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MD & DO co'21 Residency Panic thread
Started by kraskadva
yeah those sounds fun. And are expected i guess. They want people that are curious.I actually appreciate that kind of question where they give you a case and ask how you approach it rather than “A fib with RVR how do you treat?!?! Quick they’re dying!”
Had a good conversation with an interviewer about how tricky it is managing bounce-backs complaining of back pain specifically.
But i got the same experience as @iamarosepetal. Just getting pimped on NYHA class types and potential treatments is weird.
Its not like it was hard questions. They were just weird.
In an interview I would think they would want to try to get to know me. Not confirm my board scores.
I had that on tuesday. Congrats! Its a great feeling!Guys I had that “moment” today; I think I just interviewed at the perfect program for me
The only con is you have a different expectation when you go on other interviews. At least for me it got a little harder to feign interest in some programs when you already found the right program haha.
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I interviewed at a program that I really liked! Got really good feedback from my interview and felt like I jived with the faculty. The only thing is... almost the entire class is IMG, Im a DO. Shame, because I really liked the PD. Definitely still ranking it though.
You're a big indian though. You'll probably be fine!I interviewed at a program that I really liked! Got really good feedback from my interview and felt like I jived with the faculty. The only thing is... almost the entire class is IMG, Im a DO. Shame, because I really liked the PD. Definitely still ranking it though.
I feel you dawg, I’m also stuck at 4....just waiting for them trickles...I have 4 interviews so far...match is going to get me ulcers
Trying to decide how much prestige should play into my rank list.....I don’t care about it as much for myself since that will fade pretty quickly, but it probably matters for jobs to some degree. Seems to be the case for rads in particular
From what I’ve been told, at least for PP it’s mostly going to be regional and the local university program grad will typically be favored over the OOS grad from a bigger name place.Trying to decide how much prestige should play into my rank list.....I don’t care about it as much for myself since that will fade pretty quickly, but it probably matters for jobs to some degree. Seems to be the case for rads in particular
really!!me?!
Full Member
We will get cancelled interviews hopefully...though I heard the ones that chose you first will rank you higher...I have no basis for this just rumors...I feel you dawg, I’m also stuck at 4....just waiting for them trickles...
I’m struggling. There are 4 programs that I feel absolutely great about. I honestly can’t decide how to rank the order.I had that on tuesday. Congrats! Its a great feeling!
The only con is you have a different expectation when you go on other interviews. At least for me it got a little harder to feign interest in some programs when you already found the right program haha.
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Have you used the scoring system? For the ones I am not confident in ranking, I think it is also helpful to reach out to mentor and seek their opinions after you finish interviewsI’m struggling. There are 4 programs that I feel absolutely great about. I honestly can’t decide how to rank the order.
Not necessarily true I think...If you interview well and fit well you may get ranked higher vs the one who got chose first but does not fit or interview horribly...We will get cancelled interviews hopefully...though I heard the ones that chose you first will rank you higher...I have no basis for this just rumors...
I have not. What is that? I was thinking about writing a pros and cons list.Have you used the scoring system? For the ones I am not confident in ranking, I think it is also helpful to reach out to mentor and seek their opinions after
I have not used it personally YET...and I am sure there are many versions of scoring systems...I know in the book the road to residency and beyond, the author suggested a pretty detailed scoring system...I have not. What is that? I was thinking about writing a pros and cons list.
The NRMP app has a way for you to rate different aspects about programs. I think it’s pretty helpful for a way to rationalize one place vs. anotherI have not used it personally YET...and I am sure there are many versions of scoring systems...I know in the book the road to residency and beyond, the author suggested a pretty detailed scoring system...
Honestly I plan to rank my early birds higher because they seem to show genuine interest in me.We will get cancelled interviews hopefully...though I heard the ones that chose you first will rank you higher...I have no basis for this just rumors...
Derm is doing the coordinated interview and most programs won't release til next week tho right...So your chance is still very high.Still have 0 derm interviews. Got 100% of my prelim and TY interviews tho.
Hopefully, this makes you all feel better about where you're at lol
This may or may not help people that are having trouble ranking programs. Give it a try anyway 🙂
It is a strange year for competitive specialties...good luck!!! I can't imagine waiting this long since 10/21 for invites...I probably will have to start myself on SSRI or something.About 20 programs have gone out though and I've gotten two rejections on top of that. So not off to a great start
really!!me?!
Full Member
You must be knowing by now all the derm big guns doing coordinated release nov 24-25 and the smaller programs will follow later. So you will get them for sure. Nerve racking though...Still have 0 derm interviews. Got 100% of my prelim and TY interviews tho.
Hopefully, this makes you all feel better about where you're at lol
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Ortho Armageddon is also this coming Monday I believe. Hope the interview distribution isn't too messed up
Is everyone applying primary care doing well with interviews? I applied to over 100 primary care programs and still only have a handful of interviews. I did get a few reach programs though. I don't know what is wrong with my app still.
D
deleted645092
That makes sense this year that programs gave out their early interviews to the people they really want on paper. Atleast going off my interview experiences so far, I got the impression that they already knew where I’d land on their list because with the exception of 1-2 interviewers we just kill the 20 minutes talking about my weird hobbies. Nothing about the program, my app, or even why them.We will get cancelled interviews hopefully...though I heard the ones that chose you first will rank you higher...I have no basis for this just rumors...
I think the whole concept of tanking your chances by being weird or off-putting will be true but really winning them over will probably be rare.
D
deleted697308
i feel like it's easier to win people over if they're longer than 10 minutes smfh. There were some interviewers I had where we just clicked because they used to share a similar hobby lol. but then had one interview where all the other interviews were perfect...and then the last one, the guy was upset i said "as a woman in surgery" and cut me off and said women in surgery don't have trouble nowThat makes sense this year that programs gave out their early interviews to the people they really want on paper. Atleast going off my interview experiences so far, I got the impression that they already knew where I’d land on their list because with the exception of 1-2 interviewers we just kill the 20 minutes talking about my weird hobbies. Nothing about the program, my app, or even why them.
I think the whole concept of tanking your chances by being weird or off-putting will be true but really winning them over will probably be rare.
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i feel like it's easier to win people over if they're longer than 10 minutes smfh. There were some interviewers I had where we just clicked because they used to share a similar hobby lol. but then had one interview where all the other interviews were perfect...and then the last one, the guy was upset i said "as a woman in surgery" and cut me off and said women in surgery don't have trouble nowUm... ok when ur pregnant and operating we can talk
Ah of course, sexism is solved now that some programs have majority women classes.
Racism also ended the moment Obama became president.
I’m sure this is very program dependent. Most places sent out regional invites without even fully reviewing apps from out of region.We will get cancelled interviews hopefully...though I heard the ones that chose you first will rank you higher...I have no basis for this just rumors...
D
deleted697308
My friend surprisingly got a trickle invite from a top program in February and that's where she ended up matching!!!! But it's a lot harder to knock it out of the park over zoom.I’m sure this is very program dependent. Most places sent out regional invites without even fully reviewing apps from out of region.
Realizing I should not have scheduled my Step 2 CK dedicated in the middle of interview season. Told myself I would do Uworld blocks after morning interviews. *clown makeup meme*
These zoom interviews are a hell of a lot more draining than I originally had thought they’d beRealizing I should not have scheduled my Step 2 CK dedicated in the middle of interview season. Told myself I would do Uworld blocks after morning interviews. *clown makeup meme*
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Is anyone having to sign confidentiality agreements before interviewing via zoom?
Every single one yup.Is anyone having to sign confidentiality agreements before interviewing via zoom?
Thank youEvery single one yup.
We were interviewing in New York and were both from the same area. We talked a few times through the day--all professional.you can't drop that on us and not give us the rest of the deets!
I asked her that if she would be willing to let me drive home with her (so that I wouldn't have to take a Megabus), and she responded that she was going to ask me the same thing but didn't want to be creepy!
She told her mom and boyfriend that she was giving me a ride, and we just had a great x-hour ride together talking about life without any underlying flirtation or anything. A few months later, the boyfriend was gone, she sent me an email, we went out for coffee, and now we're MARRIED. 🙂!
Quick vent/question:
WHY IN TARNATION IS A 4TH YEAR AUDITIONER ANSWERING QUESTIONS AT A MEET AND GREET
Like I get it, youre currently rotating there and know the residents by name (she then went off to name all the residents she could remember). But let the residents answer first, I dont give a hoot about your opinion from being there less than a month. I'm sure you know that the patient population is underserved, but let the freaking resident answer that. Also whats the point of you coming to the meet and greet, you obviously already know everybody! One of the residents kept rolling his eyes, which made me feel normal. But the rest of the applicants seemed very interested in what the student had to say.
For going into a field where social skills are very necessary, some students have ZERO social awareness. How the hell did they make it this far??!
/rant
WHY IN TARNATION IS A 4TH YEAR AUDITIONER ANSWERING QUESTIONS AT A MEET AND GREET
Like I get it, youre currently rotating there and know the residents by name (she then went off to name all the residents she could remember). But let the residents answer first, I dont give a hoot about your opinion from being there less than a month. I'm sure you know that the patient population is underserved, but let the freaking resident answer that. Also whats the point of you coming to the meet and greet, you obviously already know everybody! One of the residents kept rolling his eyes, which made me feel normal. But the rest of the applicants seemed very interested in what the student had to say.
For going into a field where social skills are very necessary, some students have ZERO social awareness. How the hell did they make it this far??!
/rant
There are way to many gaps in this storyWe were interviewing in New York and were both from the same area. We talked a few times through the day--all professional.
I asked her that if she would be willing to let me drive home with her (so that I wouldn't have to take a Megabus), and she responded that she was going to ask me the same thing but didn't want to be creepy!
She told her mom and boyfriend that she was giving me a ride, and we just had a great x-hour ride together talking about life without any underlying flirtation or anything. A few months later, the boyfriend was gone, she sent me an email, we went out for coffee, and now we're MARRIED. 🙂!
That’s awesome! Just kind of goes with my point of once you get the interview, you’re in the game.My friend surprisingly got a trickle invite from a top program in February and that's where she ended up matching!!!! But it's a lot harder to knock it out of the park over zoom.
Yeah between the "coffee" and the "marriage" there were 4 years--3 in med school.There are way to many gaps in this story

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Hey Frogger, if your webcame is < 720P I would buy one.
If you have something like a macbook from the last 3 years, that's all standard. My wife has a 720P camera and bought a 1080P webcam, and, to be honest, it does not look as good in interviews as just her computer's cam... so for us at least, a new camera was not worth it.
If you have something like a macbook from the last 3 years, that's all standard. My wife has a 720P camera and bought a 1080P webcam, and, to be honest, it does not look as good in interviews as just her computer's cam... so for us at least, a new camera was not worth it.
Did anyone buy a webcam and use that instead of computer webcam? If so, what webcam and was it worth it?
Anyone else find themselves really loving a lot of the programs they are interviewing at? I have a “rank list” going that I update after every interview and I would seriously be happy at my top 4 programs so far. Idk how I’m ever going to solidify my actual rank list.
Very much so. Like I am gonna be ranking purely on location to break ties cuz everything else is similar and I’m liking them. It’s a good problem to have!Anyone else find themselves really loving a lot of the programs they are interviewing at? I have a “rank list” going that I update after every interview and I would seriously be happy at my top 4 programs so far. Idk how I’m ever going to solidify my actual rank list.
I have a top 4 but would definitely be kinda disappointed if I fell out of that haha.Anyone else find themselves really loving a lot of the programs they are interviewing at? I have a “rank list” going that I update after every interview and I would seriously be happy at my top 4 programs so far. Idk how I’m ever going to solidify my actual rank list.
Same past four is where my list starts going downhill fast...I have a top 4 but would definitely be kinda disappointed if I fell out of that haha.
And follow-up, is anyone using a nice microphone (yeti blue, etc). I have a friend who is a podcaster who is using it for interviews and says it is greatDid anyone buy a webcam and use that instead of computer webcam? If so, what webcam and was it worth it?
I have 13 out of 37 programs I applied to for FM. Average DO student with slightly below average COMLEX and no USMLE. No programs I have ties to though which is SUPER weird in my opinion. My home state and hometown programs have ghosted me.Is everyone applying primary care doing well with interviews? I applied to over 100 primary care programs and still only have a handful of interviews. I did get a few reach programs though. I don't know what is wrong with my app still.
I run an upgraded webcam and blue yeti mic. I also have studio lights for better lighting (already had these as I do some product photography). It is absolutely worth it to upgrade these things in my opinion. Especially audio. There is nothing worse than being on a zoom call with someone with sh***y audio.And follow-up, is anyone using a nice microphone (yeti blue, etc). I have a friend who is a podcaster who is using it for interviews and says it is great
And follow-up, is anyone using a nice microphone (yeti blue, etc). I have a friend who is a podcaster who is using it for interviews and says it is great
I have a blue yeti. It is a very nice mic and easy to set up/use. I'm also a podcaster and music recorder lol.
I run an upgraded webcam and blue yeti mic. I also have studio lights for better lighting (already had these as I do some product photography). It is absolutely worth it to upgrade these things in my opinion. Especially audio. There is nothing worse than being on a zoom call with someone with sh***y audio.
So is your blue yeti mic in the webcam view or is it out of sight? My thought would be that interviewers might think you are over the top, etc if you have this really nice microphone
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