Managing multiple applications for pain fellowship

[inspire004]

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there are lot of paper applications and sending all of them 3 LOR and documents by post sounds lot of time ,
question how did previous year applicants manage , how many did you apply ,
did you guys scan and send them via email ,
is it wasting time for few spots or any benefit from private practice gas

any insights and positive constructive critics welcomed

 

[DistantMets]

there are lot of paper applications and sending all of them 3 LOR and documents by post sounds lot of time ,
question how did previous year applicants manage and how many did you apply
did you guys scan and send them via email , is it wasting time for few spots or any benifit from private practi

any insights

I would suggest having someone proofread your apps before you send them.

 

[inspire004]

did you guys address each program separate or did you send a copy of one letter

 

[powermd]

did you guys address each program separate or did you send a copy of one letter

Pain fellowships are very, very competitive. I would treat each and every application like it's your only hope of getting a fellowship.

If that "sound like a lot of work", it is. It took me about 4-6 weeks to get everything together for all my apps. I was glad I started pretty early.

 

[axm397]

same cover letter but "edited" each one to make it more specific to that program (i.e. if I knew someone there or point out something unique about the program, etc.) same thing with personal statement - used a few different versions to "personalize" it. I only applied to about 15 programs but it definitely took a lot of time. used UPS tracking service. all the cost of UPS, interviewing, etc. are tax deductible. I also emailed and called program coordinators to make sure they received my application. (make sure to be REALLY NICE to them)

 

[inspire004]

well thanks powermd ,axm I was thinking if I get one letter from chair and 2 or 3 Lor from my pain faculty , have original and send copies of that to all the programs,
do they want it personalized it to there name on the letters,most are also about ITE score and research.

any idea on if they are planning to increase the numbers

 

[Buckeye Anes]

well thanks powermd ,axm I was thinking if I get one letter from chair and 2 or 3 Lor from my pain faculty , have original and send copies of that to all the programs,
do they want it personalized it to there name on the letters,most are also about ITE score and research.

any idea on if they are planning to increase the numbers

As I have mentioned on other threads this is definitely a lot of work but worth it if you really want to do pain. Get a program that converts read only pdfs to writable pdfs as most programs have their applications downloadable online. As for sending the applications in, a couple of programs will state explicitly that you can fax in your application (UVA comes to mind) otherwise I would suggest registered mail or a service like UPS to ensure the application gets there. I also recommend calling programs to make sure they have recieved your complete application and I can't stress enough that you need to get everything in early. I talked to several people on the interview trail that didn't get interviews at some of the places I did and said that when they called the program the coordinator told them that they had received so many applications that they were not reviewing any more at the current time. Also a good point made above that this is tax deductible.

 

[axm397]

well thanks powermd ,axm I was thinking if I get one letter from chair and 2 or 3 Lor from my pain faculty , have original and send copies of that to all the programs,
do they want it personalized it to there name on the letters,most are also about ITE score and research.

any idea on if they are planning to increase the numbers

The LORs and the letter from the chair went out separately - I gave the letter writers' secretary a set of address labels (pre-printed) and the letter writer a list of programs. That way, if the writer knew someone at one of the programs, he/she could make a call or personalize the letter for me. One guy even offered to write me an "unsolicited" LOR - that even though I didn't ask him, he felt so strongly about my candidacy that he decided to write a letter by his own volition. To be truthful, I think knowing people (past and current fellows, faculty members) at programs helped the most. When someone they know put in a good word for me, the trust factor goes up and there is instant credibility. 🙂

 

[panetrain]

Applying for pain last year was pure work. There is no way around it. I started in late February, spent countless hours of my limited free time outside of the BOX (operating room) making phone calls, filling out applications, getting transcripts from med school, getting my official undergraduate GPA (1 program wanted this), dean's letter, class rank, ITE scores, Official USMLE scores, copy of state license, copy of intern year certificate...Many of these documents had to be notarized. I spent around 7K$$ for the entire process, which included shipping/tracking fees, travel, hotel, food, rental/cab fees, new suit/shoes etc. I also relinquished most of my vacation days to attend the interviews only to find out that more than half of their advertised positions had already been filled internally. I had and still do have to endure the pain of seeing my fellow CA3's signing anesthesia contracts for more money than you can imaging (Midwest salaries!!!). Also, there are some programs that I interviewed at that to this date, I have heard nothing back. I would have preferred to receive a rejection letter or something. You have to really want to do pain to go through this process, but looking back it all worked out in the end. I could not be more happy with the program I'll be attending next year. 👍

 

[Ligament]

Applying for pain last year was pure work. There is no way around it. I started in late February, spent countless hours of my limited free time outside of the BOX (operating room) making phone calls, filling out applications, getting transcripts from med school, getting my official undergraduate GPA (1 program wanted this), dean's letter, class rank, ITE scores, Official USMLE scores, copy of state license, copy of intern year certificate...Many of these documents had to be notarized. I spent around 7K$$ for the entire process, which included shipping/tracking fees, travel, hotel, food, rental/cab fees, new suit/shoes etc. I also relinquished most of my vacation days to attend the interviews only to find out that more than half of their advertised positions had already been filled internally. I had and still do have to endure the pain of seeing my fellow CA3's signing anesthesia contracts for more money than you can imaging (Midwest salaries!!!). Also, there are some programs that I interviewed at that to this date, I have heard nothing back. I would have preferred to receive a rejection letter or something. You have to really want to do pain to go through this process, but looking back it all worked out in the end. I could not be more happy with the program I'll be attending next year. 👍

This was exactly my experience in 2006. It sucks. It was a LOT of BS paperwork and a LOT of money, I easily spent $7K as well.

Highly recommend getting adobe acrobat pro and some sort of acrobat unlocking/hacking program so you can enter text directly onto the pdf forms. Thats what saved my ass.

 

[powermd]

well thanks powermd ,axm I was thinking if I get one letter from chair and 2 or 3 Lor from my pain faculty , have original and send copies of that to all the programs,
do they want it personalized it to there name on the letters,most are also about ITE score and research.

any idea on if they are planning to increase the numbers

Get your letters from faculty who have SECRETARIES. These people tend to be more "important" anyway, but best of all you don't have to bug the attending to get the letters sent out to all your programs. The secretary will usually do all of that, and do it on time.

 

[lobelsteve]

This was exactly my experience in 2006. It sucks. It was a LOT of BS paperwork and a LOT of money, I easily spent $7K as well.

Highly recommend getting adobe acrobat pro and some sort of acrobat unlocking/hacking program so you can enter text directly onto the pdf forms. Thats what saved my ass.

In 2003, I spent $500 and had a mysterious letter begging the program not to take me cause I was a trouble maker. Secured the spot before leaving town. My LOR's were fair at best. I did have a friend who was a current fellow and that got me the interview.

 

[panetrain]

I have noticed that over the past 4 years of residency that the interest in pain has grown exponentially. And Steve's comment below would support that observation.

In 2003, I spent $500 and had a mysterious letter begging the program not to take me cause I was a trouble maker. Secured the spot before leaving town. My LOR's were fair at best. I did have a friend who was a current fellow and that got me the interview.

 

[axm397]

there's a trial version of adobe acrobat pro 9 - can get 30 days free
http://www.adobe.com/downloads/