Applying to Pediatrics

[Perrotfish]

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I'm currently trying to put together an application packet for Peds, I thought I'd come ask some questions about how to best market myself. Thank you in advance to anyone who takes the time to answer.

-My Curriculum Vitae-

1) I was president of the AAFP at my school, I never actually got involved with the AAP (they're not that great at supporting students). Is this worth mentioning on my app or am I asking for trouble? I'm don't want to make it sound like I'm married to the idea of primary care (I'm really not)

2) Is it worthwhile to put down work experience and lab experience from undergrad? I had some Chemical plant internships, and some volunteer research on nanoparticles that never got anywhere near a publication.

3) I have two research projects 'in progress', but I haven't submitted either to a journal. I have no published research until these things get finished. Is it worth mentioning my involvement if don't get it published before my ERAS comes due?

4) Should I mention that I volunteered teaching Sunday school?

-LORs-

1) How many is too many? Is two enough?

2) Are there any specialties outside of Peds that you like to see an LOR from?

-Personal Statement-

No specific questions here, but any advice in general? I feel like I'm trying to give a logical explanation for (or inspirational story about) why I like Peds when I don't really have one. The truth is that this was the only rotation where I left the hospital happy rather than depressed, so I'm sticking with it. However I don't know how to stretch that out to a page. How did everyone here approach this?

 

[SurfingDoctor]

CV: Yes, mention all research you've participated in, even if it is on-going. And yes, mention all affliations you've had as a medical student. The bible school teaching doesn't matter in my opinion, but others may feel differently. Honestly, no one expects your CV to be all that impressive because you've spent the last four years in school studying (same goes for after residency), but anything that you did medically related beyond studying helps. Really, your CV matters more later in your career as a measure of productivity.

LOR: Super important. I can not stress this enough. As far as who to interview, this is really is all the program can go by to judge your character. If your CV and Step scores are super impressive, but you get LORs from the hospital janitor who said he saw you sleeping in the call room all the time, the program is going to nix you as an applicant. If you have medicore scores, but you have a letter from the department chair about how outstanding you are and how driven you are and how you really got to know everything about the patients you saw and how great you are, etc, then a program is probably going to give you a interview just to see if you really are that great. As far as number, the more the merrier (but I think there is a maximum and minimum). Whatever number you get, make sure they are awesome. Honestly, I don't think it is rude or impolite to ask a potential writer "If I ask you to write a LOR for my application, would it be a strong letter". If the answer is yes, then go for it. If it's no, then move on to someone else.

PS: Again, this may offer the program some insight into your character, but I think PS are fluff. Everyone writes the same thing. You can write about how excited you were about the patients (ie not depressed) and you enjoy the medicine and getting to know families. Honestly, it won't be hard to write a page. Just paste yourself in an excited, positive light, just not overbearingly so.

 

[twilightdoc]

-LORs-
1) How many is too many? Is two enough?
2) Are there any specialties outside of Peds that you like to see an LOR from?

Re: LORs- Most applicants submit 3, and some submit 4. The "4" usually happens when a specific program wants a letter that you might not otherwise use (such as a Chairman's letter, clerkship director letter, letter from a research mentor, etc.)- there is a lot of variability in this. In general, letters from faculty with whom you have worked and who can attest to your clinical skills, attitude, etc. are preferred over letters from people who might know you but haven't worked with you. If you are applying in Peds, at least one (and maybe two) strong letters need to be from Peds, but the third letter can be from other Departments. A good letter from an internal medicine or surgery attending with whom you worked would be well-received. Given that the letters are written by faculty, "a good letter is a good letter". There are all kinds of ways to put this together, and most of them tend to work out well. You may want to talk with your faculty advisor about these issues- helping med students navigate through this process is (or should be) part of their job.