Essential Questions to Ask Psychiatry Residency Programs as an IMG

Why Your Questions Matter as an IMG in Psychiatry

As an international medical graduate (IMG) applying to psychiatry residency, the questions you ask programs can significantly shape how you are perceived and how well you evaluate each program. Strong, thoughtful questions demonstrate maturity, insight into psychiatry as a specialty, and awareness of IMG-specific challenges.

This IMG residency guide will walk you through:

• How to think strategically about questions to ask residency programs
• Specific, high-yield questions tailored to psychiatry and IMGs
• What to ask program directors vs. residents vs. faculty
• Red flags to watch for in their answers
• Sample phrasing you can adapt for your own style

You can use these questions both during formal interviews and in more informal settings (pre-interview socials, second looks, emails). The goal is to help you evaluate where you will thrive and to stand out as a prepared, serious candidate in the psych match.

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Key Principles: How IMGs Should Approach Asking Questions

Before jumping into lists, it’s important to understand the strategy behind what to ask.

1. Show that you understand psychiatry, not just “residency”

Generic questions make you blend in. Psychiatry-focused questions signal genuine interest in the specialty and insight into its training demands (outpatient-heavy care, psychotherapy, systems of care, community mental health, severe mental illness, etc.).

Example difference:

• Generic: “What is your call schedule like?”
• Psychiatry-focused: “How is overnight coverage structured for psychiatric emergencies and how does supervision work in those situations?”

2. Ask like an IMG: clarify support, visas, and integration

As an international medical graduate, you need to evaluate:

• Visa sponsorship and longevity of support
• Board pass rates for IMGs
• Support in understanding the US healthcare and documentation systems
• How previous IMGs have succeeded after graduation

These are not minor details—they directly affect your training, well-being, and ability to practice in the US.

3. Make your questions two-way

Good questions:

• Show you did research on the program
• Invite specific examples instead of yes/no answers
• Open a conversation that allows you to highlight your strengths or interests

For instance:

• “I noticed your program has strong ties to community mental health centers. For someone interested in severe mental illness and underserved populations, how do residents get involved beyond routine rotations?”

This not only asks a question but also subtly markets your interests and alignment with psychiatry’s core missions.

4. Prepare different sets of questions for different people

You should not ask the same question to everyone. Think:

• Program Director (PD): Big-picture, philosophy, outcomes, policies
• Associate Program Directors / Faculty: Curriculum, teaching, evaluation culture, research/academic pathways
• Chief Residents / Current Residents: Day-to-day reality, culture, workload, support, how IMGs actually fare

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High-Yield Questions to Ask the Program Director (PD) as an IMG

The PD is the architect of the program. What you ask them should focus on overall vision, policies, and long-term outcomes—especially as they relate to IMGs.

1. Questions About Program Vision and Training Philosophy

Sample questions:

1. “How would you describe the philosophy of your psychiatry residency training, and what makes it different from other programs?”

   • What you’re listening for: Clear priorities (e.g., psychotherapy, community psychiatry, academic work, integrated care, neuropsychiatry). Programs that struggle to articulate this may lack direction.

2. “How do you see the balance between biological psychiatry, psychotherapy, and social determinants of mental health in your training?”

   • Why this matters: Psychiatry is multi-dimensional. You want a program that values all aspects, not one that only focuses on medication management.

3. “Where do you see the program evolving in the next 3–5 years?”

   • Red flags: Vague answers, uncertainty, or heavy reliance on “pending funding” for critical educational elements.

2. Questions About IMGs and Diversity

As an international medical graduate, you should directly address IMG-friendliness.

Targeted questions:

1. “How many current residents are IMGs, and how has the program historically supported IMGs in adapting to the U.S. training environment?”

   • Listen for: Specific examples—orientation, mentorship, help with documentation, communication, or system navigation.

2. “Can you describe the performance and outcomes of IMGs in your program—for example, board pass rates, fellowships, or job placements?”

   • This subtly asks: Are IMGs truly integrated and successful here?

3. “What formal or informal mentorship opportunities exist for IMGs, particularly around cultural adjustment and career planning in the U.S.?”

4. “What characteristics do you value in IMGs who succeed in this program?”

   • This doubles as guidance for you and insight into their expectations.

3. Questions About Visa and Administrative Support

You must clarify visa issues early. This is not impolite; it is essential.

High-priority questions:

1. “What types of visas do you sponsor, and has your policy on visa sponsorship been stable over recent years?”

   • Red flags: “Case-by-case basis” with no clear history, or frequent policy changes.

2. “Do you have dedicated GME or legal support for residents on visas, particularly for renewals, travel, and long-term planning?”

3. “Have there been any recent challenges or delays for residents on visas that I should be aware of?”

   • You want honest, concrete answers—not vague reassurances.

4. Questions About Board Preparation and Outcomes

Your goal is not only to match but to become a board-certified psychiatrist.

Key questions:

1. “What is your program’s recent ABPN psychiatry board pass rate, and what support or resources are provided to help residents prepare?”

2. “How do you monitor resident progress, and what is your approach to supporting residents who may be struggling academically or clinically?”

   • Good signs: Regular feedback, individualized learning plans, mentorship, exam prep resources.

3. “How often do graduates pursue fellowships versus going directly into practice, and in which areas?”

   • This helps you see if the program can support your future psychiatric subspecialty plans.

5. Questions to Ask Program Directors About Culture and Support

Culture is critical, especially when you are far from home.

Examples:

1. “How do you promote psychological safety and encourage residents to speak up when they’re struggling—whether clinically, emotionally, or personally?”

2. “How do you handle resident burnout or mental health concerns? Are there specific wellness resources tailored to the unique stressors of psychiatry training?”

3. “Can you describe a recent situation where a resident needed additional support, and how the program responded?”

   • You’re looking for compassion, structure, and transparency.

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Questions to Ask Current Residents: Real-Life IMG Psychiatry Insights

Residents are often your most honest source of information about the program’s daily reality. Use your time with them carefully.

1. Questions About Day-to-Day Clinical Work

Examples:

1. “On a typical inpatient psychiatry day, what time do you usually arrive and leave? How many patients do you carry, and how does supervision work?”

2. “How is your time divided between inpatient, outpatient, consult-liaison, emergency psychiatry, and subspecialty rotations?”

3. “Do you feel you’re getting enough psychotherapy exposure—both in terms of teaching and actual longitudinal therapy cases?”

   • Look for: Regular supervision, protected time, and diversity of therapy modalities.

4. “What is the documentation burden like, and how manageable is it with your workload?”

   • EHR learning is often harder for IMGs; you want to know if support exists.

2. Questions Specifically Relevant to IMGs

Highly practical questions to ask residency peers:

1. “As an IMG, what was the hardest part of transitioning into this program, and how did the program help you with that?”

2. “Do you feel that IMGs are treated any differently—positively or negatively—by attendings, staff, or administration?”

3. “Have you ever felt your accent, training background, or cultural differences were a barrier here? How was that handled?”

4. “Are there senior residents or alumni who are IMGs that you look up to, and how accessible are they as mentors?”

These questions get you beyond “we value diversity” to actual lived experiences.

3. Questions About Call, Night Float, and Workload

Psychiatry residency can be emotionally taxing. You need to understand how the program manages this.

Key questions:

1. “What does call look like at each PGY level, and how supported do you feel when handling psychiatric emergencies at night?”

2. “Is there a night float system, and how does it impact your learning and wellness?”

3. “Have you ever felt unsafe in a clinical situation with a patient, and how did the team and program respond?”

4. “Do you feel your workload allows time for real learning, or is it mostly just getting tasks done?”

4. Questions About Culture, Collegiality, and Wellness

Psychiatry requires emotional resilience; the environment matters.

1. “How would you describe the culture among residents—is it collaborative, competitive, or something else?”

2. “Do residents spend time together outside of work? How inclusive is the group for people who are far from family or new to the U.S.?”

3. “Have you seen the program respond to resident feedback? Can you give an example of a change made based on resident input?”

4. “On your hardest days, what has helped you get through—people, structures, policies?”

5. Questions About Teaching and Professional Development

1. “How approachable are attendings for clinical questions, teaching, and long-term career advice?”

2. “Are there regular didactics that are protected from clinical duties, and are they high-quality and psychiatry-focused?”

3. “What opportunities have you had for research, quality improvement, or teaching medical students?”

4. “If you could change one thing about this program, what would it be?”

   • An honest answer here reveals a lot about current challenges.

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Questions to Ask Faculty and Subspecialty Mentors

These questions are particularly relevant if you have a clear interest (e.g., child and adolescent psychiatry, addiction, consult-liaison, forensics, women’s mental health, or cultural psychiatry).

1. Questions About Subspecialty Exposure and Mentorship

1. “For residents interested in [subspecialty], what structured opportunities exist—electives, clinics, research?”

2. “How early can residents get involved with subspecialty work or mentorship?”

3. “Have previous residents matched into fellowships in this area? What made them successful?”

4. “How do you see this subspecialty evolving within psychiatry, and how does your program prepare residents for that?”

2. Questions About Supervision and Feedback Style

1. “How frequently do you provide direct supervision and feedback to residents, and what does that typically look like?”

2. “How do you approach situations where a resident is struggling academically or clinically?”

   • You want a growth mindset, not a punitive one.

3. “What makes a resident stand out positively to you as a psychiatry trainee?”

   • This gives you a roadmap to thrive if you match there.

3. Questions About Scholarship, Research, and Academic Careers

1. “What kind of research or scholarly projects are feasible for residents, especially for those who may have limited research experience from abroad?”

2. “Are there ongoing projects where motivated IMGs can join, and how does authorship or credit typically work?”

3. “Do residents present at national meetings (e.g., APA, subspecialty societies), and is there funding support to attend?”

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Strategic Tips: How to Ask, What to Avoid, and How to Use the Answers

Asking good questions is not enough; you need to do it in a way that enhances your image and helps your decision-making.

1. Customize Your Questions to the Program

Before the interview:

• Review the program website carefully

• Note unique features: community hospital vs. academic center, strong psychotherapy emphasis, robust inpatient services, etc.

• Phrase questions to show you noticed specifics:

  • “I saw that you have a strong relationship with the county psychiatric emergency services. How does that shape residents’ exposure to acute and severe mental illness?”

This shows preparation, curiosity, and genuine interest in their program, not just “a program.”

2. Balance Practical and Philosophical Questions

You do need practical information (call, salary, benefits), but don’t make all your questions purely logistical. Blend:

• Practical: call, visa support, didactic schedule, clinical loads
• Educational: psychotherapy training, supervision, feedback
• Philosophical: approach to mental illness, recovery, trauma-informed care, substance use, cultural psychiatry

This mix reflects depth of thought—very important in psychiatry.

3. Avoid Questions Easily Answered Online (or Repetitively)

Avoid:

• “Do you have an addiction psychiatry fellowship?” (if that’s clearly on the website)
• “What are your required rotations?” (if listed already)

Instead, build on what you know:

• “I noticed you have an addiction psychiatry fellowship. How early can residents start working with addiction faculty, and have IMGs historically matched into that fellowship?”

4. Don’t Lead with Salary and Time Off

These are important, but if your first or only questions are, “How much vacation do residents get?” or “Can I moonlight early?” it can signal misaligned priorities.

Better approach:

• Ask about educational structure, mentorship, and culture first

• If not covered by the program overview, later you can ask residents informally about:

  • Vacation and coverage
  • Moonlighting policies
  • Housing and cost of living

5. Use Their Answers to Guide Follow-Up

Listen actively and respond:

• If a PD mentions strong psychotherapy training, you might say:
  • “That’s very encouraging. In my rotations, I’ve particularly enjoyed working with patients using CBT and supportive therapy. How does your program ensure residents develop confidence across different therapy modalities?”

This transforms a Q&A into a conversation, and highlights your psychiatry motivation.

6. Take Notes Immediately After Each Interview Day

For IMGs especially, you may interview at many unfamiliar institutions and cities. Programs can blend together quickly.

Right after the day ends, jot down:

• Clear strengths and potential concerns
• Specific quotes or impressions
• How IMGs were represented and described
• Answers to key themes: support, supervision, culture, visa stability, board outcomes

These notes will be essential when you create your rank list.

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Example Question Sets You Can Adapt (Psych Match Focused for IMGs)

To help you prepare efficiently, here are ready-to-use question sets.

For the Program Director

• “How would you describe the type of psychiatrist your program aims to graduate?”
• “What support systems are in place to help IMGs adjust to the U.S. clinical environment and documentation expectations?”
• “What has been your experience with IMGs in terms of board certification, fellowship matches, and first jobs?”
• “How stable has your policy been on sponsoring J‑1/H‑1B visas, and do you foresee any changes?”
• “Can you share an example of a recent program change that came directly from resident feedback?”

For a Current IMG Resident

• “Coming from an international background, what surprised you most about psychiatry training here?”
• “Did you ever feel behind in understanding U.S. documentation or systems? How did you catch up?”
• “How supportive have attendings and peers been when you needed help, whether clinically or personally?”
• “What are the best and most challenging parts of training in this city as someone far from home and family?”

For a Faculty Member in a Subspecialty You Like

• “If I’m interested in [subspecialty], what path have previous residents taken from this program toward that area?”
• “Are there opportunities for an IMG with limited prior research experience to get involved in projects and eventually present or publish?”
• “How do you see the relationship between your subspecialty and general psychiatry practice for future graduates?”

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FAQ: Common Questions About What to Ask Programs as an IMG in Psychiatry

1. Is it acceptable to ask directly about visa sponsorship during interviews?
Yes. For international medical graduates, this is essential. Ask the program director or coordinator professionally and clearly: what visa types they sponsor, how long they’ve had this policy, and whether there have been recent issues. Programs accustomed to IMGs expect these questions.

2. How many questions should I ask during each interview?
Aim for 2–3 thoughtful questions per interviewer, tailored to that person’s role. Quality matters more than quantity. Have a longer list prepared, but prioritize based on what has not yet been covered by their presentation or earlier conversations.

3. Can I ask residents about negative aspects of the program?
Yes, but do so respectfully and constructively. Instead of “What’s bad about this program?” try, “What do you find most challenging about training here, and how does the program address it?” Honest programs will acknowledge limitations and describe efforts to improve.

4. What are some red flags in the answers I receive?
Potential red flags include:

• Vague or evasive responses about IMGs, visas, or board pass rates
• Lack of clarity on supervision for psychiatric emergencies
• Dismissive attitudes toward resident wellness or burnout
• Residents appearing fearful to speak honestly or avoiding eye contact when culture or workload is mentioned
• No clear examples of resident feedback leading to program improvements

By asking thoughtful, psychiatry-focused, and IMG-specific questions, you not only gather critical information for your psych match decision—you also present yourself as a mature, reflective future psychiatrist who understands both the art and science of the specialty.