What to say for transitional year interview

[Lee]

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I have an interview for a transitional year program. I have no idea what to say to why I want to do TY. I am a gyn from back home. So I know they are going to ask why I want to get into TY.

I applied as a way of getting into the system then maybe get into either internal or family.

I applied to over 50 programs and have only this one interview because of being an older graduate.

Don’t overthink this. You are being interviewed by fellow physicians. They probably already assume that you are planning to seek entry into a residency after the transitional year.

This is a common path for foreign graduates. So be honest with your answer. Program directors are looking to assess you as a person and see if you’re a fit for their program.

Additionally directors are reluctant to take risks in the selection process — they want to pick someone that they know will successfully complete their training. Make sure to highlight your accomplishments and demonstrate that as a residency trained physician, you are a better choice than a new graduate with no track record.

I don’t believe that your age is a reason for so few interviews. It’s more likely that programs have many applications from US graduates - it’s simply easier to compare new graduates than someone that has been out for years.