How quickly do you get residency interviews?

For the bulk of invitations, the most active weeks for interview invitations are two to three weeks after programs can access applications, according to Thalamus, a platform that residency programs can use to schedule interviews.

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 long does it take to prepare for a residency interview?

One key aspect of preparation is going to conduct the necessary research on the residency program you are interviewing in. This does not mean 12 hours of detailed background work. Often times, a solid 1-2 hours with good notes can be more than enough to set the right impression.

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.

How Many Residency Interviews Should You Have?

Is it better to do residency interviews earlier or later?

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.

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.

What should I do the night before my residency interview?

Always go to the dinner the night before if offered. The dinners are often great sources of information and an opportunity to meet some of the residents in the program. Don't order spaghetti! (Travel with an extra shirt or tie in case you spill something on yourself.)

What do you wear to a residency interview?

Make sure it is a suit shirt (no buttons on collar.) o Light blue, or other pastel shades are acceptable. o Conservative blouses are okay too. Your belt should match your shoes. Skirt and pant suits are both acceptable. If you wear a skirt suit, make sure it hits at your knee cap and is not too short.

Are residency interviews all day?

Most residency interview visits are day-long affairs. 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. You might also attend rounds or eat lunch with faculty or residents.

Can you match into residency with one interview?

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%.

What date do most residencies start?

If your Deans and faculty advisors haven't told you yet, there is an old wives' tale that residency always starts at the beginning of July -- most of us in fact start in June!

Do all residencies start July 1st?

It depends on your residency program. Some only have a few days of orientation and start July 1st, others have several weeks of orientation and start July 1st, and some start working before July 1st. There's no universal standard for every residency program in the country.

How long after residency interview should I send thank you?

When To Send Your Thank You Note. Ideally you should send thank you notes within one week of your interview.

Can residency programs see where you applied?

Residency programs do not send program signals to applicants. The use of program signals is optional for applicants. Acceptance of program signals is optional for programs. Programs will only see whether their program was signaled by an applicant.

Do I need to bring my CV to residency interview?

– You might consider bringing a copy of your CV or a recent publication. Make sure that you check with the program whether there is anything that you must bring with you – better to do this well in advance in case you need to source anything in particular.

Is it okay to take notes during residency interview?

Don't overdo it, as this may turn your notes into a distraction. However, if you're being forced to adapt to doing virtual residency interviews, you might as well take advantage of having some notes to guide you.

Are residency interviews stressful?

The quest for program interviews — without which applicants won't move on to residency — is inherently stressful. But the interview invitation process itself often intensifies applicant anxiety. Among the stresses are the first-come, first-served nature of the process.

What not to say during residency interview?

Don't speak negatively about other programs.

If asked about your experience rotating at another place, or even at your home institution, do not speak negatively about them. You can compare and contrast them, but “bad-mouthing” other residents or programs is a big red flag.

What questions should you not ask in a residency interview?

What I wish I knew before starting residency?

Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Medicine is constantly evolving, and there will always be something new to learn. As a resident, it's important to be humble and acknowledge that you don't know everything. Be open to learning from your colleagues, your patients, and your mistakes.

What is the hardest residency to match in?

Is it harder for DO to match into residency?

Another reason is that DO students have a more difficult time matching to residencies offering specialty training. In 2023, 52 percent of DO seniors ended up in primary care specialties vs. 35 percent of MD seniors.

Do they interview the best candidate first?

Some hiring managers may choose to interview the strongest candidates first. This can be advantageous for a number of reasons. By interviewing the top candidate early, employers can gauge other candidates' performances against the benchmark set by the best candidate.