Specifically Designed for International and Caribbean Medical Graduates
The Video Course
The RIQ Course is a unique, powerful residency interview preparation system. You get full-length video answers (90+ videos) to the most important interview questions – specifically designed for the IMG or Caribbean medical school graduate. We have 100+ pages of sample answers, answer outlines, and analysis of top interview answers.
Mock Interview
With RIQ Mock Interview, you’ll get the same Video Course and sample answers, and individual 1 on 1 coaching and mock interview with an expert RIQ interview coach. Interview advice is tailored to your unique application, situation and CV.
Interview Advice Blog
Check out our blog for useful tips for FREE. We share our own personal statements and ERAS application. We talk about everything from Thank You Notes, to Top Interview Questions, to What to Wear.
Expert Video Demonstrations, Analysis, and Full-length Answers
Residency Interview Questions (RIQ) is a residency interview preparation system specifically designed for the international medical graduate (IMG) or Caribbean medical graduate. Here's how it works: we've created more than 90 videos and 100+ pages of content to teach you how to nail the highest-yield residency interview questions. Watch and learn from the content, style and body language of true-to-life interview demonstrations. The interview questions you will face are known, let RIQ show you how to create the perfect answers.
Match successfully with our program or your next year is free.
90+ HD-videos provide real-world examples and expert insight. There is more than 100 pages of content to help you craft your own answers. We believe that great interview skills can be taught. Learn the break down of each of the most common, highest-yield residency interview questions. See how we employ body language and tone. We give you the formula to craft your own answer.
IMGs and Caribbean graduates are at a disadvantage in the U.S. residency process - the interview is the most important, modifiable part of your application that you can strengthen. We have an experienced team of top coaches who have navigated the process and matched at their top choices during their own interviews. We have worked closely with hundreds of IMGs in a variety of hospital settings to build this system. RIQ has worked with chief residents, faculty interviewers and program directors to provide insider tips. Our program is the only preparation you need to nail your residency interviews.
Match Successes with RIQ
Collectively Steve and David have interviewed at over 45 different hospitals and academic medical centers across the United States. We have first hand knowledge on how you can perform at your BEST.
We practiced answers, tested each other and crafted perfect answers for ALL of the most commonly asked questions. After we matched, we went back and talked to Program Director and other successful IMG residents about their experiences. This was how RIQ was born. We realized IMGs need a leg up in navigating this challenging process.
Here are some applicant success stories
- As an applicant with 15 years between graduation and an unsuccessful match attempt, George joined RIQ 1 on 1 Coaching and was able to match at his TOP choice. He used our video prep for answering questions on gap years between training and anxiety of returning to residency.
- We matched multiple applicants with Step 1 scores below 219 and two applicants with Step score below 209. With the RIQ Video Course, they were able to address their weaknesses and turn them around to their strengths.
- Our videos are great for those less familiar with English. Laura, an applicant 5 years after graduation with significant language difficulties, was able to match at her TOP choice.
- 54% of our applicants are MORE than 5 years after graduation, and RIQ is able to help them successfully match at a rate significantly higher than average.
- We've successfully matched applicants to Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Neurology, Pathology, and more.
- 9 out of 10 RIQ users would strongly recommend our service!
David Xu M.D.
Steve Xu M.D.
Interview Advice Blog
The Importance of the First Impressions for Residency Interviews
How long does it take to make a first impression? Approximately 7 seconds. As humans, we have an amazing ability to size each other up. It was an evolutionary requirement to understand whether a new person was a friend or threat. The first test of a residency interview is the first impression. There are a Read more about The Importance of the First Impressions for Residency Interviews[…]
How to Portray Confidence during the Interview
In this article, we will be going over how to appear confident during your residency interview. For some, this comes naturally (and if that is the case, feel free to skip this article!), but for most people portraying confidence is an acquired skill. We will go over some of the most important steps to convey Read more about How to Portray Confidence during the Interview[…]
Residency Interview Questions: The Dreaded Behavioral Questions
Behavioral questions have become a staple of residency interview questions for many program directors and faculty members. So what are behavioral interview questions anyway? Behavioral interview questions are questions that focus on asking a candidate to talk about a prior experience and actions based on a specific scenario. The goal is to understand the depth Read more about Residency Interview Questions: The Dreaded Behavioral Questions[…]
Residency Interviews: Key Tips on Time Management
One thing that is not talked about in residency interviews is how to manage your time. It’s something that I often take for granted as someone who spends most of their time in meetings. Essentially, you need to have an internal clock around the time of your residency interview. I have done the entire spectrum Read more about Residency Interviews: Key Tips on Time Management[…]
The 3 Most Important Residency Interview Questions to Nail: Part 3 – Why Choose You?
We’re here at Part 3! In Part 1, we talked why nailing “Tell Me About Yourself” is so important. We hope you found the tips helpful. In Part 2, we gave you some of our favorite questions to ask and gave you some strategies on how to use this to your advantage to sell your Read more about The 3 Most Important Residency Interview Questions to Nail: Part 3 – Why Choose You?[…]
The 3 Most Important Residency Interview Questions to Nail: Part 2
Welcome to part 2! In part 1, we talked about the best way to nail the “Tell Me About Yourself” question. In part 2, we’re going to tackle a residency interview question you’re going to get. The question is: “Do you have any questions for me?” We here at Residency Interview Questions, truly believe this Read more about The 3 Most Important Residency Interview Questions to Nail: Part 2[…]
Tips for the Pre-Interview Dinner
Navigating this Important Social Event The “pre-interview dinner” can be a challenging social interaction for some IMG applicants. This is another kind of trial, not your academic prowess, but rather of your social lubricity. In this article, we will cover some overarching goals of the pre-interview dinner and things to do/not to do. Goal of Read more about Tips for the Pre-Interview Dinner[…]
The 3 Most Important Residency Interview Questions to Nail: Part 1
We definitely have RIQ clients that want to be prepared for everything. We totally understand that because of the importance of each and every interview. However, there are definitely diminishing returns. Not all residency interview questions are created equal. In fact, you may struggle to be authentic if you are trying to have answers to Read more about The 3 Most Important Residency Interview Questions to Nail: Part 1[…]
Residency Interview Questions: The Complete List
Here at RIQ, our strategy is to prepare you for a limited number of core residency interview questions. From there, you will be prepared to answer any number of variations. While we are big proponents of excellent residency interview preparation, we also believe that you can overdo it. By trying to create examples and answers Read more about Residency Interview Questions: The Complete List[…]
The Importance of the Residency Interview: Challenges Facing IMGs
The data is clear – if you are an international medical graduate (IMG) you are at a disadvantage for matching compared to American medical graduate (AMG). In a 2022 survey of program directors published by the National Residency Match Program, 80% of programs will seldom or never interview a non-U.S. IMG. For U.S. citizen IMGs! Read more about The Importance of the Residency Interview: Challenges Facing IMGs[…]
Be Prepared for Your Medical Residency interview: Top Four Tips on What to Research Beforehand
We want to give you a roadmap here on how you can best be prepared for your medical residency interview with these top four tips. One key aspect of preparation is going to conduct the necessary research on the residency program you are interviewing in. This does not mean 12 hours of detailed background work. Read more about Be Prepared for Your Medical Residency interview: Top Four Tips on What to Research Beforehand[…]
Top 5 Tips for Nailing Your Virtual Residency Interviews
Virtual Residency Interviews: Top 5 Tips Virtual residency interviews are the new normal. David and I still remember vividly how we traveled around the country to 50+ hospitals and residency sites on planes, trains, and buses. This got worse in the winter with flight cancellations, flus, and tight connections. I had to go to New Read more about Top 5 Tips for Nailing Your Virtual Residency Interviews[…]
Tips to Increase the Number of Residency Interviews for IMGs in the Residency Match
This is a numbers game. Increasing the number of residency interviews you get is essential to success. We wanted to share some of our tips and tricks on how to increase the number of interviews after your application is submitted. Why is this important? We know that every single residency interview is precious. Precious. For Read more about Tips to Increase the Number of Residency Interviews for IMGs in the Residency Match[…]
Matching into Residency as an IMG with Red Flags.
First off, I want to say that matching as an IMG is never going to be easy. There are no guarantees – any company that offers you that is probably not being realistic or honest. We know that there are many more applicants than spots. According to the National Resident Matching Program 2023 data, there Read more about Matching into Residency as an IMG with Red Flags.[…]
A New Match Season and a New Residency Interview Content Coming Soon
David and I have been so proud of all of our clients these past 5 years achieving their match dreams. We have so many stories to tell – from IMG candidates 20 years past their graduation date matching after trying for 3 times and to candidates overcoming fails in both Step 1 and Step 2 Read more about A New Match Season and a New Residency Interview Content Coming Soon[…]
The Waiting Period – What to do between ERAS Submission and Interviews
After you hit that Submit button, congratulations on completing your ERAS application! This is the first hurdle towards your journey in residency training. It’s a huge accomplishment to have completed USMLEs, summarized your CV, written your personal statement and obtained reference letters. However, there are still steps that you can do to proactively improve your Read more about The Waiting Period – What to do between ERAS Submission and Interviews[…]
Virtual Residency Interviewing in 2020 via the Web
In the midst of COVID-19 related shutdowns and travel limitations in 2020, residency programs are still interviewing to make sure they have housestaff to man the next wave of potential hospitalizations. Most, if not all, residency programs are moving to an online interviewing platform via Zoom, Google Meet or other video conferencing software. Read more about Virtual Residency Interviewing in 2020 via the Web[…]
Top 10 IMG Friendly Specialities
International Medical Graduates (IMGs) make up a critical portion of the US healthcare framework. They serve in diverse positions ranging from primary care, to under-served areas, and in subspecialities. In 2019, IMG match in the US had its most successful year. In all, 58.8% of IMGs successfully matched, an increase from 56.6% the year Read more about Top 10 IMG Friendly Specialities[…]
Body Language in Residency Interview Questions
At RIQ – we talk a lot about the content of your answers. This is, of course, really important. However, the delivery and energy you bring to the interview can be equally important. A lot of our clients are nervous. This is expected – but you cannot let nervousness be the predominant emotion that you Read more about Body Language in Residency Interview Questions[…]
Nailing Residency Interview Questions with Zero Research Experience
We frequently work with clients that start out who have zero research experience. This can certainly making interviewing difficult – research interests become an interesting talking point in interviews. There are often questions related to an interest in research during residency interviews. All of the international medical graduates (IMG) or foreign medical graduates (FMG) who Read more about Nailing Residency Interview Questions with Zero Research Experience[…]