Interview preparation guide
Asking about family leave and parental policies: residency interview preparation guide
AAMC's employment questions ask what the family leave policy is. Ask how it works in practice and how residents have actually used it, since a policy on paper and a policy in use can differ.
How to prepare
- 1
Ask the question in its plainest form
The AAMC employment list asks what the family leave policy is. Ask it directly, then ask how the policy works in practice: length, pay and how scheduling is handled on return.
- 2
Ask how residents have used it
AAMC says to ask for specific examples that give a true understanding of the program. Ask whether residents have taken family leave recently and how the program covered their duties.
- 3
Ask without disclosing your own plans
You can ask about the policy as policy. Frame it as something every resident may need, and note the answer the same way for every program so you can compare later.
A practical exercise
Policy: [length and pay]. Recent use: [example]. Coverage during leave: [how]. Return scheduling: [how handled].
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 employment questions ask what the family leave policy is. Ask how it works in practice and how residents have actually used it, since a policy on paper and a policy in use can differ.
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
- Not asking because the topic feels personal.
- Accepting that a policy exists without asking how it has been used.
- Comparing a written policy at one program with rumor at another.
Check your preparation
- Did I ask what the family leave policy is?
- Did I learn how residents have actually used it?
- Did I record the answer the same way for each program?
Questions for your practice review
- What is the family leave policy?
- Have residents taken family leave recently, and how was coverage handled?
- How is the return to clinical duties scheduled?
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 program leader for the policy, then ask residents how it has worked for colleagues who used it.
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.