Residency interview answer guide
What do you do in your spare time? Residency interview answer guide
The AAMC lists this among commonly asked questions. It sounds casual, but interviewers use it to see who you are outside medicine and whether you have a way to recharge during a demanding training period.
How to approach it
- 1
Choose something true
Name an activity you actually do, even if it is simple. Interviewers can tell when a hobby has been invented for the day.
- 2
Add one specific detail
A short detail, such as how long you have done it or what you enjoy about it, makes the answer memorable and invites an easy follow-up.
- 3
Link it lightly to training
If it fits naturally, say how it helps you stay steady. Avoid turning it into a lecture about work-life balance.
A fill-in outline, not a script
Outside of work I [activity]. I started [when or how], and what I like about it is [specific detail]. During busy rotations I have kept up [smaller version], which helps me [how it supports you].
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 ACGME maintains well-being tools and resources for residents and programs and says individual resources cannot replace a program's own commitment to well-being. This question is often an easy way into that topic.
Dr. Eck of the University of Kansas told the AMA that confidence paired with humility is key. A natural, unforced answer here helps both.
Mistakes to avoid
- Saying you do not have spare time.
- Listing ten hobbies with no detail.
- Naming something that sounds risky or controversial without need.
- Giving only work-related answers such as more studying.
Check your answer
- Is the hobby real and something you could talk about for a minute?
- Is there one specific detail?
- Does it sound relaxed, not rehearsed?
Follow-up questions to expect
- How do you keep that up during a busy rotation?
- What do you plan to do in a new city?
- Who do you do that with?
Common questions
Can I mention a hobby unrelated to medicine?
Yes. That is usually the point of the question.
What if I have had little spare time in medical school?
Name the small things you do, such as walking, cooking or calling family. Honest and small is fine.
Should I mention religion, politics or other personal topics?
Share only what you are comfortable discussing in a professional setting. You can always choose a different example.
Related guides
Sources
- AAMC, Questions Frequently Asked of Applicants During Interviews
- ACGME, Well-Being Tools and Resources
- 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.