Interview preparation guide
Asking about resident completion rates: residency interview preparation guide
AAMC's program performance questions ask what percent of residents complete the program. Completion speaks to whether residents thrive once they start, and the reasons behind departures matter as much as the number.
How to prepare
- 1
Ask for the completion rate plainly
The AAMC list asks what percent of residents complete the program. Ask it as a straightforward fact question, and note whether the program answers with a number or changes the subject.
- 2
Ask why residents leave when they do
Departures happen for many reasons: fellowship transfers, family moves, career changes or problems in the program. Ask for the reasons behind any recent departures, since AAMC says specific examples give a true understanding.
- 3
Ask residents whether people feel supported to finish
Residents can say whether struggling colleagues get help or get managed out. That distinction tells you more about the culture than the percentage alone.
A practical exercise
Completion rate: [percent]. Reasons for any departures: [..]. Resident view of support to finish: [..].
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 percent of residents complete the program. Completion speaks to whether residents thrive once they start, and the reasons behind departures matter as much as the number.
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
- Reading a single departure as proof of a problem.
- Accepting a percentage without the reasons behind it.
- Not asking residents how struggling colleagues are treated.
Check your preparation
- Do I know the completion rate?
- Do I know why recent departures happened?
- Did residents describe support for finishing?
Questions for your practice review
- What percent of residents complete the program?
- Why have residents left in recent years?
- What happens when a resident struggles?
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 owns the official completion figures. Current residents can describe whether colleagues are supported to finish, 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.