Residency Interview Questions

Before medical students become professional doctors, they invest some major years of their life obtaining the right set of skills and education. In the three to seven long years of medical graduation, the medical students are expected to join some residency program, probably during the third or fourth year of the medical schooling.

These residency programs are accredited by Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and aim to impart training to the medical students for the purpose of providing direct patient care. The entire process of selecting, applying, and getting approval for the residency training program demands planning and preparation.

For understanding the intricacies of the steps of choosing the right program in the right training institute, you should contact your teachers and college placement cell.

• These questions solve your queries about the program procedure and other facets linked to the residency program.
• They test your aptitude in a manner such that you fit into their program.
• You become aware of the stability, support system and campus life of the medical school as you can inquire about them to the interview panel.

The main objective of the residency interview lies in understanding the priorities of the students and making the student aware about the policies, rules, and expectations of the medical school management.

Well, this is the most basic residency interview question and perhaps the most important one. While the conventional answers like "want to serve the people", "improve America's health system", etc., are appreciated, it is more advantageous to tell some of your personal experiences that have motivated you to become a surgeon!

Remember, the original you're, the better it would be! And be honest, you'll get rewarded for being clear and concise.

A very simple and yet challenging question that can convey a lot about your dreams, aspirations, and academics. So, be prepared for this question. Give some time to ponder over yourself, know your strengths and weaknesses, and chalk out an answer that includes all elements of your personality. This doesn't mean that you've to exaggerate.

Be yourself, as this will naturally boost your confidence. Talk about your achievements and your contributions to any team projects and team efforts. Mention some challenging cases that you had handled along with your team.

This is the time to convey your realistic expectations about the training program to the interviewers. You can talk about your interest areas, in which you have done research during graduation years.

• Discuss your most memorable encounter with a patient?
• What other residency programs you've applied for?
• What differentiates you from other applicants?
• If you're asked to describe yourself in just 1 word, what would it be?
• What are your hobbies and activities?
• Where do you see yourself in the next five to ten years?

• How do you handle crisis and adversities?
• What are your medical career plans for the coming years?
• Besides medical field, what are the various things in life that you are passionate about?
• What are your strengths?
• What are your weaknesses?
• How can you contribute to the success of the residency program?

You may be having many questions regarding the program and institute. You can clear these queries by asking it to the faculties and residents in the campus.

• What is the basic mantra of these programs?
• Who are the faculty and how long have they been in the institute?
• What are the prospects of the placements?
• Are there any scholarships for the resident?

• What are the various hospitals I've to go for my training schedule?
• What are the class schedule and training methodologies?
• How many patients will I check per day, once I'm trained enough to do so?

• What are the expectations of the faculty from the students?
• What is the evaluation system for the residency programs?
• How is the traffic in the area?
• How is the workload for the interns?
• How is the geographical area and are there any landmarks in the nearby places?

• How is the security around the hospital and parks in this area?
• What is the pass percentage of the students since the last 5 years?
• What is the ratio of male/female/married/unmarried trainers?
• How is the network of computers in the campus and is there proper wireless connectivity?
• Are there general conferences and seminars on daily basis?

Although these interviews tell you many things about the programs and its success, personally meeting the students and knowing the facts always helps. So, before enrolling for these programs, undertake proper rese