Academic intelligence alone is not enough. To become a professional dentist, mental resilience and a mature personality are essential. This is why the Faculty of Dentistry Universitas Gadjah Mada (FKG UGM) held the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) test for prospective students of the International Undergraduate Program (IUP) on Saturday, 26 July 2025.
The MMPI test is the next stage after participants pass the initial Academic English Proficiency Test (AcEPT) and Gadjah Mada Scholastic Test (GMST). Conducted online at FKG UGM, the test required participants to answer 500 statements reflecting their personality and psychological conditions.
Dr. Helmi, the test facilitator from the Department of Psychiatry, UGM, instructed participants to answer truthfully based on their actual conditions. “Please respond to each statement according to how you really feel,” he said during the pre-test briefing.
He emphasized that there are no right or wrong answers in the MMPI. The test is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of an individual’s personality, including how they manage stress, respond to social pressure, maintain emotional stability, and make decisions in difficult situations. This is crucial since dental education demands both physical readiness for an intensive study process and mental resilience to cope with academic pressure and responsibility.
Dyana Rakhmasari Kusumaningsih, S.E., M.Ec.Dev., Head of the Academic and Student Affairs Working Group at FKG UGM, explained that the MMPI test is an essential part of the selection process, especially for international applicants who will face a multicultural learning environment and significant academic challenges.
“Through this test, we want to assess not only academic readiness but also psychological and personality aspects. This ensures they can undergo their education in a healthy manner, both mentally and emotionally,” she said.
She further noted that the MMPI test is not only used during new student admissions. “In addition to IUP admissions, we also administer this test for FKG UGM students before they enter the professional or clinical stage,” she added.
The MMPI test reflects FKG UGM’s commitment to ensuring that every student admitted and those transitioning into clinical education are holistically prepared—academically and mentally—to become responsible and professional healthcare providers.
Author and Photographer: Fajar Budi Harsakti
