How much does prior work experience help you land a residency?

[Nontradlooking4advice]

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As a nontrad, most of us had full time careers prior to our switch to medicine. What impact does this prior career experience (if its relevant to your specialty of choice) have on your ability to land a residency you're interested in? For example, I have a few years of wet lab cancer research under my belt, will that help me get into a hem/onc residency? Even if its before I attended medical school?

Any thoughts or advice is greatly appreciated!

 

[Dral]

Probably not a ton, though I suspect that mileage varies by specific program. If you did bench research in ovarian cancer and you interview at a program that focuses on that, it could give you a leg up. Probably the best mileage you would get out of it would be conversation fodder at interviews. Residency programs care more about Step scores, med school performance, recs, and other things during the med school years.

Just as a heads up, heme/onc is a fellowship post IM residency, so it's even further out from where you are now. I know you are just using that as an example, but I wanted to make that clarification.

 

[Nontradlooking4advice]

Probably not a ton, though I suspect that mileage varies by specific program. If you did bench research in ovarian cancer and you interview at a program that focuses on that, it could give you a leg up. Probably the best mileage you would get out of it would be conversation fodder at interviews. Residency programs care more about Step scores, med school performance, recs, and other things during the med school years.

Just as a heads up, heme/onc is a fellowship post IM residency, so it's even further out from where you are now. I know you are just using that as an example, but I wanted to make that clarification.

Really appreciate the input. Thanks!