Applying for a IM residency ...

[shjaffri]

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I have some general questions about applying for residency via ERAS and alternative channels.

Background:
IMG student, 3 years since graduation, step 1 score 91, step 2 97 CS CK all passed at first attempt, 6 months research experience, and 1 year of observership / clinical experience all at top hospitals.

Questions:

1) How reliable are the sites that provides help / professional services for applying and getting successful matching for residency. E.g. sites like http://www.imgresidency.com/ http://www.residencyplace.com/ , is sites like these really worth of getting you more interviews like 10-15 to maximize your chances ?

2) If ERAS limit you to apply max of 30 programs, what alternative channels you can choose to apply for more that 30 programs? I heard average resident applies to 63 programs to get good chances for a match.

3) Should I contact programs participating in ERAS for requirements / deadlines directly before I apply? Is there any way I can research about specific program that needed person with certain experience or skills, and or find any program which has relaxed requirements

4) Unlike NY / NJ states what locations I can apply where I can expect least requirements and competitions.

5) If I am offered a pre match, should I accept it if it sounds right?

6) Should I concentrate on my interview skills, and practice it.

7) Please provide general recommendations for increasing the chances?

 

[Winged Scapula]

I have some general questions about applying for residency via ERAS and alternative channels.

Background:
IMG student, 3 years since graduation, step 1 score 91, step 2 97 CS CK all passed at first attempt, 6 months research experience, and 1 year of observership / clinical experience all at top hospitals.

This is your wife right? Just wondering why she doesn't post here herself and ask the questions.

Questions:

1) How reliable are the sites that provides help / professional services for applying and getting successful matching for residency. E.g. sites like http://www.imgresidency.com/ http://www.residencyplace.com/ , is sites like these really worth of getting you more interviews like 10-15 to maximize your chances ?

They cannot get you any more interviews than you can get yourself. There is no secret formula and for someone applying within the match, they are no help. They serve a purpose for the person looking for a position outside of the match, who doesn't have access to a FAX machine and doesn't want to do the work themselves. These companies do not guarantee that programs receive your application, only that they send it (ie, busy FAXes, bounce back emails).

2) If ERAS limit you to apply max of 30 programs, what alternative channels you can choose to apply for more that 30 programs? I heard average resident applies to 63 programs to get good chances for a match.

ERAS does not limit you to 30 programs in the match. You can apply to as many as you like.

The 30 program limit is for the scramble. If you fail to match, ERAS will upload your application to an additional 30 programs for free.

3) Should I contact programs participating in ERAS for requirements / deadlines directly before I apply? Is there any way I can research about specific program that needed person with certain experience or skills, and or find any program which has relaxed requirements

Specific deadlines can be found at FREIDA on each program's page. But you shouldn't worry about deadlines because your applications should be submitted as early as possible, in September which will be well in advance of any time deadlines.

As for other requirements, some programs will list things like "we do not sponsor visas" or "we discourage applications from candidates with USMLE scores less than X from applying", but otherwise you would have to find that information individually. I think you should be prepared to face a brick wall when calling programs during application season. Program coordinators are probably in a better mood now, but it is common to not get the answers you are looking for. Outside of specific program requirements (like visa issues) program coordinators are not in a position to tell you with any accuracy whether or not your wife's research experience at Hopkins or other skills will be viewed favorably during application season.

4) Unlike NY / NJ states what locations I can apply where I can expect least requirements and competitions.

Any geographically undesirable place. Think deep south, rural programs, isolated states (North Dakota). However, these are not across the board less competitive, it depends on the program. Rochester Minn is not a great city, the weather stinks, but the Mayo is there so its competitive.

5) If I am offered a pre match, should I accept it if it sounds right?

If you like.

6) Should I concentrate on my interview skills, and practice it.

Getting the interview is the first step. If you are not a skilled conversationalist, then practice might not be a bad idea, but more important is interpersonal skills (which are hard to learn) than what you actually say (outside of saying some inappropriate things).

 

[shjaffri]

Thanks Winged Scapula for quick response. Yes I am helping my Fiancee for getting IM residency next year. She is new to internet so I try to help her out, she is also working on clinical work so I normally help her most of the time so I ask questions on her behalf 🙂

"
They serve a purpose for the person looking for a position outside of the match "

How we can look for postions outside of match, can you please guide me how I can ? right now we are just relying on ERAS. Is any other process out there that than can help us getting more intereviews and pre match options. Please advise