Questions to Ask Residency Programs

Your questions should help you understand how a residency works and whether it supports your training goals. Read the program’s published information first, then ask about details that remain unclear.

Clinical Learning and Supervision

Ask how responsibilities develop during training, how supervision is provided, and what happens when a resident needs help. Ask about rotation structure and the clinical settings relevant to your interests.

Feedback and Support

Ask how residents receive feedback and how the program responds when someone needs additional support. Explore mentorship, advising, and access to confidential well-being resources.

Teaching and Scholarship

Ask how teaching is organized and how residents pursue scholarly work where relevant. Clarify available mentorship, time, and resources rather than assuming every advertised opportunity is available to every resident.

Daily Experience

Ask residents about the practical experience of the program, including teamwork, schedules, transitions between sites, and living locally. Recognize that individual experiences may differ.

Appointment Terms

Review current information on compensation, benefits, leave, and other appointment conditions through the appropriate channel. Clarify unresolved details before making a decision. Keep questions professional and follow interview and Match communication rules.

Sample Questions to Adapt

Use these questions to explore details you could not find in the program’s published information. Choose questions that fit the conversation and the person you are speaking with.

What does a typical day look like, and how do responsibilities change across training years?
How are residents supervised, and whom can they contact when they need help?
How are rotations structured, including time at different clinical sites?
How and when do residents receive feedback on their performance?
How does structured mentorship work, and how are mentors selected?
How are work hours managed, and what wellness resources are available?
What should incoming residents know about local living costs and daily life?