Interview preparation guide
Asking about accreditation citations and corrections: residency interview preparation guide
AAMC's program performance questions ask what citations the program received at its last review and what has been done to correct them. A citation is not automatically a reason to walk away, but the correction story tells you how the program responds to problems.
How to prepare
- 1
Ask the question directly and neutrally
The AAMC program performance list asks what citations were issued at the last review and what has been done to correct them. Ask it factually, as a normal due-diligence question, not as an accusation.
- 2
Listen for the correction, not just the citation
Any program can receive a citation. What matters is what changed: a named action with a date is a real correction, while a vague assurance that everything is fine is not.
- 3
Check the story with residents
Ask residents whether they noticed the cited issue and whether it changed. AAMC says specific examples give a true understanding, and residents live the daily reality behind a correction plan.
A practical exercise
Citations at last review: [issues named]. Corrections with dates: [..]. Resident view of the change: [..].
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 program performance questions ask what citations the program received at its last review and what has been done to correct them. A citation is not automatically a reason to walk away, but the correction story tells you how the program responds to problems.
The exercises and checklists are editorial applications of the cited guidance, not required program procedures or predictions of interview outcomes. Costs and formats vary by program, so follow your actual invitation and school guidance.
Mistakes to avoid
- Treating any citation as an automatic rejection of the program.
- Accepting assurance without a named correction and date.
- Not asking residents whether the cited problem actually changed.
Check your preparation
- Did I ask about citations at the last review?
- Did I hear what was done to correct them, with dates?
- Did residents confirm the change in practice?
Questions for your practice review
- Were there any citations at the last accreditation review?
- What has been done to correct them since?
- Have residents noticed the change day to day?
Common questions
Is this an official list of required questions?
No. AAMC describes it as a list created by residents and students to help you assess fit, and says to build your own more specific questions from it.
Who should I ask?
The program director or coordinator owns the official account of citations and corrections. Residents can say whether the correction is visible in daily work, and AAMC notes some questions are best answered by residents.
Is this current for the 2027 ERAS season?
AAMC publishes this question list as current guidance for applicants interviewing in the 2027 ERAS season. Program answers change year to year, so ask each program for its own current answer.
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.