Residency interview answer guide
How well do you take criticism? Residency interview answer guide
Taking feedback is on the AAMC's list of commonly asked residency interview questions. Residents get feedback constantly, so programs want to see how you react and what you do with it.
How to approach it
- 1
Choose a real example
Pick feedback that was specific and mattered, such as an evaluation comment or a correction during a rotation. Avoid trivial examples.
- 2
Describe your reaction honestly
If it stung at first, you can say so. What counts is what you did next.
- 3
Show the change and a habit
Explain what you changed and how you now seek feedback, for example by asking for it mid-rotation or after a procedure.
A fill-in outline, not a script
On [rotation], my [supervisor] told me [specific feedback]. My first reaction was [honest reaction]. I [action taken], and later [what changed]. Now I ask [how you request feedback] so I can adjust sooner.
This is an illustrative outline. Replace every bracket with something true from your own experience. The AAMC advises applicants to prepare rather than rehearse, so you can answer the question you are actually asked.
What advisers and program directors say
Dr. Eck's reminder that confidence works best alongside humility applies directly here. Dr. DeWaters adds that blaming others reads badly and that owning what happened is expected.
Dr. Eck also suggests that when a question stumps you in one interview, you write it down afterwards and think it through, so you have a framework next time. That is a concrete example of acting on feedback you give yourself.
Mistakes to avoid
- Saying you take criticism perfectly well, with no example.
- Choosing an example where the feedback was clearly wrong and you were right.
- Describing resentment toward the person who gave it.
- Stopping before saying what changed.
Check your answer
- Is there a specific piece of feedback in your example?
- Does the answer say what you did differently?
- Does it show how you ask for feedback now?
Follow-up questions to expect
- Was there feedback you disagreed with?
- How do you respond when feedback is delivered poorly?
- How would you give feedback to a junior colleague?
Common questions
What if I disagreed with the feedback?
You can say so, but show that you still listened, asked questions and found something useful in it.
Can I use a non-medical example?
Yes, if it is a strong one, but a clinical example is usually more relevant.
Should I use STAR?
The AAMC describes STAR (situation, task, action, result) for behavior-based questions. It is a helpful structure, as long as the answer still sounds natural.
Related guides
Sources
- AAMC, Questions Frequently Asked of Applicants During Interviews
- AAMC, Preparing for Your Interview(s)
- AMA, A program director's do's and don'ts for residency interviews (Dec 2024)
- AMA, How to address a medical school misstep in residency interviews (Oct 2023)
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.