How do you know if you are competitive for a residency program???

[78222]

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I plan on going into EM and want to schedule my away rotations soon but I have no idea which programs I am competitive for since that information isn't listed anywhere. I really want to end up in CA, which I know is a little more competitive than other regions, but I have no idea how much more competitive it is.

 

[MrBurns10]

Does your school have an EM residency program? If so, the person to talk with would be the program director. He or she can give you an idea where different programs fall in terms of reputation and can help give you an idea of your competitiveness.

 

[deleted109597]

1. There is an EM forum.
2. Loads more competitive simply because of where it is. If you don't do an away there, you likely won't get there unless you are 99/99 AOA or the like. It's Cali, they're weird.
3. Seriously?

 

[SoCuteMD]

The best idea is to ask someone who is in academic EM now AND who has trained or worked at a program in California. Ultimately at this point it's hard to say how competitive you are, because the most important parts of any EM application are your EM grades and your EM letters. Rotating at a competitive program and getting a good letter goes a long way towards getting your application looked at by other programs (especially in that region).

All that being said, my impression of the most "competitive" Cali programs would include: Alameda County/Highland, LA County, UCLA Harbor, and would also include UCSF as a rising star. I've been told by people who've been there that the atmosphere for med students at Alameda County and LA County can feel VERY competitive during the prime audition rotation months - simply because there are so many people there and all of them are vying for a residency spot!

 

[78222]

Does your school have an EM residency program? If so, the person to talk with would be the program director. He or she can give you an idea where different programs fall in terms of reputation and can help give you an idea of your competitiveness.

Unfortunately, my program doesn't have an EM program and the ED here seems to be mostly staffed by non-EM trained physicians.

1. There is an EM forum.
2. Loads more competitive simply because of where it is. If you don't do an away there, you likely won't get there unless you are 99/99 AOA or the like. It's Cali, they're weird.
3. Seriously?

1. I make a point not to ask about residency applications in the EM forum for the same reason I would prefer premeds not ask about medschool applications in Allo.
2. I know it's more competitive, and I plan to do one or more rotations there but I'd still like an idea of where I stand and how many programs I should apply to outside of CA.
3. Seriously what? I wasn't born with an a priori knowledge of the competitiveness of various EM programs throughout the country. Charting Outcomes gives me an idea of the general competitiveness of EM as a whole but since individual programs don't tend to disclose match info, I am pretty much relying on what info I can get second hand.

The best idea is to ask someone who is in academic EM now AND who has trained or worked at a program in California. Ultimately at this point it's hard to say how competitive you are, because the most important parts of any EM application are your EM grades and your EM letters. Rotating at a competitive program and getting a good letter goes a long way towards getting your application looked at by other programs (especially in that region).

All that being said, my impression of the most "competitive" Cali programs would include: Alameda County/Highland, LA County, UCLA Harbor, and would also include UCSF as a rising star. I've been told by people who've been there that the atmosphere for med students at Alameda County and LA County can feel VERY competitive during the prime audition rotation months - simply because there are so many people there and all of them are vying for a residency spot!

Thanks👍

 

[Llenroc]

What happened Cerb? I thought you were going Surgery?

 

[78222]

What happened Cerb? I thought you were going Surgery?

Well, I love surgery, but I just don't think I can deal with the lifestyle. I have a lot of things I love to do outside of medicine (like see my wife once in a while and sleep 😉) I strongly considered applying to ENT (which would have a difficult residency but a sweet lifestyle afterwards) but I think I am on the lower end of competitive for it, and if I were to match, I'd probably end up in Podunk. I think EM is a pretty decent match for me, although I have misgivings for certain aspects.

 

[deleted109597]

The seriously comment was directed at your new field of choice, not the question.
That being said, only the people at that program can tell you if you're competitive there. You did well on the USMLE IIRC, and you have the unluckiness to have trained in the same ****ty state I did. So away rotations are where you will earn your keep. Do two, no more, and do them well. Make friends, influence people, show that you are the kind of person they want there.
Like I said, Cali is weird, and at various AAEM, SAEM, and ACEP meetings people have talked about how if you don't go out there, you won't "know" how they practice so you can't possibly match there.
However, your school has better chances than the other public school in the state at knowing people. You can always rotate at UTC if you want a local place as well, but if you don't want to live there and don't already know the faculty, it won't help you anymore than any other place.

 

[78222]

The seriously comment was directed at your new field of choice, not the question.
That being said, only the people at that program can tell you if you're competitive there. You did well on the USMLE IIRC, and you have the unluckiness to have trained in the same ****ty state I did. So away rotations are where you will earn your keep. Do two, no more, and do them well. Make friends, influence people, show that you are the kind of person they want there.
Like I said, Cali is weird, and at various AAEM, SAEM, and ACEP meetings people have talked about how if you don't go out there, you won't "know" how they practice so you can't possibly match there.
However, your school has better chances than the other public school in the state at knowing people. You can always rotate at UTC if you want a local place as well, but if you don't want to live there and don't already know the faculty, it won't help you anymore than any other place.

Thanks, I misinterpreted your "seriously" comment. I've been on here too long, I assume anytime someone says "Seriously?" they are being an ass.

 

[SouthernSurgeon]

Since your home institution doesn't have EM, I would say you should try to do an early away at an academic center with (if you can find it) a program director known for being helpful/friendly. Then at the end of that away rotation try to schedule time with the PD or other faculty and get a little more information about how competitive you might be as a candidate.

Also, since I'm sure you're not the first to look at EM from your school, talk to your dean of students - see if he/she has any contacts locally who can help advise you (or if the dean has any other advice)

 

[RxnMan]

SAEM has a virtual mentor program that you could try.

You could also PM folks from the EM forum (roja ) and ask them what constitutes "CA competitive."

 

[tkim]

Thanks, I misinterpreted your "seriously" comment. I've been on here too long, I assume anytime someone says "Seriously?" they are being an ass.

I'm curious as to why you want to do your resdency in CA. Unless you have ties there, most places will assume you want it for the location. Most of us choose for location, though it's not the best of reasons to offer up to programs.

I'd do aways at the places you want to match at. If you really have your heart set on CA, I guess I'd do both there. Getting letters from both places won't hurt. The PD's all know each other, so they can decipher the language of the LOR from one shop to another. If you have an interest in ultrasound, I'd recommend doing an EM ultrasound month at UC Irvine. That way, you can get three solid months of CA EM experience, and bone up on ultrasound skills, which is a good thing to have entering an EM residency. That rotation fills up fast. Plan early.

USC gives courtesy interviews to all rotators.

 

[78222]

I'm curious as to why you want to do your resdency in CA. Unless you have ties there, most places will assume you want it for the location. Most of us choose for location, though it's not the best of reasons to offer up to programs.

I'd do aways at the places you want to match at. If you really have your heart set on CA, I guess I'd do both there. Getting letters from both places won't hurt. The PD's all know each other, so they can decipher the language of the LOR from one shop to another. If you have an interest in ultrasound, I'd recommend doing an EM ultrasound month at UC Irvine. That way, you can get three solid months of CA EM experience, and bone up on ultrasound skills, which is a good thing to have entering an EM residency. That rotation fills up fast. Plan early.

USC gives courtesy interviews to all rotators.

It's a combination of patient population and location but mostly location. I am a happier person when I am close to the ocean (admittedly my passion outside of Medicine is surfing, something which probably isn't going to win me any breaks in terms of scoring a residency). Plus, everything's better in sunny California. Thanks for the heads up on the US rotation sounds good.

 

[tkim]

It's a combination of patient population and location but mostly location. I am a happier person when I am close to the ocean (admittedly my passion outside of Medicine is surfing, something which probably isn't going to win me any breaks in terms of scoring a residency). Plus, everything's better in sunny California. Thanks for the heads up on the US rotation sounds good.

You'd be surprised.

USC's a bear to get scheduled. Start early.

UCI's a bear to get scheduled. Start early.