Interview preparation guide
Understanding program signals and interview invitations: residency interview preparation guide
AAMC says programs use program signals as one data point when deciding whom to invite to interview. Understanding how signals work helps you read your invitations without over-interpreting them.
How to prepare
- 1
Know what a signal is
AAMC says program signals let you express interest in individual programs at the time of application, and programs are told to use them as one of many data points when deciding whom to invite to interview. The number of signals varies by specialty.
- 2
Know what programs see
AAMC says only programs you signal and apply to see your signals. Standard signals show as "Yes". Tiered signaling, used by some specialties, shows "Gold" or "Silver". If you do not signal a program, it receives no information.
- 3
Avoid over-reading an invitation
AAMC reports survey results from the previous (2026 ERAS) season, where 96% of respondents used signals to help decide whom to invite. That figure is from last season, not a measure of the current 2027 season. That does not say why you were or were not invited. Prepare for the interview itself, and contact the program directly with questions about how it uses signals.
A practical exercise
Specialty: [..]. Signals available: [..]. Programs I signalled: [..]. Programs that invited me: [..]. What I will prepare: [..]. Question for a program: [..].
This is an editorial exercise to adapt to your own interview, not a script or a program requirement.
What the source guidance supports
AAMC says programs use signals as one data point for interview selection, that only signalled and applied programs see them, and that participation is optional.
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 a signal guarantees an interview.
- Reading an invitation as proof of a signal's effect.
- Planning interview answers around the signal rather than the program.
Check your preparation
- Do I know my specialty's rules?
- Did I check the dates?
- Am I preparing for the interview itself?
Questions for your practice review
- How does the program use signals?
- Do I know how many my specialty allows?
- What should I prepare for this program?
Common questions
Do all programs take part?
No. AAMC says participation within each specialty is optional and you cannot send a signal to a program that is not participating.
Can I change a signal?
AAMC says you can update a signal for an applied program before the program opening date, which for September cycle residency programs in the 2027 ERAS season is September 23, 2026 at 9 a.m. ET, and not after. These are AAMC's dates for that season, so check the AAMC page for your own cycle.
Does signalling affect interview prep?
This guide cannot say. Treat the invitation as an invitation and prepare for the interview.
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.