Interview preparation guide
Preparing for the seven question categories: residency interview preparation guide
AAMC's interview preparation guide says specific questions vary among programs but generally fall into seven categories: questions about you, your career goals, your interest in the specialty, your interest in the program, your application or record, your past experiences, and hypothetical situations. Mapping your preparation to the categories covers the field.
How to prepare
- 1
Learn the map before the territory
The AAMC chapter lists the categories plainly: about you ('How would your friends describe you?'), career goals ('What do you see yourself doing in the future?'), specialty interest ('Why this specialty?', including lifestyle considerations), program interest ('Why our program?', 'What are you looking for?'), your record ('Can you tell me about this deficiency?'), past experiences ('Most difficult situation?', 'Proudest event?') and hypotheticals, including ethical scenarios like an impaired attending.
- 2
Prepare at least one answer per category
Coverage beats depth at the category level: an applicant with a strong story bank who has never rehearsed explaining a transcript deficiency or an impaired-colleague hypothetical will meet that question cold. Draft one response per category, then deepen the ones your application makes likely.
- 3
Use the categories to find your gaps
The record and hypothetical categories are the ones applicants avoid preparing. The AAMC list exists precisely so nothing on it is a surprise; treat any category you are tempted to skip as the one to practice first.
A practical exercise
One prepared answer per category: [7/7]. Weakest category identified: [..]. Record question drafted: [yes/no]. Hypothetical practiced aloud: [yes/no].
This is an editorial exercise to adapt to your own interview, not a script or a program requirement.
What the source guidance supports
AAMC's interview preparation guide says specific questions vary among programs but generally fall into seven categories: questions about you, your career goals, your interest in the specialty, your interest in the program, your application or record, your past experiences, and hypothetical situations. Mapping your preparation to the categories covers the field.
The exercises and checklists are editorial applications of the cited guidance, not required program procedures or predictions of interview outcomes. Formats and policies vary by program, so follow your actual invitation, the R3 system and school guidance.
Mistakes to avoid
- Preparing the friendly categories and hoping the record question never comes.
- Memorizing category labels instead of building answers; the categories are a coverage check, not a script.
- Assuming your program's questions will stay inside the map; AAMC says questions vary among programs.
Check your preparation
- Can I give a prepared answer in each of the seven categories?
- Have I drafted the answer about the weakest part of my record?
- Have I practiced an ethical hypothetical aloud?
Questions for your practice review
- Which of the seven categories is my weakest?
- What is my honest, forward-looking answer about the deficiency in my record?
- How would I handle the impaired-attending hypothetical?
Common questions
Where do these categories come from?
From AAMC's common residency interview topics chapter in its applicant interview preparation guide, current for the 2027 ERAS season. AAMC notes specific questions vary among programs and links a longer frequently-asked-questions list behind sign-in.
How do I prepare the individual categories?
Each category has its own technique: our guides on behavioral and situational answers, on telling your story and on answering record questions cover the major ones, and the answer guides across this hub drill specific questions.
Is this current for the 2027 ERAS season?
The cited guidance is published by AAMC and NRMP as current for applicants in the 2027 ERAS season. Program formats, policies and Match dates change year to year, so confirm the details with each program and the current NRMP schedule.
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.