Med-Peds Match 2025 Advice, IVs & Interviews: In-Depth Guide

Med-Peds Match 2025 Advice and Insights

Table of Contents

• Advice overview
• IV Offers & Interview Scheduling
• Program Impressions & Anonymized Feedback
• LOIs and Letters of Interest
• Questions Banks & Interview Prep
• Post-Interview & Socials
• Rankings & Preference Signaling
• Resources & Data Tables
• General Advice & Interview Tips
• Questions to Ask Programs/Residents
• Programmatic Impressions: Positive vs. Negative
• Appendix: LOI & Ranking Spreadsheets

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Advice overview

Advice for the 2025-2026 Match cycle is practical and empathetic. This section captures the core sentiment from the community: be kind, be proactive with information, and build a strategy that balances broad outreach with targeted follow-ups. The material below reflects the collective experiences of MS4s and residents about programs they rotated through, the reality of IV waves, and the social dynamics of the match process.

• The community emphasizes kindness: we’re all navigating a highly stressful process, and mutual respect helps maintain a healthier applicant pool.
• Do not delete other people’s information. Sharing is beneficial; your data can help others plan better.
• When building on another’s post, clearly separate your additions for readability.
• Protect personal cells and protected data in collaborative sheets by using built-in protection features; avoid editing others’ protected sections.
• The resources section contains prior spreadsheets, official NRMP data, and program information to cross-check timelines and data.
• Focus on practical actions: LOIs, timing, waves, and how to respond to continuing reviews. Specific program information is scattered in the resources and discussions across the table.

IV Offers & Interview Scheduling

The community discusses IV invites and interview scheduling in waves, with a mixture of dates and regional patterns. It is common for invitations to appear in batches, with some programs posting multiple waves across weeks. Practitioners advise keeping calendars flexible and planning around the potential waves well in advance. Some programs may open new dates after initial invites; others post fixed windows. A recurring theme is the balance between interviewing widely and avoiding burnout by spacing out dates.

• Interview slots can be posted on Thalamus or through program-specific scheduling tools. In some cases, IRB-like protections exist for scheduling data; programs may require updates if dates shift.
• A practical approach recommended by experienced applicants: cap the number of IVs to a sustainable level (e.g., around a dozen) to maximize quality of engagement and preserve resources for waitlisted opportunities.
• It is common to see LOIs and emails used to express continued interest, sometimes leading to late invites or waitlist movement. Communication tone matters; professional, concise messages tend to be better received than overly lengthy ones.
• If you have away rotations or home programs that will yield strong data about fit, consider prioritizing their IVs or LOIs accordingly to maximize alignment with your goals.

Program Impressions & Anonymized Feedback

MS4s and residents share impressions of programs they've rotated through, emphasizing the culture, mentorship, and DEI commitments. The following themes emerge from the anonymized feedback: supportive leadership, robust resident wellness initiatives, strong mentorship networks, and active DEI programs. Feedback is frequently contextualized by the city, hospital system, and subspecialty mix. Several programs are highlighted for their family-friendly policies, parental leave allowances, and flexible scheduling. Others are noted for high call burdens or for needing improvements in resident wellness support.

• Positive impressions emphasize teamwork, approachable PDs, and transparent communication about scheduling and second looks.
• Negative impressions focus on heavy call loads, limited resident autonomy, or perceived gaps in DEI efforts.
• Social events prior to interview days are often cited as valuable for community building; many residents comment on the supportive vibe across different programs in the same health system.

LOIs and Letters of Interest

Letters of Interest (LOIs) are a common cross-program strategy used to demonstrate enthusiasm for a program before or during the interview cycle. The discussions cover: when to send LOIs, how frequently to send to different programs, and how programs respond to LOIs. Several threads detail success stories (interview invitations following LOIs) and cautionary tales (limited or no response). A major theme is to tailor LOIs to each program, highlighting why the program aligns with personal and professional goals, and what specific experiences you bring that would benefit the program.

• The LOI vs. Letter of Intent distinction is repeatedly emphasized: LOI expresses interest and seeks an interview; Letter of Intent (LoI) communicates ranking priority after interviews.
• Responding to LOIs and demonstrating ongoing interest can influence a program’s decision to extend an invitation or keep an applicant on the radar.
• Some residents propose sending LOIs early in the cycle, while others recommend waiting until after initial waves. The consensus appears to support a flexible, thoughtfully timed approach.

Questions Banks & Interview Prep

A substantial portion of the content in this document is dedicated to the questions asked during med-peds interviews. The questions vary by program and interviewer, but common categories include:

• CV-related questions: experiences, leadership roles, and impact on patient care.
• Career goals and why med-peds: future plans, research interests, and clinical focus.
• Case scenarios and ethical questions: challenging patient scenarios, resource constraints, and teamwork under stress.
• Personal questions: resilience, time management, and personal strengths/weaknesses.
• Program-fit questions: how the applicant would contribute to DEI efforts, what they would bring to the residency, and alignment with the program’s mission.
• Behavioral questions: tell me about a time you faced a conflict, a time you failed, a time you advocated for a patient, or a time you showed leadership.

Additionally, the content includes a repository of sample questions from programs (e.g., Albany, Baylor, Beaumont, Brown, BWH/BCH, Case Western, Detroit, Duke, Emory, Giesinger, Georgetown, Indiana, Johns Hopkins, Loma Linda, Loyola, Rush, UChicago, UCSD, Penn, Rush, UMass Baystate, etc.). These samples show a mix of structured and conversational interviewing styles, with many programs sharing questions in advance or indicating a willingness to tailor questions to the applicant’s experiences.

• Procedural tips include: coming prepared with 1-2 tailored questions for each interviewer; practicing with a friend or mentor; and ensuring you have your own comfortable and professional online interview setup.
• The questions banks also emphasize the importance of questions about mentorship, opportunities for resident involvement, and the program’s track options (e.g., primary care vs. inpatient vs. research tracks).

Post-Interview & Socials

The post-interview phase in med-peds involves a mix of formal and informal engagement. Programs may host socials (virtual or in-person) with current residents, alumni, and faculty. These events provide an opportunity to evaluate the program's culture and resident satisfaction outside the formal interview setting. Applicants often share notes on which socials they attended and how those experiences influenced their ranking decisions. The content also includes guidance on how to participate in these events and what to look for in social interactions (levels of engagement, inclusivity, and wellness culture).

• Socials are sometimes informal and casual; some programs prefer “casual dress,” while others have themed social events linked to city culture. Always follow the host program’s guidance.
• Virtual socials can still provide meaningful insights, particularly in terms of resident enthusiasm, opportunities for mentorship, and the academic environment.
• After interview day, applicants are often encouraged to reflect on their experiences and compile a personal ranking narrative that accounts for fit, location, program strength, and long-term career goals.

Rankings & Preference Signaling

• Applicants often discuss their rank lists and the principle to rank programs by true preference rather than perceived likelihood of match. The community emphasizes evaluating program fit and aligning with long-term career goals rather than chasing prestige alone.
• Preference signaling and LOIs are used to communicate interest in specific programs. Discuss how many programs you're signaling and how signals influence your rank list. Signals and LOIs can potentially alter movement on the waitlist or the timing of II invitations.
• There are debates about dual-application strategies (applying to both internal medicine and pediatric pathways or other specialties) and the risk-to-reward balance for Med-Peds match outcomes. The collective advice highlights the complexity of program- and institution-specific signaling and the importance of seeking guidance from Med-Peds program directors.
• Anonymized responses indicate that many top programs release many interview invitations on a single date; others use rolling invites or waves. Planning a staggered schedule and second-look visits can be decisive in ranking decisions.

Resources & Data Tables

The document compiles a robust set of resources for applicants: NRMP data, residency program spreadsheets, informational webinars, and sample interview questions. The resources cover:

• NRMP results and data, and Match rate by specialty and state: These documents provide historical data useful for context, expectations, and strategic planning.
• Official Med-Peds Application Spreadsheets (prior cycles): These spreadsheets show historical invitation patterns, interview waves, and data from years like 2018–2025, and are used to benchmark expectations for the current cycle.
• AAMC and residency program-specific PDFs and guides: Materials such as “What to ask on interviews” and “Common IV Q’s” provide structured question banks and guidance on evaluation criteria.
• Info webinars and program informational resources: Session recordings and transcripts help applicants learn about program cultures, community focus, and mentorship opportunities.
• Sample interview questions and scenarios: The table includes examples of interview questions by program, with typical themes and the expected depth of answers.

These resources encompass links and references such as the NRMP data PDFs, official med-peds spreadsheets, and relevant informational webinars.

General Advice & Interview Tips

General advice from the community emphasizes the following:

• Space out interviews to minimize fatigue. A balance between early and late waves helps prevent burnout and keeps energy high for each interview.
• Use a structured approach to note-taking after interviews: record questions asked, impressions, and which aspects mattered most to you. Voice memos can help preserve the nuance of your impressions.
• Do not rely on someone else’s ranking; build your own ranking based on what matters to you (career goals, city, patient population, mentorship, patient diversity, etc.).
• Avoid over-reliance on any single program or region; apply broadly to improve your chances of interviewing at multiple institutions.
• Consider away rotations or med-peds-specific experiences to strengthen your understanding of the field and networking opportunities.
• Always be authentic in your interactions and questions; tailoring your questions to the program can yield better insights into fit and mentorship.
• For couples matching, coordinate with your partner early to maximize alignment of your applications and shared priorities.
• Plan for weather, cost-of-living, and housing logistics in your top-choice markets; practical concerns can greatly influence your satisfaction in residency.

Questions to Ask Programs/Residents

A robust set of suggested questions to ask during interviews includes:

• How do you teach residents or medical students? Can you provide concrete examples?
• What are the mentorship structures and opportunities for research or clinical tracks?
• What are the program goals for the next 4 years, and how does the leadership plan to achieve them?
• How does the program support residents through major life events (pregnancy, caregiving, bereavement)?
• What are the call structures, work-hour policies, and average nocturnal shifts for interns and seniors?
• What is the balance between M and P in your program, and how is continuity of care maintained in the Med-Peds track?
• How does the program approach DEI efforts and what concrete metrics demonstrate progress?

Programmatic Impressions: Positive vs. Negative

• Positive impressions include strong mentorship, inclusive culture, and collaborative leadership. Programs with a supportive PD and well-integrated resident groups tend to leave lasting favorable impressions.
• Negative impressions often relate to heavy workload, inconsistent scheduling, or limited avenues for resident input on curriculum and wellness.
• The community emphasizes comparing experiences across programs within the same health system to glean patterns in culture, resources, and resident satisfaction.

Appendix: LOI & Ranking Spreadsheets

Appendix sections summarize practical templates and references for LOIs, as well as an anonymized data collection framework used to benchmark program activity. These include sections on LOI timing, response patterns from programs, and examples of social events that were offered as part of the interview day experience. The appendix also includes notes on how to interpret LOI results in aggregate form and how to respond to waitlist movement across waves.

Notes on Data Integrity and Usage

This document aggregates community experiences and program impressions for the 2025-2026 Med-Peds Match cycle. While it reflects a broad set of experiences, individual program experiences may vary. Applicants should use this information as guidance in conjunction with official NRMP data and program-specific information. Always verify current dates, deadlines, and program requirements from the official sources and your medical school advisor.

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Closing

Best wishes to all applicants navigating the Med-Peds Match cycle. The community celebrates resilience, collaboration, and thoughtful decision-making as you prepare to pursue your residency in Med-Peds.