How are residency interviews scheduled?

In general, residency programs send out interview invitations in batches, provide several scheduling options, and tell students that their scheduling requests will be honored on a first-come-first-serve basis.

How does residency interview scheduling work?

As you receive your invites, it is helpful to know that programs use a variety of different interview booking platforms – some will use ERAS, others will have you email or call with preferences, others will use interview booking websites such as the Thalamus residency interview scheduling system, or Interview Broker.

How soon do you get residency interview invites?

The weeks in which the most interview invitations are sent tend to be the second and third weeks after programs can access applications. But the pace remains fairly steady for at least a month after that.

What month are most residency interviews?

Residency interviews usually occur October through January of your fourth year, with December and January being the busiest interview months. It is important to note that each specialty, and the residency programs within them, may have their own process and associated timelines.

How many interviews does the average residency applicant get?

Dr. Allen said that University of Washington tells students that 15 interviews is a good number to aim for. So, an early invitation from a school in the middle of your list—depending on how long your list is—may be one you should strongly consider accepting.

Getting and Scheduling Residency Interviews

What are the odds of matching with 2 interviews?

The take home is that if you have 1 residency interview – your chances of matching is around 35%. This means there is hope with only interview. But, if you're able to bump that up to 2 interviews or even 3 – your chances jump to 40% and then 50%.

Can I match with one interview?

Remember, even if you have a single interview you have an equal chance of matching. For such candidates we highly recommend honing in on your interview skills early so that you can be extensively prepared for a successful interview and Match! The moral is there is no need to panic!

Is January too late for residency interview?

December to January: End of Interview Season for Residency and Begin Ranking Programs. This is the end of residency interview season, and during this time you will be completing your last residency interviews.

Is it better to interview earlier or later for residency?

First, as you review and respond to invitations, try not to be anxious about the timing of your interview and whether it occurs early or late in the cycle. Timing is not a factor in how programs rank candidates. Each interview takes some logistics planning and content planning.

Do residency programs rank every interview?

Well, the short answer is no. The long answer is that it's incredibly complicated. There are various methodologies that residency programs utilize to rank their applicants.

How many residency interviews should I have to match?

The probability of matching is related to the number of contiguous ranks. For allopathic and osteopathic senior medical students, the probability of matching is 80% at around 6–7 contiguous ranks and becomes > 95% at around 11–12. Therefore, the typical applicant should aim for 11–12 interviews.

Do residency interviews happen on weekends?

Data indicates that most interview invitations do not go out on weekends or evenings, so they largely arrive during business hours. To navigate that, students may want to take some extra steps.

Who interviews you for residency?

While no one format exists, generally anticipate you'll tour the facilities, as well as interview with the program director, two or three faculty members, and one or two residents.

What happens if I miss a residency interview?

Cancelling or rescheduling unprofessionally can impact both your reputation and future opportunities with that residency program or department. Under no circumstances should you be a no-show – that is, fail to attend a scheduled interview without prior notice.

How much do interviews matter for residency?

Interviews are the final step in the process of fourth-year medical students securing a residency position. As such, interviews play a crucial role in the residency selection process for both residency programs and fourth-year medical students alike.

What is interview scheduling process?

An interview schedule is a plan for the interviewer that contains a set of questions with already researched answers to interview a candidate. It works as a guideline for an interviewer.

How many residency interviews is too many?

You want to go on at least 8-10 interviews. You can consider canceling some interviews if you have more than 8-10 scheduled.

Why am I not getting interviews for residency?

Having a Low score and failing to adequately address it during your application process is a reason why many applicants may not receive an interview. Many applicants address this in their Personal Statement for residency or articulate other experiences in ERAS application/CV that demonstrate they have overcome it.

How do I increase my chances of a residency match?

It is important to start early and be intentional.

Intelligently approach your application and spend your time and effort wisely to improve your match chances. Get involved in interest groups or research for your desired field early on. Then, prioritize scoring high on Step 2 as well as your clerkship rotations.

How many applicants actually get interviews?

Whenever you apply for a job, it's only natural to have some competition. The average number of people who tend to apply for a single job is 118, while only 20% of them get invited to an interview. So, next time you're wondering how many applicants get interviews, know that it's roughly only 1 in 5.

How many people are selected for 2nd interview?

It's estimated that the average job seeker needs to apply to 27 companies before being asked to come in for a first interview, and only an average of 2-4 applicants will be invited to come in for a second.

Is the first or second interview harder?

You sailed through the first interview because you were well prepared. Now you have to be hyper-focused: Questions for a second interview will go deeper, and will be tougher, than what you handled in that initial conversation. What else will be different about this interview?

How do you crush residency interviews?

It's natural to be nervous during an interview—calm your nerves with a few deep breaths. Be familiar with your application packet, and prepare for questions about your background. Practice answering common residency interview questions. Spend some time reflecting on questions you might be asked.

Are residency interviews hard?

Very few (if any) residency interviews are confrontational or intimidating; interviewers might ask some challenging questions, but these really do not differ from those that might be asked in the course of an interview for any professional job (see sample questions below).

What makes you stand out from other candidates residency?

Focus on describing experiences that demonstrate your strengths rather than simply listing personality traits. For example, instead of saying that you're a hard worker, you can talk about some life experiences that show the interviewer your diligence.