Medical Residency Interview Questions

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Medical residency interviews can be a stressful experience. While its difficult to predict the questions that may be asked, you can prepare for the commonly asked interview questions. We have complied a list of the most commonly asked interview questions by residency programs. Please keep in mind that medical questions may also be asked. It is common knowledge that your medical aptitude cannot be assessed by a few random medical questions. Some program directors, nevertheless, continue this practice of asking medical questions and putting the residency applicant on the spot. Perhaps they don’t know what else to talk about or maybe they want to see how you will react under stress. Learn more about residency interviews .

Remember that interviews are meant to be an exchange of ideas between yourself, and the residency program. We have included a list of relevant questions that you can ask the residency program. We have also created a separate list of interview questions to ask the residents and fellows you will be meeting.    

Interview questions asked by residency programs

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• Why do you wish to join our residency program?

• What are your strengths and weaknesses?

• Where do you see yourself in ten years, after your residency?

• Do you have a standard ECFMG certificate?

• Do you have any medical research experience?

• What made you join medicine?

• From your CV, I notice that you are a foreign medical graduate. Why did you leave your country? Why did you decide to come to America?

• What made you choose this residency specialty (Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Surgery, Family practice, OB/GYN, Anesthesiology etc.)?

• Why did you choose this fellowship (Cardiology, GI etc.)?

• What were your USMLE scores?

• If you were asked to describe yourself in 3 words, what would they be?

• In your Curriculum Vitae (CV), there is a gap of 1 year. Why?

• How many residency interviews have you completed so far?

• As an international medical graduate (IMG), what differences do you see between the health care delivery systems of your country and America?

• What is your medical career plan?

• What do you do in your spare time?

• Have you completed all ECFMG requirements, to start a residency?

• What are your interests?

• Are you applying to any other residency specialty?

• How do you handle adversity?

• Why are your USMLE scores low?

• As an International medical graduate, what is your opinion about socialized health care?

• What is your most memorable patient encounter?

• Which residency programs have you interviewed at?

• Tell me about an interesting case you have seen?

• Tell me about yourself.

• Did you take any course to write the USMLE & CSA exams?

• What were your scores in your residency in-service exams?

• From your CV, I see that you are a foreign medical graduate. How well do you see yourself adapting to the American health system. 

Questions to ask the residency program.

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• Ask for a copy of the residency program’s teaching, conf & call schedules.

• Which fellowships do your residents usually get into?

• Which universities do your residents commonly get accepted, for a fellowship?

• What changes have been made to implement the new 80-hour residency workweek?

• What qualities are you looking for in a Residency / Fellowship applicant?

• How many hospitals participate in your residency program?

• What residency research opportunities do you offer?

• Do you have any minimum USMLE score requirements to match?

• What type of visas do you offer to foreign medical graduates (FMG)?

• Are there opportunities to teach medical students during residency?

• Where do your Residents typically practice Medicine after they graduate?

• How do you get feedback from the Residents?

• How do you handle complaints from residents and fellows?

• Do you require the completion of USMLE Step 3 prior to starting residency?

• Do you have a dedicated (PGY-4) Chief Resident?

• Do you encourage your Residents / Fellows to attend medical conferences?

• Ask for a sample copy of the residency program’s contract.

• What are your current ongoing residency research projects?

• How much dedicated residency research time is offered?

• Do you offer residency contracts outside the ERAS / NRMP match? 

Questions to ask Residents and Fellows.

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• Salary and benefits offered by the residency program.

• Vacation time and sick leave.

• How is the teaching in your residency program?

• CME fund/ medical educational fund

• Maternity/parental leave during residency.

• Is Spanish language training offered?

• Does your residency program give any pre-match offers, outside the ERAS / NRMP match?

• Residency mix and proportion of American and foreign medical graduates (FMG)?

• Is there any course offered for USMLE Step 3? (Residencies other than Internal Medicine and Family practice)

• What fun activities are there nearby?

• Typical residency work hours.

• Residency Call schedule.

• How good is the security for the hospital and residency call room areas?

• Any difficulty in getting a fellowship from this residency program?

• Last year, how many Residents failed to get a fellowship?

• What type of Scut work do residents do?

• In last years ERAS / NRMP match, did you have any unfilled residency spots?

• Which areas of the city do Residents usually live?

• What is the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment?

• What is the pass percentage of your residency program in the medical specialty board exams?

• Is there a 24 hr phlebotomy team in the hospital?

• Do you get opportunities to moonlight?

• What are the strengths and weaknesses of the residency program?

• Do the Residents socialize and get together?

• What is the makeup of the patient population?

• Have any Residents left the residency program? If yes, why?

• Is your program open to accepting foreign medical graduates (FMG)?

• What average USMLE scores did the residency program accept last year?