When have you had to work with a diverse group of people, and how did you thrive in that situation?

A huge goal of the MMI interview process is to give the veterinary school admissions team the ability to gauge a candidate's cultural fit with the program and personal values that will lead to success in their program. Before your interview, read about the diversity, equity, and inclusion policy of the school you are interviewing with so you can express that you share the same values.

"In high school, I played on an AAU basketball team during the summer. The first year I was invited, I had the opportunity to play with other freshmen and sophomores from all over the state. I was from a small farming town that wasn't very culturally diverse, and this was my first opportunity to play alongside kids from other towns, urban areas, and suburbs. I was a little timid at first, but working towards a winning goal together helped me open up and learn from my teammates and coaches. We all took our personal experiences and melded them into a team that won several tournaments that first summer, which felt like such a great accomplishment. This experience encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and travel to the east coast for my undergraduate program. It instilled in me a desire to continue learning about other cultures and ways of life outside my upbringing. I look forward to continuing this during veterinary school."

Since this question directly asks you about a specific time you worked in a diverse environment, you need to take the time to paint a picture of the situation. Since your interviewer will gauge how you work with individuals from different backgrounds than you, describe all of the individuals you worked with and how they differed from you. It's okay to open up about any discomfort you may have initially had as long as you can make it clear that you learned and grew from the experience. Conclude your answer by highlighting what you learned from the situation and expressing that you know a diverse team of individual thinkers provides the best results in any project or situation.