Top 300 Residency Interview Questions USMLE PLAB 2023

 

What are some typical questions that are asked at interviews for residency programs? How should I be ready for the interviews for residency?


Interviews have long been one of the most important steps in the challenging process of applying for residence. The best method to get ready for residency interviews is to give yourself practice with the questions that are most frequently asked at residency interviews. This post will offer you with over 200 possible questions that may be asked of residency applicants throughout the interview process.

In a subsequent post, we will go over how to respond most effectively to these inquiries.

Check out our interview coaching package if you feel like you need some help or direction with your preparation for the interview. As part of this package, we will conduct one-on-one mock interviews with you and provide comments on your performance.
General Questions


Please tell me about your background.


Please tell me about your background. What do you think your friends would say about you?

How would you best explain who you are to someone else?

If you were to introduce yourself to a new person, what three words would you choose to describe who you are?

Tell me about your journey.

What have you been up to since you graduated from high school to the present day?

Please enlighten me on a facet of your personality that wasn't highlighted in your curriculum vitae.

Medicine and the field of expertise

What sparked your interest in the field of medicine?

Why made you desire to practice medicine?

Why are you looking to join this particular branch of medicine (at the hospital)?

What aspects of the specialized field (that you are applying to) appeal to you the most?

In what ways do you not find yourself drawn to the specialization for which you are applying?

What, if anything, about the field of expertise to which you are applying would you choose to alter, if you had the chance?

What aspects of the specialized field (to which you are applying) particularly pique your interest?

Which elements of the subspecialty do you most look forward to working in, given the opportunity?

If you are applying to the internal medicine specialty, please explain why you wanted to pursue a career in internal medicine.

When compared to other areas of expertise, what do you believe sets the specialization to which you are applying apart the most, and why?

How would you explain the specialization (you are applying to) to a close friend if you were limited to using just three words?

What do you believe to be the most difficult obstacle facing our area of expertise?

Your best qualities

How do you differentiate yourself from the other applicants?

What makes you a distinctive applicant?

Please enumerate three of your most impressive attributes.

Which of your abilities do you think would be most beneficial to our program?

Why should we choose you over the other applicants when there are plenty of others?

What are some of the nicest things about you that a close friend of yours who knows you very well would say about you if I asked them?

I'm now conducting interviews with a number of applicants for a position this year; do you have something about yourself that sets you apart from the others?

Please enlighten me about your involvement with charitable organizations.

Please educate me on your study.

Please tell me about your experiences in medical school.


Your areas of low strength


What are some of your areas of weakness?

Why did you receive a low score on STEP1 (assuming you received any at all)?

If you did not pass STEP 2CK, what caused your failure, if any?

Why did you choose to take some time off after graduating from medical school before applying to a residency program, assuming you did so at all?

Do you believe that being an older graduate could be a barrier for you to succeed in residency, and if so, what are the reasons for this belief?

Do you believe it would be difficult for you, as someone who has completed previous training (for those who have completed another residency prior to enrolling), to return to the role of an intern?

What are some aspects of yourself that you feel could use some improvement?

What are some of the negative qualities you possess?

What would a close friend of yours tell me about the aspects of you that they dislike about you if I were to ask them?

In which of your professional shortcomings do you want to make the most progress while you are in residency?

Which of your own personal shortcomings do you hope to rectify during your time spent in residency?

Which component of your personality do you feel does not live up to your expectations?

Is there anything about your voyage that, if given the chance, you would do differently if you could go back in time?

(This question is for international medical graduates) In comparison to students from the United States, what kinds of challenges do you anticipate facing during your residency?

Why do we need this program?

Why did you decide to submit an application to our program?

What sets our program apart from similar programs offered by other organizations?

Specifically, what do you anticipate to gain from participating in our program?

Is there anything that our program provides that other schools don't, and vice versa?

In a program, what do you look for specifically?

What does your dream program look like?

What aspects of the city (where the program you're applying to is located) do you enjoy the most?

How are you getting along with the residents from the social hour that took place yesterday?

How well do you think you would fit into our program, and why do you think that?

Our curriculum requires a significant amount of clinical hours. Why do you believe that you would be able to handle the stress and long hours that come with participating in our program?

I've had a look at your research portfolio, and it's rather outstanding. Nevertheless, our program does not have a significant amount of resources for research. What do you believe the consequences of it will be for you?

Our curriculum places a significant emphasis on intellectual endeavors and the dissemination of research findings. It appears that you do not have much experience in research. Despite the fact that you have no prior experience, how do you believe you will be able to contribute to our program?

Which do you value more, practical experience in the clinic or academic research?

Which of the following do you consider to be the three most important aspects of a residency program?

Future goals

What do you hope to accomplish with your career?

In five to ten years, where do you see yourself being?

What are your plans for the future once you have completed your residency?

After you finish your residency, do you plan to participate in a fellowship? What kind is it?

Would you rather work in the United States or somewhere else in the world?

Where exactly do you see yourself working once you've completed your residency?

Which sector of practice—academic research or private medical care—most interests you? To what end?

What would be your dream career in the future?

Which of the following do you consider to be the three most significant aspects of a potential employer?

Who do you look up to the most in the field that you want to work in?

During your time in residency, would you be interested in participating in teaching? To what end?

Do you see yourself working in the field of education at some point in your professional life? To what end?

Do you intend to participate in research while you are completing your residency? To what end?

Do you plan to participate in research when you finish your residency? To what end?

In what ways do you think you will be able to contribute to the program that we have?

Please describe how you believe you will be able to contribute to the field (that you are applying to).

What kind of influence would you wish to have on our area of expertise?

Do you believe that you will be able to influence our area of expertise in any way? To what end?

Who do you look up to most in this world?

Do you have aspirations of becoming a pioneer in your industry?

What is your fallback strategy in case you don't make the cut this year?

Hobbies and hobbies, as well as conversation starters

What are some of your favorite ways to pass the time?

What sorts of interests do you have?

Do you ever compete in any sports?

What kind of musical instruments do you play? Which one are you playing, and how long have you been doing it for?

Do you take the time to listen to music? Which flavor do you enjoy the most?

Which song do you listen to over and over again?

Which book do you enjoy reading the most?

Which do you think is the best book that you have ever read? Please enlighten me on the matter to some extent.

Which film do you enjoy seeing the most? Please enlighten me on the matter to some extent.

Which book did you most recently finish reading? What new knowledge did it give you?

What's your go-to dish when dining out? What do you enjoy about it the most of all?

What genre of music would we be listening to in the operation room if we gave you free reign over the songs and music that are played there?

Where do you prefer to do your studying more often, at home or in the library? To what end?

Do you like to hike? Where do you like to go most often?

If you could go anywhere in the world with two free plane tickets, where would you choose to go?

Where would you most want to go on vacation if you were able to go anywhere you pleased, free from the constraints of any COVID regulations?

Which platform do you prefer the most, and why do you like it so much?

What are your thoughts on those that have a lot of impact on social media?

Tell me a joke

Give me one interesting fact about yourself.

Please share with me a humorous experience that you had while you were attending medical school.

Which football team do you root for the most? Who is your preferred player, and why?

Questions Regarding Behaviour
Interactions

Please describe a situation in which you had a poor experience with a resident, attending, medical student, nurse, or physician assistant.

Please describe a recent experience you had that went well with a resident, attending, medical student, nurse, or physician assistant.

Please tell me about a time when there was a misunderstanding or a breakdown in communication that occurred while you were on your clinical rotations.

Please tell me about a situation in which there was a misunderstanding or a breakdown in communication that took place outside of your medical school.

Please describe an experience in which you had the impression that you were not treated fairly.

Tell me about a time when you showed up to school unprepared and the steps you took to address the situation.

Please describe an instance in which you had a disagreement with a resident, attending, medical student, nurse, or physician assistant, as well as the steps you took to resolve the issue.

Please describe a clinical situation in which your ethical standards were put to the test.

How do you interact with someone who has a different opinion than yours?

Tell me about a time when you had a disagreement with someone else and how you dealt with the matter.


Challenges

Please describe a difficult experience you've had in the past and how you managed to pull through it.

Tell me about a time when you had to work under a lot of pressure, and how you managed to keep your cool.

In the field of medicine, burnout is very common. What do you do to avoid burnout?

What do you do when you find yourself feeling let down?

What steps do you take when you feel like you can't take another step?

What kinds of difficulties do you anticipate facing during the first year of your residency program?

Please tell me about a difficult situation that you overcome while you were in medical school.

Please tell me about a difficult situation that you had to overcome on your way to become a resident.
Please share an experience that demonstrates your ability to triumph over adversity.

Please tell me about the most difficult obstacle you've had to overcome on your way to becoming a resident.

Tell me about a time when you were unsuccessful and how you handled the situation.

Please share with me a time when you were let down and the steps you took to get over it.

Please share a story with me about a time when you let down one of your mentors (s)

Please share with me a mistake that you made while you were studying medicine, as well as the lesson that you took away from it.

Please share with me a mistake that you made outside of medical school and what you discovered as a result of making that error.

What is it that could cause you to give up?

Please tell me about the most important thing you picked up from your advisor(s) while you were attending medical school.

Please tell me about the greatest achievement you've had and what it's meant to you.

What steps would you take to protect yourself if a senior resident or coworker was abusing you?

Personal traits

Are you someone who puts in a lot of effort? To what end?

Do you work well with others? To what end?

Please tell me about an experience you had while you were in medical school that exemplifies your ability to work well with others.

Tell me about a time when you were in medical school and you did not feel like you were a part of the team that was working on something.

Please describe an experience from outside of medical school that exemplifies your ability to work well with others.

Please tell me about an experience outside of your medical school that illustrates your capacity for leadership.

Give me an example of a time when you really put in the effort to accomplish something.

Please tell me about a time when you went above and beyond the call of duty while you were in medical school.

Please tell me about a time when, outside of medical school, you went above and beyond what was expected of you.

Please tell me about a time when you went above and beyond what was expected of you.

Do other people think you have a good brain? To what end?

How would you put this list of attributes in order of significance for a resident, if you were forced to do so? Clinical expertise, intellectual acuity, social savvy, and a willingness to put in the necessary effort

Interactions with Patients

Please describe a successful experience you've had with a patient.

Please describe an unpleasant experience you had with a patient.

Please share a story with me about a time when you had to deal with a patient who was really furious.

Please tell me about a time when you were able to gain knowledge from one of your patients.

Please describe a significant experience you've had with a patient.

Please describe one of the most challenging clinical situations you've ever had to manage.

Please tell me about a patient encounter that you successfully managed.

Please describe an interaction with a patient that you did not manage very well.

Tell me about a clinical blunder you made and how you handled the conversation with the patient about it.

General

If you were forced to choose one, which superpower would it be and why?

If you could choose to be any animal in the world, whose species would you be and why?

Which animal best represents your inner self?

Which tree do you like most and why?

Which body cell type do you identify with? Which organ do you identify with?

Which of the elements included in the periodic chart is your favorite, and why?

Are you more of a gatherer or a hunter?

What are your thoughts on the inclusion of diverse perspectives? And what exactly is it that you can do to help?

What are your thoughts on the healthcare system in the United States? How does it differ from the place where you received your training?

Why do you wish to do your residency in the United States (for those who have graduated medical school outside of the United States)?

Which period of history, if you had the ability to travel back in time, would you most desire to experience firsthand and why?

Who would you choose to have dinner with if you could invite any three people who are still alive and have a talk with them?

Who would you like to have supper with if you could choose from the lives of any three persons who have passed away and have a chat with them?

Who, among the live persons you know, would you choose to be your idol?

Who, among the persons you've known who have passed away, do you look up to the most?

What words of wisdom do you have for those who will apply in the future?

What piece of guidance would you offer to your 18-year-old self if you could go back in time?

What is any guidance that you were given that helped you transform your career?

Which piece of guidance did you receive that had the most significant impact on you?

How would you spend your time if you knew you only had one more day to live?

In your opinion, which is more essential, to be successful or to love someone?

Which do you believe is more significant, having money but not succeeding or succeeding but not having money?

Do you believe that having a lot of money is necessary to be happy?

In your opinion, what is it that money simply cannot buy?

In the event that I decide to write a biography about you, what do you want the title of the book to be?

How would you go about persuading people in Minnesota during the cold to buy ice cream?

What would you say to someone from the Middle Ages if they asked you about an airplane?

What do you consider to be the most significant occurrence in the course of human history?

In your opinion, which of the following is the most significant medical invention or discovery, and why?

Do you believe that by their very nature, humans are good or bad? To what end?

When you were younger, what did you picture yourself doing when you reached adulthood?

Which aspects of your employees' personalities are really intolerable for you?

What three things would you bring with you if you were stranded on an island for a whole month, and why would you bring those things?

What would you do if you got $1 million?

Would you wish to be able to know what's going through someone else's head?

How would you explain what light seems like to someone who is completely blind?

When autumn arrives around the world, how many leaves do you think fall from the trees?

What is the proper way to break the news to a patient that they have cancer?

What aspects of your life do you enjoy the most?

What do you anticipate will be the next significant advancement in medical science?

What do you anticipate the subsequent major advancement in your area of expertise will be?

Which medical advancement, if any, would you claim credit for having invented thanks to your own efforts?

Are you of the opinion that Albert Einstein would have made a good intern, and if so, why?

In your opinion, what are the top two most crucial qualities that a leader should possess?

If you were the President of the United States, what steps would you take to ensure that peace prevailed across the globe?

If you were elected President of the United States, what steps would you take to address the problem of pollution in the world?

Do you believe there is an answer to the problem of poverty all throughout the world?

When you were a kid, what was the birthday present that meant the most to you?

When you pass away, what do you hope your loved ones and friends will remember most about you?

Do you believe that you would receive the same score if you retook the examinations that you've already taken?

What kind of person are you—an extrovert or an introvert?

When you get out with your pals, do you tend to be the person who talks or the person who listens?

If you were forced to choose one more area of expertise, which one would it be, and why?

If you were forced to choose a field of work other than medical, what field would you go into and why?

In your opinion, which is more important during residency: working together as a team or having clinical knowledge? To what end?

Which class did you enjoy learning the most when you were in high school?

What was the class that you looked forward to the most during your time in medical school?

Which class did you despise the most during your time in medical school?

Who was your favorite professor while you were getting your medical degree, and why?

Which of your clinical rotations did you like the most when you were getting your medical degree? Why?

Which of your clinical rotations did you dislike the most when you were getting your medical degree? Why?

Do you have feelings of jealousy when you learn that someone else knows more than you do?

How do you respond when others criticize you?

What keeps you going?

How did you become such an effective educator?

Show me anything that I have been missing in my knowledge.

How do you rank the value of your family, your research, and your clinical skills?

I really hope that this set of questions might be of assistance to you as you prepare for your residency interview.

Check out our interview coaching package if you feel like you need some help or direction with your preparation for the interview. As part of this package, we will conduct one-on-one mock interviews with you and provide comments on your performance.

Check out our services here if you require any assistance with preparing for the USMLE, writing a personal statement, editing a CV, finding a residency, or obtaining research advising.