All about USMLE
All about usmle
PAGES
› Residency Application Process
› Filling the application form
› Documents
› Program selection
› Mail documents
› Apply
› Interviews season
› Selection criteria for an IMG
› Residency interview evaluation
form
› Scheduling an interview
› What to do when you receive an
interview call
› How to travel to the interview
› How to prepare for an interview
› Commonly asked questions in
an interview
› Questions to ask them
› Dress for an interview
› Day of the interview
› Checklist for a good interview
› More interview questions
› Questions to ask the PD
› Questions to ask the Residents
› Phone interview
› Sample Interview Questions
with Answers
HOME RESIDENCY APPLICATION PROCESS FEED
Sample Interview Questions with
Answers
Personal questions:
Q1: What are your strengths and weakness? How
do you handle your weakness?
textbookx.com (Akademos, Inc.)
My biggest strength is good communication and
interpersonal skills. I can work very well with people at
different level.
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I am a good student. I have got good fund of clinical
knowledge. I am thorough in taking medical history and CATEGORIES
performing physical examination. Besides, I am always Select Category
ready to learn new things. I am a quick learner.
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I am a professional. It means that I am responsible and Select Month
dependable person who is well organized with his work.
I will follow hospital work ethic.
(Professional, team player and quick learner)
Q2: What will you do 10 years after completion of
residency?
Since I love teaching, I see myself working as an
attending physician in academic institute.
Q3: What made you join medicine?
Doctors are highly regarded by society. As a doctor, I
can have opportunity to have positive impact on lives of
many people. Besides, doctors have excellent job
security. So I will say that this is the job that will enable
me to nurture not only myself and my family but also the
community.
Q4: Why did you leave your country? Why did you
come to America?
I wanted to have training in the field of Public health
prior to residency. In India, there is no formal public
health training. More important thing is that residency
program over here has much more resources available
in terms of education and patient management.
Residency program over here will enable me to deliver
high quality health care in the community.
I accept that my country needs me the most. After I
have served for few years in this country , I will head
back to my country to work as a physician and utilize
my advanced training and experience
Q5: Describe yourself in 3 words.
Professional, quick learner and team player
Q6: As an IMG what differences you see between
health care systems in the United States and India?
In my country, health care is universal. Majority of health
care is provided by government through civil hospitals.
Small proportion of health care is provided by private
practice but it limited in city and major towns. Health
care delivered by government is free. Private health
care is expensive. That is why health insurance is not
much popular.
In U.S.A., 84% of people have insurance either owned
individually or provided by employers and government.
Health insurance is expensive. Cost of medical bill is
very high.
(In USA there is a lot of emphasis on preventive health
care. In my country, our health care system is saturated
by acute conditions like infectious diseases. WE
emphasize curative aspect medicine more than
prevention.)
Q7: What is your medical career plan?
My short term goal is to join internal medicine residency
program. After finishing my residency , I would like to
work as a attending physician at academic institute.
At present I am not decided about fellowship. Once I
finish my first year of residency I will be in better
position to make decision.
Q8: What do you do in your spare time?
(I use my spare time for volunteer work. I am working as
a peer health educator for XXXXX.) I like to listen to
music and watch movies. Sometimes, I go for a walk. I
also prefer to spend my free time with friends.
Q9: What are your interests?
Hobbies include as per cv.
Q10: How do you handle adversity?
Usually because of my friendly nature, I do not
frequently face adverse circumstances. However, we
are human beings and conflicts are likely to arise. The
most useful tool to resolve adversity is open and honest
talk with the person. (We can involve third party who
can think over the situation independently and
contribute to conflict resolution.) If I have made a
mistake, I will be ready to accept it. I will make sure that
it will not be repeated. I will expect same kind of
response from opposite party if he is in fault.
Q11: What is your opinion about socialized health
care?
Socialized medicine is a term used to describe health
care system controlled and financed by government.
The major source of fund will be tax. The advantage of
this system is that all people will have access to health
care services. This can help eliminate health care
disparities among different segments of population.
Q12: Tell me about yourself.
I was born and brought up in XXXXX. During my high
school, I decided to go to medical school and prepared
myself accordingly.I competed for the Medical Entrance
conducted for all over the state and succeded to secure
a seat in Medical school of my choice. My medical
curriculum included one year of rotating internship after
4.5 years of basic and clinical science. After intern ship,
I worked as a junior resident in medical and intensive
care units in a reputed corporate hospital XXXXX FOR
XXX TIME. Then I came to USA for MPH program. As a
MPH student, I realized the importance of preventive
care and health promotion programs. During my
summer vacation, I worked as a research assistant in
the department of XXXXXX. ( EXPLAIN ABOUT THE
RESEARCH )
My contribution will lead to three research papers,
manuscripts in preparation. This research experience
was very rewarding, and I learnt to be patient while
doing research without getting frustrated when the
expected results don’t come and it increased my
research interest in medical field. Finally, I would
describe myself as team player, quick learner and
professional person.
Q13: If you could change one thing about your
personality, what would it be?
I always try to finish entire task at once. Sometimes, I
do not care about time. I will work late to finish it up
even though I know that I can complete the task next
day.
Q14: If you had unlimited money and two free
hours, what would you do?
First of all, I will pay off my educational loan that I have
taken for MPH program. I will spare some amount for
future. Rest of the money will be used for charity for
example I will give money to students who want to study
abroad, patients who can not bear medical cost , I will
donate money to free clinics and health care program
Q15: If your house was burning, what three objects
would you save?
Mobile so that I can ask for help
Wallet- my id, credit card
First Aid lit
Q16: How would your friends and coworkers
describe you?
My friends describe me as a well organized person who
is easy to get along with and will be ready to help
friends whenever need arises.
Q17: What physician characteristics do you admire
most? Least?
Physician must have good bedside manners. I admire
their patience.
Grades in board exams.
Q18: What do you like to read?
I like to read newspapers. I can know what is going on
in the community. Besides, I like to read articles so can
keep me up-to-date with medical knowledge. I do online
CMEs to keep myself updated.
Q19: When are you least efficient and effective?
I feel great degree of energy and enthusiasm when I
have some work to do. Usually I maintain same degree
of efficiency and effectiveness. However, I am a human
being. I may feel tired after working long hours. This can
negatively affect my work efficiency. I may take little bit
more time to accomplish my task but quality of my work
will remain same.
Q20: What makes you procrastinate?
I have got good time management skills. The chances
of being late are few. However, in real life we work as a
team as for example residency program. So, It depends
on other people’s work efficiency also. Besides, If I
have been working for long hours, I may feel tired and
may need more time to finish task .
Q21: Have you ever been fired?
No
Q22: Have you ever dropped a class?
No
Q23: If you couldn’t be a physician, what would you
be?
I like to work with patients. If I could not be physician
here, I will go for PhD in Public health. People in the
community have some bad life style choices in general.
As a public health professional, I can plan interventions
or programs so that people make healthy life style
choices
Q24: With what types of people do you have trouble
working?
I have trouble working with people who are not open
and honest with their coworkers. I do not like lazy
people. Most of the time, we have to work as a team.
When we are working as a team, certain level of
commitment is required from each and every member to
accomplish the goal. If one member of team is lazy than
whole team has to face negative consequences.
Q25: Why should we take you in preference to other
candidates?
It is a difficult question . I understand there are many
applicants who have same qualifications as me. So, you
are in better position to decide. However, I can assure
that I am going to work hard, I am going to learn, I will
teach my junior residents and medical students. I will
not disappoint you regarding your decision to select me.
Q26: How do you see the delivery of health care
evolving in the twenty-first century?
I believe that there will be changes not only in the way
medicine is practiced but also in the way it is paid.
There will be much more emphasis on prevention rather
than treatment. Health insurance will be portable. It
means people will have same insurance wherever they
live or work. Besides, medical liability system will be
fairer. Nowadays, to avoid lawsuits physicians practice
defensive medicine which increases the cost of health
care. The concept of Health saving account is becoming
more popular. People themselves will save money for
future which decrease burden over the government. I
think many good changes are going to occur.
Q27: What is the solution to the health care crisis?
The major problems are rising cost of health care and
increasing number of people who are uninsured. In
order to decrease cost, we need to practice prevention
so we have to spend less on diagnosis and treatment.
We need to make medical liability policy fair so we do
not practice defensively and waste money on
unnecessary tests. Health savings accounts are very
good option. Another, solution can be Universal health
care or socialized medicine. All people will have access
to health care.
Q28: What would you do if you saw another resident
or physician snorting cocaine at a nightclub?
I will tell him that he must not be under the influence of
drug while dealing with patients in hospital. If this
happens I will inform program director. If this is not the
case than it is the choice that he made for his life.
However as a well-wisher, I will talk to him and ask him
if he needs help.
Q29: What do you think of hospitals that refuse
admission to patients without insurance?
As per Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor
Act, hospital must provided screening services to
identify any emergency medical condition exists. If yes
than hospital is obligated to provide appropriate health
care irrespective to insurance status. Same concept
applies to females who are in active labor. However,
when patient is medically stable this obligation ends.
We are in trouble if we are not following this act.
Q30: Teach me something non-medical in five
minutes.
Health belief model to change smoking
Q31: What are your hobbies?
Listening to music, playing guitar, watching cricket and
tennis, playing chess, watching movies,
cooking,drawing,and browsing.
Q32: What do you think about house staff
unionization?
House staff unionization has both positive and negative
sides. Positive things are that it will increase strength of
house staff in the organization. They can better
represent their ideas to their superior. They can discuss
different issues together and try to find out solutions.
But sometimes there can be misuse of strength. They
may make inappropriate demands like increase in pay.
If they decide to go on strike together than entire
system may be messed up. I will say unionization
should be there but there should not be misuse of
power to fulfill inappropriate demands. I will not support
any such inappropriate demand.
Q33: How will you deal with possibility of being
sued?
I believe that If I follow the practice guidelines and
hospital work ethic appropriately chances of being sued
are almost nil. The most common reason for
malpractice sue is communication gap between patient
and doctor. If I made a mistake I will discuss the issue
with patient to present my side and explain his
questions. This can definitely avoid lawsuit.
Q34: What was the last book you read that wasn’t a
medical book?
Q35: How prepared are you to treat the patient and
disease population here?
I have good clinical knowledge and experience which
will serve as a good base to develop career. Besides, I
am going to have three years of training as a resident.
My MPH training will enable me to consider
psychosocioenvironmental factors while treating
symptoms. All these attributes will enable me to provide
high quality health care here.
Q36: What if you do not get matched?
I am confident about match result. But I have to prepare
myself for any adverse outcome. I will try to find out
some externship or research assistantship position. I
will work hard to get good letter of recommendation.
That is the future plan.
Q37: What leadership roles have you held?
When I was in school, I used to be class representative
every year. During my final year of medical college, I
served as a student coordinator for first year medical
students. We will assist them in hall placement, arrange
monthly meetings, identify any problems and help
student deal with those problems.
Q38: What was your favorite course in medical
school?
I like all subjects but my favorite one is medicine. If we
have to rank different courses as per their importance,
medicine will be the first one. Even in board exams 70
percent q belongs to medicine. Besides, medicine offers
wide range of disease conditions to learn. If I am
thorough with medicine I will have knowledge about
physiological, pathological and pharmacological aspects
of each and every organ system. This intellectual
aspect of medicine fascinates me most.
Q39: What motivates you?
I always want to excel and to be successful in my job
both for my personal satisfaction and my superiors. This
desire to do well motivates me to put my 100% effort for
the job.
Q40: If you could do medical school all over again
than what would you change?
I think my medical curriculum was very strong and there
is nothing that I would like to change. However, I can
change the way in which I completed it. First I will try to
complete few of my clerkships over here. Second I will
finish my board exams during medical school only so
that I can save few years of my life.
Q41: Describe best attending you have ever met?
Dr. BBS is my best attending ever. He is currently head
of the unit in internal medicine. He was a master clinical
teacher. He used to discuss each and every case in
detail. He involved not only residents but also students
in the discussion. He had very good bed side manners
also. As a person, he was very nice, easily accessible
and ready to help students and residents. In one line he
was completely professional human being.
Q42: What is the greatest sacrifice you have made
to reach where you are?
I have invested a lot of time and effort to reach where I
am. Six years of medical school, 1 year of job and 2
years of MPH is a very long time. I am satisfied what I
have achieved till now.
Q43: How well do you take criticism?
It depends on what kind of criticism In case of
constructive criticism, admitting the mistake will be the
first step. Next, I will ask what needs to be done to
improve my work. Lastly, thanks for pointing it out. In
that way only, I can make progress in professional and
personal life.
How ever, if it is destructive criticism, I will try to ignore
it.
Q44: If you could be any cell in the human body,
what would you choose to be? And why?
I would like to be neuron. They transmit signal to and
from the site of stimulus. In that way, they enable us to
respond to our environment. Similar to neuron, I will
take knowledge from other people. I will also transmit it
to colleagues. I will be sensitive to patient need and
respond accordingly.
Q45: Have you always done the best work of which
you are capable?
I always try to excel and to be successful in my job. I
put 100% effort for my job and that is why usually get
best result.
Q46: How well do you function under pressure?
I maintain my poise when I am under pressure. In my
first semester of MPH, I registered for 9 credits. In
addition, I had to give my step 3 exam in December. I
had one and half month to prepare myself for midterm
and final exams of MPH and step 3 as well. Besides, I
have to work on project also. I was under pressure. In
December, I gave 5 exams in a row- step3 and MPH. I
got GPA of 4 in MPH and 89 in step 3. The reasons for
success were: perfect planning, good time management
to follow the plan, I never looked at amount of work I
have to do I just continued to finish it as per plan.
Q47: What have you learned about yourself from
previous jobs?
I have found out certain attribute about me from my
previous experience. Hard working, quick learner, detail
oriented, team player, perfect planner.
Q48: Tell me about your medical education.
I had my basic science in first two years of medical
school. In the third and fourth year of medical school, I
had my clinical clerkships. During my clerkship, I used
to take history, perform physical examination and
formulate differential diagnosis and treatment plan. I
used to present cases to attending also. As a part of
medical curriculum, I underwent one year of internship. I
involved myself in all aspects of patient care from
admission to discharge and follow up. My cumulative
GPA at the end of curriculum is 3.95 on a 4 point
system.
Q49: Have you ever taught medical students?
I like teaching medical students. During my internship, I
used to teach medical students regularly (once a
week). Besides, I used to be mentor for one medical
student every year. I will guide what kind of books we
need to read, what topics must be emphasized. I will
personally discuss topic that are found difficult by
student.
Q50: How would you describe your decision-making
style?
I never make any decision in hurry. I think over the
situation carefully. I will try to find out what choices are
available to me. I will try to identify what are the positive
and negative aspects of each option available to me. In
that way, I can make good decision.
Q51: What do you do to cope with stress?
I think I have to options. I can minimize sources of
stress or I can improve my ability to cope with the
stress. In order to better deal with stress, I remove
myself from stressful situation. I avoid extreme
reactions. I try to think positively. I try to relax myself. I
listen to music or go for walk or take nap for one or two
hours. Once I feel relaxed, I can think over the situation
once again. In order to deal with stress at its point of
origin, I usually set realistic goal in order of their
importance. I plan my work well so my work do not get
piled up subsequently there will be less stress..
Q52: What kind of patient do you find it most
difficult to relate to? What tactics would you use to
establish optimal rapport with such a patient?
I think silent patient will be most difficult for me. If
patient is silent, I will not have enough information to
deal with the problem. Second it will take much more
time for me to gather information so other patients may
have to wait for long time which can create problems.
I will try to find out a reason for silence. I will ask open
ended question: you seem quiet today is there any
reason for this? If there is no response, I will explain
how important it is for me to gather information. If I am
able to identify the reason, I can address it.
Common causes for silence are hearing problem,
cultural issues, sad or depressed mood, language
barrier, fear of serious condition, shy nature..
Q53: What is your concept of the doctor/patient
relationship?
There must be professional relationship between patient
and doctor. If the relationship is no longer professional,
it brings up two issues. First, physician may make
inappropriate assessments and decisions. Besides,
patient relies on clinician for knowledge and guidance.
So if patient feels that there is misuse of trust, patient
may feel exploited. This can cause significant emotional
harm. Whenever physician thinks that he is not able to
maintain professional relationship with patient than it is
better to refer patient to another physician.
Q54: List several qualities that you feel are the most
important in being a good medical school student.
A good medical student is a student who is a good
observer, ready to learn new things, who has got good
communication skills and able to develop mature
appropriate relationship with patients and last but not
least able to apply knowledge of basic and clinical
science to manage patient..
Q55: What is your concept of the biopsychosocial
model of medicine?
According to this model, we need to treat person as
whole and not only the symptoms. In order to achieve,
this goal we need to consider whole range of biological,
psychological and social factors and environmental
factors.
Q56: Describe your personality.
I will say I am well organized person. I am detail
oriented and work hard to achieve my goal. I like to plan
my work ahead. I am easy to get along with and like to
work with people. I am strong but always sensitive to
needs of other people.
Q57: How do you think your role as a physician fits
in with your role as a member of the community?
As a member of community, I have some obligations for
other people. It will be my duty to help out any
community member. If I can not be beneficial than I will
not do any harm. As a concerned physician, I will
advocate for certain health issues like smoke free
communities, obesity and HIV education. Besides, I can
provide few hours per week to free clinic so that I can
serve people of lower socioeconomic class.
Q58: What do you think is the most pressing issue
in medicine today?
There is an increasing number of populations who has
no health insurance coverage. Since funding for
Medicaid and Medicare is decreasing, many state
governments like TN, Florida have decreased number
of people covered and number of health care services
provided. These uninsured people are more likely to
end in emergency room. Besides they do not have
access to preventive services so they are at risk of
developing chronic health problems increasing burden
over Medicare.
Q59: What steps have you taken to acquaint
yourself with what a physician does?
In India, I had my Internship for a year. Besides I have
worked for more than a year as a primary care doctor.
More importantly in the United States, I have been
working in Commonwealth Free Clinic. I have done two
observershisps in major academic settings. I had both
inpatient and out patient exposure. In clinics we do a lot
of education and prevention whereas in wards there is
much more emphasis on diagnosis, treatment and
rehabilitation.
Q60: How would you go about improving access to
health care in this country?
The most important step to improve access to health
care is to improve insurance coverage. There are
different ways for this like tax credits- those who
purchase insurance will receive certain tax benefits, We
can make it compulsory for employers to provide
insurance to employees, We can make health insurance
mandatory for individuals as auto insurance. We can
expand programs like Medicare and Medicaid to cover
more number of people. Or we can introduce Universal
Health care system or socialized medicine to cover all
people.