Strengthening Your Residency Application

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Strengthening Your Residency Application

• David S Howes MD, FACEP
• Professor and Residency Program Director
• Section of Emergency Medicine
• University of Chicago

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Where do you stand now

• Questions
• How many of you think you will match at one of
  your top 3 choices?
• How many think it is too late to jazz up your
  application?
• How many think they have no need to strengthen
  their application?

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By the end of this talk, you will

• Know the statistics needed to help you assess
  your chances in the match
• Know the importance of the Deans letter
• Have strategies for strengthening your application

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Statistics from 2008

• What percentage of EM applicants are in AOA?
• 13
• What was the average board scores for MATCHED EM
  applicants? (means Part 1216, Part 2221)
• Part 1 220 Part 2 226

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The BIG numbers

• What percentage of EM applicants matched in EM?
• US seniors 1092/1181 92.5
• Independents 265/488 54.3
• Independent means anyone who is not a current US
  allopathic MS4
• What percentage of MATCHED EM applicants matched
  at one of their top 3?
• Approximately 93

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Will I match in my top 3?

• PREDICTORS OF HIGHER MATCH
• Number of programs ranked
• Boards
• AOA
• US Allopathic
• Do you have red flags?

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What do PDs look for?

• FIT
• LOW MAINTENANCE
• COMPETENCE
• Add to the Party

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What dont PDs want?
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The Realistic PD
We want this We get this
No one is perfect. What are the red flags?
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Your Application

• CV
• Letters of recommendation
• Personal Statement
• MSPE
• Transcript
• Boards
• Photo

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MSPE

• The single biggest collection of data
• Comparative statements
• Narrative comments
• How can you affect this?

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Meet with the Dean!!!

• Let them know your goals, type of program,
  personality.
• MD/PhD who is sick of research and just wants to
  treat patients. Might have interest in
  international medicine.
• Jon is a talented young man with a strong
  research background who has decided to pursue a
  career in community medicine, and has hopes of
  working with urban health iniatives.

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Using the deans letter to help

• 2. Explain your red flags
• MS4 in top 1/3 of class, lots of
  extracurriculars but a board score of 191.
• Sara possesses a superior intellect which is
  reflected by her strong performance on exams. She
  had a lower than expected part 1 score, but only
  because of her hypothyroidism. Since that has
  been addressed, she has easily returned to her
  usual state of excellence.

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Your Dean

• Theyve done this before
• Their job is to make you look good
• Help them find the ideas that you want reflected
  in your application

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CV

• Make it reflective of your target program
• Volunteerism
• Hobbies write something interesting! (However,
  be prepared to talk about it)
• Dont tell me

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The right CV
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Personal Statement

• Dont expect it to have an impact
• Explain your red flags!
• Why you got a Pass in psych
• Why you want research even though you dont have
  any
• Why you have to be in _____ city

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Personal Statement

• Make it reflective of you!
• Talk about what you want out of life.
• Most importantly, the line between clever and
  flaky is very thin. Be careful.

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The bottom line

• Paint the picture you want painted. Help those
  who are writing on your behalf do the accents.

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In conclusion

• You have the statistics. If you know your
  chances, you can adjust your plan
• Your dean needs your help for your MSPE. Make
  sure they know it.
• Try to paint an accurate, complimentary picture
  of yourself. Help others paint the accents.

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