Questions to Ask

What's the relationship like between residents and attendings?

Do residents actually get along or is it competitive?

How supportive is the program when residents struggle?

What's the surgical volume like — how many cases per year?

Do you feel prepared for independent practice by PGY-3?

How much autonomy do you get as a PGY-1 vs PGY-3?

Are attendings actively teaching or just supervising?

How are the didactics — are they structured and useful or just a formality?

Is there a research requirement?

What's the call schedule really like?

How many hours per week are you actually working?

Is there time for a life outside the hospital?

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

Would you rank here again knowing what you know now?

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

Have any residents left or transferred out? Why?

What's the worst part of this program nobody talks about?

What does the program NOT do well?

How is the pay and are there any moonlighting opportunities?

What's the housing situation like — is it affordable nearby?

How does the program handle board prep time?

What do graduates end up doing after — private practice, fellowship, academia?