Interview Tips from a Successfully Pre-Matched IMG

Thanks to a generously detailed and thoughtful write-up emailed to me by a gracious lady, we have tips on subtleties that this blog has not touched upon.

Since Anonymity was requested - it shall be respected :-) Read On:




The following are some of the things that I observed and found useful on my interview circuit during the 2008 Residency Match season. This is solely based on my experience. But if I were to repeat the process again (I don’t wish that on any one)…I would certainly keep these in mind. Lot of fellow IMG’s are so much into their USMLE scores that they forget that there are many other parts of ones application that are as or more important. I cannot emphasize enough this fact more – agreed that scores are important but remember that you as a person are much more than JUST A SCORE. Carry this perception and awareness with you while you put your application together and try to convey it to the residency recruitment committee.

After all how difficult can it be to convey that you are a person and not just a score? he he

1. SELLING YOURSELF RIGHT: In my opinion success in America is largely about selling your self. Take some time and REFLECT on this before you put together your application. I am sure all of you have amazing clinical experiences. Remember if you don’t write/mention something…….for the recruitment committee it’s like you never did it. I did my internship in India, so when I was putting together my application, I went on the MCI website and saw the detailed curriculum of internship. Of course you don’t have to copy/paste the entire website. IMG’s with much more valuable US clinical experiences and research experiences may not need to do all this. I had to, because my home country clinical experiences were all I had…and I had to find a way to present them in the best possible way. All I am saying is that you guys have done and accomplished much more than you think you have!! The goal is to present information in the most favorable manner, yet taking care about being HONEST. Please DO NOT LIE. Little things on your paper application might not guarantee you an interview. But once you are there for the interview you are asked things from your application and you get SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT. Trust me guys you really want that. That’s the only way you can show the interviewer that you can talk good English (which is one of the things they look for), and you have good inter-personal skills. You might be a gold medalist at your institution but if you cannot communicate and cannot work with a team, they have absolutely NO USE for you. And for the people who have some trouble communicating, or feel shy…..that’s probably one of the most important things that you need to work on. The way I look at it……a short interview where no body speaks any thing is often not memorable!

2.DRESS RIGHT: I feel IMG men and women should pay more attention to their dressing. The impression that you create on the interviewer when you enter that room is so important. Being a woman myself, I can only advise fellow IMG women. Girls please buy a decent business suit with a good fitting from any of the good stores like Ann Taylor, Macy’s or the rest. Personally, I never went for the black color, rather for colors and styles like grey, navy and pinstripes which might be equivalent or even better than black. Please have a nice silk / cotton collared shirt to go with your suit. No camisoles please! And please iron your suit. Little makeup is OK. Please have neat hair do. You don’t have do to much. All you need to do is look professional and trust me you don’t have to wear a black suit with a white shirt to do that. he he Please keep facial tissue to blot that oily nose and cheek which start developing after noon.

3. COURTESY: After you get that interview call, do send a thank you email to the program. DigitalDoc has written a very nice article on all that stuff. I did send Season’s greetings to the programs that I was really interested in.

4. On the interview day the following things are the most important: 1. your demeanor, dressing. 2. Your communication skills, your interpersonal skills. Last but not the least they wanna see if you will be happy in their program. During the interview tell them how much you like them. If you have a family connection in the city - MENTION IT! Letting the program know that they are all you have ever dreamed about during the interview itself is some thing that many IMG’s never do. Of course, do this only after gauging the situation and probably at the end of the interview if it went well. Do not sound desperate. Please be HONEST!! Say it ONLY to programs that are really your top choice. You don’t want to end up with a prematch at a program that you don’t like just because you told them that they are your top choice. Please be very careful regarding this. As digidoc said prematch can be a double edged knife! For my self I can say this was probably the best thing I did during my interview…telling them that there was no other place I would rather be!

5. PERSONAL STATEMENT: More than one program director told me during my interviews that my personal statement was one of the reasons that I was there for my interview…..that they could see from my personal statement that I was very dedicated. Mark my words “one of the reasons” ….there are many other parts of the application (e.g.: USMLE scores, USCE, Research etc.) which are equally important. Pay due attention to the personal statement….because you never know when it might make the difference.

6. HOBBIES & INTERESTS: More than one my interviews was entirely about dogs/ pets ( which I wrote were my interest )…..and more than one of my interviews were about my other interests like dancing…etc …. All I am trying to put across here is that pay attention to this part of the application. Ever so often I have seen people completely ignore this part of the application. For eg: If reading and traveling are their hobbies they would write 2 words: reading & traveling. I took some time to elaborate on each. Remember they give you 500 character space in ERAS…USE IT! The programs are trying to put together a diverse team of residents…every body brings something to their program….if you have a special quality ..not only mention it…but also elaborate on it….what you did…whether you were given any awards / honors for it.


The above mentioned are some of the things, I felt were helpful to me during my interviews. Please use your own judgment and act according to the situation that suit your background, temperament and goals. Most importantly be honest, be real, be charming, interact with other people, treat every body ( the staff and other applicants ) with respect, look professional, sound professional…..and enjoy your self !








Well written...Am Charmed :-)


Thank you - this will sure make many readers reflect deeper on the residency interviews.