Evaluating the Efficacy of the Canadian Association of Radiologists' Medical Student Network Mock Interview Program...

Access to mentorship and interview preparation resources remains inconsistent across Canadian medical schools, potentially disadvantaging students applying to diagnostic radiology. The Canadian Association of Radiologists' Medical Student Network (CAR MSN) hosts an annual virtual mock interview program pairing fourth-year and third-year medical students with diagnostic radiology residents for structured practice interviews and individualized feedback.

This study used a pre- and post-survey design to evaluate the program's impact on self-reported interview preparedness across 5 annual cycles (2022-2026). A total of 315 registrants from all 17 Canadian medical schools completed pre-event surveys, and 157 participated in the mock interviews. Paired pre- and post-event data were available from 54 participants and their level of preparedness for the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS) interviews was analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

Self-reported preparedness scores improved significantly, with median scores increasing from 3 (IQR 2-3) to 4 (IQR 4-4) on a 5-point Likert scale (r = .85, P < .001). However, a 65.6% attrition rate was observed between surveys. Participants rated the mock interview as highly helpful, and 96.3% felt the questions were representative of CaRMS interviews. General perceived stressors related to the unfamiliarity with the programs and the interview process decreased after participation.

Despite the attrition rate, these findings suggest that nationally accessible, resident-led mock interview programs can meaningfully improve interview preparedness and confidence for radiology applicants. Future implementation of mentorship-based initiatives may promote equitable access to radiology-specific career guidance.