Your Killer Residency Application

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Your Killer Residency Application

• Gillian Baty, MS IV
• Allison Dean, PGY I

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How do I do it?

• Think about specialty, keeping an open mind
• Schedule Summer Electives Clerkships
• Ask for Recommendations
• Decide on Specialty
• Research programs
• Begin ERAS
• Interview, Rank and Match!

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Deciding on your Specialty

• Personality profiles-in books, on-line
• Talk--Attendings, Advisors, Department Chairs,
  Interns/Residents, Alums, Privates, Friends
• Specialty societies http//www.medfools.com/match
  /specialty_contacts.html
• What is the availability of residency positions?
  How many are there and how much competition is
  there for a training slot?

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Questions to Ponder

• What do you value about the role of a physician?
• What type of doctor/patient relationships do you
  find the most rewarding?
• What skills (interpersonal, analytical,
  technical, etc.) do you value the most in
  yourself ?

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Clerkships SubIs

• Schedule as early as possiblesome popular
  electives and sites fill quickly
• Plan on one of the first few blocks of fourth
  yearafter interns are settled, before interviews
  start
• Consider trying out a program different from the
  type you think you would like
• RememberReschedule and Be Flexible!

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The Big Dilemna. . .Should I do an elective at
my top choice?
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Along the Way. . .

• Ask for letters of recommendations now, while
  people are working with you
• Start researching programs
• Attend conferences, network
• Re-visit the reasons you went to med school does
  your future specialty jive?

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Researching Programs

• Web sites
• FRIEDA, AMA-The Green Book
• Specialty SocietiesAAFP, APA, ACOG
• Talk, talk, talk!
• Ask programs if they have additional info that is
  not available on-line

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Time to narrow it down. . .

• What are the differences between training
  programs within the same specialty?
• Are there geographic differences?
• Are there institutional differences (community v.
  academic)?
• Most of all, get lots of opinions about good
  programs

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The Big, Bad Match

• Applications ERAS, San Francisco (NS, Neuro,
  Optho, Oto, Plastics), Military, and Traditional
  paper
• Program SelectionNRMP
• Interviews
• Rank ListsNRMP
• Match Day

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How the Match Works

• The Match started in 1952 for internships now
  includes most specialties and some fellowships
• The Match ensures that you will receive your
  highest choice of the programs interested in you
  
• Program driven until 1997, but with algorithm change (JAMA 9/97)
• Couples match is another option

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Timeline

• Julycheck the MyERAS website
• August 15applicant registration opens
• September 1programs receive applications
• Octoberprograms start offering interviews
• November 1Deans letter released
• December 1registration deadline
• January 15begin entering rank order list

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Timeline (cont)

• February 25, 1159 pm-rank list closes
• March 15, 1200pm-matched or unmatched?
• March 16, 1200pm-SCRAMBLE
• March 18, 100pm-MATCH DAY!!
• SF (Jan) and Military both match earlier

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Applications

• ERASnot just application, but also match head
  quarters
• San Francisconeurology, neurosurgery, ENT,
  ophthalmology, urology earlier than NRMP, may
  also have to do ERAS for internship
• Traditional papervery few programs
• Military--

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Whats in your ERAS App?

• CV
• Random Info
• Letters of recommendation
• Deans letter
• Personal Statement
• Photograph

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Curriculum Vitae

• Its helpful to keep a running CV throughout med
  schoolespecially dates
• Keep simple and stream-lined
• BE HONEST (Dont stretch the truth)
• Be able to talk about any entry in your CV
• Use action verbs

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Letters of Recommendation

• Most programs want 3-4 letters
• Pay attention to the they want AND who they
  should be from
• Usually one from the department chair
• DONT send more than they want
• Ask your writers EARLY!
• Provide writers with cover letter, CV, personal
  statement, and photo

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Deans Letter

• Generic form
• Released on November 1
• Dean (or representative) will meet with you prior
  to writing
• Make sure they emphasize what you feel is
  important
• Proofread

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Personal Statement

• Word text file, courier 10 pt, then cut and paste
  into ERAS
• Edit, edit, edit!
• Get several opinions
• Make sure its PERFECT!
• Inspirationwww.medfools.com/personal_statements.p
  hp, residents

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Scheduling Interviews

• Have a general geographic strategy
• Always have access to Email, cell phone, calendar
• Ask about interview dinner/social
• Lodging Bed breakfast, alumni, residents
• System for info tracking

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What to Wear

• Be Polished! Spend a little extra to look nice.
  Remember to Iron!
• Talk to residents to know what is appropriate in
  your specialty
• Pant suits ok-preferable if thats more
  comfortable

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The Actual Interview

• Social, general overview, single or group
  interviews, tour, resident lunch
• Remember, programs selling themselves as much as
  you are selling yourself
• Interviewers may not have read app
• Send Thank Yous immediately

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Rank List

• Keep preliminary list while interviewing
• Enter on NRMP can change until deadline
• Call residents (can ask coordinator for s)
• Contact top choices before rank deadline
• Second lookscan be very, very helpful AND
  indicate your interest
• Do NOT rank ANY program you dont want (Scramble
  doesnt failure)

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Match Day

• Its not a matter of win/lose
• Over 85 of U.S. students match to one of their
  top three choices, 60 to their first choice

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Resources

• www.aafp.org - strolling through the match
• www.medfools.com
• www.studentdoc.com
• www.becomingapediatrician.com
• www.aamc.org/students/cim/start.htm careers in
  medicine
• www.med-ed.virginia.edu/specialties/
• How to Choose a Medical Specialty, Anita Taylor
• Iserson's Getting into a Residency A Guide for
  Medical Student, Kenneth V. Iserson