🧵 Residency Interview Series Part 6 and Thread #10 in my #Match2022 series: “What Questions Do You Have?” 🧵
A question you WILL get. Ready?!
@FuturePedsRes @InternalMed_Res @FutureGenSurg @futureradres @NMatch2022 @IMG_Advocate @FutureAnesRes
#TweetorialTuesday #PedsMatch22
A question you WILL get. Ready?!
@FuturePedsRes @InternalMed_Res @FutureGenSurg @futureradres @NMatch2022 @IMG_Advocate @FutureAnesRes
#TweetorialTuesday #PedsMatch22
Think about the types of questions you ask. A lot of generic information about programs and curricula can be found on program websites or databases. I would encourage you to ask thoughtful questions about things you wouldn’t be able to find the answer to online.
Here are 20 examples of questions I had prepared for all of my interviews. I obviously didn’t ask them all in each interview. I would tend to ask questions based on who I was speaking with and what I still needed to get a better sense of about the program.
1. For PDs / APDs: What do you enjoy most about being a program director for the program?
I asked this question because it gave me a good idea of what they value from a leadership perspective, as well as how often they interact with and how well they know their residents.
I asked this question because it gave me a good idea of what they value from a leadership perspective, as well as how often they interact with and how well they know their residents.
2. How would you describe the personality of the program?
This is similar to the very next question. A program’s personality says a lot about what the general vibe of the program is and allows you to assess whether that fits your personality.
This is similar to the very next question. A program’s personality says a lot about what the general vibe of the program is and allows you to assess whether that fits your personality.
3. If you could describe your residency program in one word, what would I be?
This was my favorite question to ask anybody I interacted with during interviews or pre-interview socials. It really tells you a lot about the culture and resident perception of the program.
This was my favorite question to ask anybody I interacted with during interviews or pre-interview socials. It really tells you a lot about the culture and resident perception of the program.
4. Can you tell me more about your research or clinical work or interests, as well as ongoing efforts or initiatives being made?
This two-for-one helped me learn about areas of interest of faculty while gaining insight into new ideas and progress being made in the program.
This two-for-one helped me learn about areas of interest of faculty while gaining insight into new ideas and progress being made in the program.
5. Can you speak about both formal and informal mentoring at your program?
Mentoring is important for a variety of things, including clinical skills, career development, and personal well-being. I wanted to know that I could seek out and find that kind of guidance in residency.
Mentoring is important for a variety of things, including clinical skills, career development, and personal well-being. I wanted to know that I could seek out and find that kind of guidance in residency.
6. Are there teaching opportunities available for residents other than before/during/after rounds with medical students?
I came into residency with an MEd and particular interest in MedEd and teaching, but you can ask similar sorts of questions based on your own interests.
I came into residency with an MEd and particular interest in MedEd and teaching, but you can ask similar sorts of questions based on your own interests.
7. In what ways is this program an innovator in education?
Similar to the previous question, you could ask this about your particular interests (e.g. research). I wanted to know if the program had the infrastructure and experience to support my pursuits and career aspirations.
Similar to the previous question, you could ask this about your particular interests (e.g. research). I wanted to know if the program had the infrastructure and experience to support my pursuits and career aspirations.
8. Looking ahead, I want to become a leader in pediatrics and medical education. What resources or opportunities are available to help me work towards this goal?
A more explicit version of the last question, being direct about your interests can elicit clearer answers.
A more explicit version of the last question, being direct about your interests can elicit clearer answers.
9. How does the program promote resident autonomy?
This helped to reveal unique aspects of programs when it came to opportunities for autonomy, and it shined a light on the resident experience as well.
This helped to reveal unique aspects of programs when it came to opportunities for autonomy, and it shined a light on the resident experience as well.
10. How does the program support residents through difficult times?
I knew residency would be tough, and asking this allowed me to gauge how much programs truly value support and what exactly they do about it. Actions speak louder than words.
I knew residency would be tough, and asking this allowed me to gauge how much programs truly value support and what exactly they do about it. Actions speak louder than words.
11. What is something you feel like the program could improve at?
Not only did I ask this to learn about gaps in training or areas for improvement, but it provided with an opportunity to learn if problems or deficiencies were actively being addressed.
Not only did I ask this to learn about gaps in training or areas for improvement, but it provided with an opportunity to learn if problems or deficiencies were actively being addressed.
12. Are there any new and upcoming changes to the program (curriculum, resources, etc.) that will take place prior to when we would begin in July?
It’s helpful to know what you’ll be walking into on day one (nobody likes surprises), so I asked this to find out just that.
It’s helpful to know what you’ll be walking into on day one (nobody likes surprises), so I asked this to find out just that.
13. What changes do you anticipate over the next 3 years?
The number can be adjusted (I chose 3 because of pediatrics), but the point is to learn about changes or improvements that could impact your own training and experience as a resident.
The number can be adjusted (I chose 3 because of pediatrics), but the point is to learn about changes or improvements that could impact your own training and experience as a resident.
14. What are some examples of ways resident feedback has been implemented and incorporated into the program?
Being able to hear concrete examples was reassuring to me, as I wanted to know that resident feedback was taken seriously and that action was actually taken.
Being able to hear concrete examples was reassuring to me, as I wanted to know that resident feedback was taken seriously and that action was actually taken.
15. Could you share your own journey to pediatrics and how you ended up working here in the role you have?
Hearing the journeys and stories of faculty offered a way to make meaningful connections and conversation, as well find ways to relate to your own ambitions.
Hearing the journeys and stories of faculty offered a way to make meaningful connections and conversation, as well find ways to relate to your own ambitions.
16. What are you most proud of about the program?
This enabled me to get a sense of the resident experience as a whole, as well as the priorities of the program. It also speaks to the kind of people that come out of the program.
This enabled me to get a sense of the resident experience as a whole, as well as the priorities of the program. It also speaks to the kind of people that come out of the program.
17. At the resident social, I enjoyed learning about what attracted them to the program. What attracted you to come and stay as faculty?
Knowing what enticed faculty to train, work, or stay says a lot about the institution, the department, and the value of the residency program.
Knowing what enticed faculty to train, work, or stay says a lot about the institution, the department, and the value of the residency program.
18. What are your favorite aspects of the program?
This was a nice question to ask because I got different answers based on whether I was speaking with residents or faculty, which highlighted a variety of positives in each program.
This was a nice question to ask because I got different answers based on whether I was speaking with residents or faculty, which highlighted a variety of positives in each program.
19. Can you tell me more about what the relationship between residents and fellows and faculty is like?
Medicine is filled with hierarchies, and I wanted to go to a program that would foster healthy and educational relationships between me and fellows and faculty.
Medicine is filled with hierarchies, and I wanted to go to a program that would foster healthy and educational relationships between me and fellows and faculty.
20. What kind of resident or person would be most successful here?
This helped me to decide if a program’s environment and culture would align well with my own character, personality, and attitudes, as well as be conducive to my own learning and growth as a physician and person.
This helped me to decide if a program’s environment and culture would align well with my own character, personality, and attitudes, as well as be conducive to my own learning and growth as a physician and person.
I hope that helped give you an idea of some of the types of questions you can prepare for interviews (and resident socials). Programs want to find people who will be a good fit, but it’s equally important that you ask questions so that you can find the best fit too!
As always, tags friends! (lmk if you'd like to removed from the series tag list) @DrEToBe @StuDrBrittany @StudyinAveryDay @wifemomfuturemd @KaitPardue @smalltownOMS @Shivam_Patel21 @doctortater @narcolepticsurg @kaushikganeshh @tjb518 @taylor_wintler @McmuffinsDoc @eli_harkins
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