I Interviewed For Residency… Now What?

You’re starting to complete some residency interviews. Congrats!

You’ve prepared for these interviews for months. From submitting your applications to each residency program to thoughtfully perfecting your answers to common questions, lots of time, effort and stress went into that moment (even to getting your zoom background perfected for the interview ha!). 

Now that you have completed your interview, you want to look ahead to your next interviews and prepare for ranking. Here are some tips for what to do next.

How should I approach my next interview?

Once you have one or two under your belt, you will have a better understanding of what to expect in your next interviews. Reflect on your experience and use that to prepare. Here are questions you may want to consider:

• Did you feel adequately prepared for the questions that were asked? What common questions do you need to practice again and what new ones do you need to rehearse?
• Since interviews are virtual again this year, did your interview set up work? Adjust your space if needed to ensure a quiet area with adequate light and everything you need.
• Did your nerves affect your interview? If so, how can you prepare more or adjust your environment to calm your nerves? 
• While in your interview, did you identify any new questions to ask each program? If so, jot them down on your cheat sheet for future interviews.

How should I communicate with a residency program after the interview?

Communicating with a residency program post-interview can be a gray area, but being aware of a program’s communication practices can make it a little simpler. 

Should I send a thank you note to a residency program after an interview?

After an interview, you are likely grateful for the opportunity and want to communicate that to the interviewers, but you should know what the program asks for.

If a program explicitly says they don’t respond or asks that interviewees not contact the program, respect that. If a program doesn’t say whether they do or not, you can send one if you want, but it is not necessary. 

“It almost never makes a difference [in the decision on an applicant] and I certainly don’t write it down if someone doesn’t send a thank-you note,” said Hilary Fairbrother, MD, vice chair of education in the emergency medicine department at the University of Texas at Houston says in an AMA article. 

Even though some may say it won’t positively affect the program’s perception of you, we don’t think it is necessarily going to hurt you either. If you are going to follow up, be sure to do it within a couple days of your interview. Sending a thank you weeks later could be less beneficial as the program may have interviewed dozens of applicants since your interview.

Should I send a handwritten or digital thank you note?

In the past, residency candidates were encouraged to send handwritten thank yous, but now, emails are often preferred. 

I didn’t receive a response from my residency interview thank you note. Should I be worried?

If you send a thank you note but don’t hear back, don’t worry! Some programs have a rule to not respond, but don’t communicate that to interviewees. 

Should I tell a residency program I am ranking them first?

You leave an interview, and everything was fantastic! You love the program and want to share that with your top choice! There are mixed perspectives on if this strategy is helpful for matching with your desired program. 

Many believe this can be beneficial to your ranking if done tactfully. But this is only recommended if you are sure your ranking order will not change.