Interview preparation guide
Asking about the ACGME institutional review: residency interview preparation guide
AAMC's program performance questions ask about the status of the last ACGME Institutional Review. That review covers the sponsoring institution behind all of its programs, so it tells you about the environment your program depends on.
How to prepare
- 1
Ask about the institution, not just the program
The AAMC list asks about the status of the last ACGME Institutional Review. ACGME's Institutional Review Committee reviews the sponsoring institution itself, so this question sits above any single program.
- 2
Ask what the institution does for residents
A strong institution shows up in resident life: institutional oversight, resident forums and support services. Ask how the institution's role is visible to residents day to day.
- 3
Weigh the answer with program-level facts
A clean institutional review does not guarantee a strong program, and a program can be solid inside a large institution. Use this answer alongside accreditation status, finances and resident accounts.
A practical exercise
Last institutional review status: [..]. Institution's role visible to residents: [..]. Read with program facts: [..].
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 about the status of the last ACGME Institutional Review. That review covers the sponsoring institution behind all of its programs, so it tells you about the environment your program depends on.
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
- Confusing the institutional review with the program's own accreditation.
- Treating the answer as the whole picture of the program.
- Skipping it because it sounds administrative.
Check your preparation
- Do I know the status of the last institutional review?
- Can I say what the institution does for residents?
- Did I weigh it with program-level facts?
Questions for your practice review
- What is the status of the last ACGME Institutional Review?
- How does the sponsoring institution support residents directly?
- Is there an institutional resident forum or council?
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 the GME office can state the institutional review status. ACGME publishes the role of its Institutional Review Committee, so the official account is easy to compare with what you are told.
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
- AAMC: insight from residents on what to ask during residency interviews
- ACGME: Institutional Review Committee
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.