Applying & Interviewing for Residency

[NewAndImproved]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I feel like a premed all over again asking this, but...

Does it matter when I submit an application to a residency program? For example, if a program accepts applications from Sept 1 through Nov 30, is there a better chance of getting an interview by submitting your application earlier? Thanks in advance.

 

[EMRocksmyworld]

I feel like a premed all over again asking this, but...

Does it matter when I submit an application to a residency program? For example, if a program accepts applications from Sept 1 through Nov 30, is there a better chance of getting an interview by submitting your application earlier? Thanks in advance.

There is definitely an advantage to applying earlier. Take the opportunity and apply as early as you can. A lot of programs in multiple specialties (although less so in the extremely competitive surgical ones) offer rolling-type interviews.

 

[ZagDoc]

There is definitely an advantage to applying earlier. Take the opportunity and apply as early as you can. A lot of programs in multiple specialties (although less so in the extremely competitive surgical ones) offer rolling-type interviews.

This is true - it is very specialty dependent and you'd be prudent to ask residents in your chosen field what the scoop is. Off the top of my head, FM and Peds tend to offer rolling interviews and a lot of my classmates started received interview invites 2 weeks after applications opened up. I applied in ENT and can say that not a single one of the programs looked at my application until after the Dean's letter was submitted (Nov 1st) and I didn't start received invites until mid-November (often after many of my classmates in other specialties were rolling in invitations). I was freaking out trying to get my 3rd LOR in during October and turns out it didn't really matter.

 

[BigRedBeta]

This is true - it is very specialty dependent and you'd be prudent to ask residents in your chosen field what the scoop is. Off the top of my head, FM and Peds tend to offer rolling interviews and a lot of my classmates started received interview invites 2 weeks after applications opened up. I applied in ENT and can say that not a single one of the programs looked at my application until after the Dean's letter was submitted (Nov 1st) and I didn't start received invites until mid-November (often after many of my classmates in other specialties were rolling in invitations). I was freaking out trying to get my 3rd LOR in during October and turns out it didn't really matter.

Early is good. Keep in mind that for fields like Peds, the largest programs are taking 30-50 interns a year, which includes top programs like CHOP and Texas Children's. They have interview a whole helluva lot more people each year to fill those spots, and as such need to start scheduling early and often. The ENT programs that only have 2-4 spots to fill each year can afford to wait until deans letters.