Residency interview answer guide
What are you looking for in a program? Residency interview guide
The AAMC lists this question among those applicants commonly hear. A program wants to know whether its training matches what you need, and it also wants to see that you have thought about this beyond reputation.
How to approach it
- 1
Name two or three priorities
Think about teaching style, patient population, supervision, research access or how graduates train. Choose the ones you can explain, and avoid listing everything.
- 2
Tie each priority to evidence
Say why it matters to you and what you noticed on the program's website, in conversations with residents or in the day's schedule. The AMA suggests studying the program's aims and vision before the day.
- 3
Stay honest about fit
If a priority is not a perfect match, you do not need to hide it. You are also deciding whether to rank this program, and a thoughtful answer shows you take that seriously.
A fill-in outline, not a script
I am looking for [priority one], because [reason from your experience]. In this program I noticed [specific feature], which matches that. I also care about [priority two], and I was glad to see [evidence]. I think I would grow most in a place that [short summary].
This is an illustrative outline. Replace every bracket with something true from your own experience. The AAMC advises applicants to prepare rather than rehearse, so you can answer the question you are actually asked.
What advisers and program directors say
The AMA quotes Dr. Eck saying to review notes on the program's goals, aims, vision and mission before interview day, and to read up on the faculty you will meet if you know who they are.
Dr. Eck also recommends having five or six questions ready for interviewers. Your priorities in this answer are a natural source for those questions.
Mistakes to avoid
- Naming only location or prestige.
- Giving the same answer for every program, so it could apply to any.
- Listing priorities the program clearly does not offer.
- Treating the answer as flattery instead of fit.
Check your answer
- Can you name one detail you learned about this program?
- Are your priorities connected to your own experience?
- Would the answer change at another program?
Follow-up questions to expect
- What would be the hardest part of training here for you?
- What else are you comparing us to?
- How do you learn best?
Common questions
How is this different from “Why are you interested in our program?”
That question asks what attracted you. This one asks what you need. Use priorities for this one and attraction for the other.
Should I mention location?
If it matters, say so briefly and honestly. Programs understand that family and community are real reasons.
What if I interview at many similar programs?
Keep notes after each interview. The AAMC advises capturing your impressions straight away because programs start to look alike over time.
Related guides
Sources
- AAMC, Questions Frequently Asked of Applicants During Interviews
- AAMC, Preparing for Your Interview(s)
- AMA, A program director's do's and don'ts for residency interviews (Dec 2024)
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.