Residency Interview Questions

As you prepare for residency interviews, use these questions to help evaluate each program’s training environment, educational opportunities, resident experience, and overall fit.

The questions below were taken from the Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Web site.

• Where do rotations take place?
• How large is the facility and what types of patients are served?
• What is the structure of the residency?
• What types of cases are available?
• How are residents involved in patient care?
• Are there opportunities for attending scientific meetings?
• Are laboratory research opportunities available?
• What educational resources are available?
• What conferences are held?
• How do residents perform on Boards and in-service/in-training exams?
• What is the history of the Department, and what have former residents done upon completion of their residency?
• What leisure activities are available in (the name of the city/town)?

The questions below were taken from the Mercy Healthcare Sacramento/Methodist Hospital Family Practice Residency Program.

• What is the educational philosophy of this residency program?
• Hospitals across the country are suffering extreme economic pressures; what is the assurance that (hospital name) remains economically healthy in the future?
• What is the cultural profile of (name of hospital)'s service population?
• What are the strengths of this residency program?
• What are the weaknesses of this program?
• (Hospital name) is a (religious denomination) organization. Does that impact the residents' experience in women's health?

Additional Questions

• What is the percentage of graduates from this residency program that go into fellowships, instead of practice?
• How many full- and part-time faculty members are there?
• Does the program pay for resident memberships in professional organizations? If so, which ones?
• How much time do residents spend receiving systematic instruction (didactics)? Is there an outpatient clinic? If so, how many days/hours do residents spend there?
• Is there a foreign exchange program?
• Are residents in this program expected to assist in the teaching of medical students?