Early contact for residency program?

[Indryd]

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Hey all.

So the story is I am an older student who entered medical school to do psychiatry. I have no doubts about my career path. Right now I am starting 3rd year and am already fretting about getting into the right program.

The two driving factors for my choice in residency program are location (I know, how original!) and the fact that my daughter will be becoming a teenager just as I enter residency (I simply can't be an 80-hour work-mule).

There is one program in particular that is very near where I grew up (I am exiled to Baltimore atm) and is attractive to me for all the right reasons. I have done a ton researching programs in my home region, and at this point, though it is early on in the process, I am certain I want to go this particular program.

My question is, what is the folk-wisdom about contacting a program early just to get your name on the radar, maybe strike up some nice email conversations with residents/others, and especially expressing particular, specific interest in their program?

In anticipation, I must add that an away rotation simply is not an option due to severe financial constraints and family obligations.

Thanks for your time.

 

[kugel]

During my MS3 year, I arranged "pre-interview" interviews at several programs. I told them that I'll be in the area on these dates. I've read about the program but I'd like to talk with a couple of senior residents and, if they're available, a couple of attendings in order to answer my questions about the prog. - in order to help determine if it might be the right program for me. I told them I could spend up to 4 hrs (Morn or afternoon), but even 1-2 hrs would be very helpful. Most were very receptive. Some had me speak with the Prog Dir, some let me interview a few residents, some gave me a more complete tour. There were no fancy lunches or endlessly tromping through hallways.

Basically, it was a chance for me to interview them, not the other way around.
It clarified several things:
Some never returned my calls - that told me plenty.
Some only let me speak with PGY-1's who couldn't answer most of my questions.
One couldn't give me any answers that weren't some version of "Our reputation is so good that you'll be able to get any job you want," but never answered my questions.
Some treated me very well and answered all my questions.

It refined my thinking and my questions. I learned a lot about what the real differences are - as opposed to what they say the differences are.
I ended up not choosing any of those programs that I visited, but I was able to make much more informed choices when the time came.

So, my advice is to learn everything you can through letters/emails, phone calls, and then actually visit and try to get the chance to visit with someone post-call, even if only for a few minutes. And ask people what they like LEAST about the program - I find that much more useful info than the converse.

 

[BobA]

As long as you're not too pushy about it I don't think it'd be a problem. Programs always like to hear people are interested, just don't send flowers to the PD's home or camp out near his office.

I'm sure you've already thought of this, but the best way to show your interest and investigate a program is to do an away rotation well. But these, of course, are just as likely to backfire as help you.

Last year a friend of mine with low board scores but a desire to go into ortho actually "called on" several ortho programs in August before interview invites were sent out and spent a day or two with each one - going into the OR, walking around, meeting people. He got interviews at every program he called on (he was a stellar candidate if you could look past his board scores). Ultimately, he matched at one of these programs despite his low scores.

 

[Tradewind]

I agree that contacting early will primarily benefit you in finding more out about programs when they're not in interview mode.

In terms of your odds of matching there -

For smaller (size/competitiveness) programs, contacting early is generally a good thing, especially if you're coming from a big name medical school. This is because although the match process is supposed to allow the best match, programs will want some of their top picks, and so many tend to rank higher applicants who are more likely to rank them higher. If you explain to them your familial reasons for wanting to attend their program, and they like you, you'll probably be moved up on their list a least a little.

For larger programs, contacting early is less likely to help. Or, it could hurt you. Depending on how competitive you are as an applicant and how you approach the programs, you could potentially be viewed as over-eager. And for some strange reason, over-eager applicants are often the very ones that say "I'll rank you #1" and then are found at some other program. There are a few of these year to year. But it all depends on how you present yourself, I guess.