For those who have helped select applicants for match

[drmistga]

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So I have been wondering as far as interviews go, what kind of objective things do they use. Do most programs use a form and then give you a numeric score? and if so what is it based on, pure subjective sense of the candidate which is ironic-pure subjectiveness translated into objectiveness.

 

[OldPsychDoc]

So I have been wondering as far as interviews go, what kind of objective things do they use. Do most programs use a form and then give you a numeric score? and if so what is it based on, pure subjective sense of the candidate which is ironic-pure subjectiveness translated into objectiveness.

We rate our interviewees on things like commitment to psych, interpersonal skills (e.g interviewing!), grades & board scores, strength of recommendations, etc. The aggregate of several 10-pt scales becomes the score that ranks candidates going into the ranking meeting, at which point we move people up and down as is seen fit (though rarely that significantly.)

 

[sga430]

i heard commitment to psych being important as there r a lot of imgs applying to psych as back up. they r easy to spot a mile away. just ask one of them something about psych that is not covered in the USMLE or look for generic personal statements.

 

[drmistga]

Well I guess I was reffering a little bit more to USgrads or qualified IMGs that are only applying to psych and obviously have the intention and commitment to going into psych-are there really those usgrads that only apply to psych and still question their committment or are you referring to people that apply to 2 or more fields? thanks for the info though?!

 

[RustNeverSleeps]

Well I guess I was reffering a little bit more to USgrads or qualified IMGs that are only applying to psych and obviously have the intention and commitment to going into psych-are there really those usgrads that only apply to psych and still question their committment or are you referring to people that apply to 2 or more fields? thanks for the info though?!

A faculty member at my school involved in the selection process says that she always assesses for interest in psych, rather than interest in a field that is less rigorous (in some ways) than other specialties. You can have otherwise 'good' applicants who are interested in psych for what are not considered good reasons.

 

[drmistga]

Well I still do not get what you are saying-If a US grad is applying to only psych programs then why would someone question their interest in psych-or furthermore rank them on how interested they are based on what? An interview or PS-I am guessing most convey their reasons for going into psych-makes no sense

 

[RustNeverSleeps]

Well I still do not get what you are saying-If a US grad is applying to only psych programs then why would someone question their interest in psych-or furthermore rank them on how interested they are based on what? An interview or PS-I am guessing most convey their reasons for going into psych-makes no sense

This person's point of view is that she would rather select people who are truly interested in psychiatry than people who are lazy and would like to match into a specialty that is perceived as easy. It seems reasonable to me.

Of course you express your interest in psych in your personal statement and interviews, if you are asked. I think that true interest in psychiatry is not necessarily limited to these areas, and there will be evidence of that in other parts of your application: research, courses/electives, volunteer and other activities, etc. -- some kind of demonstrated interest in the field.

 

[drmistga]

I think you would be hard pressed to find an applicant in a field, providing they only applied to that field and not 2 fields, using one as a back up-but I do not know of any US grad applying to just psych who would not had done a couple electives in pscy to get some LORs if nothing else. Wrote a decent personal statement-which is easy to fake if you needed to and put on a show at interviews which so many people do anyway. If that is what the PDs are looking at then there is something wrong-Med students are not that stupid to work for 4 years and then blow matching even if it is there desire to go into psych cause it is easy.

For me-I liked psych HUGELY because it was a heck of a lot less taxing than anything else. I hated call and hard work and psych suited me. I also enjoyed it but even if I did not I could have faked that easily-still not making sense as a US grad to use that criteria.

 

[Doc Samson]

I hated call and hard work.

You're not applying anywhere in Boston are you?

 

[OldPsychDoc]

i heard commitment to psych being important as there r a lot of imgs applying to psych as back up. they r easy to spot a mile away. just ask one of them something about psych that is not covered in the USMLE or look for generic personal statements.

I actually once read a personal statement where the applicant had used WHITEOUT over the name of another specialty, and then HANDWRITTEN "psychiatry" in its place. 😱
There were no psych LORs in the file, either.

We're a relatively IMG-friendly program, and it can be hard to ascertain whether the applicant is really after psych, or just what they think is a realistic shot at a US residency. I try to draw it out with some case-based questions, maybe asking for big-picture thoughts about how they see psychiatry as different in the US vs. nation of origin, etc.

I will add, we get GOOD IMGs--I always give them credit in my evals for the astoundingly difficult compliated process that they have had to get through to be applying to us.

 

[drmistga]

You're not applying anywhere in Boston are you?

Hell no-I am a west coast kid-hate the east

 

[PsychMD2100]

drmistga,

I admire your honesty. Your points are well taken. For US grads, psych is easy to get into and I'd say most programs are simply happy to get well-adjusted US grads applying to their program.

While I don't mind the hard work or call, I think you touch upon an important point, which is that psych selects for certain personality types. While one could argue that we're already OC by being in medicine, I'd have to say that the personalities that go into psych mesh well with me. Compared to, say, surgeons, psychiatrists tend to be more open to emotions, more verbally-expressive, and more understanding of people with different backgrounds.

This fits well with me and I'm excited about what lies ahead. I think we've picked a great field and I'm excited about starting. You shouldn't have to apologize for your feelings or motivations for going into psych.