Questions to ask a residency program
Evaluation and useful feedback: questions to ask at a residency interview
Ask when feedback happens, how it reaches residents and how they turn it into a learning plan. A completed form and a useful conversation are not necessarily the same thing.
How to explore this topic
- 1
Distinguish the feedback channels
Ask about scheduled evaluations, direct feedback during work and other assessments relevant to the specialty. Read published information first. Do not assume one form tells you everything about the resident's development.
- 2
Ask how feedback becomes action
Ask residents for a general example of advice that changed their approach and how they followed up. Ask faculty how goals are discussed and reviewed. Avoid requesting someone else's evaluation record or comparing named residents.
- 3
Check consistency and access
Clarify whether the process varies across sites and how a resident seeks clarification when feedback is vague or conflicting. Note whether the example is routine or unusually helpful. A friendly interview conversation is not proof of the quality of formal feedback.
A question to adapt
How do residents receive feedback during a rotation as well as at its end? How are learning goals agreed and reviewed after that feedback?
This is editorial sample wording, not a quotation or a question every applicant must ask. Adapt it to your interests and the information the program already provides.
What the source guidance supports
AAMC's Resident Performance section asks how often residents are evaluated, the evaluation format and other feedback such as in-training examinations.
AAMC advises asking administrators and residents for specific examples and being honest about your own preferences. These are editorial questions to adapt, not a scoring checklist or a claim about a particular program.
Mistakes to avoid
- Counting evaluation forms as the whole feedback system.
- Asking to see private assessment records.
- Assuming positive comments mean actionable guidance.
Check what you learned
- Are timing and delivery explained?
- Is there a route to clarify conflicting feedback?
- Did you ask how goals are revisited?
Useful follow-up questions
- What feedback changed your practice recently?
- How do residents request more specific feedback?
- How does the process work across different sites?
Common questions
Should I ask about exam feedback too?
If relevant, yes. Ask how the program helps residents interpret and act on assessments rather than simply asking for scores.
What if residents describe different experiences?
Record the differences and ask about rotation, timing and context. Do not average away a meaningful inconsistency.
Can I request an evaluation example?
Ask for a general process or anonymized illustration, not a resident's private record.
Related guides
Sources
This page is general editorial guidance based on the sources above. It is not a prediction of any program's questions or a statement of its current policies.