Interview preparation guide
Asking residents about culture and faculty access: residency interview preparation guide
AAMC's list of questions for other residents covers faculty accessibility, collegiality, how residents get along and how the program responds to suggestions. These are best answered by residents themselves.
How to prepare
- 1
Choose the questions that fit your priorities
The AAMC list asks how accessible the faculty are, whether relationships with faculty are collegial, whether residents get along with one another and with residents in other programs. Pick the ones you care about most.
- 2
Ask about change over time
The list also asks what has changed since the resident came to the program and whether the program is responsive to suggestions for change. Ask for an example of a change that happened.
- 3
Ask about life outside the program
AAMC lists questions on activities outside the program and how a spouse or significant other likes the area. Ask them only where they matter to you.
A practical exercise
Faculty access: [..]. Collegiality: [..]. Resident relationships: [..]. Change example: [..]. Outside activities: [..].
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 questions for other residents cover faculty accessibility, collegiality, resident relationships and responsiveness to suggestions.
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
- Asking a resident something a program leader should answer.
- Expecting one resident to speak for everyone.
- Asking only closed yes or no questions.
Check your preparation
- Did I ask for an example?
- Did I ask more than one resident?
- Did I note what each said?
Questions for your practice review
- How accessible are faculty?
- What has changed since you started?
- How do residents spend time outside work?
Common questions
Why ask residents instead of faculty?
AAMC says some questions are best answered by other residents. Culture questions are one example.
How many residents should I ask?
This guide cannot give a number. More than one account gives a fuller picture than one.
Should I share what a resident told me?
No. Use it only for your own comparison.
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.