Now with interviews granted, do you think it would be wiser to study as hard as possible for boards and interviews this month or visit programs (which for me would be a lot of money and time in travel) which have offered me interviews that I have not yet visited. Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks!
best use of december
- Thread starter ftdr
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How many clerkships did you do and how many additional programs have you visited? Do you have any idea on where you stand at the programs where you did an externship? Are you actually going to interview with these programs you haven't been to? Do you know if you'd even want to end up a resident at any of those programs without visiting? How competitive are they (traditionally)? How many people are they interviewing? Do you feel comfortable working up an open vs closed ankle fx, a diabetic wound/infection, flatfoot (could probably stop after these 3), a bunion, and maybe a cavus foot type?
I'd need more info before I can tell you what I would do.
I'd need more info before I can tell you what I would do.
Both. If you waited until now to start preparing for interviews you are probably behind the ball. I'd bust my butt from now to interviews to learn as much as humanly possible and visit places if you can. IF you are on a clerkship, and will be interviewing, be likable and work as hard as you can. If you have exhausted all your school curriculum and the manuals are memorized, read current and historic literature daily.
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I'd say go all out boards prep in December.
If you can pass boards you'll do fine at interviews unless you have an abrasive or odd personality and say something stupid.
Fail boards and it's game over for you regardless of anything else you've done thus far.
If you can pass boards you'll do fine at interviews unless you have an abrasive or odd personality and say something stupid.
Fail boards and it's game over for you regardless of anything else you've done thus far.
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I agree with podvamp. Go all out for boards. If you don't pass boards, you don't get a residency, end of story. The month of December I studied nonstop! Be OVERPREPARED for boards. In doing so, you will feel so confident for interviews, in my opinion. When boards are finished, take the time prior to interviews to brush up on radiology reads and case studies, as many interviews are presented in this manner from my experience.
As far as visiting programs at this point, it is my opinion that this is a waste of time. Others may disagree. I can't speak for every program, obviously, but for our residency- visitors are typically not ranked very high. This is simply because we just don't have enough time to get to know you. Your stats may be great, but will you fit in? Consider it from our point of view as residents, we will be working with you on a day-to-day basis and we want someone on the team who is not only competent, but who fits our needs on a personal/social level. It would be unfair to judge someone as a whole from a one day visit.
If time allows, however, I think it would be a good idea to re-visit your top programs in the month of Dec. This gives the program a better feeling for how seriously you are considering them. At the same time, most programs are very understanding that the pressure on students this month is unreal, and a visit is not expected.
We've all been there. It's a hell month for sure. But take it one step at a time to attain the outcome that you want. Step 1: boards---- completed. Step 2: brush up for interviews--- Step 3: RELAX, YOU'RE DONE!
As far as visiting programs at this point, it is my opinion that this is a waste of time. Others may disagree. I can't speak for every program, obviously, but for our residency- visitors are typically not ranked very high. This is simply because we just don't have enough time to get to know you. Your stats may be great, but will you fit in? Consider it from our point of view as residents, we will be working with you on a day-to-day basis and we want someone on the team who is not only competent, but who fits our needs on a personal/social level. It would be unfair to judge someone as a whole from a one day visit.
If time allows, however, I think it would be a good idea to re-visit your top programs in the month of Dec. This gives the program a better feeling for how seriously you are considering them. At the same time, most programs are very understanding that the pressure on students this month is unreal, and a visit is not expected.
We've all been there. It's a hell month for sure. But take it one step at a time to attain the outcome that you want. Step 1: boards---- completed. Step 2: brush up for interviews--- Step 3: RELAX, YOU'RE DONE!
