200+ Residency Interview Questions

Why Interview Preparation Matters

Preparing for residency interviews can feel daunting, yet it’s arguably the most decisive step in landing your dream program. Thorough residency interview preparation not only boosts confidence, but also empowers you to present the very best version of yourself when it counts.

“Don't underestimate the importance of the interview… after you have been selected for an interview, remember that the interview is the only time you have left to make an impression.” — American College of Surgeons

Program directors consistently rank interpersonal skills and interview performance among their top selection criteria. The key to a successful interview is adequate preparation, as interviewers tend to ask a range of similar common questions.” Practice really does make perfect!

Question Categories You’ll Encounter

Before diving into individual questions, it helps to understand the broad types of questions you’re likely to face:

Background & Motivation – e.g., “Tell me about yourself,” “Why this specialty?”
Behavioral / Situational – probes on teamwork, conflict resolution, leadership.
Ethical & Professionalism Scenarios – navigating dilemmas, patient safety.
Program-Specific & Career Goals – why their institution, future aspirations.

What to Expect & How to Practice

Residency interviewers usually blend all of the question types we just discussed. The upside? A familiar core set appears again and again, so focused preparation yields outsized returns. Below is a detailed list of 200+ frequently asked residency interview questions, grouped by category, from quick introductions to nuanced behavioral scenarios.

You can practice ALL of these questions on ResidencyAI both using single question mode and full mock interview mode.

Introduction Questions

These opening questions help interviewers get to know you at a high level. They often kick off the interview. Be ready with a concise “elevator pitch” about yourself and clear reasons for your choices in medicine and specialty. First impressions count, so a strong start is important.

Tell me about yourself. (An open-ended invitation to introduce your background and journey into medicine.)
Walk me through your resume/CV.
Why did you choose to become a doctor?
Why are you interested in our residency program?
What are you looking for in a residency program?
What motivated you to pursue this specialty? (What drew you to this medical field in particular?)
What made you apply to this city/area/program specifically?
Why should we choose you for our program?
What makes you unique as an applicant?
What do you bring to this residency class? (Similar to “why should we pick you,” highlighting your strengths and fit.)
How did you hear about our program? (Sometimes asked to gauge your genuine interest.)
Summarize your journey in medicine so far.
What inspired you to pursue this specialty and program?
Give us a brief overview of who you are. (Another way to ask “tell me about yourself.”)
What interests you most about our hospital or institution?
What do you hope to gain from your residency training here?

Career Goals & Aspirations

Interviewers want to know about your professional goals and how this residency fits into your plans. These questions probe your vision for your future in medicine, your understanding of the specialty, and whether you’re looking at academia, private practice, fellowship, etc.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? (Think about life right after residency.)
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? (Your longer-term career vision.)
What are your long-term career goals?
What are your short-term goals during residency?
Do you plan to pursue a fellowship? (If so, which and why?)
Are you interested in academic medicine or clinical practice?
Do you want to do research in your career?
Why did you choose this specialty? (Expect to discuss specific aspects of the field that appeal to you.)
How do you see this specialty evolving in the next 5–10 years? (And how will you adapt?)
What challenges do you foresee in this specialty, and how would you address them?
How do you plan to contribute to the field of this specialty during your career?
What are you looking for in a career after residency? (E.g. work-life balance, type of practice, patient population.)
If you could not be a physician, what career would you choose? (Shows your other interests and commitment to medicine.)
How have lifestyle considerations influenced your choice of specialty? (Be honest but professional; programs want to see you’ve thought about work-life balance.)
What does your ideal residency program look like? (Helps them see if their program aligns with your priorities.)
List three abilities or qualities you have that will make you a valuable resident.
Why do you think is the right fit for you? (Your aptitude and passion for the specialty.)
What do you hope to accomplish in your medical career?
How will this program help you achieve your career goals?
What would you do if you don’t match this year? (They may gauge your determination and backup plan.)
What would you improve about the specialty you are pursuing?
What impact do you hope to have on our specialty?

Personality Questions

These questions explore who you are as a person – your strengths, weaknesses, values, and how you handle your life outside work. Interviewers ask these to see if you’ll be a good colleague and to understand your personal attributes and resilience.

What strategies do you use to manage and relieve stress?
How do you cope when you feel overwhelmed?
What methods do you employ to manage stress?
What approaches will you use to prevent burnout during residency?
Given the demanding clinical hours of residency, how do you plan to manage the associated stress?
Recognizing that burnout is common in residency, what measures will you take to prevent it?
What are your greatest strengths?
What makes you the ideal candidate for our program?
Why do you believe you would be a perfect fit for our program?
Which skills would you contribute to our program?
How would you contribute to our program?
What makes you stand out from other applicants?
What unique qualities do you bring to the table as an applicant?
Can you list three key abilities that make you a valuable candidate for residency in this specialty?
How do you think a close friend would describe your best qualities?
What would your friends say about your character and abilities?
Can you tell me about a deficiency or red flag in your application? (For example, a low score or gap – explain candidly and emphasize growth since then.)
Tell me about your weaknesses and how you try to improve them.
In your view, what might be a reason someone would not get along with you?
What things would you like to change about yourself?
What personal trait makes you well-suited for this specialty?
Can you discuss your weaknesses and the steps you take to address them?
If I asked your best friend what they don't like about you, what would they say?
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? (Frame it as an area of self-improvement you’re actively working on.)
What professional deficiencies do you aim to improve during residency?
Are there personal areas of improvement that you plan to address during residency?
What areas have you been criticized for, and how have you addressed them?
Is there a particular aspect of your personality you wish to change?
Which skill are you most eager to develop during your residency training?
What do you consider to be the most challenging part of residency training?
As an international medical graduate, what unique challenges do you anticipate during residency compared to US graduates?
What kind of cultural differences do you expect you will have to adjust to?
What are you least looking forward in residency?
What concerns you most about beginning residency?
What challenges do you expect to encounter in your first year of residency?
Reflecting on a leader (medical or non-medical) you admire, what do you consider their most admirable qualities?
In your opinion, what qualities define an excellent mentor?
How would you define a leader?
Do you prefer to work alone or with others?
Do you perform better working independently or as part of a team?
Could you share details about your experience in medical school?
What motivates you?
Do you consider yourself organized?
What methods do you use to calm and support patients and their families?
How do you communicate and interact with other healthcare providers who are outside of your medical team?
What strategies do you use to persuade others to consider your perspective?
How will you balance being a leader and being a team player during residency?
Can you review how you communicate medical terminology to patients who are unfamiliar with medical language?
Could you explain your process for preparing and communicating with a patient before surgery?
How do you ensure that patients with unique abilities receive equal care to others?
How do you manage conflicts in a professional setting?
How do you effectively collaborate with your team during complex or lengthy procedures?
How do you earn the trust of a patient who mistrusts the health system?
What is your approach to making critical decisions?
How would you prioritize the following qualities in a resident: clinical knowledge, social skills, and hard work?
What challenges do you anticipate in balancing your professional responsibilities with your personal life?
How do you respond to constructive feedback?

Behavioral Experience Questions

Behavioral exeperience questions ask you to describe past situations – interviewers use these to gauge your problem-solving, teamwork, and professionalism, on the theory that past behavior predicts future behavior. Always be specific: use the STAR-L format (Situation, Task, Action, Result, Lessons Learned) to structure your answers. Think of real examples from med school, work, or life where you demonstrated the quality in question. If you haven’t experienced a scenario, explain what you would do (and why).

Tell me about a time you worked in a team.
Can you provide an example from medical school that highlights your teamwork abilities?
How would you describe your impact on your current medical team?
Tell me about a time you had a positive experience whilst working with a colleague.
Tell me about a time you had a conflict with a team member and how you resolved it.
Tell me about a time when communication within a team was challenging.
Tell me about a time when you disagreed with a colleague and how you resolved it?
Tell me about a time when your team faced a negative dynamic.
Tell me about a time when you disagreed with a colleague about a diagnosis or patient care, and how you addressed it?
Tell me about a time when your ethical values were challenged within a team setting?
Tell me about a time when you collaborated with someone whose perspective was very different from yours.
Tell me about a time when you had a negative experience with a colleague?
Tell me about a time when you had a conflict with a colleague and how you handled it.
Tell me about a time when you were upset with the behavior of a colleague and how you dealt with it.
What do you consider your most significant life achievement?
Can you tell me about your greatest success and what it meant to you?
Which event in your life are you most proud of?
How can you demonstrate your ability to perform under pressure?
Tell me about a time when you had to overcome a challenge in your life.
Tell me about a time when you had to make decisions under time pressure.
What has been your greatest adversity, and how did you overcome it?
What has been the most challenging clinical scenario you have encountered?
Can you describe a particularly difficult situation you faced?
Tell me about a time when you worked under pressure and how you managed it.
Describe an instance where you demonstrated resilience.
What do you consider the greatest sacrifice you have made in your journey so far?
Tell me about an experience that demonstrates your leadership abilities.
Can you elaborate on an experience where you had to lead a team?
Can you tell me about a time you led a group or team and things did not turn out the way that you wanted?
Can you tell me about a time when you were disappointed with your performance?
Please describe a failure you experienced and how you managed it.
Tell me about a patient encounter that taught you something about yourself.
Describe a patient interaction that had a significant impact on you.
What has been your most interesting patient case, and why?
Can you share an example of a positive patient interaction?
Can you share an example of a negative patient interaction?
Describe a situation when you had to manage an angry patient.
Describe a challenging patient encounter you have experienced.
Tell me about a time you were criticized and how you handled it.
Can you provide an example of when you had to offer constructive criticism to someone, and how did you approach it?
Can you describe an experience with an attending physician you found challenging?
Can you describe an experience with an outstanding attending physician?
What valuable lesson have you learned from a mentor or senior colleague?
Can you tell me about a mentor who has significantly influenced your career?
Tell me about the most important lesson you learned from your mentor.
Tell me about a time when you taught or mentored a medical student.
Tell me about a mistake you made in patient care and the steps you took to correct it.
Can you share a mistake you made in your life and the lessons you derived from it?
Tell me about one of your core values and a time you went against it.
Describe an instance when you witnessed injustice and took action to address it.
Can you describe an instance when you felt you were treated unfairly?
Can you recount a time when you had to deliver bad news to a patient or their family?
How would you approach informing a patient about a cancer diagnosis?
Describe a situation where you exceeded expectations.
Can you give an example of when you went the extra mile?
Can you describe your clinical experiences related to this specialty?

Situational Questions

Situational questions pose hypothetical scenarios to see your approach. For these, interviewers want to hear your thought process. Be systematic, prioritize patient safety, teamwork, and professionalism in your answers.

What would you do in a situation where you suspect your chief resident is working while impaired?
How would you approach a situation where you observe a colleague consistently seeing fewer patients than you and the rest of the team?
How would you respond if a patient's family member expressed dissatisfaction with your care and requested a different physician?
Imagine you are working as an intern, and you notice that one of your co-residents has made some significant errors. How would you approach this situation?
Imagine you are the program director of a residency, what core values would you focus on?
What would you do if you found that a senior doctor was having a relationship with a patient?
How would you manage a situation in which an error on your part caused significant patient harm?
Do you believe it is ever justified to break rules in order to help a patient, such as stealing medication for someone who cannnot afford it?
What will you do if you did not match into a residency program?
What alternative plans do you have if you do not secure a residency position this year?

These situational questions can be challenging! Practicing them with a friend, mentor, or on ResidencyAI is highly recommended. Each time you practice, you’ll get more comfortable telling your stories and thinking on your feet.

Miscellaneous & Unconventional Questions

Finally, be prepared for some curveballs! 😅 Miscellaneous questions are those that don’t neatly fit into the above categories. They might be abstract, quirky, or just aimed at seeing how you think on the spot. Don’t be thrown off – often there is no “right” answer. Interviewers want to see your personality, creativity, or how you handle the unexpected. Stay calm, smile, and feel free to take a moment to think before you answer.

Can you describe a particularly meaningful experience during your medical training and explain its significance?
Which subject in medical school did you find most challenging or unappealing?
Which subject did you enjoy the most during medical school?
Which clinical rotation was your favorite in medical school, and what made it stand out?
Which clinical rotation did you find least favorable in medical school, and why?
Describe a lecture in medical school that inspired you to take action or make a change.
What is the most important lesson you have learned during medical school?
What is an interesting fact about yourself that isn't mentioned in your application?
What activities make you feel like a kid?*
How do you typically spend your free time?
What aspects of life do you value the most?
What does your perfect day off look like?
What is the most recent book you read?
What genres of music do you enjoy listening to?
Tell me about a sport that you play or played.
If you could select the operating room's music playlist, what type of music would you choose?
How does the US healthcare system differ from the healthcare system in your home country?
What are your thoughts on the US healthcare system?
If you were to deliver a TED Talk, what topic would you choose and why?
What would be the title of a lecture you might deliver a decade from now?
Can you teach me a skill or share some knowledge that you find valuable?
If you had to give a lecture for 20 minutes about something non-medical, what would that be?
If you could go back 10 years, is there anything you would like to change on your journey?
Are there any regrets you have regarding your professional career thus far?
If given the chance to redo medical school, what would you change and why?
If you could have dinner with anyone, living or deceased, who would you choose and why?
If you could invite any three living people to dinner and have a conversation with them, who would you pick?
What advice would you give to your 18-year-old self?
Can you share a piece of advice that significantly influenced your career?
What valuable life lesson have you learned from your parents?
In your opinion, how important is money in achieving happiness?
If I write a biography about you, how would you like me to title it?
Can you share an example of a random act of kindness you performed recently?
Who do you consider your role models, and what qualities inspire you about them?
In social settings, do you typically take on the role of a listener or a speaker?
What challenges do you foresee our specialty encountering in the next 5 to 10 years?
In your view, what is the most important medical discovery?
What do you predict will be the next major breakthrough in medicine?
Do you believe human nature is inherently good or bad, and why?
Do you believe there is a viable solution to global poverty?
If you had one wish what would it be?
Do you have any questions for me?

Remember, unconventional questions are often meant to assess your poise and creativity, not the content of your answer. Don’t panic – smile and give it your best thought. Interviewers know these are unexpected.

ResidencyAI Practice Strategies

Turning a Massive Question Bank into Real Readiness

Staring at 200+ questions can feel overwhelming, but consistent, feedback-driven practice turns quantity into confidence. An AI platform like ResidencyAI acts as a personal simulator, available 24/7, to sharpen your answers!

Illustration: Screenshot of the ResidencyAI platform interface, which offers AI-driven mock interviews and feedback to help you ace your residency interview.

Practice Mode	What It Looks Like	Why It Helps
Full Mock Interviews	Simulate a 20-30-minute session with mixed question types in real time. Dress up, find a quiet room, and treat it like the real day.	Builds stamina, smooth transitions, and realistic pacing.
Single-Question Drills	Focus on one tough prompt (e.g., “Tell me about a time you failed”) and repeat until your structure is crisp.	Rapidly fixes weak spots without scheduling a partner.

Instant AI Feedback - After each answer, ResidencyAI provides personalised detailed feedback for each of your answers.

Anytime Access - Practice at midnight or between rounds; no need to coordinate with friends or faculty.

Remember that no matter how you practice – whether with an AI interviewer, a friend, or in front of the mirror – the objective is to build confidence. When the interview day comes, you want to feel like you’ve been there, done that!