Pass the gas

[badgas]

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Now that the class of 2006 is good and hung over, I was hoping y'all could pass some advice down to the class of 2007. I saw the board scores in the FAQ post stating that if you have a 200 on Step I you will get in somewhere, but I have a hard time believing that holds true these days. I realize that now everyone has matched they have the attitude of "just apply" but please try to be sympathetic to those of us who are taking on the stress thats been lifted off y'alls shoulders. Lets hear some advice on scores, personality, activities and whatever else it takes to match in this competitive field. Thanks.

 

[Don8455]

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sent you a PM

 

[YeOldeGasShoppe]

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sent you a PM

Sharing means caring. I would've appreciated what you had to say.

 

[Danger Man]

Now that the class of 2006 is good and hung over, I was hoping y'all could pass some advice down to the class of 2007. I saw the board scores in the FAQ post stating that if you have a 200 on Step I you will get in somewhere, but I have a hard time believing that holds true these days. I realize that now everyone has matched they have the attitude of "just apply" but please try to be sympathetic to those of us who are taking on the stress thats been lifted off y'alls shoulders. Lets hear some advice on scores, personality, activities and whatever else it takes to match in this competitive field. Thanks.

As you are a third/almost fourth year student, I would recommend applying early and often to a wide variety of programs (geographic, perceived prestige) realizing that the programs in Cali, NYC, Boston, Chicago will be amongst the most competitive. Accept as many interviews as financially/temporally possible. You might even consider doing away electives at some of your top choices. Even though the effectiveness of such auditions can be debated, most programs would rather interview/rank the devil they know rather than the devil they don't.

Get LORs from faculty (at least 1-2 anesthesia) who know you well enough to write a strong letter that includes phrases such as: 'will be an asset to the program fortunate enough to have him/her', 'has the vigilance, interest to make a great addition to anesthesia', 'I tried to convince him/her to be in my (insert field here)', 'I thought only Jesus could walk on water, until I met student doctor X' --you get the point.

On the interviews, be genuine. Have a good time during the free pre-interview dinner. They are picking up the bill and the residents are there to be a resource for you. Regardless of fatigue, you can make it thru a two hour dinner (it is FREE). Ask questions of the residents to see if YOU will fit in at that program. As for the interview day itself, dress appropriately. I am not saying that you need an Armani suit. Make sure that you are cleanly shaven (especially if you are female), that your suit fits and your shoes are polished. You will spend your career caring for the safety of people as they go to surgery--you should be able to put a nice shine on your Buster Browns.

As for after the interview, write a thank you note (email) to everyone who interviewed you not because it will put you one space higher on the ranklist but because it is the right thing to do.

Ranking-make sure that each place on the list is a place at which you would be happy/content. I cannot emphasize it enough! Have a contingency plan. Anesthesia is about being a step ahead....Think "What if I match at X? at Y? at Z? at A? Will I be happy? Will my SO be happy?" This specialty is competitive, but being at a place that you hate will make residency very long and miserable. Include SOs in the rank list formulation. It kills me to hear stories of "his/her husband/wife is pissed because he/she matched at X." You can even find such stories on SDN during the post-mortem. Match Day is fun, but can be full of unpleasant surprises--it happens every year.

Best wishes--you are applying to the specialty with the happiest doctors.
You have chosen wisely. 👍

 

[jennyboo]

Having just matched, these are my points:

Get LOR(s) from someone they know. If your specialty is anesthesiology, a great letter from a relatively well-known academic anesthesiologist will go a very long way.

Think about doing one away rotation at a place that's a reach for you, if you are not AOA, at the top of your class, have average or below average boards. Choose a place you think you might want to go to. Ask for a LOR from a well respected anesthesiologist there, if you are able. I did two away rotations, which I felt was too many (got really bored by the time the third month began, and definitely was not able to put nearly as much energy into my second away as I could into the first).

Let them known you want to come. I did this with follow-up letters and emails.

Let them know you want to come. Yes, it made that much difference for me.

Let them know you reallyreallyreally want to come. Do you get my point yet?

🙂

 

[aredoubleyou]

Its very simple. You can't do anything about your step 1, and only a ***** would not intend to do well on the step 2...AND...by now your class rank and boards have already pretty much been determined -SO, here's what you do:

1) Apply early - get eras out first week - no screwing around, a lot of the people who got screwed sent they're apps out too late...despite what thinkfast might say. This is really the only important one, all the rest are just guesses.

2) I think its better to use the letters that you think might be the best, just not the biggest names...but it probably doesnt make a huge difference in most cases. You have no control over what they write - so you cant know who says things like "he'll be a great asset to the program," or whatever, so don't sweat it - just go with your guts. Don't delay sending out eras cause you dont have enough letters yet.

3) Don't be a ***** on interviews or dinners - you can be outgoing, loud, whatever, just not annoying or an ass. You can't change your personality, and if you do for the purpose of an interview, chances are you dont have one 🙂 Again, don't sweat it and be yourself and have a couple drinks.

4) Don't worry about all this junk you read in Iversons or wherever about your clothes, just buy a freakin suit that fits ok, looks like it belongs in this decade (or last decade), and blend in - you wont get chosen on your looks, but it can potentially hurt if your wayyyyy to casual or way to weird.

5) I doubt telling programs that your gunna rank them #1 makes much of any difference, or thank you cards really matter - but just do it if you mean it cause it doesnt hurt.

In conclusion - send out eras early, everything else will fall into place if you use some common sense

 

[rugtrousers]

I agree with most of the advice that has been given so far, especially:

-Apply early.
-Get letters early.
-Tell your #1 program that they are your #1 (but no BSing here).

Additionally, consider having someone at your program contact your #1 program on your behalf. Given that many applicants are less than honest when telling programs where they are on the applicant's rank list, the call can give your statement some additional creedence. Almost all the faculty at my school were happy to do this, but they were clear that they would only make ONE call.

Also, work really hard on your personal statement. Start early. Get feedback. It's hard to know how much it helps, but almost all my interviewers mentioned my statement. And yes, many applications get screened by board scores and grades, but there are a fair number of PDs who read almost every app that comes in, and a stellar personal statement can really help.

 

[jennyboo]

By the way, I should add that I agree there is not that much benefit in telling a program "I've ranked you #1." They get a lot of that.

But if you are very interested in them, let them know. Remind them. Take advantage of any contacts you've made at the program (whether during aways, research, whatever) and use the opportunity to let them know you want to come. You never know but that your contacts, letter writers, research supervisors, or whomever may really go to bat for you. Whatever the program, no matter how competitive it is, they still want people who would be excited to be there.

Also, the post-interview thank-you letter is a golden opportunity. Don't waste the opportunity by sending some crappy card. I bought a book of sample cover letters, interview follow-up letters, etc and typed out my letters saying exactly why I wanted to come. Those letters go into your file; write and send them something legible that makes your case.

 

[PiPhiDoc]

Also, the post-interview thank-you letter is a golden opportunity. Don't waste the opportunity by sending some crappy card. I bought a book of sample cover letters, interview follow-up letters, etc and typed out my letters saying exactly why I wanted to come. Those letters go into your file; write and send them something legible that makes your case.[/QUOTE]


But be careful on post-interview letters/emails....I received one from an applicant who addressed me by the WRONG NAME. Really poor form. I was very kind and did NOT pass that along to our program director...