Preparing for the University of Illinois College of Medicine interview

Excelling in your interview at the University of Illinois College of Medicine requires comprehensive knowledge of Illinois' healthcare environment, relevant policy developments, critical social determinants of health, and significant medical challenges facing the Midwest region and the nation.

This comprehensive preparation guide offers valuable perspectives to help you formulate thoughtful, informed responses during your interview, showcasing your genuine dedication to medicine and your understanding of the diverse Illinois communities you aspire to serve as a future physician.

1. UICOM’s MMI Structure: What to Expect

UICOM’s MMI typically includes 6–8 stations (8–10 minutes each) focused on real-world scenarios. 

Key themes:

1. Health Equity: Addressing disparities in Chicago neighborhoods or rural Illinois.

2. Ethical Dilemmas: Navigating conflicts in resource-limited settings.

3. Role-Playing: Communicating with “patients” from marginalized communities.

4. Collaborative Problem-Solving: Designing interventions for public health crises.

Unique to UICOM: Stations often reflect Illinois-specific issues, like vaccine hesitancy in Little Village or rural hospital closures downstate.

Insider Tip: MMIs prioritize how you think, not “correct” answers. Practice articulating your reasoning aloud, even if uncertain. Use Illinois examples to ground responses (e.g., “In East St. Louis, naloxone vending machines reduced overdoses by 22%—this could inform our approach here”).

2. Illinois Healthcare Policy: Battleground for Equity

1. Medicaid Expansion & Redetermination Crisis

Illinois expanded Medicaid under the ACA, covering 3.4 million residents. However, post-COVID redetermination (2023–2024) disenrolled 550,000+ people—many in Cook County. UICOM’s Health Advocacy Clinic now trains students to help patients navigate reinstatement.

2. Maternal Mortality & the Birth Equity Initiative

Black women in Illinois die at 3x the rate of white women postpartum. UICOM leads the Illinois Maternal Health Coalition, deploying doulas in Englewood and Auburn-Gresham—neighborhoods with the state’s highest preterm birth rates.

3. Opioid Settlement Reinvestment

Illinois allocates $1.3B from opioid lawsuits to harm reduction. UICOM’s Community Outreach Intervention Project (COIP) pioneered naloxone vending machines in East St. Louis, reducing overdose deaths by 22% in 2024.

Tip: Cite UICOM’s Institute for Health Research and Policy when discussing systemic solutions.

3. Current Events: Chicago’s Frontlines

Local Flashpoints

• Mercy Hospital Closure Aftermath: The 2021 shutdown left South Side residents traveling 10+ miles for emergency care. UICOM’s Mobile Stroke Unit now serves Chatham and Roseland, cutting treatment time by 40%.

• Migrant Health Crisis: Over 35,000 asylum seekers arrived in Chicago since 2023. UICOM students volunteer at Welcoming City Health Clinics, addressing TB and malnutrition in temporary shelters.

National Issues with Illinois Impact

• Gun Violence as Public Health: Illinois’ Firearm Injury Prevention Act (2023) funds UICOM’s Crime & Trauma Advocacy Program, which trains providers to address PTSD in Garfield Park and Austin.

• Climate Health: Chicago’s 400,000+ lead service lines disproportionately affect West Side children. UICOM’s Environmental Health Clinic partners with City Hall on replacement prioritization.

Tip: Reference UICOM’s Community-Based Advanced Practice electives to highlight hands-on experience.

4. The 5 Questions University of Illinois College of Medicine is most likely to ask during your medical school interview

1. “How would you improve access to specialty care in rural Illinois?”

2. “Describe a time you advocated for a marginalized patient. What systemic barriers existed?”

3. “Chicago has the nation’s largest racial life expectancy gap (30 years). Propose an intervention.”

4. “How should UICOM address implicit bias in AI-driven diagnostics?”

5. “Why our Chicago, Peoria, Rockford, or Urbana campus specifically?”