Residency interview answer guide
“Why should we choose you?” Residency interview answer guide
This question appears on the AAMC list of commonly asked residency interview questions. It invites a summary of what you would add to the program, which is hard to do without sounding boastful or generic.
How to approach it
- 1
Offer two or three qualities
Pick qualities that matter in a resident, such as dependability, teamwork, communication or curiosity. Choose the ones your evaluations, mentors or experiences actually support.
- 2
Give evidence
For each quality, use a short example. Evidence makes a modest answer more convincing than strong adjectives.
- 3
Tie it to the program
End with how those qualities fit what the program does. Use something specific you have verified on its own site.
A fill-in outline, not a script
I think I would contribute [quality] and [quality]. For example, [short evidence for each]. I was interested in your program because [verified feature], and I would hope to bring those habits to [specific part of training].
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 notes that program directors have put growing weight on soft skills in interviews: communicating clearly, listening actively and offering honest reflection on your path in medicine.
Dr. Eck's advice on tone is confidence paired with humility. Evidence from your own experience carries more weight than adjectives.
Mistakes to avoid
- Comparing yourself to other applicants. You cannot know their records.
- Repeating a list of accomplishments from your CV.
- Promising outcomes you cannot control, such as becoming a chief resident.
- Using the same answer for every program.
Check your answer
- Is each quality backed by something you did?
- Does the answer include one detail specific to this program?
- Does it sound like you speaking, not a slogan?
Follow-up questions to expect
- Tell me more about that example.
- How would a colleague describe that quality?
- What do you most hope to learn here?
Common questions
Is it arrogant to talk about my strengths?
Not if you give evidence and stay factual. Describing what you did and what others observed is different from saying you are the best.
Should I mention my scores?
Usually no. The program already has them. Use the answer for qualities the application does not show well.
Can I reuse my answer to 'strengths'?
You can reuse the same examples, but frame this answer around what the program gains from them.
Related guides
Sources
- AAMC, Questions Frequently Asked of Applicants During Interviews
- AMA, Guide to interviewing with residency programs
- 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.