Interview preparation guide
Planning around interview offers, response windows and cancellations: residency interview preparation guide
NRMP documents encourage programs to publish release dates and offer deadlines, and the 2027 agreement sets expectations for applicants. Prepare a calendar that follows each invitation.
How to prepare
- 1
Collect the dates in each invitation
Check each program website and invitation message for release information, response deadlines and scheduling instructions. The NRMP Code of Conduct says programs are encouraged to publish a universal release date or a small number of dates and a deadline for extending offers. Encouragement is not a guarantee, so check each invitation. The 2027 agreement says applicants may expect programs to give at least 48 hours to accept or reject an invitation.
- 2
Accept only interviews you intend to attend
The 2027 agreement says applicants shall make judicious decisions about interview offers, accepting only those they intend to fulfill. Keep a calendar with date, time zone, platform and format for each acceptance so conflicts are visible early.
- 3
Plan cancellations early
The agreement says applicants should apply reasonable notice, for example one to two weeks, when they need to cancel or request rescheduling. Use the program's stated process and tell the contact as early as you can.
A practical exercise
Program: [..]. Date and time zone: [..]. Format: [..]. Response deadline: [..]. Conflict: [..]. Action and notice date: [..].
This is an editorial exercise to adapt to your own interview, not a script or a program requirement.
What the source guidance supports
The NRMP Code of Conduct encourages published release dates and deadlines; the 2027 agreement covers response windows, attendance and cancellation notice.
The exercises and checklists are editorial applications of the cited guidance, not legal advice, required program procedures or predictions of interview outcomes. NRMP statements were checked against the 2027 Match Participation Agreement for applicants and the Match Code of Conduct for Applicants, which the NRMP applicant code page (updated November 21, 2024) links as its current document. They are separate documents. Follow your actual invitation, school guidance and the current NRMP documents.
Mistakes to avoid
- Assuming a date is universal.
- Missing time-zone details.
- Cancelling late without using the program process.
Check your preparation
- Is each date documented?
- Is the time zone clear?
- Do I intend to attend every accepted interview?
Questions for your practice review
- What is the response deadline?
- How do I reschedule?
- Who should I notify?
Common questions
Does every program publish release dates?
No. The NRMP Code says programs are encouraged to, so check each program.
How much notice for a cancellation?
The 2027 agreement gives one to two weeks as an example of reasonable notice.
Related guides
Sources
- NRMP: Match Code of Conduct for Applicants
- NRMP: 2027 Match Participation Agreement for applicants
- AAMC: preparing for interviews
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.