Top Questions to Ask During Your Preliminary Surgery Residency Interviews

Understanding the Purpose of Questions in a Preliminary Surgery Interview

A preliminary surgery year is unique: it’s time-limited, often high-intensity, and may or may not lead to categorical surgical training or another specialty. Because of this, the questions you ask programs matter even more than in categorical interviews. You are not just trying to impress them—you’re conducting a focused needs assessment on your own career.

You have three primary goals when thinking about questions to ask residency programs:

1. Clarify fit and expectations

   • What will your day-to-day life actually look like?
   • How are prelim residents integrated (or not) into the surgical team?

2. Evaluate support for your long-term plans

   • How will this prelim surgery residency help you match into your target specialty or a categorical surgery spot?
   • What outcomes have past prelims achieved?

3. Demonstrate maturity and insight

   • The best questions show you understand what a preliminary surgery year entails: hard work, variable security, and the need for mentorship and transparency.
   • Program directors pay attention to whether your questions are thoughtful, realistic, and aligned with the nature of a prelim year.

Think of your list not as “questions to ask to look smart” but as “questions to ask programs to make a sound, career-defining decision.”

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Core Domains: What You Need to Learn from Every Program

Below are the most important domains to cover during your interview day—with examples of interview questions for them (faculty, program leadership, and residents). You won’t ask all of these in every interview; instead, pick and prioritize based on what you still don’t know about a program.

1. Program Structure and Role of Prelim Residents

Your first priority is to understand how the program actually uses preliminary surgery residents. Some programs treat prelims as an integral part of the team with rich operative and educational opportunities. Others see them mostly as service residents with fewer advancement possibilities.

Key goals in this domain:

• Clarify how prelims differ from categoricals in training, expectations, and opportunity
• Understand whether there is a transparent path (if any) to transition to a categorical position
• Identify red flags such as vague answers, reluctance to share numbers, or “it depends” without specifics

Questions to ask program director or associate PD

When you think about what to ask program director specifically, focus on structure, philosophy, and outcomes:

• “How are preliminary surgery residents integrated into the program compared to categorical residents?”
• “What rotations are specific to prelims, and which do we share with categorical interns?”
• “Can you walk me through a typical month-by-month schedule for a preliminary surgery year here?”
• “How do you see the role of a preliminary intern within the overall functioning of the department?”
• “Do prelim residents have the same access to conferences, simulation labs, and skills training as categorical residents?”
• “Are there any differences in supervision, evaluation, or feedback structures for prelim vs categorical interns?”

Questions to ask current residents

Residents can tell you how the structure actually plays out:

• “On your services, what is the typical workload for prelims compared to categorical interns?”
• “Are prelims ever used to ‘fill gaps’ more than categoricals?”
• “In practice, do prelims get equivalent learning opportunities on rounds, in clinic, and in the OR?”
• “How would you describe the culture around prelims—are they valued as team members?”

These questions will help you identify whether the program sees prelims as future colleagues to invest in, or as short-term labor.

2. Educational Quality, Operative Experience, and Supervision

A preliminary surgery year can range from “nearly all floor work and cross-coverage” to “robust operative experience with strong mentorship.” You need to know which side of that spectrum each program falls on.

Questions about education and conferences

• “Do prelims attend the same didactic conferences and M&M as categorical residents? Are they protected when on heavy services?”
• “How is teaching on busy services structured so that prelims get real educational value instead of just service work?”
• “Is there a formal curriculum for PGY-1-level surgical training that applies to prelims?”
• “How often do prelims meet one-on-one with faculty for feedback or mentorship?”

Questions about operative experience

• “What kind of operative experience do prelim interns typically get over the course of the year?”
• “Are there specific rotations or services where prelims reliably get into the OR, and what kinds of cases are typical?”
• “Do prelims ever function as the primary surgeon on basic cases, or are they usually assisting?”
• “How do you ensure prelims get sufficient hands-on experience despite a one-year time frame?”

Questions about supervision and safety

• “How is supervision structured on nights, weekends, and high-acuity services for interns?”
• “Are there clear escalation pathways if a prelim resident feels out of their depth or unsafe with a responsibility?”
• “How receptive are faculty to being called overnight, and how is that culture communicated to new interns?”

The way programs answer these questions reveals their priorities: education versus service, safety versus “sink or swim.”

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Evaluating Career Support and Outcomes for Prelim Residents

For a preliminary surgery year, one of the most critical areas to explore is how the program supports next steps. You are not committing to that institution for five years, but you are entrusting them with a crucial pivot point in your career.

3. Tracking Outcomes and Pathways After the Prelim Year

You should have a clear sense of where prelims go next. Solid programs know their numbers and are transparent with them.

High-yield questions to ask program director about outcomes

• “Over the past 3–5 years, what have your preliminary surgery residents gone on to do after their year here?”
• “Approximately what proportion of your prelims match into categorical surgery, other surgical specialties, or non-surgical fields?”
• “How many categorical positions have historically opened up from within the program, and how often have prelims filled them?”
• “Do you maintain contact with past prelim residents, and could you share typical examples of their career trajectories?”

Look for concrete numbers and examples, not vague statements like “They all do fine” or “We don’t really track that.”

Questions to ask residents and fellows about real-world outcomes

• “Do you know where recent prelims ended up? Did any stay here as categoricals?”
• “How supportive is the faculty when prelims are applying out—for example, in providing letters, advocating, or making calls?”
• “Have you seen prelims treated differently once they make it known they want to apply to a different specialty or program?”

You want to hear stories like: “Last year, two prelims matched into categorical surgery here, one into anesthesia, and one into radiology,” not “I’m not really sure what happened to most of them.”

4. Mentorship, Advocacy, and Application Support

A strong prelim surgery residency does more than give you a badge and a schedule—it helps you plan and execute your next move.

Questions about mentorship structure

• “Is there a formal mentorship system in place specifically for prelim residents?”
• “When I arrive, will I be assigned a faculty mentor who understands the prelim pathway and can help with planning?”
• “How often do prelims meet with leadership to review progress and discuss long-term plans?”

Questions about applying to future positions

• “At what point in the year do you recommend prelims begin preparing and submitting applications for categorical or other specialty positions?”
• “Do program leadership and faculty actively help prelims identify and pursue open PGY-2 positions or new categorical slots?”
• “How are letters of recommendation handled for prelims who are re-applying to the Match or SOAP?”
• “Are prelims supported if they want to explore multiple specialties, or is there a strong expectation to remain focused on surgery?”

Questions to ask current prelims (if available)

• “When you applied out (or planned to), did you feel the program was genuinely invested in your success?”
• “Did people make time to help you edit your application, prepare for interviews, and strategize?”
• “Were there any unspoken rules or cultural expectations about who ‘deserves’ strong support?”

Answers to these questions often differentiate a truly supportive prelim environment from one that sees prelims as transient and expendable.

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Lifestyle, Culture, and Practical Realities of a Prelim Surgery Year

A preliminary surgery year is notoriously demanding. Hard work is expected; toxicity is not. Your questions to ask residency programs should help you figure out which side of that line they fall on.

5. Workload, Schedule, and Well-Being

Questions about hours and workload

• “What is the typical weekly hour range for prelims on busy services and on lighter rotations?”
• “Do prelims generally stay within ACGME work-hour limits, and how is this monitored?”
• “Are there particular rotations known to be especially intense for prelims, and how is support provided during those months?”
• “What is the call schedule like for prelims (in-house, home call, night float), and how often do prelims rotate on nights?”

Questions about wellness and support

• “What formal wellness resources are available to residents, and do prelims have equal access?”
• “How does leadership respond when residents report burnout, excessive fatigue, or concerning dynamics on a service?”
• “Are there mechanisms for anonymous feedback about rotations and faculty, and are changes actually implemented?”

Questions to ask current residents about lived experience

• “How manageable is the workload here, realistically, for a prelim?”
• “Do you feel the program has your back if something goes wrong—a tough attending, a bad outcome, a mistake?”
• “If you could go back, would you choose this prelim surgery residency again?”

You’re looking for a “realistic but proud” tone: residents who acknowledge the work is hard but feel respected and supported.

6. Culture: How Are Prelims Seen and Treated?

Culture is often the deciding factor. You want to be somewhere that sees prelims as colleagues, not placeholders.

Questions to gauge culture and respect

• “How would you describe the culture toward prelim residents among faculty and senior residents?”
• “Do prelims participate in social events, retreats, and resident meetings, or are they more peripheral?”
• “Have there been instances of prelims being excluded from opportunities that categoricals receive by default?”
• “How does the program handle conflict or concerns raised by prelims—for example, if a prelim feels sidelined or mistreated?”

Questions that reveal transparency

• “What do you wish applicants understood better about the challenges of being a prelim here?”
• “If someone struggled as a prelim in this program, what would that usually look like, and how would the program respond?”
• “Is there anything about the prelim experience here that you think is particularly different from other programs—positively or negatively?”

Programs that answer these questions honestly, without sugarcoating, tend to be safer and more supportive environments.

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Strategy: How to Use These Questions Effectively

Having a long list of interview questions for them doesn’t mean you should read from a script. The art lies in selecting and adapting your questions in real time.

7. Tailoring Your Questions to the Interviewer

Different interviewers are best suited for different topics:

• Program Director / Associate PD
  • Program structure and philosophy
  • Policies, outcomes, and numbers
  • Opportunities for advancement or transition to categorical positions
• Faculty Interviewers
  • Clinical teaching and OR culture
  • Expectations for interns on their service
  • Mentorship, research, and letter writing
• Current Residents (especially prelims)
  • Actual workload, hours, and call
  • Day-to-day team dynamics and morale
  • Hidden positives and negatives

Examples:

• With the PD:

  • “Could you share how often prelims have successfully transitioned into categorical roles, either here or elsewhere?”
  • “What qualities do you look for in prelim residents that tend to do especially well in this program?”

• With a faculty surgeon:

  • “When a prelim rotates on your service, what expectations do you have for them clinically and in the OR?”
  • “How do you decide which intern gets to scrub in or perform certain steps during cases?”

• With a current prelim:

  • “What surprised you most about the prelim experience here compared to what you expected on interview day?”
  • “Do you feel on track to achieve your goals after this year?”

8. Prioritizing and Phrasing: Avoiding Redundancy and Red Flags

Most interview days are time-limited. Have a “must ask” list and an “ask if time” list.

Your “must ask” list should cover:

1. How prelims are integrated into the program
2. Operative/educational opportunities for prelims
3. Career outcomes and support for applying out
4. Culture and workload

Tips for phrasing:

• Be specific but not confrontational:

  • Instead of: “Do you overwork your prelim residents?”
  • Ask: “How does the program monitor and address work-hour compliance and fatigue among interns, particularly prelims on heavy services?”

• Ask open-ended questions that invite stories:

  • “Can you give an example of a prelim who came in uncertain about their path and how the program supported their decision-making?”
  • “Could you walk me through how you helped a recent prelim apply for a categorical surgery position?”

• Avoid questions with answers you could easily find on the website:

  • Don’t ask: “How many positions do you have?”
  • Do ask: “I saw you have [X] prelim positions—how does that cohort interact with the categorical interns during the year?”

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Practical Preparation: Building Your Personal Question List

9. Mapping Questions to Your Goals

Not all applicants want the same thing from a preliminary surgery year. Clarify your priorities first; then choose questions that fit your goals.

If you want a categorical general surgery spot eventually:

• Prioritize:

  • Operative exposure
  • Integration with categorical residents
  • Track record of prelims moving into categorical surgery

• Example questions:

  • “For prelims who are aiming for a categorical general surgery position, what specific strategies or opportunities do you recommend during the year?”
  • “Do prelims ever serve as ‘trial’ candidates for future categorical spots here? How is that evaluated?”

If you’re aiming for another specialty (e.g., anesthesia, radiology, EM):

• Prioritize:

  • Flexibility of schedule
  • Support for non-surgical career paths
  • Faculty willingness to advocate outside surgery

• Example questions:

  • “How do you support prelims who plan to apply to non-surgical specialties after this year?”
  • “Are there opportunities for prelims to connect with faculty or mentors in other departments?”

If your main goal is to strengthen your application overall:

• Prioritize:

  • Feedback and remediation support
  • Opportunities for scholarship, QI, or leadership
  • Strong advising for re-applying to the Match or SOAP

• Example questions:

  • “How do you help prelims identify and address areas of weakness in their applications during the year?”
  • “Are there accessible QI or research projects a prelim can realistically complete within 12 months?”

10. Organizing Your Questions for Interview Day

A practical workflow:

1. Before interviews:

   • Create a one-page template for each program: key facts, people you’re meeting, and a short list of tailored questions.
   • Divide your questions under headings: Structure, Education, Outcomes, Culture.

2. During interviews:

   • Adjust based on what’s already been answered in presentations or tours. Don’t repeat.
   • Ask residents more candid questions; keep PD questions focused on policy, philosophy, and outcomes.

3. After interviews:

   • Immediately jot down brief answers to the most important questions while they’re fresh.
   • Use these notes when comparing programs for rank lists, especially when programs blur together.

By preparing in this structured way, your questions to ask programs become one of your most powerful tools for choosing the right preliminary surgery year.

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FAQ: Common Questions About What to Ask in a Preliminary Surgery Interview

1. How many questions should I ask in each interview?
Aim for 2–4 thoughtful questions per interview slot, depending on time. It’s better to ask fewer, deeper questions than to rush through a long list. Across the entire day, you should cover all your priority topics—structure, education, outcomes, and culture—using different interviewers.

2. Is it okay to directly ask about transitioning to categorical spots?
Yes. For a prelim surgery residency, this is expected and appropriate. Phrase it professionally:

• “Could you share how often prelims transition into categorical positions, either here or elsewhere, and what factors typically influence that?”
  Programs that are honest and data-driven in their answers are often safer options.

3. What if the program seems uncomfortable answering outcome questions?
If leadership avoids or minimizes questions about where prelims go after the year, that is a potential red flag. You can gently probe with residents:

• “Do you have a sense of where the last couple of prelim classes matched or ended up?”
  If multiple people seem unsure, it may indicate limited follow-up or weak support for career planning.

4. Are there any questions I should avoid?
Avoid:

• Questions whose answers are clearly stated on the website or ERAS listing (e.g., salary, basic benefits).
• Aggressive or accusatory questions, even about serious issues. Instead, ask neutrally about processes:
  • “How does the program handle situations where residents feel overworked or unsafe?”
    You want to show insight and professionalism, not hostility.

By approaching interviews with a focused, thoughtful set of questions, you’ll not only present yourself as a mature and engaged applicant—you’ll also collect the critical information you need to choose the best possible preliminary surgery year for your goals.