Residency Interviews for IMGs ❤ — 110 Questions & Complete Prep Guide | Match 2027
Updated: 2 days ago
UPDATED FOR MATCH 2027 ❤ Interview preparation, practical questions and honest communication. Read each program’s current instructions; formats, schedules and communication preferences vary.
CONGRATULATIONS, guys 🎉 Reaching interview season takes work: exams, applications, money, uncertainty and all the life happening in between. Give yourself some credit. Feeling excited and nervous at the same time is completely normal.
⚡ How to read this guide red = mistakes & warnings · blue = dates, deadlines & timing · purple = numbers & costs · yellow = key terms · blue links = official sources (open in a new tab).
My journey has taken me through OB/GYN residency, Internal Medicine residency and now Endocrinology fellowship at NIH.
Each stage taught me something about preparing, asking for help and finding a team where I could grow.
I hope these lessons make interview season a little clearer for YOU ❤
An interview is a chance to share who you are AND learn whether a program fits you.
You do not have to pretend everything is easy, memorize a perfect personality or promise that a hospital is your future home before you have made your decision.
Prepare, stay curious and let them meet YOU.
Your interview plan: prepare stories, not a script
Start by reading your own application carefully. Be ready to explain every experience, date, publication and contribution. Know what you actually did—not only the title of the project. Protect patient privacy in every clinical story.
My practical suggestion: build six short stories about teamwork, feedback, a challenge, a mistake or near miss, helping a patient, and leadership or service.
Use a simple structure: what happened, your role, what YOU did, the result and what you learned.
Credit the team. Practice different versions rather than forcing one story into every question.
For “tell me about yourself,” try a brief journey: where you started, the experiences that shaped your specialty choice, what you bring now, and what you hope to learn.
Around one–two minutes can be a useful practice target, but adapt to the conversation.
Your interviewer can ask for more.
BE YOU ❤ Practice until your ideas are clear, not until your answer sounds memorized. Your accent is part of your story. Aim for understandable, thoughtful communication—not an imitation of somebody else.
Research the program with a purpose
Make a one-page note: training sites and patient population; curriculum and supervision; mentorship; research or quality-improvement opportunities; graduate outcomes; and the city where you would live. Choose two specific reasons the program fits your goals and three questions the website does not answer.
Read faculty work when it truly interests you. You do not need to flatter every interviewer or pretend you understand a paper you have not read. A thoughtful question about a project you genuinely connect with is enough.
For IMGs, verify eligibility, graduation-year rules, accepted clinical experience, onboarding and any applicable visa sponsorship directly with the program. Discuss your own circumstances accurately; one program’s policy is not a universal rule.
Virtual, in-person or hybrid: check before the day
Confirm the platform, time zone, schedule, interview format, required documents and coordinator’s contact information.
For an in-person day, plan transport and arrival.
For a virtual day, test the same device, microphone, camera and connection you will use.
Choose a private, quiet space, light your face and keep the background simple.
Keep a charger, water, the schedule and a backup contact plan nearby. Silence notifications. If technology fails, contact the coordinator promptly, explain briefly and follow their instructions. A problem can happen; how you communicate matters.
If accommodations would help you participate, use the program’s stated process early. Plan breaks and sleep where possible. You do not need an expensive studio setup to have a good conversation.
How to show up well
Be punctual and courteous to everyone: coordinators, residents, faculty and support staff. Listen, let the interviewer finish, and ask for clarification when needed. A brief pause is better than rushing into an answer you do not understand.
Be professional at resident socials too, whether virtual or in person. Ask genuine questions and avoid gossip, competition or exaggerated claims. You are meeting potential colleagues, not performing nonstop enthusiasm.
Please ask about workload, compensation, leave and benefits when the information is missing or unclear.
These are reasonable parts of choosing a training program.
Direct detailed contract or visa questions to the coordinator or appropriate office, and ask residents how the schedule works in real life.
REMEMBER ❤ You are also evaluating the program. Good training includes learning, supervision, respectful treatment and support when things get difficult.
40 practice questions for your own story
These are practice prompts, not a prediction of exactly what any program will ask. Pick a few at a time, answer aloud and ask a friend or mentor whether your examples sound clear and honest.
Your journey and program fit
1. What experiences brought you to this point in your medical journey? 2.
Which moment helped you decide on this specialty? 3.
What kind of physician do you hope to become? 4.
Which features of this program connect with your goals? 5.
What would your future teammates learn about you beyond your CV? 6.
How has your background shaped the way you care for patients? 7.
What do you hope to learn in your first year? 8.
What keeps you motivated outside an achievement or exam score?
Teamwork, feedback and growth
9. Describe a disagreement you helped resolve respectfully. 10.
When did another team member change your perspective? 11.
Share feedback that was difficult to hear and how you used it. 12.
Describe a mistake or near miss and the steps you took afterward. 13.
When have you recognized that you needed help? 14.
What did you do when a teammate was struggling? 15.
How do you organize competing responsibilities? 16.
Describe a time your first approach failed and you adapted.
Patient care and professionalism
17. Tell a de-identified patient story that changed your practice. 18.
How have you helped someone understand a complicated plan? 19.
Describe a barrier to care and your actual contribution to addressing it. 20.
How would you respond to a safety concern outside your experience? 21.
What would you do if a colleague received credit for your work—or you received credit for theirs? 22.
How would you handle uncertainty rather than pretend you know? 23.
Describe a difficult conversation and what you learned. 24.
How do you keep respect for a patient whose choices differ from yours?
Research, service and leadership
25. Explain one project in plain language: question, methods, your role and limitations. 26.
What would you change if you repeated that project? 27.
Describe a leadership responsibility that required listening. 28.
What did your service activity actually change, and what remains unresolved? 29.
How have you supported learners or colleagues? 30.
Which clinical or community problem would you like to investigate? 31.
How do you respond when a project has no clear result? 32.
What does being a reliable team member look like to you?
IMG experiences and difficult parts of an application
33. What did you learn from adapting to a different clinical system? 34.
How have you practiced communicating across languages or cultures? 35.
What can your international experience contribute to this team? 36.
How would you explain a gap in training clearly and honestly? 37.
What changed after an exam attempt or academic setback? 38.
If you changed specialties or career direction, what led to that decision? 39.
If you applied previously, what is meaningfully different this time? 40.
Which skill are you still developing, and what are you doing about it?
40 more questions: go beyond the first answer
Guys, you don’t need to prepare 80 separate speeches ❤ Many questions connect to the same real experiences. Use these prompts to discover what you want your interviewer to understand, then practice answering the question you actually hear.
Motivation, identity and choosing a program
41. Tell me about yourself in a way that connects your past, present and goals. 42.
Why this specialty instead of another you considered? 43.
What have you learned about the less glamorous parts of this specialty? 44.
What would make this program a good place for you to grow? 45.
What could be challenging about training here, and how would you prepare? 46.
What do you want us to understand that is not obvious in your application? 47.
Which experience changed what you thought you wanted from medicine? 48.
What would you bring to our team during a difficult month?
Reliability, judgment and learning under pressure
49. Tell me about a responsibility you almost failed to complete. 50.
What do you do when several people need your attention at once? 51.
Describe a time you changed your mind after seeing new information. 52.
How do you respond when you do not know the answer to a question? 53.
Tell me about a time you asked someone to check your work. 54.
How have you made a handoff or shared task clearer? 55.
What would you do if you realized you misunderstood an instruction? 56.
How do you notice that stress is affecting your communication?
Ethics, respect and difficult team situations
57. What would you do if a patient asked you to keep important information from the team? 58.
How would you respond to a disrespectful comment about a patient? 59.
What would you do if a supervisor’s instruction raised a safety concern? 60.
Describe a time you advocated for someone with less power than you. 61.
How would you respond if a colleague appeared too impaired or exhausted to work safely? 62.
What would you do if you saw patient information shared inappropriately? 63.
Describe a disagreement where both sides had reasonable concerns. 64.
How do you balance speaking up with listening to people who have more experience?
IMG transition, communication and your contribution
65. What differences did you notice between your previous training and U.S. clinical practice? 66.
Which part of the transition still requires deliberate practice? 67.
How do you explain a clinical idea when someone does not understand your first explanation? 68.
What have you learned from nurses and other healthcare professionals? 69.
Describe a situation where cultural assumptions affected communication. 70.
How would you ask for help with an unfamiliar electronic health record or local workflow? 71.
What did you observe during USCE that changed how you approach teamwork? 72.
How would you explain the scope of a rotation or observership accurately?
Research depth, future plans and life beyond the CV
73. Why did your team choose those methods for your research project? 74.
What is one limitation that affects how the findings should be interpreted? 75.
How did you distinguish your contribution from the team’s contribution? 76.
If your results were different from your hypothesis, what would you do next? 77.
What clinical question would you investigate with limited resources? 78.
Which interest outside medicine helps you connect with other people? 79.
How would you keep growing if your career plans changed during residency? 80.
What question do you wish I had asked you today?
Answer difficult questions without losing yourself
For a gap, setback or specialty change, give the relevant facts, explain what you learned and describe concrete steps since then.
Do not blame others, hide information or create a dramatic story to make an answer sound stronger.
You can be honest without sharing unrelated private details.
For a weakness, choose something real and show your work on it.
“I care too much” is less useful than a specific example of how you improved organization, asked for feedback or learned to communicate earlier.
Growth is more convincing than pretending you have no limitations.
For clinical scenarios, explain your thinking, prioritize safety and recognize your limits.
Do not invent a diagnosis or claim you would manage something independently beyond your training.
Interview preparation is not permission to exaggerate clinical experience.
30 questions YOU can ask
Choose questions that matter to you and suit the person you are meeting. Pick a few priorities for each conversation; you don’t need to ask all thirty!
For program leadership or faculty
1. How does supervision change as residents gain experience? 2.
What does useful feedback look like here, and how often is it given? 3.
How are mentors matched with residents? 4.
How does the program support a resident who needs extra help? 5.
What has changed recently because of resident feedback? 6.
How are education and service demands balanced? 7.
What support exists for research, quality improvement or teaching? 8.
How are residents supported in their next career step?
For current residents
9. What surprised you most after starting? 10.
What does a demanding week actually look like? 11.
Who helps when someone is sick or overwhelmed? 12.
How comfortable are you asking for help overnight? 13.
Are teaching sessions protected in practice? 14.
What would you improve if you could change one thing? 15.
What makes people feel included here? 16.
Knowing what you know now, what would you want an applicant to understand?
For the coordinator or appropriate administrative office
17. Where can I review the current contract, salary and benefits? 18.
What are the leave, parental-leave and onboarding policies? 19.
Which requirements apply to my credentials and immigration circumstances? 20.
What communication is welcome after the interview?
Answer structures you can personalize
These are outlines, guys—not stories to copy.
Fill them with your own facts and speak naturally.
A clear answer usually needs one main point, one useful example and a reflection.
Stop when you have answered the question; give the interviewer room to follow up.
“Tell me about yourself”
Start with where you are in your journey.
Choose one or two experiences that explain your specialty interest.
Connect those experiences to the colleague you are becoming and what you want from training.
You do not need to retell every line of your CV.
Practice outline: “I trained in [place] and became interested in [specialty] through [experience].
During [next experience], I learned [specific lesson].
Now I’m looking for training that will help me develop [goal], while contributing [real strength].”
“Why our program?”
Connect a program feature to something real about you: “Your [specific curriculum, patient population or mentorship opportunity] interests me because [experience or goal].
I would like to learn [skill] and contribute through [actual experience].” Two specific connections are more useful than a long list of compliments.
If something is unclear on the website, turn it into a thoughtful question.
“Tell me about a conflict or a mistake”
Describe the situation briefly, explain your responsibility, say what YOU did, and share the result and lesson.
Own your part without attacking the other person.
If the outcome was imperfect, say so.
Explain what you would do differently now.
For patient-related examples, remove identifying details and describe the supervision and safety steps appropriate to your role.
“Explain this gap, exam attempt or specialty change”
State the relevant facts calmly.
Explain what changed afterward and give concrete evidence of your preparation now.
For a specialty change, show how you explored the new field and why it fits your goals.
You do not need to criticize your former specialty or reveal unrelated private information.
Keep dates and explanations consistent with your application.
“What is your weakness?”
Choose a genuine skill you are working on.
Give a short example, explain your improvement plan and describe what progress looks like.
Avoid pretending your weakness is a hidden superpower.
You can say, “I used to [specific difficulty].
I started [action], and I now [observable improvement].
I’m still working on [next step].” Only use this structure if it reflects your experience.
Clinical and ethical scenarios: practice your approach
Some interviews include situations rather than questions about your past.
Listen carefully, identify missing information and explain your reasoning.
Stay within your training and involve the appropriate supervisor.
The interviewer needs to understand how you think, communicate and recognize limits.
Practice situation 1: You notice a discrepancy between a handoff and the chart.
What would you clarify, who would you contact, and how would you communicate the concern?
Practice situation 2: A patient has difficulty understanding the plan because of a language barrier.
How would you arrange appropriate language support and check understanding?
Practice situation 3: A teammate repeatedly interrupts another team member.
How would you address the situation while keeping the discussion useful and respectful?
Practice situation 4: You discover an error after a task is completed.
What would you do immediately, how would you escalate it, and what would you learn afterward?
For each situation, ask yourself: What is the immediate concern?
What do I actually know?
What needs clarification?
Who should be involved?
How would I communicate and follow through?
Don’t turn a practice prompt into a claim that you would manage a patient independently.
10 more questions to understand the training experience
21. How is responsibility balanced between interns, senior residents and attending physicians? 22.
What does orientation include for someone new to this hospital’s systems? 23.
How is continuity clinic organized, and how is it supported during demanding rotations? 24.
What practical support is available when residents experience discrimination or mistreatment? 25.
How does the program handle schedule changes and unexpected absences? 26.
What resources help residents prepare for their specialty boards? 27.
Can you share an example of a resident quality-improvement project and the support it received? 28.
How are career mentorship and fellowship application support organized? 29.
Are there changes planned in training sites, curriculum or program leadership? 30.
What do residents wish they had known before moving to this city?
Ask the right person: residents can describe daily life; faculty can explain supervision and education; the coordinator or GME office can provide written policies and onboarding details.
Bring three priority questions, plus a few backups.
Let the conversation guide you.
A seven-day practice plan ❤
Day 1 — Read your application aloud.
Check dates, roles, publications and anything you would struggle to explain.
Day 2 — Build your six-story bank.
Write short notes about your role, actions, result and lesson.
Day 3 — Practice your introduction, specialty choice and difficult application questions with a friend.
Day 4 — Research your next program.
Pick two real connections and three questions.
Day 5 — Do a mock interview in the format you expect.
Ask for specific feedback.
Day 6 — Practice the areas that felt unclear.
Test your device, connection and backup contact plan.
Day 7 — Review brief notes, organize your schedule and rest.
You do not need a late-night marathon before the interview.
How to run a useful mock interview
Ask a friend, mentor or colleague to give you a 20–30 minute practice conversation.
Start with your introduction, then choose a behavioral question, an application question, a situational question and time for your questions.
Ask follow-ups: “What was your role?” “What happened next?” “What would you do differently?” Mix the order so you learn to listen instead of waiting for a rehearsed prompt.
Afterward, use five checks: Did I answer the question?
Was my example specific?
Was my role clear?
Did I explain what I learned?
Did I leave space for conversation?
Ask your partner for one thing to keep and one thing to improve.
This is a practice tool, not a prediction of how a program will rank you.
If you record a mock, get everyone’s permission and keep it private.
Avoid including patient identifiers.
Watch it once for clarity and once for distracting habits; you don’t need to criticize every gesture.
Never record an actual interview without the program’s explicit permission.
Practice together: Project IMG’s 24/7 interview prep room ❤
Guys, you do not have to practice alone!
At Project IMG, we have a 24/7 interview prep room on Discord where you can join with your camera on and practice with other applicants.
You can also listen while others practice, learn from their answers and join in when it is your turn.
It is a great opportunity to get more comfortable speaking, support each other and turn preparation into a conversation ❤
Bring a few questions from this guide, take turns being the interviewer and the applicant, and give kind, specific feedback.
When you are listening, notice what makes an answer clear and personal—then practice telling YOUR own story.
The room is open 24/7; who is available to practice depends on who is there when you join.
As the founder of Project IMG, I love seeing our community help each other prepare. Come practice with us!
If you freeze, ramble or don’t understand
A pause is okay ❤ Try, “Let me take a moment to think of a specific example.” If a question is unclear: “Could you clarify which part you’d like me to focus on?” If you start rambling: “The main lesson for me was…” and finish your point.
If you do not know something, say so and explain how you would learn or seek help.
These small resets can bring you back into the conversation.
For English practice, answer aloud and ask whether your message is understandable. Work on pacing, clinical vocabulary and listening. Your goal is clear communication. You don’t need to erase your accent or use complicated words to sound capable.
A quick worksheet after the interview
Write down: program and track; date; people you met; two strengths; two unanswered questions; supervision and teaching; workload and support; mentorship; practical living costs; and your own reaction.
Mark whether a detail came from a written policy, a conversation or an impression.
Later, compare programs using the priorities YOU chose before interview season.
Guys, don’t let preparation turn into trying to become somebody else ❤ The goal is to share your story clearly, show that you can learn and work with others, and find a place where you can grow. One conversation at a time.
Your interview boundaries matter
Under NRMP policy, programs must not ask you to identify other programs you applied to, might apply to or signaled, or request your ranking preferences.
Asking why you are interested in THIS program or specialty is different.
You do not have to disclose your rank list.
A calm response you can adapt: “I’m keeping my application and ranking preferences private, but I’d be happy to explain why this program interests me.” If something concerns you, document what happened and consult the current NRMP guidance or your advisor.
For unrelated personal questions, you can redirect toward your ability to meet the role’s requirements: “I can meet the responsibilities of the position. Could we discuss the training expectations?” Keep legitimate credentialing and work-authorization questions separate from requests for unrelated private information.
Letter of interest: before an interview
A short, personalized inquiry may be appropriate if the program welcomes it.
It is not a substitute for the official application or signaling process, and it does not guarantee an invitation.
Do not email every faculty member, send repeated messages or assume an old contact is still correct.
Use the current official contact and a neutral greeting if you do not know someone’s title.
SUBJECT: Residency application — [Name], [Application ID] Dear [Program Team / verified name], I applied to your [specialty] program and wanted to share my interest in [specific feature]. My experience in [relevant experience] connects with my goal of [goal]. [Optional: one meaningful, accurate update.] Thank you for considering my application. Kind regards, [Name] • [Application ID, if appropriate]
Thank-you messages: optional and program-dependent
Follow the program’s instructions, including a request for no post-interview messages. If a note is welcome, keep it brief, personal and accurate. You do not need handwritten cards, messages to everyone you met or repeated follow-ups to demonstrate gratitude.
SUBJECT: Thank you — [Name] Dear [verified name], Thank you for speaking with me about [specific topic]. I appreciated learning how your program [specific detail], particularly because [genuine connection to your goals]. Thank you for your time and for helping me understand the training experience. Best, [Name]
Letter of intent: use the words carefully
A letter of interest expresses interest.
A letter of intent states a specific ranking intention.
Neither is required or guarantees an outcome.
Follow the program’s communication policy.
If you voluntarily say a program is your first choice, say it only when true; do not send conflicting first-choice statements or ask for a ranking commitment in return.
OPTIONAL EXAMPLE—ONLY IF TRUE AND WELCOME: Dear [verified name], After completing my interviews and reflecting on my goals, I intend to rank [exact program and track] first. [One or two specific reasons.] Thank you for the opportunity to learn about your program. Sincerely, [Name]
After each interview: write down what YOU learned
Make a short note while it is fresh: teaching, supervision, workload, support, patient population, mentorship, costs and location.
Separate what was confirmed from your impressions and what needs clarification.
Try not to let one charismatic conversation erase concerns about the actual training environment.
Rank programs in your genuine preference order—not according to where you think you will match.
Include only programs where you would be willing and eligible to train.
Review the exact program/track codes and certify your list through NRMP by the current deadline; saving and certifying are different steps.
A Match creates a binding commitment under the participation agreement.
If invitations are slow
Please do not turn another applicant’s invitation into a judgment about yourself ❤ Timing differs across specialties and programs.
Check your email and application platform, follow published timelines and review your strategy with a trusted advisor.
My old interview dates and another person’s interview count cannot predict your result.
Spend your energy on what you can control: thoughtful preparation, accurate applications, useful updates when permitted and support from people who know you. It is okay to take a break from social media when comparison is making the season harder.
MY FINAL CHECKLIST ❤ Know your application. Prepare real stories. Research the program. Test your setup. Protect patient privacy. Ask questions that matter. Follow communication policies. Record your impressions. Rank by your own preferences.
Current official resources
I hope this helps you enter the season feeling more prepared and a little less alone. Share it with a friend who needs it. Love you all—keep learning, keep helping each other, and let your story sound like YOUR story ❤
Victor Sebastian Arruarana, MD • Doctor Sebas Instagram: @doctor.sebas
Thank you so much Dr Sebas.
I would love to meet you in person after i match into residency this year (finger crossed).
I never thought that I would get all these information in a same reading. Thank you Dr.Sebas for your contribution.
Wow Dr Sebas you gave us more than we paid for $$$$. Thank you very Mucho, Dr Naranjo =Dr Orange