Interview preparation guide
Gathering interview details in advance: residency interview preparation guide
AAMC's preparation guide recommends getting as much information about each interview from the program as possible before the day. Format, platform, length, interviewer count, question types and the competencies being assessed all change how you should prepare, and programs will usually share them if you ask.
How to prepare
- 1
Ask about format and platform early
The AAMC guide lists what is worth knowing in advance: whether the interview is virtual, hybrid or in-person, whether a virtual interview is live or asynchronous, and which video platform it uses. Ask your contact person as soon as the invitation arrives, because the answers drive everything else in your preparation.
- 2
Ask about structure and content
The same list includes the number of interviewers, the interview length, the types of interview questions and any list of competencies or skills being assessed. A program that shares a competency list is telling you exactly what to prepare examples for.
- 3
Ask for the protocol in writing
The AAMC list ends with interview protocol or instructions to follow during the interview. Save whatever the program sends, and if nothing arrives, a short email to the coordinator asking what to expect is a normal, professional question.
A practical exercise
Format (virtual, hybrid, in-person): [..]. Live or asynchronous: [..]. Platform: [..]. Interviewers and length: [..]. Question types and competencies: [..]. Protocol saved: [yes/no].
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 preparation guide recommends getting as much information about each interview from the program as possible before the day. Format, platform, length, interviewer count, question types and the competencies being assessed all change how you should prepare, and programs will usually share them if you ask.
The exercises and checklists are editorial applications of the cited guidance, not required program procedures or predictions of interview outcomes. Formats and policies vary by program, so follow your actual invitation and school guidance.
Mistakes to avoid
- Preparing for a generic interview when the program has already published its format and competencies.
- Feeling that asking for logistics bothers the coordinator; the AAMC guide treats this as expected preparation.
- Reading the invitation once and missing instructions buried in later emails.
Check your preparation
- Do I know the format, platform and whether the interview is live or asynchronous?
- Do I know the length, interviewer count, question types and competencies being assessed?
- Have I saved the program's protocol and instructions somewhere I can reread the day before?
Questions for your practice review
- Will the interview be virtual, hybrid or in-person, and live or asynchronous?
- How many interviewers will I meet, how long is the interview and what question types should I expect?
- Is there a list of competencies or skills being assessed, and any protocol I should follow?
Common questions
Is it acceptable to ask a program for these details?
Yes. AAMC's preparation guide explicitly recommends gathering this information from the program, including your contact person, before the interview. Programs that run structured interviews often publish it without being asked.
What if the program does not answer?
Prepare for the common case: a live virtual or in-person interview with a mix of general, behavioral and situational questions. The AAMC guide's own preparation steps are written for exactly that default.
Is this current for the 2027 ERAS season?
AAMC publishes this interview preparation guide as current guidance for applicants interviewing in the 2027 ERAS season. Program formats and policies change year to year, so confirm the details with each program that invites you.
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.