Preparing for Your Residency Interview

1466 Views
Crush Your Residency Interview!
Performing well during the residency interview is critical in maximizing your chances at being ranked well in a particular program. In order to present the best version of yourself, you must prepare, then practice, practice, and PRACTICE! This cannot be emphasized enough. Below are some tips for what to focus on in your preparations:
Know yourself:
-
- Know yourself and be prepared to fluently describe your past experiences (childhood, hardships, personality traits, etc)
- Prepare ~10 important personal stories that you can apply to behavioral interview questions (i.e. a time you had a conflict with a team member, a time you had a difficult patient encounter, a time you received negative feedback).
- Obtain a list of potential interview questions and brainstorm answers to these. Residency interviews are peppered with open-ended questions that allow you to expand on your education, accomplishments, and passions. You need to have answers ready and clearly defined since some interviews may be short and those seconds can count!
Related Articles
Read More- As a side note–brainstorming may mean different things for different people – anything from simply formulating responses in your head to literally writing out responses to common questions.
- At the same time, try to keep at least somewhat of an impromptu style of answering these interview questions such that you do not sound too rehearsed as an applicant and so you can sound more genuine to the interviewer.
- Do at least one formal mock interview (ideally with someone knowledgeable about the process).
Know your application:
- Know your application!!! This might seem obvious, but anything on your CV/ERAS is fair game, including the abstract you were 4th author on during the summer of your M1 year. Aka–be ready to discuss anything!
- Our tutors found that research (#1) and hobbies (#2) were the 2 most commonly asked about topics during interviews. Even though the “hobbies” section is easy to skip through and leave blank, please do remember to fill it in as many questions that interviewers have that related to an applicant’s fit for a particular program stem from these hobbies.
- Practice answering interview questions about your application (with a classmate, parent, current resident, mentor, etc.) to make sure you can speak about your experiences fluently.
Know the program:
-
- Research information about the program and about the key staff at the program you are interviewing at, so that you are knowledgeable about the program and can show specific interest (which you should do regardless since you may end up there for 3+ years!!)
- Have some specific reasons why you want to go to that program. If there is a particular doctor you really hope to work with, or if there is a certain clinic you want to get exposure to, share this! Be thoughtful in your answers because this is going to set you apart from all of the other applicants.
- If there are any alumni from your medical school at the program where you are interviewing, it’s a great idea to reach out to them beforehand to learn more about the program, express your interest, and get interview day tips.
- Especially when interviewing in smaller cities or cities geographically far from your medical school, be prepared to be asked “Why would you move from Chicago to Pittsburgh?”
- Ideally, answer with reasons both related to the city and program, but you can always fall back on – “I’m excited to explore this new city, and I am most focused on training at the best possible program, and I think your program could be that for me because….”
Need additional
help with your exam?
Enter your info to hear from a member of our team and discuss if 1-on-1 tutoring is right for you.
About the Author
Alexandra R., MD
After completing her coursework a semester early in December of 2013, Alexandra Rzepecki officially graduated with the University of Michigan Class of 2014 with Summa…
Read MoreNever Miss an Article!
Sign up to our newsletter and get the best of Elite Medical Prep, tailored for you.
Featured Articles
Elite Medical Prep
How to Make Memory Palaces in Medical School
Elite Medical Prep
How to Study for the Internal Medicine Shelf Exam
Elite Medical Prep
What are Memory Palaces?
Elite Medical Prep
5 More New NBME Practice Exams Are Coming
Elite Medical Prep
Everything About UWorld’s ABFM QBank
Elite Medical Prep
Dealing With Test Anxiety During Medical School
Elite Medical Prep
5 Biggest Mistakes Students Make While Studying for USMLE Step 1
Elite Medical Prep
How To Triage Reviewing for ABSITE and USMLE Step 3
Elite Medical Prep
Things IMGs Can Do to Improve Their Chance of US Residency Matching
Elite Medical Prep
Aim High or Just Pass USMLE Step 1 in 2021
Elite Medical Prep
A Complete Guide to Getting Through the UWorld QBank Twice
Elite Medical Prep
Elite Medical Prep Co-Founder Receives COVID-19 Vaccine
Elite Medical Prep
What to Do the Day Before Your USMLE Step 1 Exam
Elite Medical Prep
Why Basic Sciences Are Still Important During Preclinical Studies
Elite Medical Prep
COMLEX Level 1 to Become Pass/Fail!
Elite Medical Prep
Common ABSITE Question Types You’ll Encounter on the Exam
Elite Medical Prep
How I Used My UWorld Subscription for MS1 and MS2
Elite Medical Prep
Options for a Low ABSITE Score
Elite Medical Prep
How to Study for USMLE Step 2CS
Elite Medical Prep
2021 USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK Score Percentiles
Elite Medical Prep
How to Simultaneously Study for Step 2 CK and Your Shelf Exams
Elite Medical Prep
5 Things US IMGs Should Know When Applying to Residency
Elite Medical Prep
Questions You Should Ask Your Prospective Residency Programs
Elite Medical Prep
How to Create an ABSITE Study Schedule
Elite Medical Prep
A Quick User’s Guide to Pathoma for USMLE Step 1
Elite Medical Prep
How to Write a Personal Statement Hook
Elite Medical Prep
When is it Time to Get a USMLE Step 1 or Step 2 Tutor?
Elite Medical Prep
UWorld in 30 Days: Making the Most out of UWorld’s Most Basic Subscription
Elite Medical Prep
Here’s How Residency Programs Rank Applicants
Elite Medical Prep
The Ins and Outs of Virtual Residency Application Season
Elite Medical Prep
How to Use the AAMC Residency Explorer Tool
Elite Medical Prep
Residency Matching: How to Cancel an Interview the Right Way
Elite Medical Prep
Post Interview Communication: The Residency Thank You Letter
Elite Medical Prep
So You Want to Be a Neurologist
Elite Medical Prep
An Interview with NBME Free 120 Explanation Guru: Ben White
Elite Medical Prep
5 Effective Study Tips to Help You Prepare for COMLEX Level 1
Elite Medical Prep
What to Look For in a Residency Program
Elite Medical Prep
USMLE Step 1 Practice Question Types
Elite Medical Prep
When to Start Studying for USMLE Step 1
Elite Medical Prep
5 Most Productive Study Tips for USMLE Step 1
Elite Medical Prep
Why Spaced Repetition is SO Important for USMLE Studies?
Elite Medical Prep
Taking USMLE Step 1 with Step 2CK After Rotations
Elite Medical Prep
How to Study for COMLEX Level 2-CE
Elite Medical Prep
My Experience Taking the USMLE during COVID-19
Elite Medical Prep
Most Common Reasons for Failing USMLE Step 1
Elite Medical Prep
USMLE Step 2CS is Cancelled
Elite Medical Prep
How to Manage USMLE Step 1 Test Anxiety
Elite Medical Prep
When to Start UWorld for USMLE Step 1
Elite Medical Prep
How to Best Use First Aid USMLE Step 1 to Study
Elite Medical Prep
WEBINAR: Tutoring Program Best Practices for Institutions
Elite Medical Prep
NBME Updates: Free Assessments & Explanations
Elite Medical Prep
Without Active Learning, You Could Fail USMLE Step 1
Elite Medical Prep
Elite Medical Prep Founder Delivers Grand Rounds at University of Hawaii
Elite Medical Prep
WEBINAR: COVID-19 Imaging for Medical Students & Residents
Elite Medical Prep
How to Painlessly Prepare for USMLE Step 3 & COMLEX Level 3
Elite Medical Prep
Medical School Closed Due to Coronavirus? Remote Learning Tips
Elite Medical Prep
Everything Changed – COVID-19 From a 1st Year Resident’s View
Elite Medical Prep
Pushing Back your USMLE Test Date Without Losing Knowledge
Elite Medical Prep
What COVID-19 Means for Medical Students
Elite Medical Prep
All United States Prometric Testing Centers CLOSED
Elite Medical Prep
How to Study for the American Board of Internal Medicine Exam
Elite Medical Prep
How USMLE Step 1 Going Pass/Fail Will Affect Medical School Curricula
Elite Medical Prep
How USMLE Step 1 Going Pass/Fail Will Affect DO students
Elite Medical Prep
How USMLE Step 1 Going Pass/Fail Will Affect IMGs
Elite Medical Prep
USMLE Step 1 to Become Pass/Fail
Elite Medical Prep
COMLEX Level 1 to USMLE Step 1 Predictor
Elite Medical Prep
Mistakes Students Make With First Aid for USMLE Step 1
Elite Medical Prep
Best COMLEX Level 2-CE Study Resources
Elite Medical Prep
Essential Tips for Excelling on the ABIM Certification Exam
Elite Medical Prep
Best COMLEX Level 1 Study Resources
Elite Medical Prep
How to Score 260 on USMLE Step 1
Elite Medical Prep
5 Tips on Studying for Step 3
Elite Medical Prep
Best Ways to Study for Step 2CK
Elite Medical Prep
COMLEX Level 1 Exam Blueprint and the AOA ACGME Merger
Elite Medical Prep
How to Score a 280 on USMLE Step 2 CK
Elite Medical Prep
UWorld vs. TrueLearn
Elite Medical Prep
How to Study for USMLE Step 1 During MS2
Elite Medical Prep
Matching Into Orthopaedic Surgery Residency
Elite Medical Prep
Matching into Thoracic Surgery Residency
Elite Medical Prep
How to Match into OB/GYN Residency
Elite Medical Prep
How to Match into a Vascular Surgery Residency Program in 2021
Elite Medical Prep
What You Need to Match Into MED/PEDS for Residency
Elite Medical Prep
Acceptance Factors for Matching into Internal Medicine Residency
Elite Medical Prep
Acceptance Factors for Matching into Plastic Surgery Residency
Elite Medical Prep
How to Match into an ENT Residency Program 2021
Elite Medical Prep
Acceptance Factors for Matching into Pediatrics Residency
Elite Medical Prep
Acceptance Factors for Matching into Radiology for Residency
Elite Medical Prep
How to Match into a Neurology Residency Program
Elite Medical Prep
What You Need to Match into Emergency Medicine for Residency
Elite Medical Prep
What You Need to Match into Psychiatry for Residency
Elite Medical Prep
Acceptance Factors for Matching into a Transitional Year (TY) Residency
Elite Medical Prep
What You Need to Match into Family Medicine for Residency
Elite Medical Prep
How to Match into a Dermatology Residency Program in 2021
Elite Medical Prep
Acceptance Factors for Matching into Anesthesia for Residency
Elite Medical Prep
Will I Match into My Residency Specialty of Choice?
Elite Medical Prep
Scheduling Residency Interviews
Elite Medical Prep
Studying for USMLE Step 1 During MS1
Elite Medical Prep
Saving Money on Residency Applications
Elite Medical Prep
Preparing for Your Residency Interview
Elite Medical Prep
The Elite Medical Prep Anki Biochem Deck
Elite Medical Prep
Journey to Orthopedics Residency- Interviews
Elite Medical Prep
Why QBanks are a CRUCIAL Part of Your USMLE Review
Elite Medical Prep
Failing USMLE Step 1: What to Do
Elite Medical Prep
How to Write Your ERAS Personal Statement
Elite Medical Prep
How to Write the MSPE
Elite Medical Prep
Your 10 Week USMLE Step 1 Study Schedule
Elite Medical Prep
Applying Into Pathology Residency
Elite Medical Prep
How to Score Above 270 on USMLE Step 1
Elite Medical Prep
Applying to ENT Residency
Elite Medical Prep
How to Make Your Residency Rank List
Elite Medical Prep
Entering Week 3 at Mount Sinai Medical School
Elite Medical Prep
Elite Medical Prep Course at Mount Sinai
Elite Medical Prep
How Many Residency Programs & Where to Apply
Elite Medical Prep
Using Flashcards to Study for the USMLE
Elite Medical Prep
Using Brosencephalon Effectively for USMLE Studying
Elite Medical Prep
6 Tips on Using Anki USMLE Flashcards
Elite Medical Prep
Benefits and Drawbacks of Zanki Deck for USMLE Step 1 Studies
Elite Medical Prep
New NBMEs- Our Professional Opinion
Elite Medical Prep
2021 Free 6 Week USMLE Step 1 Study Schedule
Elite Medical Prep
Let’s Talk NBMEs! Free Webinar Sunday, March 31st @3pm EST/noon PST
Elite Medical Prep
Takeaways You Can Expect From the New NBME Forms
Elite Medical Prep
Using the UWSA Practice Tests After New NBME Releases
Elite Medical Prep
Using the Old NBME Exam Forms Before They Are ‘Retired’
Elite Medical Prep
Planning to Use the New NBME Practice Forms
Elite Medical Prep
Residency Letters of Recommendation: Everything You Need to Know
Elite Medical Prep
How to Use the ERAS (Electronic Residency Application Service)
Elite Medical Prep
Residency Application Timeline: What To Do When
Elite Medical Prep
Amboss Review: USMLE Prep Platforms
Elite Medical Prep
Online MedEd: USMLE Prep Platform Reviews
Elite Medical Prep
Pathoma: USMLE Prep Platform Reviews
Elite Medical Prep
Kaplan: USMLE Prep Platform Reviews
Elite Medical Prep
Osmosis: USMLE Prep Platform Reviews
Elite Medical Prep
Lecturio: USMLE Prep Platform Reviews
Elite Medical Prep
What if I fail? Bouncing back on the USMLE Step 1
Elite Medical Prep
What Makes a Great USMLE Tutoring Service?
Elite Medical Prep
How to Score Above 240 on USMLE Step 1
Elite Medical Prep
The Ultimate USMLE Step 2 Study Guide
Elite Medical Prep
What is the USMLE Exam?
Elite Medical Prep
Flash Facts: USMLE Flashcard Resource Reviews
Elite Medical Prep
Brosencephalon: USMLE Flashcard Reviews
Elite Medical Prep
Firecracker: USMLE Flashcard Resource Reviews
Elite Medical Prep
Zanki: USMLE Flashcard Resource Reviews
Elite Medical Prep