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After the previous thread I started - http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=899646 I think I owe it to you guys to start a thread that's a bit more positive and optimistic 🙂 So here goes....
Back in 2008 when I was approaching the end of first year, I started creating a road-map for my next four years. I know, I plan well in advance 😀 During that time, it hit me, who better to ask for advice than residency program directors!! They've seen thousands of applications and will decide my destiny a few years down the road. They were the ones who could give me the most practical advice on how to navigate this journey.
So I sat down and emailed a few pediatrics residency program directors across the US. I wanted to know what PDs look for in a candidate and what I could do to make myself more competitive. Some people didn't reply, others weren't too helpful, but I got one reply that was a cut above the rest. This PD (who shall remain anonymous) was incredibly sincere, helpful and inspiring. Without further adieu, I'm just going to copy and paste his reply.
"....I think the key thing is to be yourself. A few months of research aren't that helpful. One needs sustained research that produces results (papers, esp 1st author papers). But if you love research and you want a research oriented career, in either clinical or lab research, which is the kind of houseofficer we look for, then you have to do research. You can't show up in intern interviews saying you want to be a researcher and not have done research, just as you can't show up saying you want an advocacy career and a career caring for the underserved and not have spent a LOT of time doing just that.
People have to be authentic. Plus, it's hard to do anything successfully unless you love what you're doing it. We intern selection folks are very good at identifying applicants who spend their time "decorating their CVs". I am much more interested in the applicant who wants to help the misfortunate and has spent 4 years working in a free clinic, rising to clinic coordinator, than I am in the applicant who did 25 different things for 1 or 2 months each or spent a few months doing research but doesn't seek a research career. The ability to do a few things really well is more important than dabbling in everything.
Similarly, it's important to have a focus, to have some idea what you want to do after residency and not try to be coy and pretend to like everything just so you don't risk offending an interviewer. Many guidance counsellors advise the latter course, but I can guarantee you my colleagues view those who have little sense for what they want to do as having little chance of becoming successful at anything.
So to summarize, my advice if you want to come here is:
1. Do very well academically. Be one of the best students in your class, esp in the clinical rotations, and do very well on the USMLE and MBBS exams.
2. Show that you are a well rounded person with a life outside medicine and have the persistence and ability to become very good at something: music, art, athletics, creative writing, debate, politics, business, teaching, etc.
3. If you want to be a researcher prove that you have the interest and ability to do so. Ditto, if you want to be an advocate or have a career in public policy, etc.
4. Rise to leadership positions in you class or in the activities you pursue. Leadership is critical to long term success.
5. Get letters from people who know you well and are in a position to compare you to others (program directors, clinical clerkship directors). And coming from the UK, try to get letter writers who know how to write an American-style letter (i.e., it is not helpful to have someone just say you are amiable and reliable).
Beyond, these things, which are under your control, we put a high value on personality (enthusiasm, altruism, sense of humor, compassion), on creativity, and on ability to communicate by writing and speaking.
Finally, since you come from the UK, it is quite important to do 1 or 2 elective rotations in programs where you would like to be AND have a reasonable chance of matching. If you are one of the best students in your class and have the qualities outlined above come to our hospital or one of the other top programs (check to be sure they accept international medical graduates). This is especially true because you come from a university that we in America are less familiar with and not one of the high profile places like Oxford. Your experience will help you decide whether you really want to be a houseofficer in the US and will allow you to audition for the program(s) you are interested in. It will cost you something to do this, but it will GREATLY increase you chances of getting a residency position here.
Hope that's helpful"
Print this out, frame it, and look at it everyday......strive to achieve that level of excellence. Keep in mind that this is the PD of an excellent program and there are tons of programs with far less expectations. But hey...aim for the stars, that way even if you fall a bit short, you'll still be amongst the clouds! 🙂
Back in 2008 when I was approaching the end of first year, I started creating a road-map for my next four years. I know, I plan well in advance 😀 During that time, it hit me, who better to ask for advice than residency program directors!! They've seen thousands of applications and will decide my destiny a few years down the road. They were the ones who could give me the most practical advice on how to navigate this journey.
So I sat down and emailed a few pediatrics residency program directors across the US. I wanted to know what PDs look for in a candidate and what I could do to make myself more competitive. Some people didn't reply, others weren't too helpful, but I got one reply that was a cut above the rest. This PD (who shall remain anonymous) was incredibly sincere, helpful and inspiring. Without further adieu, I'm just going to copy and paste his reply.
"....I think the key thing is to be yourself. A few months of research aren't that helpful. One needs sustained research that produces results (papers, esp 1st author papers). But if you love research and you want a research oriented career, in either clinical or lab research, which is the kind of houseofficer we look for, then you have to do research. You can't show up in intern interviews saying you want to be a researcher and not have done research, just as you can't show up saying you want an advocacy career and a career caring for the underserved and not have spent a LOT of time doing just that.
People have to be authentic. Plus, it's hard to do anything successfully unless you love what you're doing it. We intern selection folks are very good at identifying applicants who spend their time "decorating their CVs". I am much more interested in the applicant who wants to help the misfortunate and has spent 4 years working in a free clinic, rising to clinic coordinator, than I am in the applicant who did 25 different things for 1 or 2 months each or spent a few months doing research but doesn't seek a research career. The ability to do a few things really well is more important than dabbling in everything.
Similarly, it's important to have a focus, to have some idea what you want to do after residency and not try to be coy and pretend to like everything just so you don't risk offending an interviewer. Many guidance counsellors advise the latter course, but I can guarantee you my colleagues view those who have little sense for what they want to do as having little chance of becoming successful at anything.
So to summarize, my advice if you want to come here is:
1. Do very well academically. Be one of the best students in your class, esp in the clinical rotations, and do very well on the USMLE and MBBS exams.
2. Show that you are a well rounded person with a life outside medicine and have the persistence and ability to become very good at something: music, art, athletics, creative writing, debate, politics, business, teaching, etc.
3. If you want to be a researcher prove that you have the interest and ability to do so. Ditto, if you want to be an advocate or have a career in public policy, etc.
4. Rise to leadership positions in you class or in the activities you pursue. Leadership is critical to long term success.
5. Get letters from people who know you well and are in a position to compare you to others (program directors, clinical clerkship directors). And coming from the UK, try to get letter writers who know how to write an American-style letter (i.e., it is not helpful to have someone just say you are amiable and reliable).
Beyond, these things, which are under your control, we put a high value on personality (enthusiasm, altruism, sense of humor, compassion), on creativity, and on ability to communicate by writing and speaking.
Finally, since you come from the UK, it is quite important to do 1 or 2 elective rotations in programs where you would like to be AND have a reasonable chance of matching. If you are one of the best students in your class and have the qualities outlined above come to our hospital or one of the other top programs (check to be sure they accept international medical graduates). This is especially true because you come from a university that we in America are less familiar with and not one of the high profile places like Oxford. Your experience will help you decide whether you really want to be a houseofficer in the US and will allow you to audition for the program(s) you are interested in. It will cost you something to do this, but it will GREATLY increase you chances of getting a residency position here.
Hope that's helpful"
Print this out, frame it, and look at it everyday......strive to achieve that level of excellence. Keep in mind that this is the PD of an excellent program and there are tons of programs with far less expectations. But hey...aim for the stars, that way even if you fall a bit short, you'll still be amongst the clouds! 🙂
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