit number, also known as a meeting ID.
Prior to joining the Zoom on a computer or mobile device, the Zoom app should be downloaded from here. If this isn’t done, you will be prompted to download and install Zoom after clicking the invite link. Alternatively, you can join via a Chrome web browser, where you simply need to input the meeting ID.
A good way to get to grips with the software is by joining a test meeting.
Here’s a video explaining how Zoom setups work:
Universities that have confirmed they will be using Microsoft Teams:
Slightly different from Zoom, Microsoft Teams is a chat-based workspace that incorporates all Microsoft applications such as Skype and Outlook.
To join a Microsoft Teams Meeting, you will need a link from the organiser. Through the invitation, there will be an option to Join Microsoft Teams Meeting – clicking this will take you to a page which allows you to join either via the web or desktop app. If you already have the app, the meeting will open automatically.
Microsoft Teams can be downloaded onto your desktop. You can also install the app onto your phone by simply entering your phone number or email to receive a download link. Like Zoom, it can also be used through a browser too.
If you do not have a Teams account, providing the organiser has certain settings, you may have the option to join as a guest. If you do have a Teams account, you will have access to the meeting chat and more after signing in.
The University of Dundee and Aberdeen University have confirmed they will be using Blackboard Collaborate.
Blackboard Collaborate is a web conferencing tool that doesn’t require any app installation.
To join a session, a moderator will need to send you a link. After clicking the link, Blackboard Collaborate will appear at the top of the screen. You will see what session you have been invited to – once you’ve typed your name in the given space, you will be able to join the session.
Find out more about how to join a Blackboard Collaborate session on their site.
Whilst in-person and online interviews will contain the same questions, there are some differences you should be aware of for the big day:
We’ve shared our tips for online interviews to help you prepare.
You can also find out more about online interviews in our upcoming free webinar or by booking onto our Medicine Interview Course or MMI Prep Course.
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