Common questions IMGs should prepare for USMLE Residency interviews 

General Questions that IMGs can expect in interviews


  1. Tell me about yourself?
  2. Why did you select our program?
  3. How was your travel to the hospital?
  4. How do you find our city?
  5. How do you find our hospital?
  6. Tell me more about your hobbies?
  7. What do you do to relax?
  8. How was your dinner last night? (if they organized a pre-interview dinner)
  9. Whom did you meet last night at the (pre-interview) dinner?
  10. What are your strengths? Alternatively list three strengths of yours?
  11. What are your weaknesses? Alternatively list three weakness of yours?
  12.  Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
  13.  Do you have an academic interest? Will you be interested in private practice?
  14. What do you plan to do for fellowships?
  15. Why did you choose to become a doctor?
  16.  How do you assess your USMLE step scores?
  17.  I read your blog article/ Case Report can you tell me more about it
  18.  Tell me one interesting medical case you have handled?
  19. Tell me about one time you failed in your life?
  20. Tell me a joke?
  21. Tell me a memorable patient or any experience in your life?
  22. I see we share similar interest in xyzzy hobbies s/he may start talking about it and may ask your views to it? Or ask you to perform it (like dance, if you have listed that as a hobby)
  23.  Tell me why I should choose you over other applicants in our program?
  24.  What do you feel you could add to our program?
  25.   Why did you choose this specialty?
  26.   Why are you so sure this specialty is right for you?
  27.  How do you get along with nurses?
  28.  Have you ever taught medical students?
  29.  Describe a difficult time in your life and how you coped with it/ Alternatively describe a stressful situation in your life and how you dealt with it?
  30.  Have you had any leadership roles if yes can you please elaborate it?
  31.  Tell me one person who has had a lasting impact on you? 

Interview Questions related to IMGs' home country and/or experience


  1. Tell me more about your medical school?
  2. Tell me more about your experience as a healthcare worker in your country?
  3. How do you compare the healthcare system of your country vs the U.S.A?
  4. Tell me more about your country or city (s/he could have traveled to that country and its best to not be over zealous while answering)
  5. What is the best thing to do in your country/city?
  6. I recently read some article about your country what are your thoughts about this issue?
  7. Tell me something unique about your healthcare system?
  8. How do you find the training in the U.S.A.?
  9. What will you do if you don’t match?
  10.  What challenges do you see in this specialty in the coming years? 

Research based residency interview questions for IMGs

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  1. What kind of research are you engaged in?
  2. Tell me more about your research?
  3. What is your role in your research program?
  4. Why did you choose this particular research program?
  5. Tell me more about your researchers?
  6. How is your research relevant to your specialty of interest?

US clinical experience (USCE) based questions for IMGs

  1. Tell me what did you do in your observership/externship/electives?
  2. What did you learn in your observership/ Elective?
  3. Why did you choose that program for an observership/elective?
  4. Tell me more about your observership experience?

Other important questions for your residency interviews

  1. If you were given a chance to change something in the American health care system what would it be and why?
  2. What kind of patients do you find most difficult to relate to?
  3. If you have a co-worker/ Attending who is drunk during duty what would you do? (and there are more than 15 such scenarios)
  4. One word that describes you?

Last but not the least...

I don’t have a question ask me anything you would like to know about our program?

Watch our webinar for common USMLE Residency Interview questions for IMGs