🧵 Here is Part 2 of my Residency Interview Prep Series and the 6th thread in my #Tweetorial series for #Match2022 and #PedsMatch22: Questions About Residency Programs 🧵
What questions might you expect about residency, specific programs, and career interests? Let’s find out!
What questions might you expect about residency, specific programs, and career interests? Let’s find out!
1. What are you looking for in a residency program?
You WILL be asked this. Preparing for this question will help you identify what core attributes and qualities of a program truly matter to you at the end of the day, which will also help you when it comes time to rank programs.
You WILL be asked this. Preparing for this question will help you identify what core attributes and qualities of a program truly matter to you at the end of the day, which will also help you when it comes time to rank programs.
2. Why would you be a good fit at our program?
Think beyond the superficial answers for questions like these. Interviewers want to know that you’ve really put time into deciding to apply to their program, and they want to find the right fit just as much as you do!
Think beyond the superficial answers for questions like these. Interviewers want to know that you’ve really put time into deciding to apply to their program, and they want to find the right fit just as much as you do!
3. Why are you interested in our program specifically?
Some things to consider: program size, curricular opportunities, diversity, opportunities to pursue specific interests, unique rotations/tracks, leadership, program structure, and culture
Some things to consider: program size, curricular opportunities, diversity, opportunities to pursue specific interests, unique rotations/tracks, leadership, program structure, and culture
4. We don’t get many applicants like you. Why do you want to train here?
A competitive applicant applying to relatively “less competitive” programs may get asked this. It’s easier than you think to tell from answers if someone is applying but not genuinely interested.
A competitive applicant applying to relatively “less competitive” programs may get asked this. It’s easier than you think to tell from answers if someone is applying but not genuinely interested.
5. How did you come across our program?
Nothing too crazy here. Everybody has their own way of creating their list of programs to apply to, so this gives insight into that. You could even use this as an opportunity to talk about what you are looking for in a program.
Nothing too crazy here. Everybody has their own way of creating their list of programs to apply to, so this gives insight into that. You could even use this as an opportunity to talk about what you are looking for in a program.
6. How does our mission statement align with you and your goals?
Likely not a question you’ll come across, but it would be good to take a look at the mission statement of the programs and institutions you’re applying to so you can speak to that if it does come up as a topic.
Likely not a question you’ll come across, but it would be good to take a look at the mission statement of the programs and institutions you’re applying to so you can speak to that if it does come up as a topic.
7. Could you see yourself living in this city?
This may be brought up, particularly if your hometown or medical school is in a different type of setting. As someone who had never lived in a "city" before, I had to explain why I could see myself in a city for those programs.
This may be brought up, particularly if your hometown or medical school is in a different type of setting. As someone who had never lived in a "city" before, I had to explain why I could see myself in a city for those programs.
8. How will you contribute to the diversity of our program?
Remember that diversity embodies more than race and ethnicity. It includes your culture, upbringing, languages, life experiences, path to medicine and residency, and hobbies and interests, just to name a few.
Remember that diversity embodies more than race and ethnicity. It includes your culture, upbringing, languages, life experiences, path to medicine and residency, and hobbies and interests, just to name a few.
9. What will you bring to our program?
This is also a good opportunity to talk more in-depth about your particular interests (career or otherwise) and any ideas you already have that you would bring to your residency program.
This is also a good opportunity to talk more in-depth about your particular interests (career or otherwise) and any ideas you already have that you would bring to your residency program.
10. What are you most excited about / looking forward to in residency?
Questions like this one can help gauge where your mind is at and what you are focused on when it comes to looking ahead to residency, as well as elicit desirable values and qualities.
Questions like this one can help gauge where your mind is at and what you are focused on when it comes to looking ahead to residency, as well as elicit desirable values and qualities.
11. What will be your biggest challenge transitioning to intern year?
The transition to intern year can be tough. A good response can show maturity in recognizing challenges and how you will tackle them. It can also suggest whether you will embrace or fear them.
The transition to intern year can be tough. A good response can show maturity in recognizing challenges and how you will tackle them. It can also suggest whether you will embrace or fear them.
12. What do you think will be the hardest part about residency?
Similar to the previous question but with a bigger scope. This question also helps assess if you are able to anticipate problems and challenges, which is a necessary skill from a clinical standpoint too.
Similar to the previous question but with a bigger scope. This question also helps assess if you are able to anticipate problems and challenges, which is a necessary skill from a clinical standpoint too.
13. What is something you think will be challenging for other interns but not necessarily yourself?
An uncommon opportunity to demonstrate both humility and an understanding of your strengths in the context of the workplace you will be spending the next few years in.
An uncommon opportunity to demonstrate both humility and an understanding of your strengths in the context of the workplace you will be spending the next few years in.
14. If you did an away rotation: What made you interested in doing an away here? Why did you still apply? Who is your favorite nurse or resident?
Be ready to speak about your away rotation experiences (if applicable). And yes, that last question gets asked sometimes.
Be ready to speak about your away rotation experiences (if applicable). And yes, that last question gets asked sometimes.
15. Why did you choose this specialty? Describe your journey.
Always be prepared to talk about your journey to medicine or your chosen specialty. If you have a non-traditional path to medicine or it seems like you changed specialties, this will come up more frequently.
Always be prepared to talk about your journey to medicine or your chosen specialty. If you have a non-traditional path to medicine or it seems like you changed specialties, this will come up more frequently.
16. What problems do you think our specialty will encounter in the next 10 years?
Questions like this put your specialty into a larger healthcare context and give you an opportunity to show your understanding of the current climate and future challenges you may face.
Questions like this put your specialty into a larger healthcare context and give you an opportunity to show your understanding of the current climate and future challenges you may face.
17. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years?
I feel like this is something you have to be ready to answer should it come up. If you don’t know for sure where you would see yourself, it’s okay to talk about different possibilities or scenarios in mind.
I feel like this is something you have to be ready to answer should it come up. If you don’t know for sure where you would see yourself, it’s okay to talk about different possibilities or scenarios in mind.
18. What are your career goals?
This can help programs tell if what they see in your application lines up with what you express your career goals and interests are. Additionally, it helps them to see if they are a good fit for your career preparation and development.
This can help programs tell if what they see in your application lines up with what you express your career goals and interests are. Additionally, it helps them to see if they are a good fit for your career preparation and development.
19. If you were not in medicine, what would you do?
Interestingly, I was asked this several times on the interview trail. I think it makes for a great conversation topic and also unearths underlying values and interests that guide your passions and pursuits.
Interestingly, I was asked this several times on the interview trail. I think it makes for a great conversation topic and also unearths underlying values and interests that guide your passions and pursuits.
20. What would you do if you did not match to a residency position this year?
In a way, this can be a test question to see how committed you are to the specialty or field if that is something that could potentially come into question based on your application.
In a way, this can be a test question to see how committed you are to the specialty or field if that is something that could potentially come into question based on your application.
And that’s a wrap for this tweetorial! Hope this gave you some insight into some more common questions you can potentially expect during interview days. As you continue working on your applications, don’t forget to keep chipping away at interview preparation as well!
As always, tagging you all (lmk if you don't want to be tagged in the future) @DrEToBe @StuDrBrittany @StudyinAveryDay @wifemomfuturemd @KaitPardue @smalltownOMS @Shivam_Patel21 @ali_oats @narcolepticsurg @kaushikganeshh @tjb518 @taylor_wintler @McmuffinsDoc @eli_harkins
@MichelleLButts @EveV_futureMD @Drdobidoesit @halfadrmassey @SomiPeds @Flowerquinolone @ashleymatter1 @SoniaParikh3 @sarinha317 @MoniqueMHuerta1 @sheilak94 @NaaSey2 @joannar1012 @randhashim95 @kellytran95 @EstherKwara @clairebethel @GraceOverturf @shancwalker @chrisaugustin_
@DoctorWannabeMD @Andi_N_Garcia @AliciaHanson21 @skhetarpal44 @pagepeds_zackb @DraRaygoza @TaylorWHamilton @jaime_weber_ @MarriamElf @beeotaibi @kwablaMD @TayMChristian @WinchellMorgan @addie_witt_ @lauramazap @TaneishaRenae @AObeng_ @TaylorKrat @jbsargon @SalikaGadiwala
And more tags! (lmk if you don't want to be tagged in the future) @liyana_k @AnthoulaChri @medstudentdani @jessie_davis13 @sahar_panjwani @shrebhan @UPcomingPedsDR @LuisaOrtizMed @lochoaaa @EllieSidler @jazmineelleston @hngosnell @swapnil_patel95 @laurenmholt @AmberPriester2
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