Interview preparation guide
Asking about conference attendance and funding: residency interview preparation guide
AAMC's education questions ask whether attendance at regional and national conferences is encouraged, whether it is funded and, if so, to what degree.
How to prepare
- 1
Ask encouragement and funding separately
The AAMC list asks whether conference attendance is encouraged and whether it is funded, and, if so, to what degree. Ask both parts, because encouragement without funding is a different answer.
- 2
Ask for a recent example
AAMC says to ask administrators and residents for specific examples that give a true understanding of the program. Ask how many residents attended a conference in the last year and what was paid for.
- 3
Record the answer per program
Note who answered and the degree of funding stated. Some questions are best answered by residents and some by program leaders, according to AAMC, so keep the source with the answer when you compare programs.
A practical exercise
Encouraged: [..]. Funded: [yes, no or partly]. Degree: [..]. Recent example: [..]. Source: [resident or leader].
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 education questions ask whether attendance at regional and national conferences is encouraged, whether it is funded and to what degree.
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
- Merging encouragement and funding into one vague answer.
- Accepting a policy statement without a recent example.
- Comparing programs without noting who answered each time.
Check your preparation
- Did I ask both encouragement and funding?
- Did I hear a recent example?
- Did I note the funding degree and who answered?
Questions for your practice review
- How many residents went to a conference last year?
- What does funding usually cover, fees, travel or both?
- Is there a limit on funded conferences per year?
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?
AAMC says some questions are best answered by residents in the program. Ask a coordinator or leader about policy, then ask residents what was actually funded.
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.