Help!Need advice about switching programs quickly!!

[Rpre19]

Hey all! Please I need your advice about applying to a program while still an intern in another (same specialty): & thank you so much in advance!

Here is the scenario: (this is not for me so there is some info I am unaware of but I can give you the details as much as I know-believe me or not the switchee is in the middle of SICU & only has a couple of days to make these decisions so I'm helping out while I sit on my butt on early maternity leave)

An intern wants out of their current, pretty malignant program & into another. The location is not that far from the first so moving is not too much of an excuse though it will allow her to live with her older parent that will need her income. Basically the reason is that she hates her program & feels she made a terrible mistake.

1. does she mention in the eras essay reasons for switching--being politically correct of course, or wait for hopefully an interview to explain? for those that dont know-you must divulge being in a residency in eras & which specialty, so they already know she's in one...

2. Should she mention her application to her program even though they have a reputation for making residents leave through "persuasion" & already being pretty malignant. (I do believe they are malignant from what I hear) or not risk the repercussions if she doesnt get an interview.

3. Should she mention having already had an interview with the program in her essay to say that she enjoyed the faculty & residents? Unfortunately she simply made a mistake in not ranking them first but clicked pretty well with them.or will that make them question why she didnt rank them??

um i think thats it. I anyone has any thoughts that I didnt come up with please give your 2 kind cents thanks so much! & send hopeful vibes uz the added bous is that my bestest friend wil come to my prgram & then we can hang out all day (not really but at least work together-not the reason for the switch though I'd like to think so...)

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[nsap102]

Well, I'm switching too.

Agree with the above (I think you have another thread somewhere on here), in addition

1. Leave your ERAS PS general. All the specifics should be taken care of verbally. You'll need to explain why you're leaving. But don't bash your current program.

2. Mention it ONLY when you need to. This will occur when the program you are applying to requires LoR's and a letter from your PD. In terms of the LoR's, if you can get them without making it public that you are leaving this is the best way. With regard to the PD, well, then it's pretty much public. I'd try to secure an interview first. If the program you are applying to will not grant you an interview with out having a letter from your PD, then you'll have to make a choice. Either you call the program you are applying to and explain your sticky situation and hope they understand or you go straight to the PD. Personally, I would call the program I am applying to and see what they are willing to do.

3. Nah...leave the PS general. I'd rather verbally communicate to the program the rest of the stuff.

4. I'd do the above first and then later if you're speaking on behalf of your best friend, and you really want her to come to your program then you may go to your PD and run your friend's situation by him/her. But I'd do this part if things got difficult for your friend in terms of applying.

 

[dragonfly99]

I agree with NSAP's advice. Don't say anything bad about her current program in the personal statement, etc. Just wax poetic about how much she likes the other program and the reasons for wanting to go there. She'll have to explain the rest in the interview. And try to use some LOR's from med school or somewhere else, +/- one from the current year to prove she's not goofing off (see if she can somehow get the latter without the surgery attendings all finding out she is trying to leave). Agree with trying to keep the current PD from knowing she's trying to leave, until she HAS to have the LOR.

 

[Rpre19]

thanks for the advice guys. there were a couple of points that I had actuallly thought diffferently. But then again Im in psych (shes EM) & maybe we think a little differently In that case I guess a word to my PD wouldnt do any good.

Again I appreciate it cuz I am looking over her PS for her & wanted to give good advice...