Welcome to the MU-WCOM Admissions Interview Experience!
As a part of the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) admissions process, the blended interview experience combines both synchronous and asynchronous interview components. This approach allows us to learn more about you through a customized, holistic experience and assessment.
Why did MU-WCOM move to a blended interview format?
Launched in the 2025-26 admissions cycle, the new interview format enriches the depth and breadth of your story within the admission application for MU-WCOM. We care deeply about getting to know you, not just on paper, but as a person, and we want you to get to know us! That is why we created a blended interview experience.We believe that starting with a live virtual sessionallows you an expanded opportunity to get to know MU-WCOM and our communityin real time (and vice versa!). Afterward, you’ll complete a recorded video assessment using a series of question prompts rooted in competencies that we believe are important in a future physician.With these questions as your guide, this is your opportunity to showcaseyour uniquepersonality, communication skills, empathy, professionalism, and critical thinking through your recorded answers.This two-part interview process—together with your application—gives us a more complete picture of who you are and how you embody both our osteopathic principles and the Franciscan values we uphold at MU-WCOM.
Interview Components
Live Virtual Session
Known as the “COMversation,” you will join fellow applicants and meet virtually with members of our admissions committee, current students, and faculty in an interactive experience using Zoom. Through a series of panels and Q&A, this session allows us to explore your motivations, experiences, and alignment with our mission in real-time conversation—and you get to learn more about us!
Estimated Time: 3 hours
Recorded Video Assessment
Once the live virtual session is complete, you will record a series of timed videos by a specific deadline, using question prompts through the Kira platform. The Kira process, from start to finish, takes up to 45 minutes: you’ll see a question, get prep time, and respond—with one chance per question to capture your authentic, unrehearsed answers.
Estimated Time: 45 minutes
What to Expect
Step-by-Step Instructions: You’ll receive clear, detailed instructions via email for both interview components from the admissions office.
Live Virtual Session:The COMversation will take place before the recorded video assessment. You will be joining other applicants in a series of virtual group sessions with current students, faculty, and staff. You can expect up to six fellow applicants in each session throughout the COMversation. See a sample schedule in the FAQs below.
Recorded Video Assessment: After the live virtual session, you will be provided instructions to complete your recorded video assessment using the Kira platform. You can complete your recordings at a time and place convenient for you (with a set deadline for completion). We suggest reviewing the FAQs below to be best prepared.
Holistic Evaluation: When applying to MU-WCOM, we review your full admissions profile, including your academic background, alongside extracurricular and leadership attributes. The entire interview experience will be assessed and remains an integral part of the admission review process.
Technology Support: Kira Talent offers technical support by emailing support@kiratalent.com, and our admissions team is available to assist with questions. Contact comadmissions@marian.edu at any time.
Admissions Process Timeline
(May 2025 to August 2026)
Phase
May
June
July
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
June
July
Aug
Pre-Screen
✔
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Screen
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Interview Process (including Kira)
✔
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Admissions Committee
✔
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Synchronous interviews are real-time, live interactions between the interviewer(s) and the candidate(s), typically conducted via video conferencing tools like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Skype. For the interview experience, this would be the live, virtual session.
Asynchronous interviews involve candidates recording their responses to pre-set questions at their convenience. For the interview experience, this would be the recorded, video assessment portion of the interview.
Yes. Both components are requiredand assessed as part of your admission application. They are designed toprovide different insights to help us assess your candidacy holistically.
You must be invited to participate in the interview experience, which is comprised of two parts:
Live Virtual Session: After your admission file has been screened and determined to meet the criteria necessary to be offered an interview, you will be contacted by the admissions office to schedule a date for the COMversation. This must be completed before you move on to the second part of the interview process. The session will take place on Zoom in the Eastern Standard Time (EST) zone.
Recorded Video Assessment:After the COMversation, you will be invited to complete the recorded video assessment the following day. You will have a deadline of three days to complete it at a time and place convenient to you, using the Kira platform. In short, you’ll see a question, get prep time, and respond—with one chance per question to capture your authentic, unrehearsed answers.
Here is an example of an applicant's schedule for the live virtual session known as the COMversation (via Zoom). Please know that the schedule itself may vary student to student, but the session components will remain the same for all applicants:
Time
Event
1-1:20 p.m.
Welcome and Overview of the COMversation
1:20-1:50 p.m.
Student Panel
1:50-2:20 p.m.
Faculty Panel
2:20-2:50 p.m.
COM Conversation
2:50-3:20 p.m.
Break
3:25-4 p.m.
Closing Presentation and Next Steps
You’ll need a reliable internet connection, a device with a camera and microphone (desktop, laptop, or tablet), and a quiet, well-lit space to record your responses.Make sure to update all software on your computer, disable all notifications, and ensure your computer is charged. While a laptop or desktop is recommended, a mobile device or tablet may be used for the video assessments.
Here are a few recommendations:
Practice speaking clearly and concisely on camera and/or in front of a mirror.
Dress professionally for both interview components, just as you would for an in-person interview.
Take advantage of the practice questions. You can complete practice questions as many times as you'd like, and you can replay your practice responses to see how you're presenting yourself.
Do not pre-write or memorize your response. Be your authentic self and let your personality shine. The questions are randomly assigned, meaning your questions may look different than a fellow applicant.
Applicants will have three days to complete their recorded video assessment upon receiving the email invitation to start their video assessment.
In accordance with the interview retake policy, students who experience technical difficulties which impede/alter the quality of the video assessment will be allowed a retake and Kira support will send you an email notifying you when you can retake your video assessment.
While we do not have demos of the platform, all applicants who are invited to complete an interview have access to unlimited practice sessions that can be used to get comfortable with the platform and assessment style.
The practice session is a separate step as part of your Kira assessment. Once you've clicked "Check-In", you can watch the welcome video, set up your device, and practice as many times as you'd like before starting the real assessment. These practice sessions are not recorded and are not available for the school to see. After you've practiced, you can choose to complete the real assessment at a later time that suits you (before the deadline).
Both components of our interview process are integral to our holistic evaluation approach. Each component is designed to assess different facets of an applicant's qualifications and potential. While we do not disclose specific weighting, we encourage applicants to engage fully with each part of the process to provide a comprehensive view of their capabilities.
For applicants, there is no cost to use Kira.
MU-WCOM admissions advises applicants that decisions will be generated within 2-3 weeks after the completed video assessment is received.
Campus visits typically run from noon to 2 p.m. during the fall and spring semesters, and from noon to 1 p.m. from May through July, though they are subject to change. If you have already been accepted into the DO or BMS programs, please navigate to the "Tours" section in your admissions portal to coordinate your tour. Visit here to learn more.
