Questions to Ask During Your Residency Interview
Table of contents
Asking thoughtful questions is not a formality—it’s how you evaluate fit, surface program strengths/weaknesses, and leave a professional impression. Both the AAMC and AMA emphasize that your questions help determine whether a program aligns with your learning needs, values, and career goals. A unifying theme is to avoid what’s already on the website and instead probe deeper into training culture, workload, and support systems.
“The questions you ask will form a vital part of determining which programs are the best fit.” (AMA)
How to Use This Guide
- Prepare: Research the program and bring 3–5 tailored questions per interviewer (PD/faculty vs. residents). (AAMC)
- Prioritize: Lead with topics that affect training quality (curriculum, autonomy, wellness, mentorship). (AMA)
- Personalize: Briefly frame why a question matters to you (e.g., rural practice, clinician-educator path).
- Be respectful of time: Aim for 2–3 questions per conversation and save the rest for Q&A sessions or email.
Who to Ask What (At-a-Glance)
| Topic | Best Person to Ask | Example Question | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curriculum & Didactics | Program Director / Faculty | “How are didactics protected from clinical duties?” | Gauge educational priority. (AAMC) |
| Workload & Autonomy | Faculty & Senior Residents | “How is progressive responsibility structured from PGY-1 to graduation?” | Assess independence & supervision. |
| Wellness & Benefits | PD/Admin + Residents | “What wellness resources and family leave policies exist?” | Understand support systems. (AAMC, AMA) |
| Culture & Camaraderie | Current Residents | “How do residents get along inside/outside the hospital?” | Sense team dynamics. (AMA) |
| Fellowship/Career | PD/Faculty | “What do recent graduates do (fellowship vs practice)?” | Career trajectory & mentorship. (AMA) |
Core Categories & High-Yield Questions
1) Curriculum & Educational Experience
- Teaching structure: “What formal and informal learning opportunities can I expect (lectures, bedside rounds, simulation)?” (AMA)
- Protected time: “Are didactics truly protected? How is clinical coverage arranged during conferences?” (AAMC)
- Feedback: “How often and how specifically are residents evaluated? How does resident feedback change the curriculum?”
- Mentorship & onboarding: “What orientation and mentorship systems exist for interns and new transfers?”
2) Day-to-Day Clinical Work, Workload & Autonomy
- Call & hours: “How are nights/call structured? What’s the typical census and workflow on busy rotations?”
- Service vs. education: “Does clinical volume support a good balance between service and education?” (AMA)
- Ancillary support: “Which support teams (phlebotomy, transport, IV team, scribes, social work) are available on wards and nights?”
- Graded responsibility: “How does responsibility increase over time, and how is readiness assessed?”
3) Wellness, Benefits & Life Outside the Hospital
- Wellness infrastructure: “What initiatives, mental-health resources, or wellness days exist to prevent burnout?” (ACS)
- Resident life: “What do residents do for fun here? Is there time (and support) for community, hobbies, or family?” (AMA)
4) Culture & Fit
- Camaraderie: “How do residents support one another during intense rotations?” (AMA)
- Faculty approachability: “How would you describe relationships between residents and faculty (coaching, feedback, accessibility)?”
- Program responsiveness: “Can you share a recent change made because of resident feedback?”
5) Research, Scholarship & Career Development
- Opportunities & time: “How do residents access research mentorship and protected time? Are there conference funding pathways?”
- Graduate outcomes: “Which fellowships and practice settings do graduates enter?” (Ask for 3-year snapshots.) (AMA)
- Teaching & leadership: “What chances do residents have to teach students or lead QI/committee work?”
- Exam support: “How do you prepare residents for ITE/boards (review series, question banks, structured coaching)?”
What to Ask Current Residents
Residents offer your most unvarnished view of morale, workload, and culture:
- “In your view, what are the program’s biggest strengths and areas for improvement?” (AAMC)
- “Knowing what you know now, would you choose this program again, and why?” (AAMC)
- “Is the workload manageable, and is there adequate ancillary support to limit non-educational tasks?”
- “When residents raise concerns, how does leadership respond?” (Ask for a recent example.)
Avoid These Pitfalls
- Re-asking the website: Skip basics (rotation list, salary line items) unless you’re probing impact (“How did the new curriculum change autonomy?”).
- Leading/negative frames: Prefer neutral phrasing (“How is workload balanced?” vs “Do you overwork residents?”).
After the Interview: Questions for Yourself
When you debrief, ask:
- Can I see myself thriving with these people for the next 3–7 years? (AAMC)
- Did the program demonstrate responsiveness to resident feedback and a learning-first culture?
- Does the location, schedule, and support fit my life realities (partner, family, cost of living)? (ACS)
Sample High-Yield Questions
| Category | Question |
|---|---|
| Education | “What makes your teaching conferences effective, and how are they protected?” (AAMC) |
| Autonomy | “How is readiness for increased responsibility assessed?” |
| Workload | “How do you ensure a balance between service and education during high-volume months?” (AMA) |
| Support | “Which ancillary services are available overnight?” |
| Wellness | “What wellness resources do residents actually use?” (ACS) |
| Careers | “Where have the last three graduating classes matched or practiced?” (AMA) |
| Culture | “What’s a change implemented from resident feedback in the last year?” |
| Specialty | Surgery: “Approximate case volumes by PGY and early intern OR exposure?” (ACS) |
Practice With ResidencyAI
Staring at 200+ questions can feel overwhelming, but consistent, feedback-driven practice turns quantity into confidence. ResidencyAI will act as your personal interview coach, available 24/7, to help you practice and refine your answers.
Ready to practice your interview skills?
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| Practice Mode | What It Looks Like | Why It Helps |
|---|---|---|
| Full Mock Interviews | Simulate a 20-30-minute session from a variety of interview scenarios. Find a quiet room, and start practicing as if it was a real interview. | Build stamina and confidence, and polish your overall flow. |
| Single-Question Drills | Select any of 200+ questions from the Qbank and tackle them one at a time. | Gives you the ability to practice your weak spots or uncommon questions without running a full interview - especially useful when time is limited. |
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.
Why It Works
- Personalized analytics for every answer - overalll feedback, strengths, areas for improvements.
- Progress tracking to track your progress in getting interview ready in time for your first interview.
- 24/7 availability for stress-free, on-demand practice - no scheduling, just practice anytime you want.
- Affordable price compared to other services
Remember that while practicing with a friend or in front of the mirror can build confidence, ResidencyAI will help you practice a variety of interview types, as well as give you feedback on your answers that will help you improve! When the interview day comes, you want to feel like you’ve been there, done that.
Final Takeaway
Approach interviews as a two-way evaluation. Use targeted, open-ended questions to illuminate how you will be trained, supported, and mentored, and to decide where you’ll thrive. Back your instincts with specifics-from curriculum and autonomy to wellness and career outcomes-and you will walk away with clarity and confidence.