Updated
What to Wear to a Residency Interview: Outfit and Attire
For a video residency interview, wear a suit jacket or a business casual top in a solid color, and dress fully in case you stand up. In person, wear a dark, well-fitted suit and shoes you can walk a hospital tour in. For the social the night before, follow the program, which often says casual. When the invitation gives a dress code, it wins.
Most 2027 interviews are on video
Several specialty groups ask programs to interview virtually in 2026-27, so most of your outfit decisions are about a webcam. The NRMP asks programs to pick one format, which it describes as “conducting interviews in-person or virtually, but not both”. Some programs still meet in person. Atrium Health general surgery says “All categorical interviews will be IN PERSON.”
- Pediatrics: Virtual only, home students included Source
- OB/GYN: Virtual for all applicants Source
- Emergency medicine: All-virtual strongly preferred Source
- Neurology: Virtual for all programs Source
Our Thalamus interview guide covers the video platform and tech checks many programs use.
What to wear on camera
ACP puts it simply. “Wear full dress attire as if you were interviewing in person (that means pants!).” It also says to “make sure the lighting is set up so that your face is well lit and not fading into a bright background”. Piece by piece:
Top half: a jacket, or a collared shirt or blouse
The camera sees your shoulders and face, so that is where the effort goes. A suit jacket over a collared shirt or blouse is the safe choice when a program says nothing. If it asks for business casual, a collared shirt, blouse or sweater is enough.
The whole outfit: dress fully, not just above the desk
You may stand up to fix a light or answer the door. ACP tells applicants to wear the full outfit, pants included, and says it helps you stay in an interview frame of mind.
Colors: solid, medium or dark tones
Solid navy, gray, blue or a soft color reads well on most webcams. Very fine stripes and small checks can shimmer on video, and bright white can glow under a ring light.
Background: a plain wall or tidy room
A real, uncluttered background is better than a virtual one, which can cut off your hair or hands when you move. ACP recommends avoiding virtual backgrounds unless you have a green screen.
Light: in front of you, not behind
Face a window or put a lamp behind the screen. A bright window behind you turns your face into a shadow.
Camera and sound: eye level, wired headphones if you can
Stack books under the laptop so the camera sits at eye level, and test your microphone the day before. Earrings or bracelets that clink near the microphone are louder on a call than in a room.
“Tell me about yourself.”
A strong answer stays short, links where you come from to why you chose this specialty and ends on what you want from residency.
What to wear in person
ACP's advice for in-person days is “Conservative is always appropriate, and good grooming is essential.” Plan for walking too. “A tour of patient care and educational areas where you would be training and learning is almost always included.”
Suit: dark, well fitted, in navy, charcoal or gray
A pant suit or skirt suit, or a suit and tie, is still the norm in person. Fit matters more than price. Try it on a week before so there is time for a tailor.
Shirt or blouse: solid and pressed
Light, solid colors go with any suit. Bring a spare in your bag if you are flying in the day before.
Shoes: polished and broken in
Expect a hospital tour on foot. Wear dress shoes or low heels you have already walked in for a full day.
Bag and coat: one bag, a coat for the weather
A simple bag for your notes, a water bottle and a phone charger. December and January interviews can mean snow, so plan a coat that works over the suit.
What five programs say about dress
Many programs relax the dress code for video days and socials. Five that say so on their 2026-27 interview pages, read October 25, 2026:
| Program | Its 2026-27 interview page says |
|---|---|
| Stanford PedsVirtual, on Zoom | Business casual for everyone on the call: dress shirts with no tie, blouses or sweaters. Cameras on, and a laptop or tablet rather than a phone. Source |
| Penn NeurologyVirtual, Nov to Jan | Dress as you would to see patients in clinic, such as a collared shirt instead of a suit and tie. No need to dress up for the info session. Source |
| Rochester EMVirtual, Oct 19 to Dec 21 | Its resident-run virtual information sessions have a casual dress code. An in-person second look follows in January. Source |
| Corpus Christi EMVirtual, Oct to Jan | Casual attire is required at the virtual happy hour the night before, with no ties or suits. Source |
| UAB OB/GYNVirtual, Nov and Dec | Its virtual hangout the evening before replaces the applicant dinner and is meant to be relaxed, without suits. Source |
The pre-interview social and second look
The socials at the programs above are virtual, and each one that mentions dress calls it casual. Casual still means neat. ACP reminds applicants that “this time interacting with the residents should be considered a part of your interview.” With no guidance, wear business casual: a collared shirt, blouse or sweater, no tie. Our interview day guide walks through the social itself.
Second looks are in person and come after interviews. Rochester EM says “An in-person second look for applicants will be offered January 21, 2027.” For what to wear, EMRA notes “Attire can be clinical, including badge and white coat, or business attire, depending on the scheduled events.” Bring walking shoes either way.
What not to wear
EMRA's warning for video days: “You don't want to be the person everyone remembers because they were wearing pajama pants!” And ACP says “We recommend that you avoid virtual backgrounds (unless you have a greenscreen).” Also skip:
- Pajama pants or gym shorts under the desk on a video interview.
- Busy patterns, logos or anything that pulls the eye away from your face.
- New shoes on a tour day, or heels you have not walked in.
- Strong perfume or cologne at in-person events.
- A suit and tie at a social the program has called casual.
- A white coat on interview day unless the program asks for one.
For the med school version, see what to wear to a medical school interview. For residency practice by specialty, start at Confetto for residency or browse our residency interview guides.
Sources: the 2026-27 interview pages of Stanford pediatrics, Penn neurology, Rochester EM, Corpus Christi EM, UAB OB/GYN and Atrium Health surgery, ACP (preparing for the interview, virtual interview tips), EMRA, the 2026-27 statements of APPD, APGO, CORD and AAN, and the NRMP Match Code of Conduct for programs. All checked October 25, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a suit for a residency interview?
In person, a suit is still the safe choice. On video, follow the program's invitation. Stanford pediatrics asks for business casual, and Penn neurology suggests a collared shirt instead of a suit and tie. If a program says nothing, a suit jacket on camera is never wrong.
What should I wear to a virtual residency interview?
A suit jacket or business casual top in a solid color, and the rest of the outfit too in case you stand up. Sit facing the light with a plain, real background.
What do I wear to the pre-interview social or dinner?
What the program says. Several 2026-27 programs call their virtual socials casual and ask you not to wear a suit. With no guidance, wear business casual, and treat the event as part of the interview.
What should I wear to a residency second look?
Check the schedule. EMRA notes that second look attire can be clinical, with a badge and white coat, or business attire, depending on the events planned. Bring walking shoes for the tour.
Do programs tell you what to wear?
Some do, on their interview page or in the invitation email. Stanford pediatrics, Penn neurology, Rochester EM, Corpus Christi EM and UAB OB/GYN all say something about dress for 2026-27. Read every invitation before you pick an outfit.