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I've seen a lot of people posting an iteration of this and I would be making the same points in replying to these posts so instead I thought I'd give generic advice in a new thread. This is not for those who realized they didn't like X field and are reapplying to Y or those who didn't match the first time although it may be beneficial to those with overlapping issues with their first program.
Start from the beginning. You've left your first residency due at least in part to your own shortcomings. (I understand there are some residents who instead are terminated or choose to appeal and that's out of the scope of what I'm posting here). The first thing is to decide (quickly) what your plan A and B are. If you have only envisioned yourself practicing medicine similar to what you were training to do, then you need to start emailing program directors for openings or simultaneously preparing an ERAS. If you want to get creative, there may be pathways to explore practicing medicine without completing all of residency. Fast forward a bit and you decide you want to still want to pursue residency and it's been a while and ERAS is approaching and while a couple people have returned your emails, you've had no solid leads...you're probably looking at ERAS.
The first piece of advice to request letters from program leadership and associate program directors. It makes it much easier if you have this done. Regardless of whether the letter will be shining, having the PD letter is a requirement. After that, having additional APD letters is a delicate balance. None of them will throw the program under the bus to vindicate you so they're going to refer to issues they felt were an issue and they aren't going to be 100% transparent about everything they write to you since what they write is anonymous. These letters help moreso than letters from non-academic faculty or specialists less involved with the program but at the same time one bad one can tank you.
In terms of the applying itself, definitely don't be picky and apply to any place you could see yourself at and multiple fields. With Zoom interviews, apply first and try to juggle it later. You don't want to be kicking yourself pre-match week wishing you'd applied to a back up field, etc.
In terms of PS/Interviews:
1. Take accountability and give specific examples of what you did wrong in residency. The acknowledgement of accountability means you have at the very least begun to see the problem which is the first step in fixing it. The specifity/examples you provide demonstrate(s) that you do truly care about fixing the issue and this has gone through your head a lot.
2. Don't get carried away with your honesty. Find a way to spin things in the most positive light while still being honest. The PDs will read between the lines but try not to give them any ammunition. They are good at doing that and honestly you're just doing the best you can do and maybe some come ROL deadline will appreciate that. Focus on what you did succeed at and what you did overcome. Don't mention that you will need any further assistance at your next program. Focus on how you will be able to be exceptional from day 1.
3. With interviews, the usual intro is "tell me about yourself". This isn't like your first go-around where you can talk about your niche hobbies and bond over how formal this process is when it's really not. You can (and should) pretend that's the case though when you're in the public group events (i.e. meet and greet). Come interview time, you're unfortunately an exception and are on a mission. Summarize everything you said last time you did residency interviews into one sentence and quickly transition to the your first residency, what went wrong, and the points you want to make about points #1 and #2. and spend 90% of your time on that.
4. With follow up questions, many places will appreciate your forthrightedness and acknowledge your letters show consistency with what you've told them, commend you on your resilience, and ask for more details on what you plan to do differently. Definitely have answers prepared for that. Some other places will try to probe further and try to poke holes in your stance and while that's demoralizing, recognize that the interviewer's job is to try to make a case for you to faculty. Also, some people have egos and in these instances, they have the power, you don't and ultimately you signed up for this. Just smile and stay consistent with your points.
----
Applying to other fields:
If you have time, now is the time to find the uncle of your church group friend who works in XYZ field and shamelessly ask if you can work with them for some time and then proceed to shamelessly ask them for a letter. Shamelessly ask your school for opportunities but recognize they have moved on, the same people you knew probably aren't there anymore (or they are but simply forgot about you no matter how much you though they wouldn't forget you). If you can, at least have one letter from that field get you a foot in the door and tells PDs you are actually trying.
The biggest concern PDs will have is that you're not really interested in their field and are trying to find and weed out those who are dual applying. In your personal statement, you need to do your best to give them your most passionate appeal to train you. Keep in mind you're probably not going to have something great for PDs to read especially if this is thrown together with limited time to gain experience in the said field. Try to write about what limited impressions you did have. If you're a good writer, try to string together a decent story but if not, get others on board to help with edits (not the ones who correct grammar, but the ones who cross out a whole paragraph and say it's **** and tell you why). I have read a lot of Carribbean/IMG PS for various fields and I swear it's like they all read the same flyer for Family Medicine/Internal Medicine and are summarizing the same paper. Just try to have your own experiences in the field so you're not speaking in vague generalities. At the end of the day, there's no real great answer you can give them because face it, if you were so interested in their field, you would have chosen it first. Your job here is to convince them about why you want what they are offering now and how you will tackle the challenges of their program with unbridled enthusiasm and how what you have learnt thus far has prepared you to do this. That's as real as you can keep it.
Interviews: Like I said before, some will start out with "tell me about yourself"...others will actually blurt out "why XYZ" knowing full well this wasn't your first choice so be prepared to start strong or else it's really hard to recover from botching that. Like before, spend little time with your fun facts and more about your transition. Some will press you and bring up some point like "isn't IM/FM a back up for XYZ, it's OK to be honest". The correct move is to not be honest and lie to their face with zeal! and tell them you'd actually like nothing more now than to train with them and how you leaving the previous program was a blessing in disguise (don't be that corny, no one believes that). One advantage you have here that you don't have if applying to the same field is that you actually can paint a very legitimate case about how things will be different here. Highlight your past experiences, the skills you've developed, and direct that into support for why you will be amazing at this field. Reference your previous strengths and weaknesses in your old field amd state how this field is a good fit for you.
Thanks for reading. I have heard of tons of reapplicants to ERAS from a prior residency that didn't work out who are now successful in the same or different fiedl. Several on SDN and even more in person. I hope this helps anyone in this position.
Start from the beginning. You've left your first residency due at least in part to your own shortcomings. (I understand there are some residents who instead are terminated or choose to appeal and that's out of the scope of what I'm posting here). The first thing is to decide (quickly) what your plan A and B are. If you have only envisioned yourself practicing medicine similar to what you were training to do, then you need to start emailing program directors for openings or simultaneously preparing an ERAS. If you want to get creative, there may be pathways to explore practicing medicine without completing all of residency. Fast forward a bit and you decide you want to still want to pursue residency and it's been a while and ERAS is approaching and while a couple people have returned your emails, you've had no solid leads...you're probably looking at ERAS.
The first piece of advice to request letters from program leadership and associate program directors. It makes it much easier if you have this done. Regardless of whether the letter will be shining, having the PD letter is a requirement. After that, having additional APD letters is a delicate balance. None of them will throw the program under the bus to vindicate you so they're going to refer to issues they felt were an issue and they aren't going to be 100% transparent about everything they write to you since what they write is anonymous. These letters help moreso than letters from non-academic faculty or specialists less involved with the program but at the same time one bad one can tank you.
In terms of the applying itself, definitely don't be picky and apply to any place you could see yourself at and multiple fields. With Zoom interviews, apply first and try to juggle it later. You don't want to be kicking yourself pre-match week wishing you'd applied to a back up field, etc.
In terms of PS/Interviews:
1. Take accountability and give specific examples of what you did wrong in residency. The acknowledgement of accountability means you have at the very least begun to see the problem which is the first step in fixing it. The specifity/examples you provide demonstrate(s) that you do truly care about fixing the issue and this has gone through your head a lot.
2. Don't get carried away with your honesty. Find a way to spin things in the most positive light while still being honest. The PDs will read between the lines but try not to give them any ammunition. They are good at doing that and honestly you're just doing the best you can do and maybe some come ROL deadline will appreciate that. Focus on what you did succeed at and what you did overcome. Don't mention that you will need any further assistance at your next program. Focus on how you will be able to be exceptional from day 1.
3. With interviews, the usual intro is "tell me about yourself". This isn't like your first go-around where you can talk about your niche hobbies and bond over how formal this process is when it's really not. You can (and should) pretend that's the case though when you're in the public group events (i.e. meet and greet). Come interview time, you're unfortunately an exception and are on a mission. Summarize everything you said last time you did residency interviews into one sentence and quickly transition to the your first residency, what went wrong, and the points you want to make about points #1 and #2. and spend 90% of your time on that.
4. With follow up questions, many places will appreciate your forthrightedness and acknowledge your letters show consistency with what you've told them, commend you on your resilience, and ask for more details on what you plan to do differently. Definitely have answers prepared for that. Some other places will try to probe further and try to poke holes in your stance and while that's demoralizing, recognize that the interviewer's job is to try to make a case for you to faculty. Also, some people have egos and in these instances, they have the power, you don't and ultimately you signed up for this. Just smile and stay consistent with your points.
----
Applying to other fields:
If you have time, now is the time to find the uncle of your church group friend who works in XYZ field and shamelessly ask if you can work with them for some time and then proceed to shamelessly ask them for a letter. Shamelessly ask your school for opportunities but recognize they have moved on, the same people you knew probably aren't there anymore (or they are but simply forgot about you no matter how much you though they wouldn't forget you). If you can, at least have one letter from that field get you a foot in the door and tells PDs you are actually trying.
The biggest concern PDs will have is that you're not really interested in their field and are trying to find and weed out those who are dual applying. In your personal statement, you need to do your best to give them your most passionate appeal to train you. Keep in mind you're probably not going to have something great for PDs to read especially if this is thrown together with limited time to gain experience in the said field. Try to write about what limited impressions you did have. If you're a good writer, try to string together a decent story but if not, get others on board to help with edits (not the ones who correct grammar, but the ones who cross out a whole paragraph and say it's **** and tell you why). I have read a lot of Carribbean/IMG PS for various fields and I swear it's like they all read the same flyer for Family Medicine/Internal Medicine and are summarizing the same paper. Just try to have your own experiences in the field so you're not speaking in vague generalities. At the end of the day, there's no real great answer you can give them because face it, if you were so interested in their field, you would have chosen it first. Your job here is to convince them about why you want what they are offering now and how you will tackle the challenges of their program with unbridled enthusiasm and how what you have learnt thus far has prepared you to do this. That's as real as you can keep it.
Interviews: Like I said before, some will start out with "tell me about yourself"...others will actually blurt out "why XYZ" knowing full well this wasn't your first choice so be prepared to start strong or else it's really hard to recover from botching that. Like before, spend little time with your fun facts and more about your transition. Some will press you and bring up some point like "isn't IM/FM a back up for XYZ, it's OK to be honest". The correct move is to not be honest and lie to their face with zeal! and tell them you'd actually like nothing more now than to train with them and how you leaving the previous program was a blessing in disguise (don't be that corny, no one believes that). One advantage you have here that you don't have if applying to the same field is that you actually can paint a very legitimate case about how things will be different here. Highlight your past experiences, the skills you've developed, and direct that into support for why you will be amazing at this field. Reference your previous strengths and weaknesses in your old field amd state how this field is a good fit for you.
Thanks for reading. I have heard of tons of reapplicants to ERAS from a prior residency that didn't work out who are now successful in the same or different fiedl. Several on SDN and even more in person. I hope this helps anyone in this position.
