Residency interview answer guide
Favorite course in medical school: residency interview answer guide
The AAMC lists this among commonly asked questions. It sounds light, but interviewers use it to hear what kind of learning excites you and whether your interests fit the specialty you are applying to.
How to approach it
- 1
Pick a course you can talk about
Choose the course you remember most, even if it is not the one that sounds most impressive. If you cannot say why you liked it, choose another.
- 2
Say what drew you in
Describe the content, the teaching or the way of thinking that engaged you. A detail such as a particular lab, case or teacher makes the answer real.
- 3
Link it to your direction
If it connects to your specialty, say how. If it does not, say what it taught you about how you like to learn.
A fill-in outline, not a script
My favorite course was [course]. What I liked was [specific content, method or teacher]. It changed how I [think about patients, problems or learning]. I still use [skill or idea] when I [clinical setting], and it is part of why I am drawn to [specialty or kind of work].
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 AAMC advises being a storyteller: stories are powerful and memorable ways to convey ideas, and it suggests reflecting on what you learned and how you changed. A course you loved is an easy place to start.
Dr. Leigh Eck, quoted by the AMA, recommends reviewing a program's goals, aims, vision and mission before the interview. If your favorite course connects to something the program does well, that preparation lets you say so.
Mistakes to avoid
- Naming a course with no reason.
- Choosing one you think the interviewer wants to hear.
- Criticising other courses or faculty.
- Turning the answer into a list of grades.
Check your answer
- Can you say why in one sentence?
- Is there a detail only you would mention?
- Does the answer say something about how you learn?
Follow-up questions to expect
- What was the hardest part of that course?
- Did it influence your specialty choice?
- How do you learn best?
Common questions
Should it relate to my specialty?
It helps if it does, but it does not have to. A candid answer about what you enjoy is better than a forced link.
What if I did not enjoy any course?
Choose the one that taught you the most and explain why. Honest and specific works.
Can I mention a non-science course?
Yes. Ethics, communication or public health courses can say a lot about how you think.
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.