Interview preparation guide
Asking residents about relationships with other programs: residency interview preparation guide
AAMC's questions for other residents ask how residents get along with residents in other programs. Cross-program relationships affect call swaps, shared teaching and the professional network you build during training.
How to prepare
- 1
Ask residents about other programs in the hospital
The AAMC list asks how residents get along with residents in other programs. Ask residents how teams from different specialties work together on shared rotations and consultations.
- 2
Ask for a recent collaboration example
Ask for a recent example of services working well or badly together, since AAMC says specific examples give a true understanding. Tension between services shows up in daily work.
- 3
Note shared activities
Shared grand rounds, simulation days, sports leagues or social events between programs signal a wider resident community. Ask what exists and whether people actually join in.
A practical exercise
Cross-program relationship: [..]. Recent collaboration example: [..]. Shared 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 ask how residents get along with residents in other programs. Cross-program relationships affect call swaps, shared teaching and the professional network you build during training.
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
- Assuming programs in the same hospital naturally get along.
- Not asking for a concrete example of collaboration.
- Overlooking what cross-program friction would mean for your rotations.
Check your preparation
- Did I ask about relationships with other programs?
- Did I get a recent example of services working together?
- Do I know what shared activities exist?
Questions for your practice review
- How do residents here get along with residents in other programs?
- Can you give a recent example of teams working well together?
- Are there shared teaching or social activities across programs?
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?
Residents experience cross-program work daily and answer candidly in resident-only settings. Program leaders can describe formal shared activities, but the working relationships are a resident question.
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.