Preparing for a U.S. Medical Residency Interview

Although many U.S. allopathic seniors have a chance to complete mock interviews at their medical schools, some foreign medical graduates may not be fully prepared for the interview process. Completing all the required medical exams and meeting the basic requirements for acceptance is an important first step. However, it does not guarantee admission. Candidates must also impress the interviewer. In this article, we’ll outline how foreign medical graduates can prepare themselves for a successful interview.

Review your own background

Interviewers often ask questions about a graduate’s past experiences. While many graduates can talk confidently about past experiences, reviewing them prior to the interview can be helpful. Perhaps you had forgotten about that volunteer experience you completed three years ago. Reviewing your background can bring more memories to the surface. Then you will be prepared when the interviewer asks a question about your experience.

Research your chosen specialty

At a U.S. medical residency, you will be interviewing for a particular specialty. Having extensive knowledge of this specialty is likely to impress the interviewer. To prepare, keep up to date on the latest developments in your selected specialty. You can subscribe to journals on the specialty or even just set up a Google Alert to send you notifications of new developments. Interviewers may ask your opinion on major issues facing the specialty and this research will help you provide a valuable response.

Research your chosen program

Interviewers will likely ask why you chose the specific school program. Knowledge about the program will help you develop a good answer. For example, the program may be ranked highly. This is a somewhat generic answer, however, and greater specificity will reveal how much you researched the program. A more specific answer would be because you want to work with a specific doctor who is an expert in a procedure that you would like to learn. The second answer, which demonstrates how much research you did, is more likely to impress an interviewer.

Matching with a U.S. medical residency requires more than a stellar resume and high scores on the ECFMG examinations. While the resume and exam scores will get you in the door, you will also have to impress the interviewers. Being knowledgeable about your own experience, your chosen specialty and the interviewing program itself is likely to impress interviewers. When it comes time for the medical residency to rank possible candidates for the match, you want them to rank you toward the top.

NRMP Matches 52.4% of Foreign Medical Students to U.S. Residencies in 2017

The National Resident Matching Program, or NRMP, announced the largest number of medical residency applicants and placements in 2017. The program places medical school students and graduates in residencies using a Nobel-prize winning algorithm. To be included in the program, medical school students submit applications and interview with programs starting in the fall and continuing through early winter. The program directors and applicants then rank their order of preference. The algorithm matches applicants to residency programs. This successful program continued in 2017 with over 35,000 medical school student and graduate applicants.

In 2017, these medical school students and graduates competed for over 31,000 positions. 94% of U.S. allopathic seniors were successfully matched. This is a consistent number from year to year. However, the placement rate for non-U.S. citizen international medical school graduates and students (also known as FMGs) is much lower, only 52.4%.  Over 7,000 FMGs applied in 2017 and less than 4,000 were placed. NRMP notes that this is the highest match rate since 2005, so 52.4% is better than average.

The lower match rate of international medical students suggests that these students may need additional support to successfully match with U.S. residency programs. Comparing the experiences of U.S. seniors and foreign medical students might illuminate some difference that account for the lower match rate. U.S. allopathic seniors follow a standard process for medical residency matching. They know when to take their USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination). In many cases, their medical school can support and guide them through the process. For foreign medical students, their medical school might not be able to provide the support and guidance needed to obtain a residency in the United States. The medical school’s process might be set up for medical residency in the local area.

U.S. students might also have an advantage during interviews. Resumes are written and interviews are conducted in their native language. Additionally, many U.S. school provide workshops on resume writing and interviewing. Foreign medical students may not have access to this support.

Hand-on clinical experience might also help U.S. students rise through the ranks. Many medical schools including clinical experience as part of the curriculum. These schools partner with U.S. hospitals and clinics for training. Foreign medical students may have clinical training in their native country. However, interviewing residencies may be more comfortable accepting students with training at known U.S. institutions.

It seems as though foreign medical students are at a disadvantage when it comes to medical residency placement. However, additional support can enable international medical students and graduates to be successfully matched to a U.S. residency. Hands-on clinical experience in the U.S., resume advice, and interview preparation are likely to increase the chances that a FMG will be matched with his or her preferred medical residency.