Applying for Residency

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Applying for Residency
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Keck Match Results 2011
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Positions and Applicants by Specialty 2011
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Questions?
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ERAS

• You will all use ERAS in some capacity,
  regardless of your chosen specialty
• Tokens will be issued by Career Advising via
  email at the end of June
• Opens July 1
• Used to distribute
• Information that you will enter from your CV
• Personal statement(s)
• Letters of recommendation
• Step 1 and 2 scores (USMLE Transcript)
• MSPE
• Keck Transcript
• Photo

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NRMP The Main Match

• nrmp.org
• Match for most specialties
• Registration is separate from ERAS and begins
  August 15
• Rank Order Lists are due in February
• Results are available in March

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SF Match

• sfmatch.org
• For Ophthalmology and Child Neurology
• Has its own paper-based Central Application
  Service (CAS)
• Prelim applications are still through ERAS
• Registration begins June 1
• Applications are due at different times to
  different programs. Applicants must contact
  programs to determine deadlines.
• Rank Lists are due January 5
• Match results available January 12

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Urology Match

• auanet.org
• Uses ERAS for application process
• Registration begins in late spring
• Interviews are conducted beginning in the fall
  and ending in December
• Rank lists are due in December
• Results are available in January

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Curriculum Vitae

• Not used for ERAS directly, but an important
  first step in gathering your information
• Covered in detail later today
• Rosa available for initial CV review until July
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Personal Statement

• The only chance that programs will have to get to
  know what you are like as a person before they
  decide whether to interview you
• A coherent, error-free preview of why you have
  chosen your specialty and what you would be like
  to have as a colleague
• No more than one page (approximately 600 words)
• Begin early in order to have enough time to
  write, re-write, edit, and proofread sufficiently
• Covered in detail this afternoon. You must
  attend this session or watch the webcast if you
  want individual feedback.
• Caitlin and Rosa will be available for personal
  statement review until July 15

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Medical School Transcript

• Will be uploaded to ERAS by Student Affairs for
  September 1 release and updated in October
• Includes all grades available for years I-IV, but
  no narrative evaluations
• You must sign the Transcript Release Form in your
  packet today in order for your Transcript to be
  uploaded
• For SF Match, you will need to request a paper
  copy of your Transcript from Student Affairs

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USMLE Transcript

• Sent via ERAS (Except for SF Match, which will
  need a paper copy of your score report)
• Will include all scores available on the day you
  submit your application
• Can be automatically re-transmitted if you choose
  (We suggest you not choose this option.)
• Plan to study and do your best on Step 2 many
  programs now require Step 2 scores, and most
  others expect to see them if they are available.

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Questions?
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When should I take Step 2?

• You must take both CK and CS by December 31, 2011
  in order to be certified for the Match
• You must pass both CK and CS in order to graduate
• You should plan to register for CS early, as
  there are few sites and they fill quickly

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Medical Student Performance Evaluation

• Objective summary letter designed to evaluate a
  students performance based on nationally defined
  guidelines
• Released November 1 nationwide
• Students may review for errors, but no changes
  will be made to grades or narrative evaluations
• Includes
• Unique Characteristics section, which you will
  draft, and which will be edited by Student
  Affairs for consistency
• Academic History section, which will include
  above-the-line comments from your ICM and
  clinical rotation evaluations
• Summary, which will include an adjective
  calculated based on the number of weeks for which
  you have earned Honors in your required
  third-year clerkships

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Introduction Information

• Stuart Quincy Dent is a fourth-year student at
  the Keck School of Medicine of the University of
  Southern California. The Keck School of Medicine
  has an integrated systems-based curriculum
  throughout the first two years of medical school
  and students are graded on a Pass/Fail basis. The
  required clinical clerkships in Years III and IV
  are graded Honors, High Pass, Pass, or Fail, and
  senior electives are graded Credit or No Credit.
  The Keck School of Medicine does not rank
  students, but does assign a summary adjective
  based on the number of weeks of Honors and High
  Pass grades students receive in Year III core
  clerkships these include Family Medicine,
  Internal Medicine, Obstetrics/Gynecology,
  Pediatrics, Psychiatry, and Surgery. A statement
  regarding the assessment of the student's
  professionalism is located in Appendix C. The
  intent of this performance evaluation is to
  provide a summary of the student's academic
  achievements, clinical performance, and personal
  experiences relevant to selection for
  postgraduate training.

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Unique Characteristics

• During his time at the Keck School of Medicine,
  Jean has worked on several research studies in
  the Department of Dermatology, and serves as lead
  author on three articles in preparation. He has
  also authored an article for the New England
  Journal of Medicine, and has presented his
  findings the use of native Nepali plants to treat
  skin ailments at the Global Health Education
  Consortiums Annual Meeting. Additionally, Jean
  has maintained an active schedule of leadership
  and service activities, including regular
  mentorship of elementary and junior high school
  students, work as a teaching assistant for a
  dental school course in head and neck anatomy,
  and has held offices in the local AMSA chapter
  and Kecks alumni organization.

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Academic Progress

• Record for Years I and II
• Stuart performed well in the courses of the first
  two years, which are graded Pass/Fail only. His
  progress was also entirely satisfactory in both
  years of Introduction to Clinical Medicine the
  year-end comments of his instructors are
  summarized below.
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• Introduction to Clinical Medicine, Year I - PASS
  Stuart meets all expectations for Year I ICM. He
  made progress this year in all aspects of the
  patient interview and case write-up. Stuarts
  write-ups and medical knowledge were excellent.
  He incorporated new skills and techniques easily
  into his repertoire. He was professional at all
  times. He will continue to do well in future
  clinical encounters. Dennis Mitchell, MD, ICM
  Instructor.
•  
• Introduction to Clinical Medicine, Year II - PASS
  Stuart completed his milestones in a timely
  fashion. He continued to be appreciated by his
  colleagues for his pleasant style and team
  building ability. He is easy to teach and takes
  criticism maturely, appropriately building on his
  notable strengths and correcting or modifying
  various skill sets. Stuart likes people and
  enjoys medicine, characteristics apparent in his
  work. Dennis Mitchell, MD, ICM Instructor.

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Academic Progress, continued

• Required Clinical Clerkships and Clinical
  Elective Record
• In the Junior/Senior Continuum Stuart's record
  was highlighted by High Pass grades in
  Psychiatry, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics and
  Gynecology, Surgery, Pediatrics, and Family
  Medicine. The following are representative
  faculty comments from the required clerkships and
  clinical electives taken to date, listed in the
  order taken by the student. Unless noted,
  clerkships were completed at the Keck School of
  Medicine and its affiliates. Grades listed
  correspond to grades reported on the transcript.
•   
• Internal Medicine - HIGH PASS Stuart was
  described as eager to learn and possessing
  excellent communication skills. He volunteered to
  assist his team whenever he could, always willing
  to accept any task, no matter the level of
  difficulty. He researched many topics and gave
  presentations to his team that were on a grand
  rounds level. His history and physical
  examination presentations were excellent.
  Overall, Stuart did a superb job. Eric Hsieh,
  M.D., Clerkship Director.

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Summary

• Stuart is consistently described as eager to
  learn with an excellent work ethic. His clinical
  evaluators constantly praised his communication
  skills with both his patients and other team
  members, and they described him as a patient
  advocate and a team player. The summary adjective
  for Keck School of Medicine students is based on
  the number of weeks of Honors and High Pass
  grades received in Year III core clerkships
  these include Family Medicine, Internal Medicine,
  Obstetrics/Gynecology, Pediatrics, Psychiatry and
  Surgery. Based on his performance to date, Mr.
  Dent's medical school performance has been
  EXCELLENT in comparison to his peers at our
  school.

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The Summary Adjective

• Outstanding 18 weeks of Honors no grades of
  Pass
• Excellent 42 weeks of High Pass or the
  equivalent (e.g. 6 weeks of Honors, 6 weeks of
  Pass, and 30 weeks of High Pass)
• Very Good 18 weeks of High Pass or the
  equivalent
• Good 0-17 weeks of High Pass or the equivalent
• Acceptable Rarely used (notably irregular
  academic progress, e.g., repeating a year).

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Letters of Recommendation

• Will need three or four
• Request from someone who knows you well and who
  is well-known in the specialty
• Request at least a month in advance
• Will come to Rosa and be distributed via ERAS
  (except for SF Match)
• You will need to create slots for your letters in
  ERAS.
• Packet for letter writers should include
• Brief note or cover letter
• ERAS waiver
• CV
• Personal Statement
• Pre-addressed stamped envelope
• Anything else (publications, transcripts, course
  evaluations, etc.) that will help the faculty
  member write a strong letter for you

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Audition Rotations
Pro Con
Chance to impress your preferred programs Many chances for missteps or personality conflicts
Extended opportunity to learn about programs you are interested in
Potential for additional letters of recommendation
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Tammy Trojan

• Applying to Radiology programs
• Step 1 score 238
• All High Pass in third-year clerkships (Summary
  Adjective of Excellent)
• Has presented two posters at regional meetings

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How competitive do you think Tammy is for
Radiology residency positions?

• Definitely will match
• Highly likely to match
• At risk to not match

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How can Tammy improve her chances of matching?

• Apply to an adequate number of programs
• Diverse geography
• Appropriate mix of programs
• Submit her application on time
• Review all parts of her application with advisors
• Prepare for interviews
• Go on an adequate number of interviews
• Rank all programs where she interviewed

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What could go wrong?

• Not apply to an adequate number of programs
• Bad personal statement
• Bad interview
• Bad audition elective
• Letters of recommendation
• Couples match
• Elevator talk
• Unprofessional behavior

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Working with Your Faculty Advisor

• Keep them fully informed, even about potentially
  negative aspects of your application. This is
  the only way they can help you develop a
  realistic plan.
• Come to your meetings prepared with a clear idea
  of your goals and preferences.
• Ask specific questions. For example
• Given my grades, scores, and activities, how many
  programs should I apply to?
• Given my personal and geographic preferences,
  where should I consider doing away rotations?
  How many should I do?
• Be on time, polite, and professional.

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Interviews

• October through February, depending on specialty
• The fourth-year financial aid budget has been
  increased by 2200 to allow for application and
  travel expenses. Be sure to plan ahead and
  reserve the funds you will need for this process.
• Before you go
• Attend an interviewing workshop
• Be aware of your rotations absence policies
• Research the program
• Review your application
• Check the Careers in Medicine site for a list of
  practice questions and questions to ask of your
  interviewers

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Program Directors Top 10 Criteria for Selecting
Residents

• Required clerkship grades
• Recommendation letters
• Step 1 score
• Grades in senior electives in specialty
• Number of clerkship honors
• Audition electives
• Step 2 CK score
• Class rank
• Step 2 CS Pass
• AOA membership

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How to ensure that you do not match

• Apply after September 1
• Apply to too few programs or only to reach
  programs
• Severely restrict your geography
• Do not go on every interview offered
• Do not rank all programs where you interviewed
• Act unprofessionally toward anyone
• Lose touch with Student Affairs, disregard advice

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What if I dont match?

• You will most likely have to participate in the
  Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP),
  which will happen for the first time next year
• There is no Scramble

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Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program

• SOAP is not a second match.
• Applicants express their preferences by applying
  to programs via ERAS.
• Programs express their preferences by creating
  lists of applicants who have applied to their
  programs.
• The NRMP System will offer positions to
  applicants in order of a programs preference.
• Applicants can receive multiple offers in any
  offer round.
• Positions offered and accepted during SOAP
  establish a binding commitment enforced by the
  NRMP Match Participation Agreement.

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During the SOAP Period

• Programs can only accept applications via ERAS
• Applicants cannot contact programs outside of
  ERAS
• Faculty and staff cannot contact programs on
  applicants behalf
• Applicants cannot accept positions that are not
  offered through SOAP

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Match Week Schedule
Monday 830am 900am School Unmatched Seniors Report Applicant Did I Match? Program Did I Fill? Unfilled positions on Web Applicants apply to programs via ERAS
Tuesday Applicant/program communication
Wednesday 830am 900am Programs finalize preference lists Program offers begin valid for two hours
Friday 900am 200pm Match Day Ceremony Last SOAP offers expire
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Schedule for Program Offers
Tuesday 830am Programs begin entering preference lists
Wednesday 830 am 900 am 1100 am 1130 am 1155 am 1200 pm 300 pm Programs finalize preference lists First offers sent to applicants First offers expire Deadline for programs to update lists ERAS updated with filled program info Second offer round Second offers expire
Thursday 600 am Third, fourth, and fifth offer rounds (every three hours)
Friday 600 am 900 am 1200 pm 200 pm Sixth offer round Match Day Ceremony Seventh offer round Eighth offer round Last offers expire
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Upcoming Workshops

• ERAS July
• Interviewing September
• Rank Order List January

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We are here for you!

• Please feel free to contact Caitlin or Rosa if
  you are having difficulty with any aspect of your
  application or are nervous, anxious, or unsure
  about anything!
• Be sure to keep in particularly close touch with
  Student Affairs if you are double-applying,
  couples matching, or applying to an early match
  specialty.

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Questions?