2012-2013 Pre-Interview Thread

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Members don't see this ad :)
member2721 said:
Thought I would pass this on, as I found it useful for getting a better idea of what PDs are looking for at this stage and next.

http://www.nrmp.org/data/programresultsbyspecialty2012.pdf

Results of the 2012 NRMP Program Director Survey (PDF, 188 pages)
This report presents the results of selected items from the 2012 NRMP Program Director Survey. Data are reported for 22 specialties and include: (1) factors used for granting interviews and ranking applicants...
Click to expand...

Thanks!
 
member2721 said:
Thought I would pass this on, as I found it useful for getting a better idea of what PDs are looking for at this stage and next.

http://www.nrmp.org/data/programresultsbyspecialty2012.pdf

Results of the 2012 NRMP Program Director Survey (PDF, 188 pages)
This report presents the results of selected items from the 2012 NRMP Program Director Survey. Data are reported for 22 specialties and include: (1) factors used for granting interviews and ranking applicants...
Click to expand...

I really appreciate that they included data on whether specialties consider osteopathic grads and the COMLEX this year. Very cool.
 
Daedra22 said:
I really appreciate that they included data on whether specialties consider osteopathic grads and the COMLEX this year. Very cool.
Click to expand...

Totally cool! Thanks for the info. Looks like pretty much every psych program takes COMLEX 1. Awesome.
 
member2721 said:
Thought I would pass this on, as I found it useful for getting a better idea of what PDs are looking for at this stage and next.

http://www.nrmp.org/data/programresultsbyspecialty2012.pdf

Results of the 2012 NRMP Program Director Survey (PDF, 188 pages)
This report presents the results of selected items from the 2012 NRMP Program Director Survey. Data are reported for 22 specialties and include: (1) factors used for granting interviews and ranking applicants...
Click to expand...

That's a fascinating document. Admittedly I only skimmed the parts about other specialties, but it seems like psychiatry for example places more emphasis on things like not having a gap year. Are we screening for mental illness? Or do we just get more applicants with gap years because we're less selective? Obviously we have more IMGs based on all the consideration of language factors. I wonder if the MSPE will increase in importance now that it is being released earlier.

One little update on my program. Apparently we now will have free food outside of call again. It seems a little too good to be true, but I'm not complaining. I got free food as a medical student, though, so I'm spoiled. Our meal tickets do count toward our farmer's market, which is pretty cool. I had a spinach tamale and ice cream all for free today.
 
Doctor Bagel said:
Our meal tickets do count toward our farmer's market, which is pretty cool. I had a spinach tamale and ice cream all for free today.
Click to expand...

You make a compelling case, Dr. Bagel. I wish is wasn't so expensive to fly over to the other side.
 
maldabrroc777 said:
Everyone needs cupcakes, all the time, always. :D
Click to expand...

I agree, completely.


Also, a question to those of you who have gotten interviews (or to interview/admissions committee members):

-- Do applicants typically get evaluated before all letters of recommendation are submitted?
So far 2 of my 5 letter-writers have not submitted their LORs, and as a result my LOR quota is not met at all the programs I applied to (I have designated the letters, they just aren't "uploaded to the post office" because they haven't been submitted by the attendings)

Thanks dudes <3
 
lainapox said:
I agree, completely.


Also, a question to those of you who have gotten interviews (or to interview/admissions committee members):

-- Do applicants typically get evaluated before all letters of recommendation are submitted?
So far 2 of my 5 letter-writers have not submitted their LORs, and as a result my LOR quota is not met at all the programs I applied to (I have designated the letters, they just aren't "uploaded to the post office" because they haven't been submitted by the attendings)

Thanks dudes <3
Click to expand...

Depends on the program, but yes many programs will issue interview invitations before your entire package (ie, LORs, deans letter, USMLE) is complete. In our experience all components of the application are generally consistent with each other. Sometimes you do get surprises (eg, once we gave an interview to someone whose application seemed pretty golden. Then his lettes ccame in, and they were surprisingly... bad. And he turned out to be a total DB.) Other times the initial material just isn't that compelling, so we sit on the application untio we get more information (either positive or negative).
 
Doctor Bagel said:
Admittedly I only skimmed the parts about other specialties, but it seems like psychiatry for example places more emphasis on things like not having a gap year. Are we screening for mental illness? Or do we just get more applicants with gap years because we're less selective?
Click to expand...

I think a gap year with no explanation is a red flag. On the other hand, a gap year can be a big asset depending on what you do with it.
 
Members don't see this ad :)
So... it's now been about 3 weeks since ERAS opened. I applied to 20 programs, but I've only gotten 1 interview invitation so far. Unfortunately, I'm not a very competitive candidate. Grades and Step scores have not been impressive to say the least (though did much better on Step 2 than Step 1).

I was wondering, mid-freakout, should I send in more applications at this point? Or just keep waiting and be patient?
 
I think it's hard to say at this point because the timeline is a bit different from last year. might as well apply to a few programs while it's still early, but who knows when they'll get to your application. I've gotten a few IVs but it seems like slots have filled up at several places because only 2 or so dates are available. perhaps in a week or two, as people cancel, a second wave of IVs will be handed out?
 
Quantico said:
So... it's now been about 3 weeks since ERAS opened. I applied to 20 programs, but I've only gotten 1 interview invitation so far. Unfortunately, I'm not a very competitive candidate. Grades and Step scores have not been impressive to say the least (though did much better on Step 2 than Step 1).

I was wondering, mid-freakout, should I send in more applications at this point? Or just keep waiting and be patient?
Click to expand...

I'm too lazy to look at your past posts 'cause the consult service I'm on is pretty busy right now (but mostly it is just laziness), so...

Where did you apply particularly? Any major red flags, or just a sort of generally less competitive app? Which med school are you at?

Edit: I see this is your first post. /facepalm at myself
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Quantico said:
So... it's now been about 3 weeks since ERAS opened. I applied to 20 programs, but I've only gotten 1 interview invitation so far. Unfortunately, I'm not a very competitive candidate. Grades and Step scores have not been impressive to say the least (though did much better on Step 2 than Step 1).

I was wondering, mid-freakout, should I send in more applications at this point? Or just keep waiting and be patient?
Click to expand...

What's the downside to applying to more programs? It's just an application fee, right? That money probably pales in comparison to what you spent for med school. I think you're better off spending the money now than to risk regretting it for the rest of your life.
 
I go to med school in the south (I guess you could call it mid-tier?), and almost all my applications are in New England: pretty much every school in Connecticut and Massachusetts, with the rest being in New York (schools like Albert Einstein, Mount Sinai rather than say, Columbia, Cornell). No red flags in my application luckily (no failing grades, no education gaps, etc.).

Thanks for the replies already. I'll prob send in a few more apps this weekend.

And make that 2 interview invites so far. (Woo hoo!)
 
I'll say this much: we've been flooded--well over 700 apps.
Sifting through these, wanting to give everyone a fair shot, trying to decide when to extend the benefit of doubt...it's pretty exhausting. (Yes it's 6 pm on Friday, and that IS what I'm at the office doing...)
I wouldn't be surprised that many programs are a bit slower at extending interviews than you all would wish.
 
Would my application not be reviewed by some places until it is complete? I am missing my third LOR and am wondering if that is holding me back or if my application has been reviewed and just set aside
 
BS81 said:
Would my application not be reviewed by some places until it is complete? I am missing my third LOR and am wondering if that is holding me back or if my application has been reviewed and just set aside
Click to expand...

yes you need a complete application before many places will even look at your application
 
BS81 said:
Would my application not be reviewed by some places until it is complete? I am missing my third LOR and am wondering if that is holding me back or if my application has been reviewed and just set aside
Click to expand...

Depends on the program. At many, if not most, programs the PD does the initial screening and issues interview invitations on the basis of the initial screening alone, and at many programs the initial interview invitation can be issued on the basis of the CV alone (which was my own experience). Full review of your application typically does not occur until after your interview.

Sent from my MB612 using Tapatalk
 
I am actually stressed out because I have not gotten any interviews since my application became complete this week. My 4th LOR (2nd Psych LOR), CK score was uploaded, and MSPE came out and no interviews this week. I can't help but wonder if dropping one point on CK has something to do with this. This is the most stressful thing ever.
 
Psychlover2013 said:
I am actually stressed out because I have not gotten any interviews since my application became complete this week. My 4th LOR (2nd Psych LOR), CK score was uploaded, and MSPE came out and no interviews this week. I can't help but wonder if dropping one point on CK has something to do with this. This is the most stressful thing ever.
Click to expand...

Woah, the first thing is that dropping 1 point on USMLE shows consistency.
 
Psychlover2013 said:
I am actually stressed out because I have not gotten any interviews since my application became complete this week. My 4th LOR (2nd Psych LOR), CK score was uploaded, and MSPE came out and no interviews this week. I can't help but wonder if dropping one point on CK has something to do with this. This is the most stressful thing ever.
Click to expand...

Have the places you applied to have been offering interviews yet?
 
Psychlover2013 said:
I am actually stressed out because I have not gotten any interviews since my application became complete this week. My 4th LOR (2nd Psych LOR), CK score was uploaded, and MSPE came out and no interviews this week. I can't help but wonder if dropping one point on CK has something to do with this. This is the most stressful thing ever.
Click to expand...
Oh man, I feel you on this one. I'm stressed out because I don't have any interviews as well. Although I have yet to take the CK, and I don't have step scores, only comlex scores that are just below average. All of the psych residents I meet say "well the important thing is that you passed your boards on the first try and you genuinely want to go into psych." I'm still hoping this to be true so that I don't have to have a cerebral hemorrhage here soon from anxiety. I was paranoid and just had someone read over my application one more time in case I made a typo and said 'I like to have sex with marsupials' or something horrendous. Which by the way, I don't like to, and I didn't have in my application.
 
I'm not sure if this question belongs here but...

I'm a DO applying both MD and DO. This question is about Nassau in New York. I applied to it on the DO side already. When you look at it from the MD program search, you can apply just "categorical" or an MD/DO combined thing.

For the purposes of my ROL, if I end up only ranking MD programs (which I hope to get enough interviews to do), should I apply to it as categorical only? Or apply to the combined MD/DO option under the MD program list?

Does that make sense?

Thanks!
 
st2205 said:
Woah, the first thing is that dropping 1 point on USMLE shows consistency.
Click to expand...

Maybe the programs are looking for improvement considering you have one more year to build upon what you have learned for Step I. Who knows I am just nervous.

kassy said:
Have the places you applied to have been offering interviews yet?
Click to expand...

Well I would say about 75% have started offering interviews based on the interview offer thread we have on SDN. I am an USIMG, I am wondering if we are offered interviews after USMGs and DOs. Like I mentioned before, my application just became complete around Oct 1st when my 2nd Psych LOR (4 total), and CK score became available on ERAS.

lethe5 said:
Oh man, I feel you on this one. I'm stressed out because I don't have any interviews as well. Although I have yet to take the CK, and I don't have step scores, only comlex scores that are just below average. All of the psych residents I meet say "well the important thing is that you passed your boards on the first try and you genuinely want to go into psych." I'm still hoping this to be true so that I don't have to have a cerebral hemorrhage here soon from anxiety. I was paranoid and just had someone read over my application one more time in case I made a typo and said 'I like to have sex with marsupials' or something horrendous. Which by the way, I don't like to, and I didn't have in my application.
Click to expand...

I thought most DOs don't even have to worry about the USMLEs. I think it is too early for some regions. I don't know how many programs you have applied to but I have applied to >70 and in 30 different states. Most DOs I know haven't applied this broadly. From my research, as a DO, I think you are in a better position than me (USIMG). Good luck with the whole process!
 
My med school does MMIs. It may seem a bit intimidating, but I think it does do a good job of weeding out the people who try to rehearse answers but can't actually think on their feet.
 
So I've applied MD and still haven't heard anything. Is it too late to apply to DO psych residencies?
 
lethe5 said:
So I've applied MD and still haven't heard anything. Is it too late to apply to DO psych residencies?
Click to expand...

No, it is not too late, but you are cutting it close.
Actually, a couple DO places just started giving out interviews last week,
but some of them have already started interviews.

UMDNJ-Stratford only has two interview dates. One in Oct and one in Nov.

Of all the application deadlines I can think of, Nov 1st seems to be the earliest one, so as long as you get them out by then, you should have a decent chance. Also, go to the ADTS and make sure programs are dling your app. A couple of programs couldnt see my app on their side, so I had to call eras to get that fixed.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Next unread thread

Similar threads

D
Is there a newer psych interview thread for 2022-2023
Replies
2
Views
1K
StilgarMD
StilgarMD
Sushirolls
The C/L Bashing Thread
Replies
29
Views
2K
docksan
docksan
Nasrudin
AI workflow design thread
Replies
34
Views
1K
Nasrudin
Nasrudin
Sushirolls
What if thread of the week...
Replies
13
Views
850
michaelrack
M
N
2021-22 Residency Interview Thread
Replies
13
Views
5K
kopftonmd
kopftonmd
Top