I am attending the SAEM Convention this weekend....questions....

[otacon88]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I'm attending the annual national SAEM convention this weekend, currently finishing up my MS 3 and starting my MS4. Had a couple of questions:

-I have made business cards with my name, school, and contact info. Is it acceptable to hand it to programs when going around talking at booths or do I only do it if they ask? Will it seem too pretentious? I have never attended a conference such as this before so I don't know the proper etiquette.

-What are good questions to ask programs? My understanding is that a PD or Assistant PD will be at the booths for many of the programs that are attending there. Obviously I want to make a good impression and stand out.

Anyone else here going?

 

[shoal]

Since no one responded... I'll do my best. I am a US graduate who was unfortunate and did not match this past cycle, who will be attending. I'm not entirely fond of the idea of handing out business cards. But, if they ask for your contact information, I think it would be alright.

Hope you have a good time, I'm sure I will. Looking forward to all the sessions.
😀

 

[AmoryBlaine]

Senior resident here, competitive program.

Do NOT hand out business cards at SAEM. You will be talked about as "the student with the business cards." All you can do at SAEM is figure out things about programs to which you may want to apply, they will not remember you at all. This is not trying to sound condescending but true. The residency fair is a place to distribute and collect info, not a part of the upcoming match cycle.

I won't make it this year but good luck!

 

[Arcan57]

Senior resident here, competitive program.

Do NOT hand out business cards at SAEM. You will be talked about as "the student with the business cards." All you can do at SAEM is figure out things about programs to which you may want to apply, they will not remember you at all. This is not trying to sound condescending but true. The residency fair is a place to distribute and collect info, not a part of the upcoming match cycle.

I won't make it this year but good luck!

Doesn't happen terribly often but I agree with Amory. Handing out business cards in that context is pretty tool-ish, and in general the EM match process doesn't reward such behavior. You would be talked about and you likely won't be remembered, except as being slightly off. It's not a bad idea if you're going to ACEP as a resident looking for an attending spot though.

 

[Apollyon]

Doesn't happen terribly often but I agree with Amory.

[snark]I thought it was just me.[/snark]

 

[jbar]

I made business cards when I went last year, because I was giving a talk. I've seen others who talk or present a poster, and afterwards a bunch of people come up and there is a lot of "I have to run to the next lecture but I want to discuss XYZ because I do similar stuff, do you have a card?"

I ended up not needing to hand any out. But not a bad idea to have if you are presenting. I wouldn't give them out at the residency fair. And the truth is that these events are for the programs to answer questions about themselves, not really for them to learn about you.

 

[otacon88]

Thanks for the replies guys. Well I guess it's hard to contest Resident and attending replies about not having business cards. There goes the $50 I spent already making them. I won't hand them out - but is it ok if I take my CV if programs ask? I know a student who just graduated and matched into a very competitive residency and she told me she took her CV and handed them to programs who asked, and saw other people handing out business cards - that is where I got the idea.

 

[AmoryBlaine]

[snark]I thought it was just me.[/snark]

Ha. I prefer to think of myself as one who advances the discussion.

As another topic: don't you all agree we're really just glorified triage nurses?

 

[MSmentor018]

dump the cards and the CV's. you want to impress? stop by the residency fair, introduce and just be yourself. gather a few emails/contacts while you're here. i am sure programs will see all your glory in your ERAS packet. see you there

 

[wanderlustin]

Another student attending the conference here. Do you guys think it best to wear suits?

 

[jbar]

At the ACEP residency fair the one guy in a suit stood out. Collared shirt, maybe a tie is fine. Polos work. Maybe not a tee shirt with "my patients hate me" printed on it.

 

[otacon88]

At the ACEP residency fair the one guy in a suit stood out. Collared shirt, maybe a tie is fine. Polos work. Maybe not a tee shirt with "my patients hate me" printed on it.

So are you saying the suit will look better?

 

[jbar]

No, saying he looked overdressed. At this stage in the game the goal is not to "stand out," it's to get info on programs to decide where to apply.

 

[otacon88]

No, saying he looked overdressed. At this stage in the game the goal is not to "stand out," it's to get info on programs to decide where to apply.

wait really? I thought a suit was proper attire. I know when I went to AMA and AMSA conferences everyone was dressed up.

Is a dress shirt and a tie without a blazer ok then?

 

[jbar]

People presenting at these conferences are in suits, people attending tend to be in polo shirts or shirt and tie.

 

[KYTNOH]

wait really? I thought a suit was proper attire. I know when I went to AMA and AMSA conferences everyone was dressed up.

Is a dress shirt and a tie without a blazer ok then?

The AMA convention is less clinical and more political/ethical/financial in nature. There are big-wigs from all specialties, political persuasions, and business ventures, so people tend to dress in suits for everything there. ACEP/SAEM and I would assume most specialty conventions (maybe with the exception of cards) are less formal. Button-ups and polos are the norm. Ties are less common, and suits are rare unless the person is presenting something.

 

[otacon88]

Just came back from the convention. It was great! And I have to say, about 70% of the people there wore suits without a tie or button downs. All the medical students definitely were wearing suits, so I'm glad I did also.

 

[Cerberus]

Just came back from the convention. It was great! And I have to say, about 70% of the people there wore suits without a tie or button downs. All the medical students definitely were wearing suits, so I'm glad I did also.

By my estimate about 25% of people were wearing suits. Most people were wearing polos or button downs unless they were presenting.

 

[wanderlustin]

By my estimate about 25% of people were wearing suits. Most people were wearing polos or button downs unless they were presenting.

yep, as a med student myself, i didn't wear a suit and the majority of other students didn't either. thanks for the advice, guys!

 

[KYTNOH]

Just came back from the convention. It was great! And I have to say, about 70% of the people there wore suits without a tie or button downs. All the medical students definitely were wearing suits, so I'm glad I did also.

Are you sure you were at SAEM in Boston? 😀

I was there and I would put the male suit wearing percentage at about 20% (likely those people with posters or abstract presentations). I don't put a percentage on the females because I don't wear those clothes, so I don't think about what the women are wearing.

I didn't put on a tie the whole week, wore button up shirts or polos most days, and on Sunday wore jeans and a polo because I was going straight to the airport. I never felt out of place.

 

[omgwtfbbq?]

Maybe it has to do with the locale. Med students at the SAEM in Phoenix were most decidedly NOT wearing suits. Granted, it was 100.evil degrees outside.

Just came back from the convention. It was great! And I have to say, about 70% of the people there wore suits without a tie or button downs. All the medical students definitely were wearing suits, so I'm glad I did also.