Residency Interview Prep
10/28/2026
By Julie Cunningham, MA, CCC-SLP, licensed speech-language pathologist
Short answer: the best residency interview prep is practicing out loud, on camera. Prepare one strong example for each common question, do mock interviews with feedback, set up your camera, light, and sound, and work on speaking clearly and at a steady pace through a microphone.
Many residency interviews are virtual: the AAMC recommends a virtual interview format for residency and fellowship programs. I coach residency applicants, including international medical graduates, on how they sound. For dates, formats, and the questions programs ask, see this residency interview guide from Vince Kotchian.
1. Prepare Your Examples
Choose a handful of experiences you can tell well: a patient you learned from, a challenge on a rotation, a mistake and what you changed, teamwork, and why this specialty. The AAMC's virtual interview guide notes that one strong example is usually better than several weak ones.
2. Practice Out Loud, on Camera
- Answer common questions out loud and record yourself on video.
- Keep most answers to a minute or two, with your main point first.
- Watch for rushing, a voice that fades at the ends of sentences, and filler words.
The AAMC publishes a list of questions frequently asked during residency interviews, which is a good place to start.
3. Do Mock Interviews
The AAMC recommends mock interviews to practice your examples. Ask a mentor, an advisor, or a coach to interview you on video with questions you haven't seen.
4. Set Up for a Virtual Interview
The AAMC's virtual interview guide recommends a private, quiet, well-lit space, a good webcam and microphone, and looking at the camera, not the screen. My Zoom interview tips cover setup step by step.
5. Work on How You Sound
- Pace: pause between ideas. See how to talk slower.
- Clarity: finish your words and stress the important ones, especially medical terms and program names. See how to speak more clearly.
- Voice: breathe low and keep your volume steady. See how to project your voice.
- Presence: look at the lens, sit tall, and let your face show your interest when you talk about patients and your specialty.
International Medical Graduates
If English is your second language, the same practice helps, with extra attention to the words you'll say most: your specialty, your rotations, and the places you trained. See residency interview coaching for IMGs. If you're still working on your application, see this residency personal statement guide.
Practice With Feedback
In interview coaching, we practice residency interviews on Zoom, the virtual format the AAMC recommends, and I give you specific feedback on your organization, voice, pace, and clarity, and on your non-verbal communication: eye contact with the lens, facial expressions, and posture. Coaching is $250 an hour, and the Planning Session is free.
Common Questions
Are residency interviews virtual?
Many are. The AAMC recommends that residency and fellowship programs use a virtual interview format. Some programs also offer an optional in-person visit, so check each invitation.
How should I prepare for a residency interview?
Practice your answers out loud, do mock interviews with feedback, set up your camera, light, and sound for a virtual interview, and prepare one strong example for each common question.
Where should I look during a virtual residency interview?
Look at the camera when you speak, not at the screen. The AAMC gives the same advice in its virtual interview guide.
Can international medical graduates get help with residency interviews?
Yes. I coach international medical graduates on clarity, pace, voice, and organizing answers, using their own clinical vocabulary.