Questions to Ask

What's the one thing you wish you knew before matching here?

What did interview day get wrong about this place — what looked better or worse than it really is?

Does the program fill in the Match every year, or has it had unfilled spots recently — and if so, what happened?

Do residents answer the ACGME survey candidly, or is there pressure to keep it clean?

Has the program had any ACGME citations or accreditation concerns?

Has there been recent turnover in the PD, chair, or core faculty — and why?

Is the hospital system financially stable — any mergers, closures, or hiring freezes that could affect training?

What's the biggest change the program has made recently — and why?

What's the relationship like between residents and attendings?

Do residents actually get along or is it competitive?

How supportive is the program when a resident struggles, clinically or personally?

If a resident runs into real academic or professional trouble, what does remediation actually look like — is it a fair, clear process, and what happened to residents who went through it?

When residents pushed for a change — schedule, coverage, a policy — did leadership actually act?

Can you actually get time with program leadership, or is the PD hard to reach?

Is there real mentorship here, or do you find it on your own?

How diverse is the program, and does it actually feel welcoming?

What's the volume and variety like — case numbers, and the range of pathology you actually see?

What's the patient population and payer mix — county/safety-net, VA, private, or a blend — and how does that shape the pathology and acuity you see?

Do residents feel ready for independent practice by graduation, or do most feel they need a fellowship to get there?

Are attendings actively teaching, or just supervising and signing off?

How useful is the feedback you actually get — regular, specific, and from people who watched you work, or a form at the end of the block?

Is the patient load a learning load or a service load — how much is scut versus medicine you'll actually use?

Which rotation does everyone dread, and why?

What ancillary support exists — phlebotomy, IV team, transport, social work — or does it fall on residents?

How do NPs and PAs fit into the team day to day — does their role affect what residents get to do and learn?

How much of training happens at outside or community sites, and how much time is spent away from the main hospital?

How are the didactics — structured and useful, or just a formality — and is conference time actually protected?

Is there simulation or hands-on skills training, and is it actually used?

How heavy is the documentation and EMR burden day to day?

How much elective time is there, and can you tailor your training toward your goals?

How have recent classes done on their in-training and board exams — and is study time actually protected?

Is research required or just encouraged — and is there protected time for it?

What research mentorship, funding, and statistical support actually exist?

Do residents regularly present at national meetings and publish? What's the track record?

If you want an academic career, does this program set you up for it?

What fellowships have recent graduates matched into — and of those who applied, how many got their first choice?

Does the program actively support fellowship applications — protected time, research, and letters?

Do the program's name, letters, and alumni network actually carry weight for fellowships and jobs?

For residents who went straight into practice, did they land jobs where they wanted?

Where do graduates tend to end up — academic or community, employed or private, and in what regions?

Does the program sponsor visas — and has it actually sponsored an H-1B since the $100,000 fee, or is it J-1 only now?

How many international graduates are in recent classes, and how do they describe the program's support for IMGs?

Did anyone in the last two classes start late because of visa processing or the travel ban, and how did the program handle it?

With J-1 admission moving to a fixed period instead of duration of status, how is the GME office handling extensions and any gaps in status?

Who actually pays the visa filing and legal fees — the institution or the resident?

Do IMGs get equal access to competitive electives, research, and chief-resident roles?

For J-1 residents, does the program support waiver pathways (Conrad 30, etc.) for after training?

For residents who'll need it, has the institution sponsored permanent residency (a green card) before?

How does the program support dependents — J-2 work authorization, spousal employment, schooling?

What administrative and legal support does the GME office provide with visas, ECFMG J-1 sponsorship paperwork, and state licensing?

Does the program have a track record of keeping IMGs on as fellows or faculty?

What's the call schedule really like — traditional call, night float, or a mix, and how does it change by year?

How many hours a week are you actually working — and are duty hours respected in practice, or do they get stretched?

How is vacation time handled — do you actually get to use it?

What's parental and family leave actually like for residents who've used it?

Is there real, confidential mental-health support — and is burnout acknowledged, or brushed off?

Are there moonlighting opportunities, and do residents actually use them?

Beyond salary, what's the benefits package — insurance, meal stipends, education funds?

Is there a relocation or sign-on stipend, and what does it cover?

Does the salary actually stretch to the cost of living here?

Be honest — do you actually like living here?

How's the city for a partner's career, or for family life during residency?

Is there a residents' union or collective bargaining here, and has it changed pay or working conditions?