Iserson's older edition okay?

[heliotrope]

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I will be going through the match in 2007-08. I'm wondering if the most recent edition of Iserson's would have much more or different information. I have the 5th edition from 2000.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

I would think that if you:

1. Do as well as you can in medical school and on the USMLE's
2. Get your application in as early as possible, remembering that the one part that you have no control over is your LOR's, so make sure they get done on time.
3. Dress nicely and be polite.
4. Get advice from as many faculty as you can about programs.
5. Rank programs in the order that you want to go to them, not the order that you think they will take you.

...you will do just fine, no matter what book you read.

(Note: Some would add "Send a thank you note to each program you interview with" to this list. I refer you to this thread for the opposing viewpoints on this issue)

 

[gutonc]

I will be going through the match in 2007-08. I'm wondering if the most recent edition of Iserson's would have much more or different information. I have the 5th edition from 2000.

Burn it. aPD's 5 (or 6) points are all you need to know. Iserson will just unnecessarily stress you out. If you really feel like you need a book, 1st Aid is supposedly decent but you don't really need one.

Good luck next year.

 

[IFNgamma]

Burn it. aPD's 5 (or 6) points are all you need to know. Iserson will just unnecessarily stress you out. If you really feel like you need a book, 1st Aid is supposedly decent but you don't really need one.

Good luck next year.

dude, you are correct about Iserson stressing you out. I read the interview section in that book and it stressed me out big time w/ a huge list of really difficult Qs. Ignore it! I actually read it and prepared some answers, but guess what? NONE were asked at any of my interviews! Just be prepared w/ the standard job interview Qs, like why X (insert specialty), what are your strengths and weaknesses, tell me about yourself, etc. The rest of the book is actually ok w/ good advice.

If you need a book that talks about the interview, check out First Aid For the Match. Their advice about the interview is pretty solid.

Good luck!

 

[heliotrope]

Thanks for the replies. Your comments are reassuring. I won't stress over whether there's some tidbit that I'm missing out on in the newer edition.

I want to do things right because the match seems like such a big process and outcome -especially because I have a spouse and kids who are impacted by where we end up.

 

[CrazyPeds527]

Seriously...I started reading Iserson my 2nd year and freaked out that I hadn't followed what it recommended doing. I talked to my dean, and he basically said that unless you are trying to do Derm, Rad Onc, Ortho or something in the "ridiculously competitive" group (his words), to not bother with Iserson and the anxiety will be severely reduced.

Bottom line...be a nice human being who isn't a total doofus and hopefully we will all be fine.

Or else im screwed too...😀

 

[sophiejane]

I found Iserson's to be archaic and out of date, even the newer editions. I thought it was useless.

The best thing to do is talk to your dean, or better, people who have just gone through the application process in the field you are interested in.

Iserson's will in no way improve your chances for landing the residency of your choice, and honestly, most of the stuff in there is common sense.