Question for Dr COX and Aprogramdirector

[drp53]

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Please, I need and objective advice. I being debating this inside my head for weeks. I work in a university/teaching hospital (competitive) as a nurse in an ICU department. Im a USFMG, mature (old guy 😀) (86/89/ first attemp) I applied in this program but they have not invite me yet. No resident/doctor knows that I hold a medical degree or that i have applied here.My question is: should I try to use my "connections" with the people to get an interview or not. I was talking to the hospital VP the other day ( a nurse) and I chickened out, I also took care of the hospital CEO's mother the other night but I thought funny about asking him for help or any advice under this circunstances.I dont want to get an interview just because they want to please the nurses and be invited just because they want to be polite. Do you think that if I should try to get an interview by using any means at my disposal. Do knowing people helps to get an actual residency position (if the interview goes well, and you have decent scores, of course). My scores are decent but i dont think are that great for a university program. I would appreciate your comments or any ideas since time is running out. Is a"pitty" interview better than a no interview at all.

 

[Blade28]

It's a little difficult to understand your post...are you asking if you should use your connections as an ICU nurse to obtain a residency interview?

Do you know anyone in the residency program? The program director, professors/attendings, etc.?

What field are you applying to?

 

[drp53]

Im sorry if my question was not phrased correctly. Im applying for IM, I know from residents to attendings to intensivists. , I think that I could managed to get an interview if I asked the right people to call the powers that be to get me an interview, but since the program has not call me based on my own "merits" is it worth it to force the issue through people I know?.
I have been to a few interviews already and I met couple of PGY1s that their wives were chief residents in their respective programs (they both were offered prematches) so Im assusming that chances are that maybe "knowing" the chiefs had to help them. So knowing the right person is enough to help you get a residency? Maybe the program Im applying only looks at people with 90/90s but since I have 86/89 they havent even look at my application. Thankf for your responses.

 

[Top Gun]

I would try looking at the website for this particular residency program. Usually they mention criteria for applying to the program. The criteria sometimes includes USMLE score cutoffs. Those who meet the criteria are invited to interview, obviously.

 

[drp53]

I meet all of their criteria: "USMLE Steps 2 & 1 scores 80 and above on their first attempt are encouraged to apply. Also applicants must have graduated medical school within the last 5 years. US clinical experience is not required"
I heard that this year the number of applicants in most programs has increased and maybe thats the reason why my application has gotten "lost" in their HUGE pile or it could also be that they have enough 90/90s that they dont need the 80/80s.
Thanks for the replies to my posts topgun and Blade28

 

[Blade28]

I'd assume that every year (for the past few), the number of applications to all fields has increased.

Same with apps to med schools.

 

[Winged Scapula]

If you have completed your application at your home hospital, they have started interviewing and you have not received notice that they are offering you one, I would advise you to speak with the department Program Director and inquire about the status of your application. They may have a ton to go through and not realized yours is in there.

Do NOT ask the hospital CEO's wife or mother, etc. to try and get you an interview. Do not ask any nurses to try and get you an interview. Use the proper channels and you will be less likely to piss people off (frankly, if the CEO's wife asked me to accept or even just interview someone, I would be really turned off). Yes, there are Chief residents who are married to more junior residents and while there may have been some inclination to interview and rank that person, no program is going to do so if there are problems with the application. So "connections" are not always helpful in this sense...connections because you know a faculty member who knows someone is fine, but not in the manner in which you describe.

You say that "no one" knows you have a medical degree there. How is this possible? You HAVE actually submitted an application there right?

Remember just because you meet the minimum requirements for acceptance doesn't mean that you will automatically be interviewed. Sometimes working at a place actually makes it harder...they have seen you at your best and your worst (its the same risk people take when they do an away rotation).

 

[NotAProgDirector]

I agree with Kim. Send an email / call the PD of the program. If they receive a large number of apps, they may not have noticed that you work in their hospital. It won't cost you anything to interview there (except for 1 day of your time) and you have nothing to lose.

I should mention that it appears that english is not your native language (from your posts above). If you email the PD, you should try to have someone fix your grammar to make the best impression possible.