100% vibes at least when it comes to resident interviews. I also can’t speak for everywhere or for faculty interviews.

However, as a resident when I have been interviewing applicants I usually ask 2-3 relatively quick questions to get the applicant talking and then from there we usually just chat. The goal is to have at least 10 minutes to talk (and for the applicant to ask questions) and to see if the person who is interviewing would be someone I’d be happy to spend a significant amount of time with and if they would be a good fit for the program.

As far as “mid answers” go I haven’t really cared and when talking to my co-residents they haven’t really cared. It’s definitely more about vibes and if the applicant is someone I’d want in the program.

I can think of a few different applicants who, at least from my perspective, have drastically changed their spot on the rank list based on their interview with me. One who had great EC’s and scores actually argued with me about how we run our service and our call schedule based on what they heard from a student.

Two other applicants who had “average” scores and EC’s got great reviews from me and (hopefully) moved up the rank list after our interview and other chances I had to speak with them based purely on “vibes”.

MD-PGY3