Activities for Residency

[anks106]

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So I know for applying to med school shadowing is important, research is too, spending time volunteering in the health system as well.. but what are the staples for residency? Also, what are the impressive EC's?

 

[mlw03]

step 1 score, step 1 score, step 1 score... repeat x 10. then, grades in that specialty's clerkship, grades in specialty's sub-I, step 2 score, letters of recommendation, externship at that program. oh yeah, not being a tool on interview day helps also. residency is about hiring an employee and colleage, while med school is about accepting a student. a pain in the arse student is nowhere near as annoying as a PITA resident.

 

[Winged Scapula]

I don't give a damn about your ECs unless they are:

1) something I am also interested in (ie, gives us something to talk about and it makes me think we will get along)

2) something I find interesting but haven't done (ie, we interviewed a former Miss State X, a former DA, etc.)

 

[GoodMonkey]

at some point in your life you need to stop doing things because you think they will look good on X,Y, and Z applications or because "everyone who applies to this that and the other thing does it" and start doing things you like simply because you like them and/or find them interesting.

 

[mlw03]

I don't give a damn about your ECs unless they are:

1) something I am also interested in (ie, gives us something to talk about and it makes me think we will get along)

2) something I find interesting but haven't done (ie, we interviewed a former Miss State X, a former DA, etc.)

i'll second that. i'm into wine and got to talk about it a bit during residency interviews. but i agree with the guy who said not to do something because you think it'll help your application.

 

[haveaniceday]

So I know for applying to med school shadowing is important, research is too, spending time volunteering in the health system as well.. but what are the staples for residency? Also, what are the impressive EC's?

Extracurriculars in med school should be done if you have a genuine interest in something, there aren't boxes to check as their seem to be for med school. (Even for med school apps, you should still just do what you are interested in doing. I never shadowed or volunteered. I lived my life as I wanted to, and what I ended up doing...med schools liked and here I am).

Same for residency. An EC won't get you a residency or lack of a certain EC won't keep you out of one. It is the total package and board scores, grades are of course huge as previously mentioned.

But, in the end you need to be a normal human being who can carry on a conversation with other adults and have proven you are competent to practice medicine. Don't waste time refining your ECs, spend time finding out who you are, what you want to go into, and where your passion lies. The "ECs" will follow suit.

 

[GoodMonkey]

i'll second that. i'm into wine and got to talk about it a bit during residency interviews. but i agree with the guy who said not to do something because you think it'll help your application.

two X chromosomes, here ..... 😉

 

[Blade28]

two X chromosomes, here ..... 😉

It's all right, no one's perfect.

😉

 

[mlw03]

two X chromosomes, here ..... 😉

my bad, ma'am. 😎 my default assumption is that posters are male - i have no idea why i do this, and i know it ain't true. in any case, my apologies.

 

[GoodMonkey]

It's all right, no one's perfect.

😉

well, i am an ortho resident, so it's like 1.5 X chromosomes? 😉

 

[Blade28]

my bad, ma'am. 😎 my default assumption is that posters are male - i have no idea why i do this, and i know it ain't true. in any case, my apologies.

Yikes! Be careful with calling female residents/fellows/attendings "ma'am" as well.

You'll soon find out why. 🙂

well, i am an ortho resident, so it's like 1.5 X chromosomes? 😉

Touche!

 

[PeepshowJohnny]

How is tutoring underclassmen/being a TA viewed?

 

[Winged Scapula]

How is tutoring underclassmen/being a TA viewed?

Far down on the list with other ECs.

If you are applying for surgery and you were an official anatomy TA, we might find it interesting, but it really adds little to your application, IMHO.

 

[yippyskippy]

The problem with medical school is that everybody will have volunteer activities - so you do need them (things like being a TA are good), but they are unlikely to stand out in any way for residency applications... unless they are super cool, as stated above.

If you do research before med school that leads to a publication, this can go on residency apps. Shadowing and clinical volunteering probably won't, unless there was something amazing about it...

The biggest things that can shape your residency applications as a premed would be doing all the stuff to get into a good medical school (some residency programs focus a lot on the school you come from, while others do not), doing research that will get published, learning to speak Spanish fluently... that's all I can think of off the top of my head.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Good ideas above and wanted to comment on them. In general, ECs don't matter for residency in the way they did for medical school admission. Like noted, everyone has some basic stuff. What is KEY is to remember that ECs will not make up for a less than good Step 1...so don't extend yourself to the detriment of your coursework in the misguided belief that you have to have ECs for residency.

But beyond academics and things like "good fit" or great personality, these are a few things that will make faculty member's perk up:

- Spanish speaking - FLUENTLY; in areas with a significant Hispanic population

- Published research, as first or second author

- Nifty stuff, like being a former Olympian or race car driver or supermodel

- When you know a friend or colleague of mine and there is an LOR in your file from them

Otherwise, I don't really care if you were a member of the Surgical Interest Society (even if you were president), Class President, volunteered in Rwanda (sorry, yawn...its getting old hat), ran the Susan Komen Race for the Cure every year or built Houses for Humanity.

 

[Fireboy]

In general, ECs don't matter for residency in the way they did for medical school admission.

Hey guys, not that I'm saying anyone is wrong regarding the fairly low place of ECs on the totem pole, but I was wondering how people actually know this is the case? From your own residency interviews? From PDs? From medical school class counselors??

Thanks a lot!!

 

[Winged Scapula]

Hey guys, not that I'm saying anyone is wrong regarding the fairly low place of ECs on the totem pole, but I was wondering how people actually know this is the case? From your own residency interviews? From PDs? From medical school class counselors??

Thanks a lot!!

Let's see...from the years of residency and fellowship interviews I've done.

From hearing it from colleagues.

Hearing it here on SDN from other attendings.