Interview preparation guide
Asking about meals, parking and educational funds: residency interview preparation guide
AAMC's employment questions ask whether parking is a concern, whether meals are paid for when on call and whether there is reimbursement for educational supplies and books. Small costs repeat for years, so ask for the actual numbers.
How to prepare
- 1
Ask the three questions plainly
The AAMC employment list asks whether parking is a concern for residents, whether meals are paid for when on call and whether there is reimbursement for educational supplies and books. Ask all three so small recurring costs are visible before you rank.
- 2
Ask for amounts and mechanics
Ask what parking costs per month, how call meals are provided and what the annual educational fund is, with what it can be spent on. AAMC says specific answers give a true understanding of the program.
- 3
Compare total cost, not single items
Record each answer the same way for every program. A program with paid parking and a real book fund can be worth a meaningfully different amount over three or more years.
A practical exercise
Parking: [cost per month or free]. Call meals: [provided, stipend or none]. Educational fund: [amount per year], usable for [what].
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 whether parking is a concern, whether meals are paid for when on call and whether there is reimbursement for educational supplies and books. Small costs repeat for years, so ask for the actual numbers.
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 small recurring costs as beneath asking.
- Not asking for amounts and mechanics.
- Comparing programs on salary alone.
Check your preparation
- Did I ask all three questions?
- Did I get amounts and mechanics?
- Did I record them the same way for each program?
Questions for your practice review
- Is parking a concern for residents, and what does it cost?
- Are meals paid for when on call?
- Is there reimbursement for educational supplies and books?
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 chief resident or program coordinator for the numbers, then ask current residents what they actually spend.
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.